Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers – for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Remember the prisoners as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you also were suffering bodily.
Let marriage be held in honor among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Hebrews 13:1-4
Sister Eve and the Blue Nun
By Lynne Hinton
When Sister Eve returns to the monastery, the last thing she expects there is murder.
After solving several mysteries with her father at the Divine Private Detective Agency, Sister Eve finds herself torn between her calling as a nun and the thrill that comes with detecting. She knows she’s been using her father’s health as an excuse to extend her leave of absence from the monastery, but that excuse is running thin. She prays that a return visit to the monastery for a conference on the Blue Nun will help bring clarity to her calling, but when the conference speaker is murdered, Sister Eve’s two worlds collide.
Sister Eve knows the number one suspect, the victim’s brother and monk in residence, couldn’t possibly have committed the crime, and she’s determined to find the real killer. To do so means she must track down some mysterious newly discovered writings from the Blue Nun, said to date from the 17th Century, when the sister bi-located to the New Mexico region from her home in Spain. Could these texts from long ago be the key to today’s mystery? And will they offer any guidance to Sister Eve as she chooses which calling to follow?
ISLAND BREEZES
This story is about a very interesting nun who is tracking an interesting nun in history – the Blue Nun. Sister Eve has been on a sabbatical of sorts, spending time with her father.
While at her father’s she assisted him in his Divine Private Detective Agency. Now she’s back at her former monastery trying to decide if she wants to remain a nun.
That decision is interrupted by a murder there. Sister Eve just can’t leave it alone, especially since it involves the Blue Nun. Although everyone tries to persuade Eve to stay out of it and let the professionals handle the case, it draws her in.
She places herself in danger as she tries to help her friend and find the murderer. By the way, the murderer is not who you probably think it is.
This is a very well written book that I couldn’t put down. Also, it led me to do a little research. The Blue Nun did exist and you can read more about her here.
Thank you, Ms Hinton, for introducing me to Sister Eve. Please keep the Divine mysteries coming. I’m ready for the next one. While waiting I plan to read the first two.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Lynne Hinton is the New York Times best-selling author of Friendship Cake and Pie Town. She received an undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro and a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She has served as a hospice chaplain and church pastor. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer. She lives with her husband in Albuquerque, NM.
Someone Like You
By Victoria Bylin
Single mom Julia Dare has a lot on her plate. A brand new Christian, she’s busy trying to run her own business, spend time with her widowed mother, and raise her young son, Max, despite his father’s less-than-ideal influence on him. When a big account from her event-planning business sends her to the Caliente Springs resort, she’s shocked to come face-to-face with Zeke Monroe, the resort’s general manager and her college sweetheart.
With his faith in tatters, Zeke Monroe is determined to keep the historic Caliente Springs resort running despite financial difficulties. But when Julia walks back into his life, he can’t ignore the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s dream wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. When Zeke and Julia are pushed to their limits both personally and professionally, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?
ISLAND BREEZES
Being a single mother is not easy. Especially when the the mother is a new Christian and the child’s father is promoting other than a Christian set of values.
Julia, who has an event planning business, checks out the Caliente Springs resort as a possible location for an event. There she runs into Zeke, her old sweetheart.
Zeke has problems of his own. Mainly trying to keep the resort from falling apart on a limited budget.
The two partner in planning a big wedding which will hopefully help both the resort and Julia’s business.
Will sparks once again fly between the two or will Julia’s ex take down Julia and the resort?
Thank you, Ms Bylin, for this novel. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading your next book.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Victoria Bylin writes contemporary and historical romances known for their realistic, relatable characters. Her work has finaled in contests such as the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky.
A Daughter’s Dream
By Shelley Shepard Gray
In Shelley Shepard Gray’s second book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another
Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she’s given the opportunity she’s been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she’s dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work
—work she’s afraid she’s not very good at.
That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who’s just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly’s uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?
Suddenly becoming Lily’s sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he’d be a single parent—or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob’s fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.
But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?
ISLAND BREEZES
This book brings us back to Charm and characters we met in A Son’s Vow. Here we are intoduced to secret dreams of Rebecca Kinsinger and Jacob Yoder.
These two work hard at what has become expected of them even though they realize they just don’t fit with the perceived expectations of others.
They work hard at meeting these expectations, but increasingly unhappy. Will they finally stand up and pursue their own secret dreams either individually or together?
This is a good stand alone read, but reading A Son’s Vow will give you background on some of the4 characters. Thank you Shelley, for giving us a peek into Amish hearts.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
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Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,
focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and protector of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1, 2
Intentional Living
By John C. Maxwell
We all have a longing to be significant. We want to make a contribution, to be a part of something noble and purposeful. But many people wrongly believe significance is unattainable. They worry that it’s too big for them to achieve. That they have to have an amazing idea, be a certain age, have a lot of money, or be powerful or famous to make a real difference.
The good news is that none of those things is necessary for you to achieve significance and create a lasting legacy. The only thing you need to achieve significance is to be intentional. And to do that, all you need to do is start. You can’t make an impact sitting still and doing nothing. Every major accomplishment that’s ever been achieved started with a first step. Sometimes it’s hard; other times it’s easy, but no matter what, you have to do it if you want to get anywhere in life.
In INTENTIONAL LIVING, John Maxwell will help you take that first step, and the ones that follow, on your personal path through a life that matters.
ISLAND BREEZES
Are you living a life of significance or are you just trying to do your best? Are you content being the person you are or do you want more? Are you living intentionally or just living?
Everyone has a story and a why. John C. Maxwell shows you how to find yours. You then can start doing something of significance – something that makes a difference. This will lead to a life of anticipation.
Thank you, Mr.Maxwell, for leading us towards a life with a great story.
***A special thank you to Sarah Stringer of the Hachett Book Group for providing a review copy.***
John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert and author who has sold more than 21 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained nearly 6 million leaders in 177 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His blog can be read here.
Now this is His commandment – that we should believe in the name of his Son, Yeshua the Messiah, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
The one who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. We know He abides in us by this – by the Ruach He has given us.
1 John 3:23-24
Hebrew
Mars with Venus Rising
By Hope Toler Dougherty
A meddling horse, paper bag floors and a flying saucer on the town square. The little town of Mars has it all—including a brand new resident who might spell heartache for one of its own.
Twenty-something Penn Davenport yearns for an exciting life in the big city and wants to shed the label of orphan that she’s worn for years. To achieve that dream, she must pass the CPA exam then move away from the two aunts who reared her after her parents died in a plane crash.
When John Townsend—full of life and the joy of living—moves to town, he rattles Penn’s view of herself, her life, and her dreams . . . which isn’t such a bad thing until she falls for him . . . and discovers he’s a pilot.
ISLAND BREEZES
Penn has her life planned out. She’ll pass the CPA exam and move out so that her aunts can move back to their home.
Then along comes John. It seems as if he’s moved to her small town of Mars just to irritate her. All poor John wants is to make some friends in his new home town.
Penn starts softening up and maybe even falling for him until she learns he’s a pilot. Then all bets are off. No way, Jose. She’ll stick to her car and wayward horse.
Is there no way at all for John to work himself back into Penn’s heart? It doesn’t look like it.
Thank you, Hope, for this fun book. I’ll look forward to reading your next novel.
***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***
Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University as well as York Technical College. A member of ACFW, RWA and SinC, she writes for Almost an Author. Before writing novels, she published non-fiction articles on topics ranging from gardening with children to writing apprehension. She cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC basketball, and Army West Point Football. Hope and her husband, Kevin, live in North Carolina and have two daughters and twin sons.
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