Story of Love, Murder and Redemption} by Bonnie Floyd

Book Description:  At six o'clock on a cold, foggy morning in Fresno, California, Bonnie Floyd's horrific nightmare began . . . but she was wide-awake! This may sound like the beginning of a fiction thriller, but it isn't. This is a true story, and the nightmare was all too real. Life as Bonnie had known it was over, and the future she faced was unimaginable . . . unspeakable. Bound to a Promise is a nonfiction novel, told in fascinating, page-turning fiction style. This astonishing true story will grab you with the first sentence and hold you captive until the very last page. Based on Scotland Yard's investigation, newspaper reports, court transcripts, and eyewitness accounts, Bound to a Promise has it all-exotic settings, courtroom drama, real-life adventure, convicting testimony, and puzzling mystery. The key to this disturbing drama hangs on a very crucial and binding promise made to Bonnie. Did the promise maker keep that promise or was there a chance it was broken? The answer to that burning question had everlasting consequences both for the one who made the promise and to whom the promise was made. This shocking story is like an exciting action movie played out in powerful print. Don't be surprised if it captures your heart and you, too, become bound to a promise.

My Thoughts:  Wow!  What a read!  As I began reading Bound To A Promise I thought of Mark Twain's quote: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.”  Bonnie writes a stranger than fiction story that will break the reader's heart and also tell a tale of love and forgiveness.  
Written in the first person this story is like reading Bonnie's thoughts and feelings straight from her personal journal but in a nicely bound paperback book.
The mystery, suspense, love and forgiveness all mixed into one read is like a delicious casserole that will satisfy the palate of all those eating it . . . . court scenes (Scotland Yard), color pictures of Bonnie and her parents/family, and something I've not yet seen in another read-those little widgets that one can scan from a device to look up info.
Even though this is a nonfiction novel the reader will be immersed in a life changing, nightmare gone wrong, faith to forgiveness, love conquerors all read!
One of those reads that should not be missed!

*This book was provided for review by The B & B Media, Inc.*

About the Author:

Connect with Bonnie HERE!

Paperback: 336 pages

• Publisher: Creative Enterprises Studio; 1ST edition (2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098905215X
• ISBN-13: 978-0989052153

Black Friday

Hope you're reading today . . . whether you're at the                  Black Friday Sales, standing in line 

or 

at home baking and decorating for Christmas 

with a reading break!

Giving Thanks!

{Tyndale Blog Tour} The One Year devotions for Women {Becoming a Woman At Peace} by Ann Spangler

Book Description:  Peace—don’t we all want just a little more peace in our lives? Peace in relationships. Peace at home and at work. Peace from painful memories. Release from pressures and demands that threaten to crush us. Is there a way to find peace in all these areas? What if we could build a moment of peace into every day of the year, opening our hearts to the peace God has promised? Wouldn’t it be great to live with less fear and anxiety, and with more confidence and joy?

The One Year Devotions for Women: Becoming a Woman at Peace is a chance to spend time with God every day, to breathe deeply and grab onto the kind of peace that only God can offer—a peace far richer and more satisfying than anything we can hope or imagine. Each of these uplifting devotions includes a key NLT Scripture verse, a devotional reading, and a suggested prayer for connecting with God.

My Thoughts:  The New Year will soon be here and at the beginning of each new year I like to begin reading 

through the Bible.  But sometimes it ever so nice to have a devotional to read along with my Bible passages.

When I received Ann Spangler's devotions for Women, Becoming A Woman At Peace, I knew this was the devotional for me!

I like the no nonsense pages, there are no cute, crafty little pictures to side track the reader just a date at the top of the page, a title for the devotion, the verse for the devotion and then Ann's words that will encourage a woman and bring sweet life flowing peace to the soul, and then Ann has a printed prayer at the bottom of each page to end that particular devotion.

Now, if you are more of a peaches-n-cream type of woman and not a basic I just.want.to.read type of woman then this may not be the devotional for you.  

I like this particular devotional because I can get right into the devotional and move onto my Bible reading without distractions.  

Basic black and white pages work for me!

This devotional would also make a wonderful gift for that woman in your life who is seeking peace from a loving God!

*This devotional book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing*

• Series: The One Year Book
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414336020
• ISBN-13: 978-1414336022

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Christmas Treat

We're getting ready for Christmas!  And this will be a great treat!  (From Pinterest via the SIxSisters)

Ingredients

22    individual Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (regular size), unwrapped -16 for the bottom 

 6      crumbled on the top

3 cups chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Line a 9x9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place the peanut butter cups in an even layer on the bottom of the pan. (You should use 16 on the bottom)

Place chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until chips and milk are melted together.

Once everything is melted together, spread evenly over peanut butter cups in prepared pan. Immediately sprinkle with the crumbled Reese's, pressing them lightly into the fudge. Cool until firm. I like to cool the fudge on the counter until it’s room temperature, then cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator to harden completely. Cut into squares and serve.

Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson

Book Description:  When a Warning Siren Screams in the Desert Night, 
the Worst Has Happened
After turning out plutonium for the Cold War, the shuttered Hanford Nuclear Facility's poisoned buildings may be a bigger risk than ever. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings are told the dangers are under control. But then the worst happens--a thunderous explosion in the dead of night.

Kieran Mullaney survived the blast, but when threats and silence meet his attempts to discover what really happened, he reconnects with an old friend--inexperienced lawyer Emily Hart. Convinced Hanford is hiding something, they also realize their case is sunk without more help. 

Emily's estranged father, Ryan, has the courtroom experience they need, but he's grown jaded and weary of the profession. Still, it's a chance to rebuild ties to Emily, and the deeper he digs, the stranger--and more dangerous--the case gets.

My Thoughts:  Just reading the back of the book gave me goose bumps!  You know the kind of goose bumps that tell you this is going to be one exciting read!  And boy!o!boy!  was it ever!

Kieran and another survived "a thunderous explosion in the dead of the night."

Kieran needs a good lawyer to defend him in court so he looks up an old friend, Emily Hart.  Emily is inexperienced but calls on her dad, a top-dog lawyer  . . . Emily Hart and her estranged, dad, Ryan, are defending Kieran in court after the blast.  

Now Ryan Hart is somewhat jaded, see.it.all type of lawyer and even          though he has experience he may not dig deep enough to free Kieran.  Emily is "new" and fresh and she wants to dig and find the answers to what really happened on the night of the blast!

Go, Emily!  But digging will bring answers and danger!

A great-tastic suspense read (even though it's labeled a legal thriller).

This is a fantastic christian read for all those mystery/suspense/legal thriller reads!  (you know the John Grisham kind of reads!)

*This book was provided by Bethany House*

Don't miss Mr. Johnson's debut novel:

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 19, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210157
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210150
• 
  

COTT {Clash of the Titles} November Clash

There are TWO new books on this list that I want to read!                      Check them out:

Clash of the Titles Newest Gems

This November Clash of the Titles presents a fantastic selection of brand new books to check out.

Add an American classic, a biological science fiction with suspense, young adult, inspirational romance and Amish story to your to-be-read or Christmas wish list.

 

When Mountains Move 
By Julie Cantrell

For most of Millie’s life, being free felt about as unlikely as the mountains moving. But she’s about to discover that sometimes in life, we are given second chances, and that the only thing bigger than her past … is her future.











Dark Biology
Bonnie Doran

Renowned vaccinologist "Hildi" Hildebrandt has set her sights on beating her brother to a Nobel Prize, and the opportunity to conduct experiments on the International Space Station might just provide the means to obtain that goal. On Earth, Chet Hildebrandt will teach a lesson to his hot-shot astronaut sister, their philandering hypocritical father, and the CDC by releasing what he thinks is a mild influenza strain.

Edna in the Desert
By Maddy Lederman

Edna is a spoiled, tech-addicted teen wreaking havoc at her Beverly Hills school. How can she survive a summer at her grandparents' cabin, cut off from cell phone service, Internet and television?












Stone of Destiny
By Mary L. Ball

Can a mysterious ring change lives? Taylor’s emotional journey begins; testing a heart cold as stone when discovers a missing heirloom.











Awakened Love                      
By Laura V. Hilton                           

He’s hiding from a cold-blooded killer; her Amish identity has been stripped away. Both must find a way to balance their hearts, their jobs, and their faith while risking their lives for another.

Andi Unexpected (An Andi Boggs Novel) by Amanda Flower

Book Description:  Twelve-year-old Andora 'Andi' Boggs and her fourteen-year-old sister Bethany move to rural Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt after the sudden death of their parents. While dealing with her grief, Andi discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree whose existence was hidden in a Depression-era trunk in the attic. With help from her new friend and neighbor, Colin Carter, Andi is determined to find out who this first Andora was and what happened to her.

My Thoughts:  Andora "Andi"  Boggs and her sister are left as orphans when their parents are killed in a plane crash.  Now, the girls are left in the care of their aunt, Amelia. Amelia is only in her twenties and not parent material…but for all of her quirks and mess ups she does a fairly good job with the girls.

This is a "fun" mystery.  I enjoy Amanda Flower's easy way with words.  This story has a flair that stems from the "early days" when kids could roam freely from one place to another without fear of predators.  So, with this in mind Andi and her neighbor, Colin, find a trunk with "leadings" to the first Andora.

As an adult I liked this mystery so I think that most 9 -12 year olds (maybe even some early teens)  would enjoy this clean mystery.  And it's such a nice hardback book - great for gift giving!

*This book was provided for review by BookSneeze*

• Age Range: 9 - 12 years
• Series: An Andi Boggs Novel
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (September 24, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031073701X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310737018

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} A Sweet Treat!

Bakeless Cake

1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 small can crushed pineapple, undrained

40-50 vanilla wafers

1 8-oz. carton cool whip, thawed

2 cups sweetened, flaked coconut (we don't like coconut, so optional)

12-16 maraschino cherries, rinsed

Whisk together sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Mix in pineapple with juice and set aside.

Line the bottom of a small glass baking dish (8x8 or 7x10) with vanilla wafers. Pour all of the pineapple mixture over vanilla wafers then add another layer of vanilla wafers on top of pineapple mixture. Spread cool whip evenly on top of vanilla wafers then sprinkle with coconut. Top with cherries then cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours before serving.

The Tattered Quilt (The Return of the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Book Description:  Amish widow-turned-newlywed Emma Yoder Miller begins another quilting class with a new group of unlikely students, all with tattered pieces of their lives that need mending.

Selma is a belittling busybody. Terry is a rugged roofer who just wants a casual date with a pretty classmate. Blaine loses a bet and has to join the class, where he soon finds himself in friendly competition with Terry. Anna’s mother signs her up in a desperate attempt to keep Anna from leaving the Amish faith. Carmen holds tightly to bitterness while hiding her secret motives for taking the class. And Cheryl has a broken, mistrusting heart that needs just as much mending as the tattered quilt she brings.

Members of this new patchwork group find friendship, faith, healing, and restoration while gathered around their quilts, under the Father’s guiding hands — for only He can take what’s ragged and shabby from the lives of His children and turn it into beauty for His glory.

My Thoughts:  I read the first book in this Half Stitched Amish Quilting  Club and it was such a fun read.  

So when I received The Tattered Quilt I knew this would be another.not.to.be.missed.read!

And I was so right!

The first club was full of a mixed motley crew.  Again, poor Emma has quite a crew on her hands. I must admit that Selma got on my last nerve.        Terry  and Blaine have some kind of a guy fight going on.  Poor Emma (the only "real" Amish girl in the group) is way too stressed.  Carmen and Cheryl seem somewhat alike...both struggling with "issues."

This is a fantastic read!  There's not a suspense or mystery, just good people relationships and how people of all ages and backgrounds need/should get along in life.  And that's just what the Quilting Club does-it brings people together as they find out more about God and His mercies.

This is a stand alone read and it isn't just an "Amish" read.  Emma and her new husband are Amish but they just teach quilting. 

If you want a fun light read that is serious about God's mercies and lovingkindness then this is the read for you!

Loved, loved this read!  

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (August 6, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616260866
• ISBN-13: 978-1616260866

COTT {Clash of the Titles} 2013 Laurel Award Feature--Veil of Pearls

On October 18, 2013 Veil of Pearls took home Clash of the Titles's Laurel Award. Over the course of six weeks, the novel's first chapters were read and judged by avid readers of Christian fiction who determined Veil of Pearls to be the worthiest to receive the 2013 Laurel Award.

Clash of the Titles extends a heartfelt congratulations to author MaryLu Tyndall for her exemplary writing. We wish God's richest blessings on her future work. 

About Veil of Pearls:

Be swept away to Charleston of 1811, a city bustling with immigrants like Adalia, who is a runaway slave so light-skinned that no one guesses her past. Terrified her secret will be discovered, she settles into a quiet life making herbal remedies for a local doctor. But when Morgan, the handsome son of a prominent family, sweeps her into his glamorous world—a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin them both—suspicions and petty jealousies are aroused. What will Morgan do when he discovers that the woman he has fallen in love with is a runaway slave?

PURCHASE YOUR COPY

Listen to Cynthia L. Simmon's" Heart of the Matter" radio interview of Laurel Award Winner, MaryLu Tyndall!

About MaryLu:

MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author

of the Legacy of the King's Pirates series is known for her adventurous historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. 

MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband, six kids, and four cats. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but open people's eyes to their God-given potential. MaryLu is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. 

For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website athttp://www.mltyndall.com or her blog athttp://www.crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

The Glory of Heaven: Inspiring True Stories and Answers to Common Questions by Betty Malz

Book Description:  Treasured Glimpses of Our True Home

Miraculous stories of people visiting heaven abound--but what do those stories mean for you? And what do they tell us about this bright and glorious place? With warmth and insight, beloved author Betty Malz explores the wonders we will encounter in our final destination. Using Scripture and drawing from personal, firsthand experiences, she helps you answer questions such as:

Will I recognize and reunite with my loved ones?

Where is heaven located?

What kind of body will I have?

Will I be free from grief, pain and loneliness?

What will we do up there all that time?

When the things of this world get you down, let these pages turn your eyes to heaven and the Father who is waiting for you there. Experience a taste of the sweet joy you will encounter when you, too, walk through those glorious gates.  

My Thoughts:  When I was a young teenager I remember my parents talking about the miracle of Betty Malz. . .because Betty Malz died, God healed her and she came back to life ~ from the dead. 

In one of her most popular books, My Glimpse of Eternity, published in 1977, Malz wrote about how God literally raised her up from her death bed after she was clinically dead for 28 minutes. In this amazing and beloved true story, she tells of what she saw, felt and heard “on the other side of the dividing wall that we call death.”  

So, when I had the opportunity to read The Glory of Heaven: Inspiring  true stories and answers to common questions my memory was piqued.  
Oh! this is such an encouraging and uplifting book!  
I had goosebumps running up and down my arms as I read of God's grace and mercies.  He loves us SO much and Betty attests to this very fact!

A wonderful book that shows us just a glimpse of all that God has in store for us, His children!  

Betty once said, " I want to spend the rest of my life winning souls."  And so she did through her uplifting and encouraging books!  

Malz’s other best-sellers include Angels Watching Over Me and Prayers That Are Answered. She also wrote Making Your Husband Feel Loved, published by Charisma House.

*This book was provided for review by Chosen/Baker Publishing*

About the Author:

Carl and Betty Malz (Larry Lundstrom Ministries)

Betty E. Perkins Upchurch Malz, 82, died on Feb. 4 after a period of declining health. She was a Christian best-selling author of 10 books and a well-known speaker.  She grew up in Indiana, but fell in love with Florida after living there in the late 1950s and ’60s. Malz moved back to the Florida coast and settled in Crystal Beach, Fla., in 1985.

She is survived by her husband, Carl Malz, former vice president of Trinity Bible College. The two were on staff at Christ Church of Palm Harbor, Fla., where her father was a pastor in the 1960s when the church was named Palm Harbor Assembly of God.

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Chosen Books; Revised edition (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800795598
• ISBN-13: 978-0800795597

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Doritos Bake!

Another favorite dish that I found on Pinterest!

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can of Ranch Style Beans (Optional)
1 bag of Doritos (I use Taco Flavor)
1/2 Onion Chopped (I use Sweet Yellow Onion)
1 can of Ro-Tel
1 Packet of Taco Seasoning
1 can of Cream of Chicken
2 cups Cheddar Cheese (or more if wanted)
Serve with Salsa & Sour Cream


Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees. Then grease your Casserole Dish ( 9 x 11 x 3) with a spritz of Pam.
Next drain the ground beef & return it to the pan. Then mix in the taco seasoning, 1/2 cup of water, can of ro-tel and cream of chicken. (Add Ranch Style Beans at this point if used). Simmer for 5 minutes. 
Now it's time to layer... divide everything into thirds. Starting with Doritos.Then Meat Mixture & Cheese.
Repeat & Repeat. 
Cover and throw in the oven for approx. 27 minutes. Cook until cheese is bubbly.
Then I add tomatoes and lettuce on top.  With a side of salsa . . . O!SO!GOOD!

The Church Builder by A.L. Shields

Book Description:  From A. L. Shields---pseudonym for New York Times best-selling author Stephen L. Carter---comes a thrilling new series about a secret war between the forces of faith and those who would destroy it. In the first volume, small-town lawyer Bethany Barclay, struggling to piece together the final months of her best friend's life, becomes the pawn of both sides. One group focused on destroying all religion. One group struggling to preserve the church. One woman searching for the truth. The evidence is against her. The FBI is right behind her. A malevolent killer has her in his sights. And as Bethany digs deeper into a complex web of lies surrounding her ties to the murder of her client's son, she remains unaware of the real battle in front of her.She thinks her friend Annabelle was killed because of what she learned about a rumored first-century Christian artifact. What Bethany doesn't know is that Annabelle died in the crossfire between two shadowy organizations that have been doing battle for centuries. The Wilderness, wealthy and vast, is dedicated to the destruction of all religious faith. The Garden, a group of seven members led by a man they call the Builder, carries on a grim, secret struggle to protect the church. Only a few in the Garden realize that there's more at stake than the artifact the Wilderness is seeking. But as Bethany discovers that she's a tiny part of a larger war, can she trust the Builder to save her? Or will he sacrifice her for the sake of the cause? 

My Thoughts:  I wasn't sure about this book when I first saw it, simply because of the cover picture.  The title The Church Builder  sounded like a carpenter kind.of read and the "whole" snake on a pole reminded me of Moses in the wilderness when he lifted up the snake so the people could be healed…how did all of this make a suspense read??

Well, again, this is where one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover or title.  As I began reading this suspense thriller "it" all began to make sense.  

The church builder seems so be highly thought of con man.  You know, the kind of person that manipulates people to follow him because he wants their money or he wants power (sometimes both).

I found it interesting that when I looked up the name Bethany that Bethany has the definition of:  "People with this name have a deep inner desire for a stable, loving family or community, and a need to work with others and to be appreciated."  And so, Bethany, our heroine/main character, is SO much like this definition.  

Bethany is also wise.  Framed for a murder she didn't commit and with limited time to find the source of evil Bethany is on the front lines of an all out war!

My!Oh!My!  This book was fantabulous!  Such a mixture of suspense and common sense!  Oy!

This is a wonderful hardback book.  With Christmas just a round the corner this will make a fantastic gift for that suspense lover on your list!

*This book was provided for review by BookSneeze/Zondervan*

• Series: The Church Builder Series
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 8, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310332117
• ISBN-13: 978-0310332114

{Blog Tour} Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn .... CONTEST, TOO!!

Book Description:  An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department puts Marc Royce once again on assignment--ferreting out rumors of a clandestine operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran's threat to blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point.

Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.

His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows...

My Thoughts:  YAY! Marc Royce is back and with a vengeance!  Sadly this is the last book in the Marc Royce trilogy.  Haven't read this trilogy?  Then you need to begin with The Lion of Babylon then Rare Earth and finally Strait of Hormuz.  You won't be disappointed! Yes, each book can be read as a stand alone read because each book has a different element that concerns Marc Royce.  But reading them in order gives the reader an understanding of why Marc does what he does.

Now in the Strait of Hormuz, Marc Royce a former U.S. Intelligence Operative goes under cover to investigate money laundering that has to do with high-end art.  

From the first page the excitement comes at the reader with a barrel of gun fire, explosions, and a high speed chase in a red Ferrari!  And Marc is thrown into a perilous situation with a woman he is attracted to but cannot love!  

What a read!  Excitement! Romance! Faith! and Suspense!  

I loved this read!  A great end to fantastic trilogy! A must read! 

*I received a complimentary copy of Strait of Hormuz from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author:  {Pictured: Davis & Isabella Bunn}

Davis Bunn is a four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author now serving as writer-in-residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Defined by readers and reviewers as a "wise teacher," "gentleman adventurer," "consummate writer," and "Renaissance man," his work in business took him to over 40 countries around the world, and his books have sold more than seven million copies in sixteen languages.Strait of Hormuz is the series finale of the popular Marc Royce Adventures. Library Journal named Lion of Babylon (Book 1) a “Best Book of 2011.”  Rare Earth (Book 2) won the 2013 Christy Award for best suspense novel and was a CBA top 20 best-seller.

                        

 Go HERE to enter this fabulous giveaway!

 Read the first three chapters FREE!

Davis Bunn's website at www.davisbunn.com

Subscribe to his blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn

Sign up for his e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm

Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ -- check out my “Strait of Hormuz” board at http://www.pinterest.com/davisbunn/strait-of-hormuz/

Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 5, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211382
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211386