Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 24

Spring Shadows: Grace Restored Series - Book Three

 Spring Shadows, the third book in the Grace Restored Series, follows the life of Katie MacKenna. With the Rossi Family dismantled, the only thing left for Katie to do is to graduate and hopefully move on to the police force before going to Quantico. However, a new boss is in town - one who has a score to settle with Katie. With threats against her on all sides, Katie doesn't know who to trust... About C.J. PetersonI was raised in a Christian military home, but it was far from tranquil. Like many young people, I left home as soon as possible, and went my own way, thinking I knew better. To me anything was better than where I was. Unfortunately, some of the choices I made led me away from the Lord, and sometimes that path was a dangerous one.
God is faithful, even when His children are lost and wandering. When I needed Him most, the Lord was there for me. He led me out of that danger and into a new life...a life where I am loved and appreciated. He taught me what 'real love' is, and what it's supposed to look like through my family and wonderful husband.
Who knew that "Prince Charming" actually existed? I hoped and prayed he was out there, and I found him! He is a 24 year Navy veteran and the love of my life! With his encouragement, I rediscovered the creativity I thought I had lost a long time ago, and have begun to publish the books I have written through the years. The words in these books helped me through my struggles, and my prayer is they will help others.
The way in which I write my Christian Books, is unique to say the least. I am a realistic Christian. People are people, they stumble, they fall, they trip, but God continues to dust us off, and set us back on the path again, if we just learn to trust in Him.
The challenges faced in my past give me a perspective on the realities of living the Christian life that some people may never see. There are times we wander away from God...there are times when we draw closer to Him. In our arrogance we think we can make it on our own. However, the One who made this world, and who made you, has the answers, and thankfully, He forgives our impudence and petulance and loves us through it all. God is a God of love, mercy, grace, and guidance. He loves us and only wants the best for us.
Those who have read my books, describe them as encouraging, frustrating, and a wonderful read all at the same time. The same character that could have you crying one minute, will have you cheering the next! One of my editors, stated that 'she was so into the story, that she forgot to edit, and had to go back to do the editing'.
I pray you will enjoy my books as well!

While the stories are fiction, the journey is real.
Amazon https://tinyurl.com/y4pbzcr4

Visit CJ's website - http://cjpetersonwrites.com/

Follow her on FB - http://www.facebook.com/writingbycjpe...

Follow her on Twitter - @authoress_cj

Follow her on Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/authoresscj/

A Grief Observed

A classic work on grief, A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis’s honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. Written after his wife’s tragic death as a way of surviving the “mad midnight moments,” A Grief Observed an unflinchingly truthful account of how loss can lead even a stalwart believer to lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and the inspirational tale of how he can possibly regain his bearings. About C.S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Amazon:  https://tinyurl.com/y4zj582t

NKJV, Maxwell Leadership Bible

Every believer is a person of influence. In the Maxwell Leadership Bible, leadership expert John C. Maxwell shows you the principles of leadership taught in God’s Word and how to use them. Whether you are an employee, a boss, a parent, or a neighbor, you are a person of influence in your part of the world. Throughout the pages of Scripture, John Maxwell has assembled the time-tested and irrefutable biblical principles of leadership to equip and encourage leaders with his signature approach, including the 21 Laws of Leadership, the 21 Qualities of a Leader, biographical profiles, and hundreds of notes.
Features include:
Now available in Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print® typefaceOver 120 “Profiles in Leadership” lessons drawn from the people of the BibleHundreds of compelling short articles and notes on mentoring and influenceA complete reference index to the 21 Laws of Leadership and the 21 Qualities of a LeaderEasy-to-read 10-point print size About John C. Maxwell John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and the John Maxwell Company, organizations that have trained more than 5 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books which have each sold more than one million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. You can find him at JohnMaxwell.com and follow him at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.Amazon https://tinyurl.com/yyaqlrhf

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

What happens when media and politics become forms of entertainment? As our world begins to look more and more like Orwell's 1984, Neil's Postman's essential guide to the modern media is more relevant than ever.
"It's unlikely that Trump has ever read Amusing Ourselves to Death, but his ascent would not have surprised Postman.” -CNN

Originally published in 1985, Neil Postman’s groundbreaking polemic about the corrosive effects of television on our politics and public discourse has been hailed as a twenty-first-century book published in the twentieth century. Now, with television joined by more sophisticated electronic media—from the Internet to cell phones to DVDs—it has taken on even greater significance. Amusing Ourselves to Death is a prophetic look at what happens when politics, journalism, education, and even religion become subject to the demands of  entertainment. It is also a blueprint for regaining control of our media, so that they can serve our highest goals.

“A brilliant, powerful, and important book. This is an indictment that Postman has laid down and, so far as I can see, an irrefutable one.” –Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book WorldNeil Postman About Neil Postman Neil Postman was chairman of the department of communication arts at New York University. He passed away in 2003. Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yyzuhgg3 

All That Matters

 In All That Matters, the continuing story of Clella "Catherine" begins in the cow-town of Fort Worth in 1957. Life holds such promise as she, her husband, and children travel to new destinations and adventures, from one job and town to another. Catherine loves her husband and he loves her. What could go wrong? She soon learns her trials are not over. It's through these trials and adversities, that Catherine and her daughter, Diane, discover the will to overcome through the one and only true love, which is all that matters
About Diane Yates Diane, a Christian-Fiction writer, is the author of two biography/memoirs, Pathways of the Heart and All That Matters. She has served two terms as President of Ozarks Writers League and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild. She and her husband, Rick, work in youth and adult ministries in their church, where she writes plays and skits as well as Sunday School curriculum and Bible studies. She has three children and eight grandchildren who are the crown of her life.Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y58lsw25 Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y2vak222

How to Read a Book

 With half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader, completely rewritten and updated with new material.

A CNN Book of the Week: “Explains not just why we should read books, but how we should read them. It's masterfully done.” –Farheed Zakaria

Originally published in 1940, this book is a rare phenomenon, a living classic that introduces and elucidates the various levels of reading and how to achieve them—from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading. Readers will learn when and how to “judge a book by its cover,” and also how to X-ray it, read critically, and extract the author’s message from the text.

Also included is instruction in the different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science works.

Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests you can use measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension, and speed.
Mortimer Jerome Adler
December 28, 1902 to June 28, 2001

He was an American philosopher, educator, and popular author. As a philosopher he worked within the Aristotelian and Thomistic traditions. He lived for long stretches in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and San Mateo, California. 
Charles Lincoln Van Doren  February 12, 1926 to April 9, 2019
Hewas an American writer and editor who was involved in a television quiz show scandal in the 1950s. In 1959 he testified before the United States Congress that he had been given the correct answers by the producers of the show Twenty-One.Amazon Link: https://tinyurl.com/y3kp97do

An Unlikely Conclusion (The Velvet Shoe Collection) (Volume 3)

 A train wreck threatens her future; a long kept secret threatens to destroy her past. Just when she begins to feel safe the terror begins again. One moment in time, on what should be the happiest day of her life, changes everything. Does Ruth have the strength to fight the chain reaction that finally reveals a shocking secret? Detroit in 1929 may be the scene of an unlikely conclusion.  About Patty Wiseman Master of the unexpected twist, breathtaking depth, and contagious storylines, romance novelist, Patty Wiseman is the daughter of a WWII Navy vet who survived Pearl Harbor. She was raised in Washington State,attended The Wesleyan College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, then moved to Northeast Texas where she has resided for over 30 years. Several of her short stories have been published in 'Angie's Diary'. Patty is the creator of the Velvet Shoe Collection, historical romantic mysteries set in the 1920's. An Unlikely Arrangement, is the first of the series. An Unlikely Beginning, the second book was released in July of 2012. The third in the series, An Unlikely Conclusion, was released in August of 2013. Fourth book in the series, An Unlikely Deception, was released August 5, 2016. Her self motivational book Success Your Way was published in March of 2016. She is published through Desert Coyote Productions. There are two more series in the works. One is a romantic comedy.

Her 1st Children's Book was published on Sept. 24, 2017. Based on a true story that happened to her dog, Rescue at Wiseman's Pond, is an exciting tale of Cutter's bravery!

Patty is a VIP 2013 member of the WorldWide Who's Who Women's Entrepreneurs and a member of the GFWC-Texas Federation of Women's Clubs-Marshall Women's Club. She is also a member of the Texas Association of Authors, a member of East Texas Writers Association and NETWO.

Patty's 2nd book in the series, An Unlikely Beginning won 1st place in Romance with the Texas Association of Authors. Patty is a winner in the 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading Contest and has a 2nd place finish in the Forward National Literary Awards contest in Romance, for the 1st in her series, An Unlikely Arrangement. Her 2nd book won 1st place in the Texas Association of Authors contest in Romance and the 3rd book of the series won 1st place, as well. The 4th in the series won Honorable Mention in the same contest. She has entered and finished twice in the National Novel Writing Month challenge and won both times. 2007 & 2011.

An avid league bowler, Patty is proud to maintain a 145 average on her ladies league. The league quickly turned into a book signing event the 1st day she timidly displayed her 1st novel. She sold a total of 20 books and in the same day bowled her highest series yet, a 521 with a high game of 197. Heady stuff indeed.

Patty is married to husband Ron, and has two grown sons and 11 grandchildren. She currently lives in Texas with her husband and her dog Cutter.
You can find out more about Patty on her website www.pattywiseman.coAmazon:https://tinyurl.com/y2mkzsfs Twitter: @PattyWG

The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin

Douglas Bond tells the story of reformer John Calvin and Jean-Louis Mourin, a man whose deadly envy will stop at nothing to silence Calvin …“Privileged Calvin had every reason to pray and revel in God’s kindnesses, but I, that night, looked heavenward with a scowl… . ‘God above, if you are there, you are most unkind to me… . Therefore, will I not serve you, will I not worship you, will I not obey you. Henceforth, I give of myself to those powers that most work against you, against your will and ways, and against your servants.’ It was a prayer that invigorated me, made me feel emancipated from divine oppression and injustice, the master of myself and my fortunes, the bold possessor of new freedoms.”So begins the private war of one man determined to sell all for a convoluted allegiance, even at the cost of his own soul. Told from the perspective of a sworn lifelong enemy of John Calvin, this fast-paced biographical novel is a tale of envy that escalates to violent intrigue and shameless betrayal. About Douglas BondDouglas Bond is author of more than twenty books of historical fiction, biography, devotion, and theology, including two adult novels translated and published by Dutch publishing houses. Bond and his wife Cheryl have been married for more than thirty years and have two daughters, four sons, and two granddaughters.

He is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA); has a Masters in Teaching (MIT) from St Martin's University, and a Preliminary Certificate in Theology from Moore Theological College, NSW Australia; teaches English and history at a classical Christian high school; and was awarded by the Pierce County Library Foundation and Arts Commission the "2005 Teacher Award" for teaching young adults how to write.

He is on the advisory board of Glorious Films (Montreal) with Derek Thomas, Michael Haykin, and others (2014). As a hymn writer and author of several books on hymn writers and hymnody, Bond was asked to be a consultant for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) special feature series on Christian hymns God's Greatest Hits (2012).

Additionally, Bond has led Church History tours in Europe since 1996 (www.bondvoyage.webs.com), and has also been consulted on church history documentary films. Frequently interviewed on Christian radio stations, Bond was featured in French newspaper Le Midi Libre (1/18/2015) on his book HAMMER OF THE HUGUENOTS, written on-location in France. Additionally, Bond's articles on church history and theology have appeared in Modern Reformation, Table Talk, byFaith (author interview), Western Reformed Seminary Journal, Light and Life magazines, and in the Aquila Report. In addition to leading church history tours, Bond often lectures at conferences on literature and Church history.

Bond first started writing books when his own children begged him not to read to them but to tell them original stories. He haltingly launched in. They wanted more. Some of those original stories came in installments and lasted for weeks. Then one night in 1999 he couldn't sleep. Ideas began pouring in for the Mr. Pipes books on hymnody. He sat up in the dark, so not to disturb his intensely patient wife, and scribbled out the opening episodes, mapping out the first book before morning. And then he began writing furiously.

And continues to do so. Forthcoming HAMMER OF THE HUGUENOTS (2015), THE BATTLE OF SEATTLE, PNW Indian War novel set in 1855 Puget Sound (2016), a children's picture book in verse JOB'S HARD JOB, and others. He is currently researching and beginning the writing on a historical fiction novel set in the Western Front of WW I (War in the Wasteland, working title) in which 19 year old CS Lewis, wounded in the Battle of Arras 1918, will feature.

Follow Bond at his web site bondbooks.net (read book excerpts and listen audio to sample chapters) and his blog douglasbondbooks.blogspot.com.

One critic has written that "Douglas Bond is a rising star in the historical fiction genre for older and younger readers." Christian Book Previews

Happy reading!

Amazon link: https://tinyurl.com/yxqjmnjo 

Barely Above Water

An illness comes out of nowhere and strikes Suzie Morris. Her boyfriend dumps her. She has no living family, and her physician can't diagnose the malady.
Suzie relies on her Christian faith as she faces the uncertainty of the disease, and turns to a renowned alternative doctor in Destin, Florida. She takes a job coaching a county-sponsored summer swim team. She's determined to turn the fun, sometimes comical, rag-tag bunch into winners.
Her handsome boss renews her belief in love, but learns of her mysterious affliction and abruptly cuts romantic ties. Later he has regrets, but can he overcome his fear of losing a loved one and regain Suzie's trust? Award-winning author Gail Pallotta's a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association, she's a Grace Awards Finalist and a 2017 Reader's Favorite Book Awards recipient. She's published five books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums. Visit Gail's website at gailpallotta.com

READER'S FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW FOR BARELY ABOVE WATER

reviewed by Deborah Stone (Sept. 19, 2016)

"Barely Above Water by Gail Pallotta has a powerful and heart wrenching message that we all need to hear. Suzie has something wrong with her, but no one seems to know what. Without a diagnosis, she is perceived, by some, to be lazy and complaining. No medical doctor has been able to help, so Suzie takes a giant leap of faith and trusts God to lead her. She moves to Florida to see an alternative medicine doctor that once helped her mother's friend. With no job, she relies on God and her savings while she looks for work. She ends up taking a summer-only job coaching a make-shift swim team with inexperienced swimmers. Although temporary, it will keep her going through the summer while she looks for other opportunities to support herself and pay for her treatments. Suzie meets Matt, the Park and Recreation Director and her new boss. When more than a work relationship begins to develop, Suzie feels she must tell Matt about her illness. Will he stand by her or walk away? Is telling him a risk that Suzie is willing to take?
Gail Pallotta introduces us to a world with options when it comes to taking care of our bodies. She speaks with authority on the subject because she understands it first hand. Gail Pallotta's characters are real and convincing because they come from a place of understanding. Gail's love story is fragile and tender, but with an inner strength that comes from trust and faith in God. Gail Pallotta's story is inspiring and resonates with hope when all hope seems to be gone. A lovely story with well defined and well developed characters, and a story line with factual information that will help, or at least educate, readers."Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y2569z7mTwitter:  @Hopefulwords

Picture of the day.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16