Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson

Say Hello to Hollywood!

Find out just how funny life can be when you try to script it.

Popular romance author and screenwriter, Janice Thompson, is charming her readers once again with a behind-the-scenes look at life in Hollywood. Her new book, Hello, Hollywood! (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3346-9, $14.99, 288 pages, September) is the second installment in the Backstage Pass series. This time, Thompson takes her readers inside the writer’s room.

At 28, Athena Pappas has a pretty great gig. She’s the head writer of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history, Stars Collide. Yet, something’s still lacking: her love life.

Athena finds nothing wrong with still living at home with her large, wacky Greek family and making her bed with the same Strawberry Shortcake sheets she had as a kid. None of that has prevented Athena from plotting her characters’ romances. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

Athena’s love life gets the shakeup it needs when her boss hires up-and-coming Vegas comedian, Stephen Cosse, to help boost the show’s sagging ratings. Feeling her position as head writer threatened, she starts to doubt her talents, and the fact that Stephen is as good looking as Adonis doesn’t escape Athena’s attention either.

Sparks fly as the competition—and attraction—between the two heats things up. While they struggle to create conflict and comedy for their characters on the page, Athena and Stephen develop a relationship they never would have scripted for themselves and discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives may just be the best thing that’s ever happened.

Hello, Hollywood! delights readers with its charm and humor. Every character will jump off the page and into the readers’ hearts.

My Review

This was a fun story for me. I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved that it referenced The Dick Van Dyke Show...  a favorite of mine, and it made me love the story even more. A modern story that is reminiscent of the good old days of great movies and family values. I loved Athena. She is a fun and lovable character and I loved her wonderful Greek family. And lets not forget Lenora. Her best friend's grandmother who brings much light and humor to the story. A great cast of characters make this a great read!

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thank you!

“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas. To learn more about Janice visit her at: www.janicethompson.com

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.




Thanks for reading and God bless!  :)

Walk Strong, Look Up by Chantel Hobbs

ADOPT A HEALTHY APPROACH TO FAITH, FOOD, AND FITNESS…THROUGH WALKING!

The most powerful exercise for your body and soul 

About The Book

When it comes to diet and exercise, many people are tired, frustrated, and ready to throw in the (literal and figurative) towel.  Lack of motivation and results can leave you feeling drained, dumpy, and defeated.   

In her new book, author Chantel Hobbs (Never Say Diet) will change all that!  Hobbs reveals how just one month can radically transform your outlook. Walk Strong, Look Up (ISBN: 978-0-8007-2049-0; $13.99, 240 pages September) shares the story of how walking renewed her passion for life, and how others can benefit from what she has learned.  Get tips on finding the right shoes, making lighter food choices without sacrificing flavor, and strengthening your muscles to increase your metabolism and energy level.  Most importantly, learn about God’s unconditional acceptance and why He is the perfect walking partner.

Each week of this four week plan offers instructions, stories of encouragement, and questions for reflection, as well as a pre-walk challenge and post-walk chat.  Walk Strong’s plan will help you gain confidence, relieve stress, improve your physique, and stay excited about being active.

Let Chantel show you how walking brings balance to your body, soul, and spirit.  Weight loss and wellness can be yours, starting today!  

“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

My Review 

Walk Strong, Look Up by Chantel Hobbs is a book about getting healthy while getting closer to God. Chantel shows us how to walk for health and a stronger prayer life... and how, when putting these two together, will help you maintain energy and enthusiasm.

After reading The One Day Way, I was looking forward to reading this book as well. I found it to be very encouraging. It's a simple plan to help you make the decision to get healthy while making you strong spiritually as well. Included is a 4-week walking plan that is laid out like somewhat of a devotional. Tips on buying the right shoes, simple exercises, having a good attitude, and a few great recipes all shared with Chantel's friendly style make this a great resource.

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thank you! 

Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose amazing weight-loss story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, FOX and Friends, and on the covers of People magazine.  She is heard weekly on two radio programs and is working on a PBS special about fitness.  Chantel lives in southern Florida.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Thanks for reading and God bless! :)

Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman

Are You Tired of Trying Harder?

Emily Freeman Invites Women to Stop Trying to Impress God and Rest In Him 

She’ll always volunteer to teach Sunday School. If a family needs a casserole, she’s on the list to bring one. She’s seen as dependable, organized, and capable. And she likes it that way. But deep inside she struggles. Is her quiet time long enough? Why does it feel like everyone else in her women’s Bible Study is getting more out of it than she is? What more could God want from her?

In Grace for the Good Girl (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1984-5, $13.99, September, 272 pages), Emily Freeman invites women to let go of the try-hard life and realize that Christ gives us freedom to receive from God rather than constantly trying to achieve for him. As “good girls,” we focus on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives and our unshakable good moods. When we fail to measure up to our own impossible standards, we hide behind our good girl masks, determined to keep our weakness a secret.

“We may have learned to hold our tongue, to raise our hands in worship, to be kind when we feel unkind. We may have learned to act right,” Freeman writes. “But the unseen mind is an unruly battlefield. Even though I know that my spirit has now been united with God’s Spirit and my true identity is found there, my soul still has muscle memory.”

With an open hand and a whimsical style, Freeman uncovers the truth about the hiding, encouraging women to move from hiding behind girl-made masks and do-good performances to a life hidden with Christ.

Chapter by chapter, Grace for the Good Girl helps readers:

•  Learn how to stop hiding behind performance and reputation

•  Let go of the try-hard life

•  Rest in God’s grace instead of trying to impress Him

My Review

First of all.... let me say that I have been waiting for months for the release of this book. When I first saw the preview, I knew it was a book I needed to read. So, to have the chance to review it is a blessing to me. And I was not disappointed.

Grace for the Good Girl is an excellent book for all of us who think we have to be 'good enough' to have worth. Living day by day with the purpose of doing everything just right is not what God intended, yet it's easy to fall into the trap of being 'performance' driven. When you come from a life of being a 'good girl' [not perfect or better], you wonder where you get your value from. It's been said that God "turns your mess into your message" and that "for those who are forgiven much, much is required." But what if you haven't dealt with the mess or been 'delivered' miraculously and now have a ministry to tell about it? Where do you fit in?

I've never seen myself so clearly as I did in the pages of this book. Emily P. Freeman writes with a bold honesty that is like a mirror reflecting my own life. She shares so much from her own thoughts and experiences that it helped me to understand a little more of what I have felt myself. One statement she made in particular sums it up for me:

"Our desire to be the good girl, the good Christian, the good wife, and the good mom becomes our number one priority, and Jesus isn't even in the room. Our failures expose us and so we hide them. We hide us. We work hard to perform for acceptance, and most of the time we don't even realize we are doing it. It has become the natural way of things, the only way we know to live." [ch.2 p.32]

How true that has been in my life. I don't know if I could ever be so honest as to voice my feelings to anyone... let alone write them down for all to see. That takes courage. And thankfully she is courageous enough that the rest of us can benefit and find healing. This is a wonderful book. If you are a people pleaser, have a long to-do list, or think you are impressing others by how busy you are or how hard you work... you need to read this book!

*Litfuse Publicity Group has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thanks!

About the Author

Emily Freeman is a writer who loves to read and a speaker who would rather listen. She writes for DaySpring (a division of Hallmark) and has also traveled as a writer with Compassion International to raise awareness for the needs of children in poverty around the world. She received degrees from both Columbia International University and The University of North Carolina Greensboro. She is married to John, a student ministries pastor, and together they live in North Carolina with their three children. Emily extends a daily invitation on her blog for women to create space for their souls to breathe. Come join the community of grace dwellers at www.ChattingAtTheSky.com.



Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.


Thanks for reading and God bless!

A Lancaster County Christmas

About the book:

Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.

You can buy the book here.

My Review:

This was my first Suzanne Fisher Woods novel and I loved it! It's also the first Amish novel I've read... and it won't be the last. And then throw in Christmas and you have everything you need for a wonderful, heartwarming book.

The winter setting was inviting and the characters lovable. They all mixed together very well. Who would know that a chance meeting at a doctors office could lead to new friendships, healing, and restoration. A great story for the Christmas season... or any time.

*Litfuse Publicity Group has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thanks!

About Suzanne:

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don't have to "go Amish" to incorporate many of their principles--simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily-- into your life.

When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

 Be sure to check out Suzanne's iPad Giveaway. It's Christmas in September!



Thanks for reading and God bless!
Mary Ann :)

It's Christmas in September!

To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway! 

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

• A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.


But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.

A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

Replace A Lack Of Self-Confidence With Lasting God-Confidence!

Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Living in God’s Promises

About The Book

Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Do words you say to yourself, or hear from others, make you question your worth and purpose? Author Renee Swope understands. Even with a great family, a successful career, and a thriving ministry, she still struggled with paralyzing self-doubt. In A Confident Heart (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1960-9, $13.99, 240 pages, August 2011) Swope is the voice of a friend who candidly, and sometimes humorously, shares her story of struggling with doubt and the powerful Truths that transformed her life--and others! Based on her survey of 1,200 women, she identifies common triggers of insecurity and illustrates how we can rely on the power of God’s promises so that we find the security we need and the confidence we long for!

Chapter by chapter, A Confident Heart helps readers:

      Learn how to fail forward even when life or sin sets them back
      Discover their God-given purpose, passion, and personality
      Live free from people-pleasing and performance-based living
      Exchange “against me” thoughts with scripture-based God is “for me” thoughts
      Trust the certainty of God’s promises in the uncertainty of their circumstances and emotions

Powerful scripture prayers are at the end of each chapter, along with Bible study questions and a chart with thirty-one different promises to overcome our most common self-doubts. Foreword written by Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times Best-selling author.

The 7-Day Doubt Diet is a FREE devotional companion offered with A Confident Heart. It offers encouraging insights, powerful promises, practical life-applications, and daily prayers. You’ll lose the weight of self-doubt and gain a confident heart! It is available at http://www.reneeswope.com/.

My Review

This is a book I should have read many years ago. Sadly, it wasn't around back then... but thankfully, Renee Swope has written it now. What a blessing this book will be to all the women who struggle with doubt and self-worth. And that's a lot of us!

Renee share from her heart. Chapter after chapter, she shares stories from her past, her personal experiences that tell us that she's had the same struggles as we have. As I read along, I can't help but see myself in each page. I'm thinking "That's me! She's telling my story!" While I've learned alot since those years long ago, this book is a great reminder for me. We need to be reminded, and often. It's a hard road to get from believing in God... to believing God.

Follow along with Renee as she shares not only from experience, but from scripture as well. Each chapter begins with a Bible verse and ends in a prayer to teach you how to pray God's promises. Following that are questions for discussion and reflection. This is a great Bible study that I highly recommend if you need healing in this area of doubt.


*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thank you!

Renee Swope is a popular national women’s conference speaker, co-host of Proverbs 31 Ministries’ international radio program which is part of the leading women’s ministries in America. Renee is a contributing author including a Gold Medallion finalist, People’s Choice Award finalist, and several online and print magazines. She is a featured writer for Encouragement for Today online devotions that reach over half a million lives each day across the world. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children. For more information about Renee visit: ReneeSwope.com

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Applying Amish Values Can Simplify Your Life, Health, and Career

Learning principles from a gentle people will help safeguard your time together as a family as you learn to slow down, prioritize, and value what’s truly important.

About The Book

Award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher inspires readers to slow down and understand the values that help build a strong family in Amish Values for Your Family (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1996-8, $12.99, 192 pages August 2011). Studies are finding some alarming trends in the daily life of modern families –family time is a vanishing commodity. Compared to thirty years ago, today’s parents spend 40% less time with their children. This decline coincides with the rise in internet use, the popularity with social networks, and the swell of children’s organized sports and activities. What is competing for your family time? Who is winning?

The Amish have maintained one of the strongest and most stable family systems in America. Harvard School of Medicine recently found that Amish people have a lower rate of heart disease than do average Americans as well as lower rates of cancer. Could their simple way of life, hard work, and value of family contribute to a healthier way of life? And, if so, how is it possible to incorporate some principles of the Amish into a modern family without “goin’ Amish?”

In Amish Values for Your Family, Fisher shows how you can adopt the wisdom of the Amish when it comes to family matters. In this inspiring and practical book, readers will find true stories interlaced with solid, biblical advice about parenting, marriage, and all aspects of family life – without selling your car, changing your wardrobe, or moving to the Amish countryside. Readers will learn to prioritize what's truly important, simplify decision-making, slow down as a family, safeguard time together, and letting go when the time comes.

My Review

Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher is simply a book about living... simply. Filled with stories from the Amish themselves, you will discover how they keep their lives focused on what matters most and how that decision affects not only the whole family, but the entire community as well.

One of my most recent goals in life has been to SIMPLIFY. Get rid of all the 'stuff' so I have more time to enjoy what matters most... God, family, and people. This book has not only increased my desire for simplicity, but it has shown me even more reasons for doing so. Filled with heart-warming stories from the men and women raised in the Amish community, it has only made me wish I had made the decision sooner.

One of the stories that struck me the most was of a man who worked for a company that builds houses. He said that they worked on custom built homes, some with a price around a million dollars. He said "I see these folks wanting these big grand houses, strapping themselves to pay the mortgage. Both the mom and the dad have to work to make those big payments, and then the house is empty all day. Little kids get stuck in day care, or older kids come in to cold, empty houses..."  I see this happen in all income brackets. If we only thought of these things before we get ourselves into debt.

While no family is perfect, we can always seek to improve the quality of our lives and those around us. The Amish seem to have it right... keep God, family, and others as a priority. I could learn a lot from the Amish and I'm glad that Suzanne Woods Fisher is willing to share what she's learned with us. :)

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thank you!

About The Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom. She lives in California. To learn more about Suzanne visit her at suzannewoodsfisher.com

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Martha by Diana Wallis Taylor

 Martha Loses Hope As She Looks For The Messiah…and A Miracle.

“Oh God Who Sees, take me also. If not together in life, let me join him in death. I don’t want to live without him.” She looked up at the night sky. Had the God Who Sees kept her from making a mistake? Would it have worked out the way she dreamed?

Author Diana Wallis Taylor creates a beautiful story set in the New Testament following the life of Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus in Martha (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3465-7, $14.99, 256 pages, June). The busyness of Martha is well-known, identified with, studied, and often misunderstood by people today. Often painted in the colors of reproach, Martha seems to be the poster child for how not to be a follower of Jesus. Taylor provides a well-researched touching portrayal of Martha.

When her mother dies leaving young Martha in charge of the household, her family is dependant upon her to oversee the home. Yet like other girls in her village, Martha longs to be married and begin her own family. Considered a fine cook and weaver, Martha is quick to help others within her community. She experiences the hope of love and love lost, trials, friendship, the death of her father, the overwhelming duty to her family, the discovery of the Messiah, the miracles witnessed at the Temple, and the hospitality she shows to her Lord with dignity and grace. However, when Lazarus becomes ill and Jesus is too late – Martha questions both her faith and the Lord. How could she know that one of the Lord’s greatest miracles was only moments away? Through the life of Martha, Taylor shows readers a new perspective and appreciation for this special woman of the New Testament.

My Review

Being a fan of Biblical fiction, I truly enjoyed this book. It is a great story. Diana Wallis Taylor did a wonderful job of bringing Martha to life. I think Martha is always used as a "what-not-to-do" example, and I'm so thrilled with the way the author told her story. She created a reason why Martha was so worried about getting things done.  It's so easy for us to excuse behavior today because we understand the "why" behind that behavior. Sadly... Martha doesn't get that same understanding. Until now.

It's nice to think of Bible characters as what they are. Human. This book will bring to life some of the most talked about people in the Bible... Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. To get an idea of what they were thinking and feeling as they walked with Jesus, and as Lazarus was raised from the dead made me see their story in a whole new light. It is very much in keeping with scripture, yet adds enough fiction to make a wonderful book that you'll be sure to enjoy.

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thank you!

Diana Wallis Taylor enjoys speaking to women’s groups and teaching writing and poetry workshops. She is the author of Journey to the Well, has published many articles, and contributed stories to several books. Taylor lives in California. Find out more at www.dianawallistaylor.com.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Chasing Sunsets by Eva Marie Everson

Ok. Do you want the perfect summer read? This is it!

Chasing Sunsets is the story of Kimberly Tucker. Kim is a newly divorced woman who can't seem to let go of the past and move forward with her life. Until... her father suggests she return to her childhood vacation home to 'take care of the house'. It seems the perfect opportunity to get her mind off things while her boys are with their father for part of the summer. Planning to stay only a few days to get things in order, Kimberly goes to work to find the help that is needed. While she's there, her plans slowly begin to change. She meets with her closet childhood friend, Rosa, only to find she is not the same girl she remembers. Her new neighbor Patsy, with her strong faith, brings much insight into her life. Then of all the unexpected... she is reunited with her first love, Steven Granger. How will it unfold with so much life in between them?

The story takes place in a tiny beach town called "Cedar Key", and all I have to say is... now I want to live there! The scene is painted so clearly it feels as if you are right there with the characters, which by the way, are all so lovable. I can see the birds fly by, feel the ocean breeze, the humidity... even see the sunrise and sunset which are in great detail. Did I say I wish I was there? Yep. I can dream.

Turns out that Cedar Key is a real place that the author visited for this book. She even says that some of the places mentioned in the book are actual businesses in Cedar Key. There really is a Dilly Dally Gally, a Cook's Cafe, a Cedar Key Market, a Kona Joe's and others. How wonderful it would be to see these places first hand. You want to go now too, don't you? If not now... you will after reading this book.

I highly recommend Chasing Sunsets for your summer reading list. It's a great story with characters you can't help but like. It's very relaxing with the beautiful setting. Just a fun, easy read. I can't wait for the next in the series of the Cedar Key Novels. This is one series I will be sure to follow.  Thanks Eva Marie Everson... I loved it!

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thanks!


Thanks for reading and God bless!
Mary Ann :)

A Heart Divided By Kathleen Morgan

A Heart Divided is a wonderful story of Sarah Caldwell and Cord Wainwright. Each raised by fathers who were feuding long before either of them were born, yet both expected to carry on the family tradition of vengeance against the other. Feeling a strong sense of  devotion to their own families, while longing to rid themselves of the bitterness that is destroying those they love, can they ever leave the past behind and move to a happier future?

Kathleen Morgan did an excellent job in showing both sides of the story. I found myself struggling right along with the characters as they were torn between honoring family wishes, or choosing to forgive and trust God. I had a hard time putting the book down as I went from supporting one family and then the other. It was truly filled with emotion as the story played out.

I enjoyed the supporting characters as well. A great mix that rounded out the story. Romance, love, faith, and forgiveness... even a little action and mystery. This is the first book in the Heart of the Rockies series. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to read the next one!  

“Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*Revell Books and Baker Publishing Group have provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. ~ Thanks!


Thanks for reading and God bless!