"The Journal" by Beth Harlow (historical fiction)

About the book:  When Mary gave a journal to her fiancé in 1861 before he left for war, neither of them had any idea how many hands would write in it over the next four years. The little book travels back and forth across enemy lines and almost takes on a personality of its own as the new owners read what others have written and add their own reflections. The Journal covers some of the major battles of the Civil War from a personal point of view. Each soldier who writes in the journal is in a different place in his relationship with God, and each draws strength and help from what others have written.

Review: All soldiers miss home and long to return to the ones they love. The Journal shares viewpoints of soldiers from the North and South during the Civil War. History is told as fictional Union and Rebel soldiers describe some of the major battles of the war, yet the war is personalized as soldiers from both sides of the war describe their hunger and loneliness. 

The journal begins its journey in the South but is found by a Yankee soldier who finds answers as he reads of the Rebel's love and dependence on God. Enemies understand each other better as the journal is lost and found by soldiers on both sides of the war. The Journal shares history and the gospel in a way that readers will enjoy. 

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Bookcrash on behalf of the author and publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer and no compensation was received for this review. May be purchased at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2FVKFAFYIN3FK/ref=cm_cr_yc_cdp?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview

"I Am Ruth: A Story of Loss, Love, & Redemption" by Brenda Duff with illustrative photography by Kenneth Berg

The book I Am Ruth; A Story of Loss, Love, & Redemption is written by Brenda Duff and the photography is by Kenneth Berg. It is the book of Ruth from the Bible, only told through pictures as well as written word.

The book itself is beautifully illustrated.  The photographs bring the book to life, especially they are pictures of Israel and its landscapes. Reading the story, while being able to view the pictures, made the story of Ruth even that more memorable and special to me.  Ruth happens to be my favorite book in the Bible because it shows a clear picture of our redemption through Jesus Christ and his death, burial and resurrection.

I did struggle at first with the style of the writing, in that the writer jumped back and forth between the story of Ruth and Naomi and the story of Abraham.  It became easier to read the further I got into the story and helped lay the foundation for the actions of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz.  I do believe that this would be a good companion book to read along with the actual scripture from Ruth.

I Am Ruth” is wonderful book and would make a great gift.  I would leave this book out on my coffee table because of its beauty on the cover and then the awesome photographs inside.  It is a beautiful book with an even more beautiful story of Loss, Love & ultimate Redemption. (rev. P.Howard)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by New Leaf Publishing Group for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

"Fired Up" Trouble In Texas book 2 by Mary Connealy (Review & Giveaway)

About the book:  Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner-never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. Themen in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

Review: This was an unbelievably funny read so filled with virtually "slap-stick" comedy page after page. Author, Mary Connealy, has taken the dangerous and serious wild-west and turned it upside down into a rollicking story.

Now just what is "Fired Up" - well, there is the male lead, Dare Riker who is in one dangerous situation after another and someone wants to ride the scene of him. So Dare gets fired up.

Then there is Glynna who is fired up after two failed marriages so is now determined to make it own her own by opening an eating establishment regardless that she can't cook at all .

And there is the group of male characters who are friends with Dare and they are fired up with determination that no one is going to "do-in" their friend.

Get ready for a truly fun read that will entertain you and also give you a glimpse (albeit a funny one) into the dangers of the west, lack of law and order, the plight of the mail order brides, and what widowed and unmarried women of that period faced.
GIVEAWAY - Begins September 30 & ENDS October 21. Open to addresses in continental US only.
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DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Litfuse Publicity on behalf of the Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group and the author, Mary Connealy.

Rufus and Ryan Go To Church by Kathleen Long Bostrom & Illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh (Review & Giveaway-US & Canada)

ISBN: 9780824919030
Board Book - $7.99

When children are very young, it is not always easy for the child or the parents to sit through a worship service. Children are squirmy, vocal, and prone to action rather than stillness. But we are taught in the Bible to "be still and know that I am God..." so we want to teach the activity of still worship to our children.

In Rufus and Ryan, Ryan's' family attends worship service and they take Ryan with them. He has a stuffed monkey he loves (as Mommy and Daddy love him) and he explains going to church to Rufus - the monkey - much the same as Mommy and Daddy have explained how Ryan should behave in church.

This is a sweet, eye-catching little board book just right for the very young child. The lesson is that the child can behave in church and can be happy. Below are some tips for helping your child learn to "be still and know that I am God" during worship services.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR INTRODUCING YOUR CHILD TO WORSHIP

1.         Attend a child-friendly church.

A church that invites children to attend worship, that has a children’s time during worship or a service in which children are included, will not mind the noise and commotion that comes with having young children in worship.

2.         Bring your child to church on a day other than Sunday morning.

Call the church office and make an appointment with a pastor, Christian education director, or church school teacher. Go on a tour of the church facility, and locate the Sunday school rooms and bathrooms as well as the sanctuary. Let your child explore the sanctuary, see how it feels to sit in the pew, and leaf through the Bibles and hymnbooks. Look behind the pulpit, Communion table, and baptismal font, and explain the use of these.

3.         Take home a worship bulletin and go through the service at home.

Show your child that there are times to sit, to stand (and in some places, to kneel), to sing, to pray, and to listen. If the Lord’s Prayer is used, write down the words and let your child practice at home. Prepare offering envelopes and let your child put money in the envelope, and explain why the offering is important.

4.         Play “Let’s go to church” at home.

Practicing the worship service at home will help your child feel more comfortable with what happens in worship.

5.         Read the Bible and pray at home.

Purchase an age-appropriate Bible for your child and read the stories. Let your child handle the Bible and encourage questions. You can explain that the Bible is where we learn God’s story, and how we are part of that story. If you let prayer be a part of your everyday life, not just something you do at church, your child will understand its importance.

6.         Sit near an aisle or in a place where you can make an exit if needed.

If your child needs to go to the bathroom, or is feeling overly stimulated or having a disruptive day, don’t be embarrassed. Walk your child out of the sanctuary until she can work off a little energy, and then come back in. This is much easier if you don’t have to crawl across a row of other people in the pew!

  

7.         Be prepared with a worship notebook or bag.

Many churches provide materials for children to use during worship, but if not, bring your own supplies. Colored pencils can be used to mark the parts of worship in the bulletin as you go through them one by one. Get to church a few minutes in advance and use a bookmark to mark the hymns that will be sung that day. Have some coloring pages from a Bible coloring book for your child to color, or some blank pages for doodling. This is not disrespectful, and can help your child listen more attentively. Have the words of the Lord’s Prayer printed on a page for the child to follow, if he or she is of reading age. Let your child draw a picture of the anthem or hymns being sung, or the sermon, and give this to the choir director or pastor afterwards.

8.         Teach basic church etiquette.

Speak to people before and after worship, and teach your child how to shake hands and greet others.  If your child is shy, don’t force it, but practice at home and let your child see you greeting others. Let the child put the hymnbook and Bible away after use, and be sure to take your bulletin with you, rather than leaving it in the pew. Meeting other people and taking care of the church facility helps a child feel that “This is my church!”

9.         Get to know the pastor.

Pastors of child-friendly churches love to get to know the children of the church. Introduce your child to the pastor after worship, and participate in other church activities so that the pastor becomes a friend and not a scary adult.

10.       Don’t give up!

It may take awhile for your child to become comfortable in worship, and to learn how to sit quietly. The best way for this to happen is to attend worship on a regular basis. There may be days when it doesn’t go well, but don’t let this stop you from coming the following week. Practice makes perfect!

GIVEAWAY: One Chat With Vera reader has the opportunity to win a copy of Ryan Go To church for that special child in their life. Begins September 27 & ENDS October 11 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to US and Canadian addresses only.
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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Rufus and Ryan Go to Church from the publisher CandyCane Press an imprint of Ideals Publications A Guideposts Company in exchange for my honest opinion. No compensation was received for this review. Giveaway copy for the winner is provided by and shipped by publicist/publisher.

Two associated books reviewed: "Grace Unplugged" (novel) by Melody Carson & "Own It: Leaving Behind a Borrowed Faith" (non-fiction) by Michael & Hayley DiMarco (Review & Giveaway)

About Grace Unplugged the Novel: Grace Trey is an 18 year old singer as passionate about her Christian faith as she is her phenomenal, God-given musical talent. Both traits come from her father, one hit wonder Johnny Trey who found Jesus after losing his chart success two decades ago.
When Grace encounters her own music break of a lifetime, the sudden dive into the "real world" puts her deeper beliefs to the test. Pop superstardom is just within reach but appears to require some spiritual compromise. Will Grace reject her faith, or will she own it?
"Grace Unplugged" is based on the motion picture of the same name starring AJ Michalka (Super 8) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) with performances by award-winning artists Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace.

About "Own It, Discover Your Faith in God" - The movie Grace Unplugged tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test.

Own It mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges.
Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!

REVIEW:
“Grace Unplugged” the novel by Melody Carson is a story with a very believable teenage character in a battle for independence and freedom.   Grace longs to make her own decisions and her own choices and be out from under the reigns of her conservative parents.  “Grace Unplugged” realistically captures the struggles many teens and parents face as children grow up.  The author weaves a wonderful tale that draws the reader to wanting to know how it all turns out in the end.  There is some predictability to the story but there are also some surprises that keep the reader interested to the very end.  I would recommend this for teens as well as parents. 
“Own It Leaving Behind a Borrowed Faith” by Michael and Hayley DiMarco is a must read for any Christian that is seeking to grow in their relationship with the Lord.   This book will challenge the faith of more mature Christians as well as encourage a Christian very young in the Lord.  The authors clearly present what God expects of those that call themselves Christians and want to follow Him.  I very much enjoyed the inserts of real people and their own personal experiences in their walk with the Lord.  I found the book encouraging and challenging which is what every Christian needs.  Well written.

"Grace Unplugged" - the movie - releases October 4 

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About the "Grace Unplugged" Author:  Melody Carlson has sold more than five million books. A professional writer for twenty years, she recently received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Melody has two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

About the "Own It" Authors:  Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than thirty books including Dateable, Marriable, Mean Girls, and The Woman of Mystery. She has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept National Women's Conference, and MOPS Intl. among others and has consulted on the creation and enhancement of some of the largest stadium events for teens and young women in North America.
Michael DiMarco is a skillled communicator and teacher who has authored more than a dozen bestselling books including the 2010 Christian Bookof the Year for Youth, B4UD8 (Before You Date). He and his wife, author Hayley DiMarco, have one daughter and live in Nashville, Tennessee. 
(Reviewed by Claudette Delorge)  “Disclosure of Material Connection; I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

"Hooligan Bear: A Special Day" Book 3 in series by Ian Toynton & illustrated by Andrea Dietrich (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9781601311313

I hate for this to come to a close, but I received the three published books about Hooligan Bear by author Ian Toynton and delightfully illustrated by Andrea Dietrich and I reviewed the first two here on Chat With Vera; and now, as all good things inevitably must do, we have the final review. (But all is not lost, they are Tweeting and Storify-ing Hooligan Bear.)

In Hooligan Bear: A Special Day we see the bears are still living in the deserted building and are settled in on the shelf. They are having so much fun - as friends are wont to do - getting into stuff, being friends with each other, watching Scooter on the skate board and that is where this story begins. Scooter is cavorting on his skateboard and wham-o he gets slammed by a baguette (you know, a loaf of bread). Realizing their good fortune, they perch the bread atop the skateboard to take home for Lenny's birthday. When they arrive "home" they all realize that Little Louie is crying. And the reason is, "I've never had a birthday," he sputtered, "and I don't know what a birthday is."

"Inside the bakery, the Master Baker
was far too busy to see Scooter
suddenly appear outside the window."

Then the wheels of thought in the bears heads begin to spin and they decide that Little Louie needs "A Special Day."  And so the adventure begins. They seek out the bakery and enter clandestinely and retrieve a discarded cupcake. But as you know, only Hooligan Bear and friends can do this in such a delightful way.

Now would we want our own boys and girls to behave this way to achieve a special day for someone? Probably - no, definitely - not. But this is a story. It is far fetched. And the adventure is not the real soul of the story. The real soul of the story is the hearts full of love, friendship, and kindness the bears exhibit for one another. It is about friendship.It is about giving of oneself to another to make something special for them. So I can again recommend a Hooligan Bear  book to each of you - to one and all - as a good read, a delight to behold, and a treasure for the library.

GIVEAWAY: A copy of Hooligan Bear: A Special Day is reserved by the publisher for one of Chat With Vera's readers.Just enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Have fun and here is hoping that there will be many special days in your life and that of those you love. Begins September 26 & ENDS October 15 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open for US mainland addresses only.
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DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and author for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review. Giveaway copy will be shipped directly to the winner by the publisher or author.
Ways you can follow the adventures of Hooligan Bear:  http://storify.com/HooliganBears, http://www.facebook.com/hooliganbear, & Twitter @hooliganbears @hbhooliganbear @hblittlelouie

Andi Unexpected! by Amanda Flower (for th 8-12 year old reader - Review & Giveaway)

ISBN 13: 9780310737018
Hardcover $10.99

About the book: Twelve-year-old Andora “Andi” Boggs and her sister Bethany move to rural Ohio to live with their eccentric aunt after the sudden death of their parents. While dealing with her grief, Andi discovers proof of another Andora Boggs hidden in a Depression-era trunk. No one remembers this Andora. Andi, with the help of her new friend Colin Carter, is determined to find out who Andora was and what happened to her.

Review:  I really like Andi as a character. She is sweet, smart, and  just jam-packed full of energy and inquisitiveness.  She and neighbor, Colin, go on a merry run to solve the mystery.  

Though written in today's world, it has the charm of a 1940s or 1950s era when kids could freely roam the neighborhood and town without harm. Of course, there is mystery here and "danger" and some intrigue. But there is just enough danger and just enough mystery to grab the attention of 8 to 13 year olds without scaring the be-jeebies out of them. 

I loved the unmarried Aunt Amelia that takes the orphaned girls in and provides a home for them. She is a character-study herself but devoted and loving to the girls. The next door neighbor grandmother of Colin is warm, smart, and sure to capture your heart, too.

All in all, this was a good read sure to please the young crowd.

GIVEAWAY: Want a copy for that special middle-reader? Use the Rafflecopter Form below to enter a book giveaway of Andi Unexpected provided by the good folks at ZoderKidz. Begins Sept. 26 & ENDS October 16 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to US mainland addresses only.
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About the author:  Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read her story out loud and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. She writes the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series for Band H, and the India Hayes Mystery Series for Five Star. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan for NAL. A librarian for a small college near Cleveland, you can visit Amanda online at www.amandaflower.com and www.isabellaalan.com.  

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Andy Unexpected from the publicist on behalf of Zonderevan and the author.