Saturday, August 19, 2017

Scavenger Hunt with Molly Jebber

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I'm thrilled to partner with Celebrate Lit for the Scavenger Hunt featuring Molly Jebber. Molly's books are full of great characters and lively action that will draw the reader in.
The word for this blog is TWO.
 
Stop by each blog to collect their special word then input the sentence it creates into the giveaway for NINE extra entries! While you are at each stop, don’t forget to comment to claim your bonus entries in the giveaway (the bonus entries for a comment on a blog can be claimed multiple times but only once in a 24 hour period).

 

August 8: Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses

August 9: Quiet Quilter

August 10: Smiling Book Reviews

August 11: Have A Wonderful Day

August 12: With a Joyful Noise
August 13: Bigreadersite
August 14: A Baker’s Perspective
August 15: Karen Sue Hadley
August 16: Blogging With Carol
August 17: cherylbbookblog
August 18: Baker Kella
August 19: His Grace is Sufficient
August 20: The Power of Words
August 21: Blossoms and Blessings
 
 
 

Change of Heart

A modern new century brings a young Amish woman an unexpected new life—and a chance to discover love’s true way home…
Ohio, 1899. Soft-spoken midwife Becca Yost lived by her Amish faith’s strict rules—until her fiancé jilted her before their entire community. She’s never been away from home, but the bustling Englischer town of Massillon, Ohio, is a welcome unexpected refuge. Especially when she goes to work for Dr. Matt Carrington, who shares her passion for healing those in need. His outgoing spirit and gentle strength show Becca a surprising new world of choices—and irresistible love. But there is one formidable obstacle: Matt’s wealthy mother is determined her son will marry a society woman.
With her newfound resolve challenged, Becca decides that she and Matt must not be destined for each other after all. She accepts that she will have to forge a life alone—until a wrenching crisis and life-changing revelations teach her that true faith lies in all things, especially impossible second chances. . .
 
 

Grace’s Forgiveness

A handsome newcomer with secrets shows a yearning Amish woman a chance at happiness—but their love will need all their courage to keep . . .
Grace Blauch is skilled at midwifery—and crafting quilts that help others pass on messages of enduring family love. But a disfiguring birthmark keeps the young Amish woman from a husband and home of her own—until Mark King arrives from another community. His helpfulness and independent nature earn Grace’s respect. And he finds her outspoken ways and determination to do right irresistibly appealing. Soon Grace is planning a wedding quilt of her very own . . . until her father discovers that Mark’s shunned brother is hiding somewhere in town . . .
Grace can well understand why Mark took such a risk once she hears his wrenching reasons. But she fears even prayer will not convince her father to restore his blessing on their union. She wills herself to face the end of her dreams, but sudden danger and an impossible act of generosity will show her that abiding hope can inspire the most precious of miracles  . . .
 
 

Two Suitors for Anna

In 1903 Ohio, a young Amish woman must choose between the life she has long planned for and a new, very different future…
Since Anna Plank moved to Berlin, Ohio, with her widowed mamm and two schweschders, she’s found a real sense of belonging. As soon as her beloved Noah Schwartz proposes, they’ll begin a new chapter here together. But Noah has a surprise for Anna: once they’re married, he wants them to travel and live in other communities. Anna, who loves her home and her job at the quilt shop, is distraught when he takes her hesitation as rejection—and leaves.
Daniel Bontrager’s arrival adds to Anna’s confusion. Since taking over his late brother’s farm, the handsome roofer has offered friendship and gentle attentions. Yet the pull of first love is strong and deep, especially when Noah returns. Through each revelation, Anna must search her faith for guidance, knowing she is choosing not just a husband, but a life to nurture and to share…
 
 
About Molly:
Molly Jebber’s books have been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today’s HEA, and Romantic Times has given them a near excellent rating. She’s on RWA’s Honor Roll. She’s a speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, and she offers presentations on writing, publishing, Amish lifestyle and traditions. She has received widespread media coverage, including live interviews, across the United States for her books and speaking engagements.
She’s just signed a new contract for four more Amish books! She loves interacting with her readers. She loves God, her husband, family and friends. She has a hard time saying no to cupcakes, swimming, nine holes of golf, and walks on the beach. Coconut, oatmeal, and onions, on the other hand, are not hard to say

Guest Post from Molly:
In TWO SUITORS FOR ANNA:
Anna and her sisters are hiding a secret. One Anna knows is wrong to keep. The love of her life wants her to leave her family behind and travel with him. Her life is in turmoil, and she isn’t sure which way to turn? What does the future hold for Anna?
Have you read CHANGE OF HEART and GRACE’S FORGIVENESS? The first two books in the Keepsake Pocket Quilt Series? They are available in and online in bookstores.
I love interacting with you, and thank you for participating!
 
Giveaway
Blog Tour Prize is an Amish/English Basket!
One big item: Brand New Coach Purse!
Each day, visit the designated blog, comment, and your name is entered in the contest for a chance to win!..
 
 
Giveaway link:
https://promosimple.com/ps/bd18
 
Promosimple plugin code:
bd18
 
 
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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

A Door Cracked Open: A Review and Giveaway

My take: This book was hard to read, not because it was poorly written, but because the author shared her pain. I think at some point we have all felt as though we were different, or not good enough, or that others didn't accept it, but Amy felt that way everyday, from a young age. She had no support systems and was ridiculed by family and teachers.

But God...

Those two words are critical to each of us, and especially to Amy, who was raised by parents who didn't believe in God. Somehow, through His great love, Amy was able to escape the harassment and abuse, and came to know God for His faithfulness and redemption.

This memoir isn't written like many memoirs I've read, mainly because it is written in the third person. This voice doesn't separate the reader from the very raw emotion which sometimes bleeds off the page. At times, I was fighting mad as I read about the situations Amy faced. This would be a good read for anyone who needs to be reminded that God works all things for our good.

I did receive a complimentary copy of this book and it is my honest review.

 

About the Book

 


Book title: A Door Cracked Open
Author: Carmina Edwards
Release date: November, 2015
Genre: Biography
Raised in a mean-spirited, poverty-stricken home in the seventies, where her quarrelsome father tries to squash her carefree spirit and her three siblings make fun of her, Amy struggles to understand what value she has. Somehow finding God in the midst of an atheist upbringing, she perseveres to grow up better than the useless person she’s assured she is.
When told at the age of sixteen that she must start working to pay her way instead of finishing school, she dares to dream of a better life, away from the squabbles and constant despair she encounters at home.
A magazine ad from a family in Sweden, looking for someone to watch their children, entices Amy’s adventurous spirit, and she soon finds herself looking through a new door in her life, cracked open to an amazing world she never dreamed possible, where people are nice to her and life is good.
“An incredible true story of perseverance in adversity, this is one account where truth truly is stranger than fiction.” ~Laurie Penner.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


I am a mother of two wonderful grown up children and currently living in the UK, after living in Sweden for three years where I wrote my first book, “A Door Cracked Open.” I was blessed to be able to spend six months in USA before returning to the UK, my home country, to work with my editor in California on the edits of this book and visit friends.
I am an avid reader and linguist, having also spent some years living in France and have been fortunate enough to have taught Swedish and French over twenty-five years and translate for businesses and manuscripts in both languages. Being unemployed the past few years, has led to me becoming homeless. However, I never give up hope. As I try to portray in my books, God has always had His hand on me. Once again, He has stepped in right at the last minute. I now have a new job in Sweden and will be moving back there. Because I feel passionately about helping the homeless, a large percentage of my royalties will go directly to them.

GUEST POST
Something about my book.
After many friends, having seen the unusual life I have led up until now, told me that I should write a book, I finally decided to do just that. I am an ordinary person who has not suffered more than many, but have been privileged with many extra-ordinary experiences. I wrote my book in order to share with others, just how God has had His hand on me and brought me through some tough times which seemed impossible to find a way out of. My first book highlights some of this, though it isn’t until the second book, that more becomes clear and the third book will show the extreme mercy and grace He has showered me with. The story is still unfolding. My aim is to show, through my writing, that giving up is never an option. Stay true to God and He does pull us through. Trusting in Him is key and I personally, have seen Him transform some of the dreams He put onto my heart, into reality. I’d love for my books to be of some encouragement to others and have so far received several emails from readers all over the world, telling me how my story so far, has done that. One went so far as to say that she had given up, but read my book purely by chance and has picked herself up and is once again back on the road to reach her goals. The story of a scatty, spontaneous and highly sensitive girl, ridiculed all her life because of her faith and dreams, (she’s born into a completely atheist family). never gives up and some of the situations she gets herself into are pretty scary, but sometimes humorous. Yet God’s protection is seen all the way through.

Blog Stops

August 4: Quiet Quilter
August 5: Carpe Diem
August 11: Mary Hake
August 14: cherylbbookblog
 
GIVEAWAY
 
 
To celebrate her tour, Carmina is giving away:
Grand Prize of a book themed gift basket all the way from Sweden!
And
A 1st – 3rd place prize of an eBook copy of A Door Cracked Open!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bd29
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Saturday, August 5, 2017

The New Kid

Thursday Caleb had freshman orientation.

Y'all. I'm wondering how in tarnation nearly fifteen years have just up and disappeared, because that's just what happened.

As I drove off from the high school I was feeling all kind of way...

because something Caleb had said to me really resonated with me.

As he was trying to decide what to wear, not wanting to be too casual or too overdressed, he looked at me and said, "Mom, you've never been the new kid."

And he's right.

I mean, sure, I went to new schools...

I changed from LBJ to SMS to Breathitt, and then went to college...

but I transitioned from those schools with people that knew me.

 Maybe people didn't necessarily like me... but they knew me.

And my Mom was in my high school with me, and she's basically a rock star in Breathitt County.

And college was just up the hill, and I rode to school with my Mom and walked up in the wintertime.

I'll let that sink in, y'all.

He then said, "You were so sheltered."

And that hit me below the belt, because he's right.

It's not necessarily a bad thing...

but at 38 years old I've never lived in a town where people didn't know me.

Until now.

I may have had a few tearful moments as I wondered through the Dollar General and didn't know a soul.

I walked into the gym for the parent session at the orientation that evening and felt uncomfortable, because a gym full of people you don't know is like the seventh level of Dante's Inferno to an introvert.

And let's face it. Either you feel invisible because everyone knows everyone else or you feel like an alien because everyone is looking at you and trying to figure out who you are and what you are doing there.

(And let me qualify this by saying that the people in Menifee County have been Ah-maz-ing to me and my family. They've gone out of their way to include us, have sought us out and asked how we are doing and are we getting settled in, have helped us figure out where things are at... you name it, somebody in the community has reached out to us.)

It's just that being new and having everything change is a tad bit overwhelming to this control freak.

As we drove back to Breathitt County last night, I did a lot of contemplating.

I know in my heart this is exactly where we are supposed to be, and I'm so excited because I know Wallace is going to do an awesome job. Things just worked out too well for it not to be God- a job opening up that I didn't expect, an awesome house to rent that is perfect for us, Bible scriptures and lessons as we geared up for the transition about stepping out of your comfort zone and trusting in Him always and going even when you weren't sure what you were headed to...

But I also know that even God-ordained things can be uncomfortable.

And I realize that if I'm uncomfortable, it's making me look to Him a whole lot more.

He's right there, where He's always been. If nobody else knows who I am, He does. And most importantly, I can know Whose I am.

He's already been where I'm going, and He'll be with me every step of the way.

And whatever you're facing...

He's there, too...

I don't think it's a coincidence that my word of the year is "Live", because stepping out of your comfort zone and being willing to take a few risks along the way is the only way to truly live...

And I know His plans are good.

As I look to this new opportunity, this new school year for me and my family, I'm excited for new opportunities.

I'm planning on capitalizing on every opportunity as it comes and truly living...

And I'm embracing Proverbs 16:3. "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed."

It's all about You, Lord. Thank You for reminding me of that.

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