“Christ Arose” By Faith Blum – Blog Tour

Faith Blum has a new book! She wrote, edited, and published a short story in just three short days and you can now get it for free! Read on to learn more about it.

About the Book

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

No longer could I say I was lonely. But oh, how I wish I could! Who could have done such a thing to the Creator of the world? Who had so much hatred for Him?

Available for free on all eBook vendor: http://books2read.com/christ-arose

About the Author

Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and play games with her family. She lives in Wisconsin with her family on a small family farm where they raise goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and have 2 dogs and a varying number of cats.

Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this book, go to her website to sign up for her Monthly Newsletter so you can get an email with fun facts, giveaways, and so much more every month. You will also find links to her other Social Media sites on her website. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her.

Giveaway

Faith is offering a really neat giveaway for this tour. The ParLaGrace etsy seller has an April special right now for a really beautifully made block that says He Lives. Isn’t it pretty? You can enter the giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

Tour Schedule

April 22
Bookish Orchestrations-Intro Post
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima-Book Spotlight
Written Rest-Book Spotlight and Review

April 24
Leila Tualla-Book Spotlight
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae-Book Spotlight

April 25
With a Joyful Noise-Book Spotlight and Review
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Book Spotlight

April 26
Frances Hoelsma-Book Spotlight
Perpetual Indie Perspective-Book Spotlight and Review

April 27
Bookish Orchestrations-Giveaway Winner

BookLook Review: “Written in Love” by Kathleen Fuller

 

Written in Love by Kathleen Fuller

An Amish Letters Novel.

BookLook Review Copy

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

 

About the Book:

When a postal error creates pen pals of two young Amish people, can they put behind their past mistakes to see the bright future God has written for them?

Jalon Chupp has a past he isn’t proud to claim. He’s worked hard to overcome his youthful mistakes, and he has recommitted himself to his faith. When he receives a sweet note included in a piece of misdirected mail, he can’t help but write back. Soon, the letters he receives from Phoebe are the highlights of his days, and with a hopeful heart, he suggests they meet in person.

Phoebe, too, looks forward to every single one of Jalon’s letters. Living with her overbearing aunt, Phoebe doesn’t have too much to look forward to. But when Jalon suggests they meet, she panics—although she has shared some of the deepest longings of her heart with him, she hasn’t been entirely truthful about her past. But when Jalon shows up at her aunt’s doorstep, everything is revealed. And she can only pray he’ll forgive her for holding back the truth.

In order to reach beyond the errors of their pasts, both Phoebe and Jalon must put their faith in something—or Someone—bigger than either of them could pen.

 

My Thoughts:

The idea of a book about letters immediately caught my attention – I love letter-writing. :)

This was an incredibly sweet story. And actually my first Amish fiction. The genre isn’t really my taste, but this book surprised me. It was really good – the story was really good.

I just loved how it started out with letters written between the two characters. There were pages of them, and I so loved that! And even when it melted into third-person telling, it was still captivating. I wanted to know what was going to happen between the two characters and their backstories.

It was a sweet love-story. And not without trials, either! There were several bumps and misunderstandings, making it real.

Even though I wasn’t extremely like the main character, I could still connect with her, and that made the reading all the more enjoyable.

All in all, it was a very sweet romance story. Clean, yet with realistic problems and lessons, some Faith-filled hope, and great characters. :)

I’m hoping to read the next book in this series when it comes out. :)

 

Revell Review: “Pursued” by Lisa Harris

 

“Pursued” by Lisa Harris

Book Three in the Nikki Boyd Files 

Revell Reads Review Copy

My rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars (leaning very close to a full five!)

 

About the Book:

 

Nikki Boyd’s flight into Nashville was routine–up until the crash landing at the airport. When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing–and no one will admit she was ever there. Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial. When she flees from the crash, is she running from trouble or straight into it? Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects.

My Thoughts:

 

This is the third book in the Nikki Boyd Files series, and certainly as exciting as the first two! When I selected this book for review, I knew I wanted to reread the first book (Vendetta) and read the second book (Missing) so I would be ‘up-to-date’, and I’m glad I did, because it was great to read the story and follow each up with the next one. Now, though, I have to wait for more again! Ah the pain of series. ;)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found it riveting. It was fast-paced, and well-written. I loved following the characters again and seeing each one grow more. And I’m impressed that the author can write three consecutive books with each being from the POV of the main character, Nikki, and none are at all boring or tedious! Usually when a series follows the same point-of-few, it can feel “stagnant” or as if you’ve heard it all before, but not so with the Nikki Boyd Files, which I really appreciate. :)

There was one thread of the story that I thought would be more intrical throughout the series by the topic from the first book, but it wasn’t the main plot-line, though I think it was better included in this third book than the second. And I want to read more! This bit may seem confusing, but when you read the books you’ll understand. I just don’t want to give anything away. :)

“Vendetta” is my favourite of the series so far, but “Pursued” is actually a close second. I just really enjoyed the whole plot, and it got me wanting to read more.

Very great suspense series!

 

Bethany House Review: “Treasured Grace” by Tracie Peterson

 

“Treasured Grace” by Tracie Peterson

Book One in the Heart of the Frontier Series

Bethany House Review Program Review Copy

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

 

About the Book:

Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters became her responsibility. A hasty marriage to a minister who is heading to the untamed West seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start, but a cholera outbreak along the wagon trail has left Grace a widow in a very precarious position.

Having learned natural remedies and midwifery from her mother, Grace seeks an opportunity to use her skills for the benefit of others. So when she and her sisters arrive at the Whitman mission in “Oregon Country,” she decides to stay rather than push on.

With the help of Alex Armistead, a French-American fur trapper, Grace begins to provide care for her neighbors, including some of the native populace. But not everyone welcomes her skills–or her presence–and soon Grace finds herself and those she loves in more danger than she imagined possible.

 

 

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to reading this book, but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, actually. On the review-email it gave the description that the main characters were a midwife and a trapper  – and to me, that sounds very good, so I requested it. And while Alex was indeed a trapper, Grace wasn’t a midwife – she was a healer, which maybe they would’ve been called midwives back then, but there was nothing that even mentioned her being called a midwife or any midwifery duties…

But anyway, after I figured that out, I tried to get into the book, and it was a fine read. For me it was just that – a good read, not terrible, but not fantastic either. Pretty light.

Personally, I didn’t feel I could really connect with any of the characters much, and there wasn’t huge depth to the story. It was also a case of instant affection between characters, but not fully carried out till the end.

There was the incident in the middle that was fairly intense and a tiny bit gruesome, and while it was awful, it did help you connect a little bit with two of the side characters.

This book, I felt, was more of ‘tell rather than show’ – you didn’t get to really be involved in the characters or relate to them. You just read what happened to them.

Now, as I say this, I also want to repeat that it wasn’t an awful book – it was clean, and there was a slight sharing of the message of Salvation, albeit not a strong one. For me personally, I wouldn’t mark it as a favourite, but many may love it.

 

Book Review: “Bread of Angels” by Tessa Afshar

I just loved this book so much! Can’t wait till it’s released and can be enjoyed by all! Below is my review. :)

 

 

“Bread of Angels” by Tessa Afshar

Biblical Fiction, Releases June 6th, 2017

Review copy from the author/Tyndale Publishers (Launch Team!)

My rating: 5 out of of 5 Stars

 

Book Description:

Purple. The foundation of an influential trade in a Roman world dominated by men. One woman rises up to take the reins of success in an incredible journey of courage, grit, and friendship. And along the way, she changes the world.

But before she was Lydia, the seller of purple, she was simply a merchant’s daughter who loved three things: her father, her ancestral home, and making dye. Then unbearable betrayal robs her of nearly everything.

With only her father’s secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her business on her own. Determination and serendipitous acquaintances―along with her father’s precious dye―help her become one of the city’s preeminent merchants. But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert. Still, Lydia can’t outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

What a beautiful book, inside and out! But what else would one expect from a Tessa Afshar book? Truly, her books astound me and I love spending time in each one.

“Bread of Angels” provides a very touching and impacting story of Lydia the seller of purple. I so enjoyed following her life-journey, through trials and joys. And “meeting” Paul! That was really good.

I was just incredibly impressed and touched my this book. The lesson of trust – the symbolism of the Bread of Angels, manna, and relying on God for everything. That really hit me. Needless to say, I have many, many marks in this book to revisit and cherish. :)

Lydia was such a real character. I identified with her struggle against fear and the anxiety that brings. And to see the Truth of Jesus and what He’s done for us heal her was beautiful, knowing that He can perform that healing in all of us. What I love about a Tessa Afshar book is the deep truths of Jesus woven so care-fully throughout the story, the absolute love for Him and glories to Him shines from the books.

I find these books healing – God uses them in my life and I am very thankful. To Him be the glory!

“There is never so much sorrow in a life that it should become devoid of hope. Hope may grow fragile as a thread of silk; it may get stuck inside a box of misfortunes. But it is there. Don’t misplace your hope, my sweet child, not even when all of Pandora’s monsters chase you.” Chapter 21

“He does not always keep us from danger, but He preserves us in danger.  I have known hardship, but my heart has felt secure in His steadfast love.” Chapter 24

“I see where this story is headed/ God wanted the people to trust Him for their daily needs. Trust Him to provide for them not just once but continuously.” Chapter 28

“There is nothing in the world so damaged that it cannot be repaired by the hand of almighty God.” Chapter 45

Heeding His Call in Our Writing

I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Deserve to be Inspired. Hosted by Positive Writer.

 

 

I love writing. But I’m not always writing. Some of you may remember a post I wrote last year, “I’m a Writer, no really!” where I explained some of my journey with writing.

Today it is my goal to do my best to encourage you to keep writing. But not daily. Whaaat? You may be asking. I’m not saying you shouldn’t write every day.  But I’m also not one to say “Push through whatever is stopping you and just write 24/7!”. I know that’s what we, as writers, are told to do. Don’t wait for inspiration. But what if…what if we’re not “feeling” our story at the moment? What if when we have “writer’s block” that means we’re maybe not supposed to push through it at the moment?

If we’re writing for God, we are crowning Him King of our writing. He writes through us – it’s ultimately His story. There’s no other goal as worthy and fulfilling as writing for Him, because that means that even when we’re not published, our stories are being used for His glory because they’re for Him. Even if the whole world never gets a glimpse of our writings, He does and He loves them. I find a deep treasure in that.

So, sometimes God may have us stop in our stories. He may have us take a break. He may be prompting us to wait on Him when we feel no inspiration. And I recommend listening to that prompting. Our writing will be SO much richer when we wait on God. Wait for His “Go”.

I’m not saying to be lazy. If God is calling you to write, even through periods of no inspiration, then go for it. What I AM saying is, please, heed His call no matter what that is, in your writing. If He says stop, take a break, then seek Him why you’re writing isn’t flowing at the moment. If He’s showing you to keep going, run that race with His endurance! Sometimes it will be tough, but if He’s at the helm, He’ll give you the words. He’ll guide you and show you He’s in control.

I’ve gone through periods of times where I’ve sat down at my desk and pulled out one of my story notebooks, sharpened a pencil and just stared at where I left off. Wanting words to start flowing. Waiting for them. But they didn’t come. I wanted to write. I thought, “I can do this. Everyone else does.” And I tried writing by myself. If I was able to write anything, it was rubbish because I had run ahead of God and His leading. I wanted to do it all by myself. And so you know what God did to lovingly teach me? He took away my writing ability. I could form no written words. I couldn’t even write a book review. I was at a total loss for words, and I broke down and cried. I realized, I can’t do this on my own. I can’t push through His telling me to wait. Without Him I simply cannot write. He wanted to show me that yes, He’s blessed me with the talent of writing, but without Him it is nothing. Once I repented, gave my writing back to Him, I was able to write – but not me, Him. And it was fantastic. It felt so freeing, so wonderful, because it was in His timing, all about Him.

Three things I learned through this are:

1.It doesn’t matter what “everyone else is doing”. We are only called to follow God.

2. Apart from God I can do nothing. And that’s glorious when we can let go of our self-vision and lean on His.

3. Sometimes it’s not bad to wait. It can be a major time of refreshment.