I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The End of the Magi
By Patrick W. Carr
Christian Historical Fiction
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages
November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem,
a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . .

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same.

My Review: 

Genre: Biblical Fiction

♥♥♥♥ four out of five hearts = very good

We've almost made it to the holiday season, and when I saw this book was coming out, my Christmas-loving heart was so excited to read it. Besides being a tale of adventure, Myrad's story seemed a little different than that of the average Christmassy hero's (think Hallmark... this is basically the oposite of that).



Praise for the Book

"Carr retells the story of the Magi in this bustling biblical adventure . . . . Myrad's divine vision of the star and his arduous trek battling his own physical problems to pay homage to the Messiah capture the majesty of biblical narratives and will appeal to Christians well versed in scripture."--Publishers Weekly

"Patrick Carr brings us a captivating tale in The End of the Magi. Based on the Holy Bible, he weaves a fictional tale of the adventures of a group of magi from the east looking for the Messiah. Myrad is a strong main character even though he doesn't see himself as strong. He has great character traits and these help him find triumph over tragedy. . . . The End of the Magi is a great holiday read and gives us much to think about in our journey to know God better."--Fresh Fiction
About the Author


Patrick W. Carr is the author of the acclaimed fantasy series The Staff and the Sword. A Cast of Stones won the 2014 Carol Award for Speculative Fiction and the 2014 Clive Staples Award. A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot were both finalists for 2014 Christy Awards. He teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four sons.

Tour Schedule

Genre: Self-Help

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ five out of five hearts= awesome!

About:

Start building a life of purpose, passion, and lasting impact today
Hate to break it to you, but you're never going to "find your passion." Why? Because your passion and purpose are something you create--actively--day by day. How? Glad you asked.

In her signature tell-it-like-it-is fashion, entrepreneur Liz Forkin Bohannon shows you how to cultivate the mindsets that will help you live like you were made on purpose and for a purpose. Sharing the hilarious and heartbreaking stories of her own screwups and successes, Liz shows you how to

· embrace your Inner Beginner
· dream small
· choose curiosity over criticism
· own your average
· and so much more

It's within your power to build a life of purpose, passion, and impact. All you need is a little bit of pluck.

Publisher's description

My Review:

When I first picked up this book, I had no idea what I was going to discover. Would it be an informational text, telling me the best way to live my life?  Shoot for the stars, live out my dream, discover my passion, and all that slightly intimidating stuff? 

NOPE.

Liz turns all the "inspirational" sayings about dreams and passions on their head and instead gives you a much more realistic way of approaching life. It's really very refreshing. And the way she writes pulled me in from page one, just as if I was reading a novel. 

You see, Liz was one of those people who had no idea what they were going to do in life, what their passion was, or how to pursue it. And what she did decide to pursue got thrown on its head and shaken into something very, very different. She doesn't have doctor written in front of her name like so many other self-help authors out there, she just has years and years of experience, of trying, and failing and trying again- and again. And you know? That makes her the perfect person to write this book. 

A life of purpose and passion can't be found. It is the result of being brave, curious, and dare I say, plucky?  -Liz Forkin Bohannon

Liz isn't offering you "10 Steps to Living the Dream Life", she's just sharing her hard-won advice. And the honesty and hilarity she does this with makes Beginner's Pluck a winning book! (Plus, I loved her asterisks and notes all over the book. I had many "aha!" moments as well as laughs while reading.) 

In short, READ THIS BRILLIANT THING! You'll thank me later.  

I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

About:

The year is 2016, and on the outside, Natalie Abbott has got it together. She lives in a nice house, is supported by a loving police-officer husband, has teenage twins, and is a popular co-host on a local radio station, where she gives out sage and spiritual advice to those struggling with life issues. However, on the inside, Natalie's seemingly well-ordered world is shattering. Her twins are distant, from each other and their parents, and something more seems to be going on than they let on. Natalie glides through the tension, but one day, an unthinkable tragedy crumbles everything they've ever known. 

Rewind to the Revolutionary War. The conflict has been brought to Mercy's doorstep, invited into her home, and her fiance, Nathan Hale, is the only ray of sunshine through it all. But then he's tragically hung by the British, and Mercy copes in an unlikely way- by working against them as a spy. Handsome and roguish, Major John Andre is seemingly full of charm and flattery, nothing else. His attraction to Mercy makes him the perfect target for information, but it all gets harder and harder as she begins to see past the exterior and into his heart. 

Their stories are different, yet the same. Will the end lead to heartbreak, or healing? 

My Review:

This review can  be summed up in one word: Wow. Just, wow. I ran through so many different emotions while reading, from nostalgia to sorrow to bittersweet hope, and it really threw me for a loop. I wanted- no, scratch that, I HAD - to read more, but at the same time I didn't. The emotions and angst were all too real, but I still needed to read more to find out that it was all going to be okay at the end.

Once in a while (unfortunately, it can be rare) you'll come across this one book that not only grabs you but pulls you in, into the emotion and drama, and your heart bleeds. Maybe there's a happy ending, maybe there's not, but it's so lifelike and you come away from the book different than what you were before. THIS is one of those rare jewels.

Normally I'm not one for books about mothers in their forties with teen kids- I just can't relate because I'm still in the teenage world myself. Natalie's story was different, though. I could relate to her, and I felt for her. The POV switched many times to her daughter Maelynn, which enriched the story to see another side of things, and her side was equally as interesting and heartfelt. Mercy's parts of the story tended to start out slow and I found myself looking forward to Natalie's story more, but about halfway through that changed, and I was ferociously switching from Natalie to Maelynn to Mercy with intensity. 

The Hidden Side was a hard book to read and had to have been an even harder story to tell, but Chiavaroli writes it with grace, faith and realism. It should definitely be on everyone's to-read list!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The end of the world is only the beginning. A waterborne disease has contaminated the world’s fresh water, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including the mysterious Hannah, who is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings our the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

Join some old friends from Glenrock and Jack's Peak in this thrilling first book of the Thirst Duology. Best-selling author Jill Williamson has brought back the breathtaking suspense of the The Safe Lands series in this chilling prequel that will leave readers panting for the next installment.

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AAAND HERE WE GO........

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That's not it....

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There we are! 

Isn't it cool? I love the guy's profile combined with all the colors. 

Don't forget to preorder your copy of this epic-looking novel HERE!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ♥♥ Two out of five hearts= okay

Book one in the Restoring Heritage series

About: 

Ever since they were kids, Hannah Thornton and Luke Johnson have always been there for each other. Through Hannah's mom's disappearance and Luke's struggles with being a foster child, they know they can rely on each other. However, each is now grappling with navigating adulthood- and their mutual (if also mutually unknown) attraction for each other. 

Real estate agent Hannah loves this little town of Heritage she calls home, with all its quirks and historic features. A history lover, she is horrified when a prominent member of the community starts to buy out property in a historic area of town, in order to build a strip mall. If nobody will stand up to him and save their town, it's up to Hannah (with help from Luke, of course). 

As Luke assists Hannah in her preservation schemes, he begins to question who he is- where he came from, where he's going... and if he really ever will have a shot with Hannah. 

My Review:

Okay, so there's no denying- the cover on this book is just beautiful! I had never heard of the author before, but the cover did an amazing job of attracting me to the story and drawing me in, so I just had to own it. It's just so gorgeous!

  

Now, cover aside, I had a problem getting into this book. As soon as I started reading, I felt as if I was thrust into a world I had never been in, and yet I was being pummeled with information from all sides. It took me a bit to understand what was going on, and once I had pieced it all together, the writing style bothered me. Things were just- said, and I feel like there should have been more "show, not tell". Plus I feel that as an author, you need to develop your voice and your own unique turn of phrase, and while Mrs. Faris definitely has talent, I just didn't see that special way of wording here. 

Hannah and Luke were a couple you hoped would succeed, and I was rooting for them (as well as for the side characters, whose POV was also shown frequently throughout). Hannah was bubbly and slightly naive, while Luke tended to be more grounded and a realist, making them perfect together. I was actually more invested in the secondary characters' love story, but that might just have been a personality difference thing. Pastor Nate was kind of cool, but as a pastor's daughter, I tend to closely examine these characters. He was different from your usual literary pastor, but still typically the same, as he tended to bring up everything to a spiritual lesson, something I'm pretty sure my dad, as well as most other pastors, don't do during all social settings. (Sorry, pastor's kid pet peeves!)

Don't get me wrong- I really, really wanted to like this book. Its cover was just so alluring, and I'm proud to own it. However, I'm only giving it two stars because it just seemed too predictable. 

I received this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

About: 

No one wants to be sidelined, stuck, shamed, or silenced. But the difficulties of life have a way of putting us in a corner, and we often don't know how to move forward. It's so easy to blame ourselves or our circumstances, to get bogged down in discouragement and toxic thinking. But that's not what we were meant for, and that's not how God wants us to live.

Leeana Tankersley has good news if you're struggling: each new day is an opportunity to begin again. In her warm tone and welcoming style, she offers one hundred short readings to encourage and motivate you to begin again in your relationships with God, your family, your friends, and yourself. 

Because there is always a hand reaching toward you, there is always grace available, and there is always a chance to begin again.

Back cover description

My Review:

The first thing I thought after pulling this book out of its package was how gorgeous it looked. Really, I want to start this review with a shout-out to whoever designed it- it's SO CUTE! Not too small, not too large, this little hardcover book shines. The inside looks just a good, making it the perfect gift. I admit, all too easily I judge a book by its cover- first impressions count, right? And Always' design is perfection! I just want to buy copies of it and pass them out to all the special ladies in my life. 

Okay. And now for my thoughts on the written word inside. 

Leeana feels strongly about what she's writing about; you can tell that as soon as you read the introductory note at the beginning. What she's been through, as well as the struggles she faces every day, she has turned into a ministry to help those facing similar challenges. Pretty admirable! While the main topic of the book is new beginnings, many other themes are touched as well. Things such as being vulnerable, letting go, approval vs. love, and much, much more. And the way she writes is truly lyrical, honest and heart-felt.

Looking at the book as a whole, it would be a great gift for any the ladies in your life, or for yourself. The book's overall message is encouraging and inspiring, and Leeana Tankersley's words are sure to inspire many who read them. 

About:

♥  ♥  Two out of five hearts= okay

Review:

Christopher Hudson and Stan Campbell tell you right off the bat they're not going to go through every Bible story- there's just too many! But they do cover many of the ones that you'll remember, even if you haven't read your Bible in years: from Adam and Eve to Daniel in the lion's den, Queen Esther, Jesus' birth, and many more. 

One of my favorite aspects of the book (besides the cover- I really liked the parting of the waters picture) was the historical timeline at the beginning of each section. It outlined when the Bible stories about to be covered took place, and what was happening in the rest of the world at that time. As a history nerd who loves to know what happened, when, and why, this little thing was a cool resource!

Other than that, though, I didn't find much use for the rest of the book, which is why I only gave it two stars. Someone who has not delved much into the Bible may find this book interesting and helpful, which is great, but for me, I didn't read much that I didn't already know. Much of the book is just recapping different Bible stories, which wasn't really what I was expecting. 

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

About:

Baker Abigail Kemp is facing disaster- a ridiculous town rule mandates that all businesses must be owned by a man or face closure, and her bakery is being targeted. There seems to be no way out of this mess... unless one of the town's few bachelors will consent to a marriage of convenience. But Abby likes to be in charge, so she'll need a man who she can control. Of all Abby's candidates, Zacharias Hamilton is the least controllable, but she can't deny that he'd be the most dashing (and the most handsome) catch.
Zach has spent his life watching over other people and their problems. Now that his younger siblings are older, married and on their own, they don't need him anymore and he finally has the freedom to do what he wants whenever he wants to. That's why when Abby confronts him with her problems and asks for his help, he's torn. If he agrees, his sought-after freedom is on the line... but there's something about this gutsy baker that is really appealing. In the end, he can't bring himself to say no.
An unusual marriage of convenience may turn out to be the best thing Abigail Kemp and Zach Hamilton ever did. 

My Review:

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Excerpt

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

About:

Let's redefine beauty for our world!
What is beautiful? We spend our money on beauty products, weight-loss programs, and age-defying medical interventions to attain beauty. We set impossible standards and feel bad about ourselves when we don't reach them. Is beauty truly that elusive? Or could it be that our idea of what's beautiful is simply too narrow?

Through engaging personal stories and dramatic before-and-after photography, filmmaker Rebecca Friedlander uncovers the true beauty of twelve women from around the world, empowering us to shatter the lies of rejection, doubt, and low self-esteem. Utilizing compelling biblical truth and questions for personal reflection, Friedlander helps us identify our own personal battlegrounds, celebrate our uniqueness, and embrace God's definition of beautiful.

Description from BakerPublishingGroup.com

My Review:

This world is so messed up. What God sees as beautiful the world sees as weak, even ugly, and it has made true beauty into something to be rejected. Rebecca Friedlander's mission- to tell the stories of women who struggled and show true beauty- shines with the love and care she puts into it. Originally, these ladies were photographed and filmed for a TV show, but she's put pen to paper to translate their stories for book form, and does it very well. Each lady's heart and story shine under Rebecca's rendering. 

I've always struggled with body image, identity and true beauty, so books and other material addressing these topics appeal to me. Rebecca has no easy answers or formulas for life's problems, but instead, she simply shares the stories of women from around the world. What makes them beautiful and the story they share comes first; how the makeover photoshoot went; a little anecdote of something she's learned; and lastly to end each chapter, a Bible story- lesson and story intact but re-imagined in storytelling form by Rebecca. 

The book combines fun makeovers in beautiful dresses- an element of fun and symbolism- with a spiritual message that goes deeper than the skin to the heart of the story. Truly, Rebecca and each woman she interviews is beautiful, inside and out.  

I received this book from  Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Check out the trailer ↘

About:

For the modern Christian woman, embracing God's design for sexuality can often feel like an impossible pursuit. As the culture around us seeks to normalize things such as lust, pornography, erotica, and casual sex, you may be feeling immense pressure to conform. In this relatable and encouraging book, Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal share honestly about their own struggles and victories and dig into topics such as

· how your longings for intimacy point to a deeper need
· why God's original design for love, passion, and sex is good
· how to deal with secret sexual struggles
· and much more

Kristen and Bethany invite you on a personal journey to discover and reclaim a biblical vision for your sexuality--one that is good and relevant and will lead you toward true hope and lasting freedom.

Description from BakerPublishingGroup.com. 

My Review:

With love, friendship and the ability to know what you're going through, Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal are here to encourage you in your purity walk. They're very relatable, and don't make you feel as if what you've done, the sins you struggle with, are confined to you. They've done it too, and are very transparent as they tell their stories to let you know you're not alone. 

This book is for women on all levels of the relationship spectrum, from the forever single, those burned out by relationships, the ladies currently dating, or even those who've been married for years. Because, as the sisters explain, the problems you go through when you're single don't just magically disappear once you're married. It takes God's love and grace to get you through it.