Esther: Finding Yourself in Times of Trouble (Drawn In Bible Study) by Eugene H. Peterson (Author)

Book Description:  Deepen your friendships as you gather around Scripture for coloring and conversation. Drawn In offers simple four-week Bible studies—perfect for groups or personal devotions. Coloring quiets your heart and mind so you can enter fully into Scripture’s stories. The Bible’s passion and personality come through in The Message, surprising new and old Bible readers alike. Discover the delight of being Drawn In.

My Thoughts:  This is a smallish book.  A nice size to carry.  

It's a wonderful devotional, especially for a group of tween girls.

There is a page of Bible study about Esther and then on the left side there is a color page.  Turn the tight page over and there is a page or half page of questions.  These questions can be answered in a group setting or as a personal study.

I liked the devotional because it has many facets.  Not only can one have a personal devotional but one can color and ponder the Bible story.

Personally, we are going to use these devotional in a group setting.  It's a short just four weeks or a month of Wednesday nights.  

When the girls have completed the Bible study they will have a sweet little book as a keepsake with their coloring in it too.

We had them write their name, date and what they hoped to gain from this Bible study in the front of the book/first page before when began the study.  

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale*

• Series: Drawn In Bible Study
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (June 20, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1631467875
• ISBN-13: 978-1631467875

{Handlebar Blog Tour} Hello Stars (Faithgirlz / Lena in the Spotlight) by Alena Pitts (Author), Wynter Pitts (Contributor)

Book Description:  Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.

My Thoughts:  I've always liked Faithgirlz.  Young teens/tweens, girls between the ages of 8-12 need something good to read too.  And Faithgirlz delivers a great message to this tween group.

In Hello Stars Lena Daniels finally gets a chance to star in a movie.  Every young girl's dream.  

I like the way the author of this story brings out the trials of being a star.  It's not all that it seems to be popular and have all that one wants.

As the story progresses Lena learns that having her sisters with her is an added plus.  But she also comes to realize that she is an example to them.  

This is a great story for tween girls.  Learning that being a star and being in the spot light is not all glitz and glamour.

Just an added note this Faithgirlz series entitled Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and co-written with her mother, editor and author, Wynter Pitts, is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps her faith in balance.

*This book was provided for review by Handlebar Marketing*

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: Faithgirlz / Lena in the Spotlight
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (April 25, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310760593
• ISBN-13: 978-0310760597

Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll

Book Description:  Former Army MP Landry Parker fell into the recovery specialist role quite by accident—to help her ailing father. Now that she’s on her own, she is determined to prove herself and honor her family legacy.

After being shot in the line of duty, former police officer Nickolai Baptiste became a recovery specialist, and he’s good at his job—maybe even the best.

A potential client pits Landry and Nickolai against one another to find the Dutchman’s Lost Gold Mine map that was stolen from her murdered husband, and the potential payday is too enticing to pass up. The trail takes them from New Orleans to Weaver’s Needle in Arizona where legend claims the mine is hidden. Landry and Nickolai are no strangers to adventure, but the unlikely partners quickly discover there’s someone after the treasure and there are those who want to ensure the lost mine in Arizona’s Superstition Mountain stays lost forever.

Can Landry and Nickolai work together despite their distrust of each other to save the legend before more innocent lives are lost? Will they find the real treasure isn’t the gold, but something more valuable. . .true love and understanding?

My Thoughts:  I have not read a novel by Robin Caroll in years even though I've always enjoyed her stories.  So, I was excited to see that she has authored a brand new book.  

This story takes place just east of Phoenix, AZ in the Superstition Mountains.  And that makes the story so real for me since I grew up not too far from this area.  

Landry Parker is a feisty lady and a determined one.  So when she push comes to shove against Nickolai Baptiste to find the hidden treasure, Landry is quite determined.  However, as Landry and Nickolai follow the treasure trail from New Orleans to Arizona they must decide if they are to work together or against each other.  They both have trust issues and both are determined to "prove something."

I loved this wonderful story that is so full of action and adventure.  

And the beautiful Superstition Mountains:  Just a little FYI: The Superstitions are the largest of the mountain ranges surrounding Phoenix, visible from many miles away along the straight roads through the suburbs east of Mesa. They rise steeply above the flat desert to a high point of 5,024 feet, and are characterized by sheer-sided, jagged, volcanic peaks and ridges separated by boulder-filled canyons, all covered by saguaro at low elevations, with other cacti and bushes higher up. Trees are found only at scattered locations, at springs or beside streamways. Early settlers named the hills on account of the many myths and stories told by the local Pima/Apache Indians about the mountains, and tales such as the fabled Lost Dutchman gold mine.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and as under no obligation to post a review.*

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press; Gld edition (June 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 163409994X
• ISBN-13: 978-1634099943

A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston

Book Description: In A Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from best-selling author Amy Clipston, Hannah finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Her community offers her love and support after the untimely death of her husband, but an Englisher offers her the chance of a new life after her unexpected tragedy. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised by his attraction to the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand Hotel. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief. Joshua Glick wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her late husband's brother and business partner, he has always been in love with Hannah. A Hopeful Heart is filled with surprising twists as Hannah tries to balance her life in the Amish community and her growing love for an outsider.

My Thoughts:  Amy Clipston is one of my favorite authors.  She writes with a crisp, clean smoothness that makes reading a pleasure.  

In A Hopeful Heart the first book in the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series we meet sweet,kind Hannah.

Hannah is a widow from the Amish community who works in the Lancaster Grand Hotel.

The reader can identify with Hannah has she tries to come grips with the loss of her husband.  As always the Amish community surrounds and takes care of their own when tragedy strikes.  But Hannah wants to be independent  and takes a housekeeping job at the Lancaster Grand Hotel Now, she must make a living for herself.  

While working at the Grand Hotel Hannah meets the wealthy businessman, Trey Peterson, and an unlikely thread is woven between an Amish woman and an English businessman, as they both deal with grief and loss in their lives.  But Hannah's brother-in-law, Joshua, is/has always been in love with her.  

This read has a surprising number of twists and turns as Hannah, Trey and Joshua make decisions and share in their lives.

Hannah must make decisions with a hopeful heart . . . the hope that life does, indeed, go on.

A wonderful summer read!

Paperback: 304 pages

• Publisher: Zondervan (June 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310319986
• ISBN-13: 978-0310319986

The Farmers' Market Mishap by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter

Book Description:  Living alone for the first time in her life is lonely for Elma Hochstetler, whose twin sister Thelma recently married. Though they share the running of a general store, more and more of Thelma’s time is taken up by her growing family. Elma has dated some, but she wonders if she is just too picky to find love.

Through a mishap at the farmers’ market, Elma meets Ben Wagler and instantly likes him. But there is a problem. He lives in Grabill—50 miles away! But Elma has tried long-distance dating before, and it won’t work for her.  Besides the store needs her. Her sister needs her. Elma feels love will forever remain beyond her grasp.

Elma has a habit of putting others before her own needs. Can she learn to take a risk at following the desires of her heart?

My Thoughts:  First of all this is a sequel to The Lopsided Christmas Cake so I would suggest that you read The Lopsided Christmas Cake first to understand the dynamics of the family.

Sometimes family life is complicated especially when one of the family members marries before the other.  The "other" one may feel lonely and left out.  This is somewhat the case with Elma Hochstetler.   When her twin sister, Thelma, marries and is busy and is expecting a new little bundle of joy.

Elma and Thelma run a general store together but Elma just feels the need for her own "exciting" life.

Well as life would have it Elma finds love but not quite the way she wants it to happen.

This is the fun, light heated story of Elma's romance.  

*This book was provided by Barbour Publishing and I did not have to write a review; but I chose to do so.*

• Series: Lopsided Christmas Cake
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (June 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 163409932X
• ISBN-13: 978-1634099325

Threads of Suspicion (An Evie Blackwell Cold Case) by Dee Henderson

Book Description:  Evie Blackwell's reputation as a top investigator for the Illinois State Police has landed her an appointment to the governor's new Missing Persons Task Force. This elite investigative team is launched with plenty of public fanfare. The governor has made this initiative a high priority, so they will have to produce results--and quickly.

Evie and her new partner, David Marshal, are assigned to a pair of unrelated cases in suburban Chicago, and while both involve persons now missing for several years, the cases couldn't be more different. While Evie opens old wounds in a close-knit neighborhood to find a missing college student, David searches for a private investigator working for a high-powered client.

With a deep conviction that "justice for all" truly matters, Evie and David are unrelenting in their search for the truth. But Evie must also find answers to the questions that lie just beneath the surface in her personal life.

My Thoughts:  I love  mysteries penned by Dee Henderson.  And I've been anxiously awaiting this book, Threads of Suspicion.  I'm like a kid at Christmas when a new book comes in the mail.  😊 

Evie Blackwell, as you may remember is in Traces of Guilt, is a top investigator for the Illinois State Police.  And now she is on the new Missing Person's Task Force...cold cases.  Those cases that others have given up on ever finding out the truth about someone who died an untimely death.  But Evie does not give  up!  She is one to ferret out the truth.

Ferreting out the truth sure can bring on the action and adventure!  But Evie is up to the chase.

She has a new partner, David Marshal.  Evie is seeking the truth and opens old wounds when she goes to a close knit community seeking the truth in the case of a missing college student.  David, on the other hand, is seeking the private investigator. One thing that both Evie and David agree on is to seek "justice for all."  

This is a GREAT read!  Of course, in my book, one can never go wrong with a Dee Henderson mystery/suspense story!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers*

• Series: An Evie Blackwell Cold Case
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 2, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219979
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219979

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Another great recipe I found on Pinterest . . . 

OH!MY!  SOOOOO GOOOOD!

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste
1 cup coarsely chopped graham crackers and crumbs, about 4 full-size cracker sheets
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS:

1. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugars, egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use a hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes).
2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.
3. Add the graham crackers (include the fine crumbs too, they act as flour here and are important), chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and beat momentarily to incorporate, less than 1 minute, or fold in by hand.
4. Using a 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping two-tablespoon mounds (I made 22). Place mounds on a large plate, flatten mounds slightly with your palm, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter.
5. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat, or spray with cooking spray. Place mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet). Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 9 minutes for soft cookies because they firm up as they cool (The cookies shown in the photos were baked with dough that had been chilled overnight, allowed to come to room temp for 15 minutes, and were baked for 8 minutes, with trays rotated at the 4-minute mark. They have chewy edges with soft, pillowy, gooey centers). Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.
6. Store cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.