God is Able ~ Review and Giveaway

"No matter who you are, however old or young, there's always at least one thing. That thing in your life you can't seem to - you know, escape or fix or solve. It's just...it's ...(Sigh.)

It's always there. Just when you think you've maybe figured out a little piece of it - how you might be able to handle it better, manage it, work around it, or get out ahead of it - it always seems to end up beating you, or at least keeping you awake in the wee hours of the night.

You've tried. (Oh, Lord, how you've tried.) You've prayed. You've asked. You've begged. You've fretted. You've calculated. You've eaten better. You've exercised more.

You've tried being gentler, then firmer. Louder, then more quieter. More assertive, then more submissive. You've admitted where you went wrong and refused to gloat when you were right. You feel like you've done everything you can think of. And honestly, you're starting to seriously wonder now if God can do this, if He can do...It.

You'd still like to think He can. And if you were to spout all your churchy rhetoric, it'd sure sound like you believe He can. But deep down - down where you soul pulses with doubt and uneasiness - you wonder about that circumstance, that life issue, that dilemma you're facing. God may be able to keep the stars in the sky, the earth tilted on its axis, and the heavens hung in glorious array. But can He do this?  It?"(pg 1-3)

In her latest book, God Is Able, Priscilla Shirer takes the reader into a look at what God is capable of through a personal look at her own doubts and unbeliefs when she was struggling. That no one has it all together no matter how famous or close to God they appear to be. She shows us that no matter how difficult our situations may be or how caught off guard they may have found you, they can carve out a deep foothold where doubt could settle in. But if you and I don't turn to face these things, we'd never come face to face with Him. And our God's not having any of that. She write is such a way you feel as if you're having a one on one conversation with a close personal friend, something I love when reading non fiction books.

I received God is Able by Priscilla Shirer compliments of B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This is such an exciting book because as believers, we all find ourselves struggling to keep our head above the storm waters that threaten to consume us. Yet even in the heart of the storm, Priscilla showcases how God is Able to do the Impossible through her own personal experiences and using the scripture reference of "Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think according the power that works within us to Him be the glory" found in Ephesians 3:20-21. She pulls apart those verses to encourage readers to see what God can do in their lives, in their situations to not only answer their prayers if it His will but more importantly to see God in what is happening. This is such a great resource for anyone who has ever struggled and wondered where God was in their life. For that reason I give this a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and this is one I plan on referring to quite a bit whenever doubt tends to creep back into my life about what God is able to do!

You can find out more information about God is Able, Priscilla Shirer, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, by clicking on the links below:

God is Able by Priscilla Shirer

You can find Priscilla Shirer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

Thanks to the generous folks at B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group, they are providing a copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, simply leave me a comment telling me you stopped by as part of this giveaway.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on December 27th, so be sure to include your email address with your comment.

From Ashes to Honor - Giveaway and Review Ends on 9/11

If he had only answered that last phone call from the World Trade Center...

Minutes before two jumbo jets changed U.S. history, NYPD officer Austin Finley ignored the call from his brother. Mercy Samara, who cost Austin his job after 9/11, leaves the city to work as a school counselor in Baltimore. When Mercy and Austin cross paths again, will their common - and painful - memories finally bring them closer or drive them further apart? (excerpt back cover).

In the latest novel from Loree Lough, From Ashes to Honor, works through the lives of Dr. Mercy Samara and former NYPD officer, Austin Finley, who are brought together following the events of 9/11. Mercy is a clinical psychologist whose goal is determine if Austin is fit enough to return to work as a NYPD officer after multiple incidents involving his out of control temper. Despite all his sessions with Mercy, he won't come to terms with what happened that fateful day and how it affecting him in his work and therefore, remains in denial.

Mercy struggling with her own issues involving 9/11 and the fact that most people stereotyped her as another Muslim terrorist following the attacks, while trying to help first responders like Austin deal with the underlying trauma of that day. When she can't sign the release authorizing Austin to return to anything other than desk duty, there paths will take them to new places but will once again intersect.

This time, Austin has turned his talents to becoming an EMT and Mercy has moved to Baltimore to take up something less stressful than working with first responders in the aftermath of 9/11, she now works as a high school guidance counselor. When a football player is injured and the paramedics are called, Mercy and Austin come face to face once more.



I received this book compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and couldn't wait to dive into this one once it arrived. This story takes the reader into an emotional ride into the lives of Mercy and Austin but also into the lives of the supporting characters as well, Griff, Flora and Bud, and even the strained relationship with Leo, Mercy's half brother. What we get an opportunity to see is how the rebuilding of what people went through following 9/11 is an ongoing, life changing process that will never be forgotten. It's not something that will ever be forgotten, especially in the lives of Mercy and Austin.

This book is a perfect tribute to those first responders of the 9/11 tragedy that forever changed all of us. It united us all in a common goal, a goal to take care of one another, and see past our differences. This would make a great gift for anyone involved in first response or who loves anything dealing with 9/11. I rate this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this must read book, click on the links below:

From Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough

You can find Loree on Facebook by clicking here.

Thanks to Loree Lough and Abingdon Press, they have generous provided a giveaway copy for one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. You must be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. I must have a way to contact you, so be sure to include your email address along with your comment on Reviews From The Heart. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Please leave a comment telling me why you would love to win a copy of this book. The giveaway will end on 9/11. I will notify the winner by email at that time. You can click here to go to the comment and giveaway site to leave your comment to enter to win!

The Last Christian Giveaway

In the future, it’s possible to live forever but at what cost?

A.D. 2088. Missionary daughter, Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.

But a larger threat looms. The world’s leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether – but at what expense?

In the Last Christian, by David Gregory, this near-future science fiction thriller collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding, what if novel. The technology described in this novel is downright scary when you think of the reality of just how close we are to this becoming a nonfiction book. Being a fan of books like this one, it opens the possibility up to just what devastating effects man can have on the world when he tries to play God.

I received this book compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers and for those of you who love science fiction, Christian suspense thrillers, and this one will have you on the edge of your seat till the last page, literally.

For more information on this book and where to purchase a copy, click on the link below:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400074976

You can download the first chapter here for free:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400074976

For followers of my blog, I am hosting a giveaway of a copy of this book to one lucky winner. Simply leave me a comment telling me how you think you envision the advancements of technology in the future. The giveaway will end on June 2^nd.

Broken Giveaway!

So this is how it ends.

Staring at a stranger, blood on your hands, silence coating the house.

Everything has led up to this. This, here and now. This empty waste. This utter disappointment. This predictable conclusion.

You taste blood on your tongue from the cut on your lip. Crimson smears the pale satin.

Amazing how your hands remain calm. Unshaking, unwavering, even after what they've done.

Somewhere not far away is a gun that fired two bullets, the second doing its job. Somewhere a voice gently, quietly tells you what needs to happen.

You need to find the gun, Laila.

Those eyes staring at you. You've seen them before, somewhere else, many times before.

You need to clean up and find the gun.

For a moment, the water underneath your hands pours out. So steady, so seamless.

And then it gently caresses.

You wince.

Hard as you try, tears don't come.

You stare at the stranger in the mirror, wondering where childhood disappeared to, wondering where those hopeful eyes wandered off.

Clean up and get in there, then get out.

The faucet flows, and the slight stains of blood that are not yours drip over the ceramic.

For a moment you glance into the bedroom. A room you've never been in before today.

A dead body crumpled on the floor. Seconds counting before the silence ends and more men come.

You look at this stranger and know.

This is where it ends.

This is where it all stops.

Turning off the water, you step out and start your life all over again...(excerpt from pg 1-2)

In the book, Broken by Travis Thrasher, you meet Laila, a girl that had it all - love, family, wealth and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living in an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago.

Yet when she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self defense sending her on the run and haunted by her past. When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, she has no choice but to keep on running.

Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?

I was provided with these amazing Christians suspense thriller compliments of Hachette Book Groups, Faith Words division to review. Again, along the lines of Stephen King, you find yourself transported by to New Orleans with Laila as she outruns the past and the voodoo that surrounds the town itself. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery thrillers based in Christian faith, then this is a must read for you.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can purchase a copy, please click on the link below:

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446505550.htm

For those of you interested in another book giveaway, I am going to give away three copies of this book. To enter you must be a follower of my blog and leave me a comment of what interests you most about this book! The giveaway ends on May 27th.

Leaving Unknown

From the author of The Best Days of Someone Else's Life comes a funny and touching story of a young woman who, while traveling across country, finds herself stuck in Unknown, Arizona.

Sweetlips, Tennessee; Toad Suck, Arkansas; Okay, Oklahoma; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; these are just a few of the towns Maeve Connelly passes through on her epic roadtrip to the less interestingly named Los Angeles, California. But when Maeve's beloved car, Elsie breaks down outside of Unknown, Arizona, she is in for a much longer rest stop than she expected.

Maeve talks her way into two jobs, settling in for the long haul when she realizes first that she doesn't have enough money to pay for the spare part, and a second that the only car repairman within distance is on a walkabout without a specific end date. As Maeve finds herself more and more at home with the quirky denizens of Unknown - especially a certain children's book author who just happens to be her boss - she must decide if she can finally, after years of uncertainty, find a place to start her future. But when a secret from Maeve's past comes to light, will she be able to accept that even though her friends now know the full story, perhaps all of her dreams can come true after all?

I loved this book, Leaving Unknown by Kerry Reichs. It combined the perfect blend of humor and romance with a touch of mystery to make one of the best books I have read so far. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best. This one rates a 10! When Maeve's luck of financial dependence on her parents comes to a grinding halt after receiving the latest bill for her country club spending and losing her job in the same day, Maeve finally decides in order to begin her life fresh, she must move away and try to make it on her own. After emailing a friend who works at a fabulous movie studio in L.A., Maeve decides this is just the ticket out of her troubles. So packing up what little personal belongings she has, along with her roadside companion Oliver, a cockatiel, she heads out in her old reliable car, Elsie on a open trail for L.A. Yet life, hands her an unexpected surprise when Elsie breaks down just outside of Unknown, Arizona in the dead of a cold night...to read more, check out this amazing book. I can't imagine a better summer read than this one.

You can completely escape at one of the many cities, Maeve stops in and this one is another page turner to the end. I received this book, compliments of TLC Book Tours for my review. If you would like to know more information about this book and where to purchase your own copy, please click on the link below:

http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/04/kerry-reichs-author-of-leaving-unknown-on-tour-june-2010/

As a special giveaway, TLC is providing me with a copy to giveaway to one lucky winner. You must live in the U.S. or Canada only and NO P.O. Boxes please. Simply be a follower of mine and tell me one place you would like to take a road trip to! The giveaway will end on May 28th!

Green Like God Giveaway, For Earth Day!

We have all heard about it, global warming, green house gases, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore, and so much more but what does it mean for the Christian believer. What does the Bible say about environmentalism and being an environmentalist, a recycler or even a tree hugger? Does it say anything at all about any of this or will God supply all our needs regardless of what we do in the here and now?

With Earth Day occurring today, what should we as believers of Jesus Christ be doing if anything? The answer might surprise you as much as it did for me!

Scripture says that God is “loving toward all he has made”(Psalm 145:17). As Christians we must love what God loves. Genesis 2:15 tells us why God placed humans in a garden – so we would “work it and take care of it.” Other translations render that phrase, “ cultivate it and keep it” (NASB), “Tend over it and watch over it”(NLT), “Work it and keep it” (ESV), “Take care of it and look after it” (CEV), “Work it and watch over it” (HCSB), “Work the ground and keep it in order”(MSG). Therefore, God’s command for us, is to be good stewards of the things He has created and left us in charge of it.

Humans are created by the Creator to care for His creation, Genesis 3:23, “ So the Lord God forced Adam out of the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.” (NCV)

So with this basis for scripture, we, as believers, must take care of what God has given to us, like our children, our spouses, our homes, and our Earth. We can not think of it as something God will replenish as we use it up. There was a reason in the Old Testament when God told the Israelites to wait a year after every 6 years of crop growing to allow the ground time to heal. We no longer do that and thus are wondering just what is going wrong with our Earth when it no longer produces for us.



The book, Green like God, by Jonathan Merritt, gives the most compelling arguments for Christians to step up and lead people on how to care for what God has given all of us. He will bless us when we do and curse us when we don’t.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review by Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups. It is wonderful because it answers the question of what do believers need to be doing to take care of our world and I would highly recommend this book.

If you would like to know more about this book and even where to purchase a copy of this book, click on the link below.

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446557252.htm

For three lucky followers of mine, I will be drawing three names on April 30th, to win an amazing copy of this book! Winners must have a shipping address within the United States or Canada only and No P.O. Boxes! I must have a way to reach you so please provide me with an email address if it’s not linked to your account.