I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Did you see this verse in which it states clearly that endurance is taught in the Scriptures? It is also learned through life experiences. And the end result is hope. Our daughter is named Hope and there is an interesting story behind her name. My husband is a twin, but his twin Beverly died at birth while he lived. His mom was always saddened by the fact that she never had a little girl, although she was blessed with three strapping boys. When I got pregnant, I shared with her that I hoped to have a girl and she immediately told me that the male determines the gender and her side of the family only had boys. Nevertheless, I dared to hope that our first baby would be a girl, even choosing the name Hope and the middle name Ellen (her Grammy’s name). When I went into labor at the end of August, before the time of gender reveals and ultrasounds telling you the sex long before the due date, I was still hoping that the baby would be a girl but I wasn’t going to be surprised to have a boy instead. After a very short labor (less than four hours from beginning to end and another answer to prayer), our little miracle was born. A girl! Hope Ellen Watts was born at 3:15 in the afternoon on August 31st! Now, when I am praying and think about how impossible it might be for God to answer, I remember that day in the hospital when SHE was born. She lives up to her name, too, spreading light and cheer wherever she goes. I’m sure her grandmother would be so proud of the beautiful young woman she grew up to be. Grammy lived to see Hope settled meet a few of her great grandchildren, but no one seemed to touch her heart as much as Hope Ellen, her namesake and the girl who was supposed to be a boy. Encouragement, endurance and hope!
Have a blessed day today and remember to smile at others. It may give them some hope!
As Christians, we are free from sin but not free to do whatever we want. God loves us enough to put boundaries on our freedoms so that we will not harm ourselves or others.
This is a well-researched book that delves into the dark world of cybercriminals and also informed me of how much harm a cyber attack can actually do. Part of the Rocky Mountain Courage series, this one knocked it out of the park with suspense from the very beginning until the end. I liked the picturesque setting in Montana and all of the ways that the setting was used so well for the non-stop action. I particularly enjoyed the low-key romance developing between Alex and Mackenzie. They were so busy concentrating on finding and stopping the cyber attack that they barely had time to acknowledge each other’s feelings, but they were definitely attracted to each other. That is my kind of love story, simmering on the back burner until one day it catches on fire. The plot was complicated and very well told so that it was understandable in spite of the fact that it dealt with some really complex issues in the cyber world. I really enjoyed meeting the characters from the previous books in the series again as they were called in to help Alex safeguard Mackenzie and capture the criminal. I was not able to guess who the bad guy was, and I do love a book that keeps me guessing until the big reveal. Fans of romantic suspense, with the emphasis on suspense, will enjoy this final book in the trilogy and, like me, will look forward to the next book from this talented author. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Christian fiction with some intense actionBio: With over a million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES–a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried,Backfire and Deceptionare finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to fulfill her dreams of writing full-time. Information from the author’s website at https://elizabethgoddard.com
Questions and Answers from the author:
1. This book deals with cyber-security as the villain and heroine are hackers. What led you in that direction?
I have a computer science degree and worked in the software industry for almost a decade before retiring to become a writer. Cybercrime is a huge issue since we are all connected to technology so I decided to dive into the topic, especially since I love to bring intrigue into my adventure stories, this one in Montana.
2. What was the most interesting (or most frightening) thing you learned while doing research for this book?
While conferring with a cyber security expert, I learned that almost anything I could imagine a hacker could do—they actually CAN do.
3. What was your favorite part of writing this book/series?
I loved writing about both my characters, Mackenzie and Alex. I especially enjoyed writing about Alex’s character and his background as a Diplomatic Security Services special agent
4. Did anything in the story end up surprising you or changing trajectory?
What a great question. This often happens in stories and that’s okay because if it surprises me, then it surprises my readers. If the trajectory changes, then that’s a great twist as well. On Critical Alliance, I’m not sure the trajectory was changed, but since I mostly write by the “seat-of-my-pants” everything was a surprise.
5. Do you base your characters (even loosely) on anyone you know?
I do not intentionally base a character on someone I know, but I think it’s impossible not to include bits of every person you’ve ever met when creating a brand-new character.
6. Do you have any “bits of trivia” or “behind the scenes tidbits” that you would like to share with my readers?
Yes! I introduce Detective Trevor West in Critical Alliance and he shows up as the main character in book 2 in my Missing in Alaska series—coming next year.
7. What’s coming next and when can we expect it?
Cold Light of Day is book 1 in my brand-spanking-new series, Missing in Alaska, and will release in February 2023. I’m so excited for you to get your hands on this first book.
Thank you for having me! Readers can stay in the knows by signing up for my newsletter at my website: elizabethgoddard.com
This book will be released tomorrow, on July 5th, but you can preorder it now. Purchase Links:
Get this amazing book today and enjoy it! I am blessed to be a member of the Revell Reads Blogger Program and was chosen to read an early Netgalley copy of the book. I also received a hard copy from the author since I am a member of her influencer team. Double blessings and one of the best books I have ever read!
If you have ever had a panic attack, you know the terrible feeling that you just cannot get enough air and the light-headedness that follows. I used to have panic attacks frequently, particularly in large crowds or heavy traffic. Diagnosed as agoraphobic (fear of crowded spaces), I was told I could overcome the fear or it would overcome me. Well, since fear is not part of God’s desires for me, I chose to overcome the fear. How? Be taking deep breaths and saying a prayer before I faced a difficult situation and by making sure that my husband was nearby until I felt comfortable.
Today’s Scripture verse reminded me of the hard times I went through about thirty years ago as I dealt with a fear that could be debilitating except for God’s grace and power.
The devotional itself reminded me of the tactics I used to make it through the difficulty of being in a crowd. Jeanette Blackmer who wrote today’s devotional for “Mornings with Jesus” said that when you are afraid, you should say a “breath prayer.” Breathe in slowly and say, “Jesus is with me.” Then exhale slowly and say, “God created me and is with me.” Or, of course, any other short prayer that you want to say. I realized when I read the devotional that this is almost exactly what the Holy Spirit had led me to do during my fear phase. Overcoming fear means to let Go and allow God to occupy the space that fear has been occupying. Let God in and fear flees. No great wisdom, but it was a great help to me and I hope that some of you will see the practicality in this simple solution to fear.
Have a blessed Sunday and may you find a good church to worship God, our Maker and Restorer, today.
When my children were younger, it was easy to find a gift that would please them because they wanted just about everything they saw on TV or that their friends had. So, from their lengthy wish list, I chose a gift or two and they were generally happy. As they got older, it became more of a challenge to find something to surprise and satisfy them. As a result, I had each child create a wish list on Amazon and I choose gifts from that list or similar to items on that list. I also always add a surprise that isn’t on the list since I listen carefully to our conversations all year long and try to glean from those the information I need to make informed and wise gift choices. The gifts I choose are not always perfect, but they are always appreciated. It makes my heart happy to see sweet smiles and hear a grateful “thank you.”
In my devotional this morning, I was reminded that I don’t have to present a wish list to God in order to receive gifts from Him. In fact, getting up this morning is a gift, seeing photos online of my grandchildren having weekend fun is a gift, meeting our son today to celebrate his birthday is a gift. Everything I have is a gift from God, especially my health and my attitude of gratitude. It was not always that way. I used to complain about everything, even after I became a Christian. Yes, that suit you chose for me is nice, but the color is all wrong. I like the cute socks you got, but they are a little too thick for me. Get the idea? Nowadays, and for the past two decades or so, I have been practicing being grateful, especially to God, for the little things and the big things that He does for me every day. God chastised me about my complaining spirit and that is a habit I have to consciously be aware of and flee from.
Of course, the best gift God ever gave is His salvation to us by sending Jesus to die for us on the cross. But God didn’t stop there. He also sent His Holy Spirit who guides and comforts us. He sends us promises in His word, promises that He fulfills daily. In addition to the verse about God’s perfect gifts, I read a verse this morning that spoke to my heart about one of the gifts that I hold most dear.
This is a promise that I cling to when I am afraid, and there is a lot that makes me fear sometimes. I don’t like to be alone at night, but sometimes my husband has to go see his brother who is about five hours away and he spends several days and nights there. But I hold tightly to Psalm 91 and the verse above goes right along with it. The Book of Psalms is filled with God’s promises. In fact, if you follow David Ettinger’s posts, he wrote about Psalm 67 this morning and the glorious promise that Jesus will return.
We are meeting our son today and celebrating. I hope that he will enjoy his gifts, but mostly I pray for him to have a good year, one filled with hope in God’s promises and confidence that God is in control. Having a God-centered life is the best gift of all!
May you have a blessed day with time to reflect on God’s gifts to you and how perfect each one is, especially the timing when He gives them.
Imagine if all of us who call ourselves Christians carried out the truth of this verse in our lives! Like the early disciples, I think we would set the world on fire with the Gospel. Others would hear and see a living witness. So, what is stopping us from following this admonition? Our own choices, of course. Think about it and what you can do to build up others in Christ.
Have a blessed day, filled with God’s love and His word active in your life and heart!
Do you remember being a child and doing a “pinkie swear” with a friend? I do, and I was always devastated when the other person broke their promise. When I became a Christian almost five decades ago, I discovered that one of God’s character traits is that He never lies and He never breaks a promise.
Do you see the promise in this verse? It’s a conditional one, meaning that we have a role to play in the fulfillment of it. We love God and He promises to love us. We seek God and He promises that we will find Him.
How do we seek God? By spending time with him, reading His Word, talking to Him as our closest friend and confidante. We can tell God anything and He won’t gossip about it or make us wish that we had not told Him to begin with.
How do we love God? By putting Him first in our lives, above all people and all things. I don’t think that we can say that we love God if we don’t spend time with Him. He isn’t the genie that pops out of the bottle to grant our wishes when we pray. He is the Creator of the Universe who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, so how can we do less than make Him our first priority. We represent Him to all who see us and know that we call ourselves Christians, so let’s love Him by being good representatives, not poor imitations of what He desires us to be.
I hope that you enjoyed this promise as much as I did. Love=Love. Seek=Find.
Have a blessed day filled with God’s goodness, promises love.
I could not put this book down because the plot and characters drew me in like a bee to honey. Kat and Meg are different sides of the same coin. Meg wants to expose the villains who prey on women and Kat wants to expose Meg for what she considers entrapment of those men, using her expertise as an investigative reporter to investigate Meg while Meg uses her life experience to find men who need to be caught and suffer consequences for their actions. Both women have a lot in common even though they have different backgrounds and both are equally interesting. Most of the book is written from Meg’s point of view, but the narrator does switch off between the two. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game that was portrayed in the book, both between the two woman as well as Meg and her current prey. Both women are seeking justice, just a different variety. The plot was original and highly entertaining. Touted as a domestic thriller, I would wholeheartedly agree with this description. The action was fast-paced and completely absorbing. There were come complex parts of the book in which Meg was describing her actions and the backstory for why she was pursuing justice in her own way, but the plot was written so well that I followed it without batting an eye. In fact, I was rooting for the two women to join together and become a kick butt team of justice warriors! I loved the main characters, the original plot and the way the story was so riveting. I especially enjoyed the unexpected twists and surprises which the author masterfully included. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Rated PG-13 because of content. This book is contemporary fiction and the genre is considered a domestic thriller.Photo and Bio are from the author’s website at http://www.julieclarkauthor.com
This book is available now and may be purchased at one of the following links:
Although I generally like to savor the Christian romantic suspense that I read, I just couldn’t do it with this book. The pace was so fast and the action was so intriguing that it was impossible to put down. Beginning with a mass shooting, the heart-pounding action just kept up the rapid race through all of the events leading up to the deaths and all that the USCGIS agents were doing to find the perpetrators who had executed such horror at such a celebratory event. Brooke was called on to exhibit her skills as a medic time and time again and Noah Rowley, the team leader, has to use all of his expertise and a lot of prayer to trace the clues. The story is twisted and engaging as Noah’s team is led on a not-so-merry chase to find the group of men responsible for the devastation, only to discover that their planned mayhem is not over. The love stories in between the mystery and suspense were equally mesmerizing, with Noah and Brooke’s unlikely attraction as well as Caleb and Austin’s playful one. The scenes with the couples were like a break from the intensity of the main story and a much needed distraction from the seriousness of the crimes that were being investigated. All of the characters were well-developed, even the villains who were just as despicable as one would expect. The entire book was a race to the finish for me and I loved each minute I spent with the Coastal Guardians as they struggled to make sense of the violence and chaos before it became worse. Fans of romantic suspense will love this book, especially the intensity and the research that went into such a brilliantly written story! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book PG because of the intense action. There is a bloody scene (the gore is not described graphically) at the beginning of the book that sets the stage for the rest of the story.
This book releases on July 5th, and it is available now for preorder. Purchase Links:
Don’t miss out on the preorder specials. Follow one of the links below and preorder, then go to http://www.danipettrey.com/preorder to record your purchase.
Photo and Bio are from the author’s website at http://www.danipettrey.com Visit the site for more information about Dani and her amazing books! Many thanks to Bethany House for publishing such uplifting and entertaining fiction! I am pleased to be a part of Dani Pettrey’s influencer team and hope that you enjoyed the review and will consider purchasing this amazing book.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 