Julie Arduini's Blog, page 65

June Foster: A Phone Call to God

A Phone Call to God

Ring.

Ring. 

“Hello. You’ve reached Jeremiah 33:3 and will be connected immediately with no waiting time to speak to God.”

“Yes.” I lowered my fist in a victory signal. “Hello, God.”

“Good morning, my daughter. I love you, today.”

“I love you, too, Lord. I was reading Ephesians 6:14 today about my breastplate of righteousness. I think mine has slipped. It’s a bit dinted, and there are a few holes in it, too, where the devil’s fiery darts attacked me.”

“Yes. That happens. I seem to recall a few years back when the enemy was especially on your case. Right before you were going to teach that little class of ten fifth graders in VBS. The pastor had had an exasperating day, and you witnessed his conversation with the VBS director. You left before you could witness your pastor begging for forgiveness. You thought some impure and critical thoughts that day.”

“Uh, oh. I remember. Yes, I lost some of my enthusiasm about VBS.” I drew a long breath and blew it out. Surely God heard my frustrated sigh. “These days, Lord, I find my thoughts sliding into judgmental and selfish notions. I’m always asking what’s in it for me. I don’t like my attitude, but the thoughts keep coming. Can I put in an order for a new breast plate?”

A soft chuckle. “Your old one is perfect because I made it. If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone. Don’t fear, my child. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world. ”

Again, I exhaled a long breath. “Thank you, Lord, my God and my Savior.” I hung up and read Ephesians 6: 14 one more time.

Seasons of Blessings

After the death of her husband, Nadia Maguire never expects to meet handsome Jared Abrams in the cemetery where she visits her dead spouse’s grave. Though she falls for the handsome bank president, his daughter hurls a wedge between them. Will her life be a harvest of blessings or a season of drought?

When bank president Jared Abrams falls in love with one of his tellers, Jared’s daughter does everything in her power to keep them apart. Will he reap a harvest of blessings or a season of drought?

 

 

 

 

 

 

June Foster/Image provided by June Foster

June Foster is an award-winning author who began her writing career in an RV roaming around the USA with her husband, Joe. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her contemporary romances. June’s characters find themselves in precarious circumstances where only God can offer redemption and ultimately freedom. Find June at junefoster.com.

Social Media links: 

junefoster.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster

https://twitter.com/vjifoster

https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster

http://pinterest.com/junefoster

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755395.June_Foster

Purchase Link:

https://tinyurl.com/yah8fbjr

Adventures in Odyssey Club: The Whit Award

 

 

 

 

If you’re a fan of Adventures in Odyssey like we are, you know who Whit is. He’s a Godly business leader and friend to all in Odyssey. He’s also creative. You have NO idea how much I want the Imagination Station to be real!

Guess what? There’s a Whit Award. Nominate the person who is most like Whit to you, and if they win, they receive a prize package and a commemorative plaque. If you’re the one who nominated the winner, you win a free Adventures in Odyssey Club membership for one year.

This is another great opportunity from Adventures in Odyssey.

Check out the Whit’s Award nomination HERE.

Learn more about the Adventures in Odyssey Club HERE.

And guess what else? There’s a new book series out about Whit as a young boy. I learned a lot about it during a meeting with other bloggers and the series gives such insight into what makes Whit—Whit. His background, family, and even his faith journey are all part of Young Whit.

Here’s more about the first book:

This Odyssey book series explores the history of the much-loved character John Avery Whittaker. The series introduces newcomers to the larger world of Odyssey. For readers who are already Odyssey-philes, the novels provide the history of the franchise’s most important character.

Whit and his family (father, Harold; stepmother, Fiona; half-sister, Charlie) have just moved to Provenance, NC, in the middle of the Great Depression. Harold will be teaching at nearby Duke University. Not-quite-10-year-old Johnny soon makes a friend in Emmy, who lives across the street and joins him in his adventures. At his new school, he encounters a bully who makes his life miserable, and he makes a new friend in Huck, the custodian. Both of them play key roles in the mysteries and action.

The central mystery in book 1 involves Confederate gold missing since the end of the Civil War and the question of whether Johnny’s ancestor was the coward and thief who stole it, as everyone believes.

Purchase Young Whit and the Traitor’s Treasure HERE.

I am part of a street team that blogs on behalf of the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Looking Back & Moving Forward

I don’t just blog here, but I also am blessed to blog with Christians Read and Inspy Romance. I don’t always think about sharing those posts here, but maybe they’ll interest you.

So—here is a summary of what I’ve blogged about.

Christians Read: A Dream Come True
Inspy Romance: Being Late Led Me to My Future Husband (Giveaway Over)
I also guest blogged for Laura Hilton for her Book Spotlight series. A Christmas to Remember.

There’s also my newsletter. I’ve pulled back on releasing each month and now try to publish when I have news to share. Honestly, I’m trying to build a decent readership and I’m stuck. If you’d like to take a look, please do! Anyone who subscribes receives my first contemporary romance, the eBook of Entrusted.

With fall basically here, my schedule has slowed down enough that I’m back to writing. My first work is writing the second book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series, You’re Amazing. This is a series my teen daughter thought of and has plotted out. I’m taking her outline and writing it out while she checks to make sure I’m capturing her vision. I’m excited, the characters have a lot of conflict we know readers can relate to.

If you read You’re Beautiful, the series revolves around a mentoring ministry called Linked. There are a group of junior high girls and a group of women who serve as their mentors. Each book centers on one of each groups struggling with a lie they believe. You’re Beautiful featured Hailey Atkinson and Sabrina Wayson and believing they were ugly. You’re Amazing is about Jazmin West, an eighth grader who excels in dance, and mentor Lena Calloway, a mom with young sons. I’m having fun writing this and can’t wait for everyone to see it.

I also must, must, must get back to the new contemporary romance series, Surrendering Opinions. It’s a six-book series about sextuplets who stay in the national spotlight due to tragedy. Each book features a sibling and their struggle with surrendering opinions. I started with first-person POV and quit. Then I switched to third. Then I realized I need to talk to someone in the television news industry to get a hold on terms and dig deeper into the character development and plot. In short, I’ve got nothing.

So there it is. Looking back at what I’ve posted, and forward with what I hope to release in the coming months. Thanks for looking!

***

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The Sororities No One Wants to Join

I smile as I type the title because back in the day when Greek life surrounded me with suite mates pledging and joining sororities, I could not have been more against it. Always the non-conformist, and in college during a time when hazing wasn’t really taken seriously, I wanted no part of it.

Then I got older and learned there were worse things than pledging.

Recently I talked with a friend and realized how too often women struggle in private. I’m sure men do as well, especially with the lie so many grew up with not to share emotion. But I’m not a man, so I can only relate to the issues I’ve faced that made me feel less than and isolated. I call them the sororities no one wants to join.

The first is the infertility club, and just as heartbreaking, the miscarriage sorority. Who would ever sign up to be a part of these things? No one I know, and I certainly wasn’t banging on the door wanting admission. I was 25 when I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries. Over the years we learned my case was one of the most severe, requiring a wedge resection surgery that took out half of each surgery. Just so I could function. As in walk. The surgeon told my husband my ovaries were 5x the size of normal, and the biggest he’d ever seen. It was a weird relief because I felt crazy for years. My periods brought a lot of pelvic pain and a deep depression I felt so much shame for, especially as I embraced my faith in Christ after college. What kind of Christian entertains dark feelings that take them as far as the medicine cabinet in a “what if” moment? This one.

It may be a paragraph or two, but the physical and emotional pain was daily and devastating. I remember having just enough strength to do what I had to do at work, fix dinner, and go to bed. It hurt that much, and my tolerance for pain is quite high. My husband didn’t know what to do or say. So he stayed quiet, which felt like another layer of rejection.

My miscarriage was another heartbreak I never yearned to experience. I’d already endured shots in my behind, all the infertility stuff, a high-risk pregnancy where I had a car accident the first trimester and a devastating season of postpartum depression no one, not even me or my doctor identified until much later. The miscarriage felt like a frozen slap across the face from God Himself. To add insult to injury, it happened at church during worship. To make it even worse, when our pastor called and offered to visit as they too were in the club, my husband said it wasn’t necessary. “We” were fine. No. We. Were. Not. It took me a complete year to process the bitterness and pain. I was obsessed with the why behind it. Only through time, God’s leading, and another sister in the miscarriage sorority who knew how to handle me was I able to start healing.

It’s been over 15 years since then. I’m blessed with two biological children. The pelvic pain was taken care of once and for all in 2008 with a hysterectomy. I dealt with instant menopause pretty well until the last couple years. I had a brief respite, but I’m back in another sorority. The menopause is going to be rough for a bit club.

I’ve been warm since I was first pregnant. It was a huge change because I was always cold. Teeth-chattering cold. Each year since the hysterectomy, I’m volcanic. It isn’t a hot flash, it’s being warm all the time. If the humidity is high, it’s hard. If I’m anxious or embarrassed, I will turn beat red and sweat through my clothes. I can’t mow the lawn like I used to. Now I have to split it up into two days. I can only do it early morning or late night. I’m not winded, it’s all heat related. I turn so red that it takes hours to return to a normal color. When it is really humid, I can be sitting still doing nothing and just sweat. If the humidity lasts more than three days, anxiety and depression set in. It has become quite debilitating this summer.

Then there’s the weight gain. That’s always been an issue for me, but since the surgery, I’ve gained between 30-50 pounds, depending on how I’m doing. There are times I am starving even though I just ate. Exhausted. Up every hour. Down because clothes don’t fit.

I started seeing an endocrinologist in 2016 when all this happened plus intense mood swings that mirrored what I endured decades before. It was bad enough I sat my family down and explained it all. Shame wasn’t going to rule this time. The medical appointment helped a lot. I lost weight, only late last year to start gaining again. The summer was harsh with the heat and humidity, hunger cravings and exhaustion. It all felt so lonely.

The last two weeks have been especially warm and I spoke with three other women of various ages who admitted the heat has been hard on them. As we shared our symptoms, one even confessed this wasn’t a sorority she asked to join.

Boy, can I relate.

But here we are. The one part I never considered with sorority life is sisterhood. I always thought about the conforming and stupid rule-following I saw during pledge season. The issues I’ve battled and still deal with tempt me with isolation and shame at every step. But there is sisterhood. I am not the only one suffering. Already one touched base with me with an encouraging word. Just that brief message helped me feel for the first time in a long time—more than. Not less than.

If you have a struggle that’s difficult, lonely, painful and the last thing you want to be a part of, welcome to the club, sister. Don’t be afraid to reach out. You’re a treasure!

***

I shared my infertility experience with five other authors in a book called A Walk in the Valley. This was the book I wish had existed when I was going through infertility. It takes the reader from diagnosis to where we are now. If you know anyone who longs for a pregnancy and each month brings heartbreak, I highly recommend this book. It’s also helpful for husbands and loved ones.

 

Jodie Wolfe: 125th Anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893 #giveaway

125th Anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

By Jodie Wolfe

 September 16th marked the 125th anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. It was our Nation’s last great race for land. 115,000 people showed up to race for 42,000 plots. I can clearly picture that day. It was hot and dry. Folks gathered along nine different starting places located along the Kansas border and south of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory.

 

All manner of conveyances could be seen—people on foot, horseback, buggies, wagons, bicycles, trains, etc. I can easily imagine the clamor and chaos as all those assembled awaited the gunshot that would signify the start of the race at noon. People were desperate. The country had undergone an economic catastrophe with the plummet of the New York Stock Exchange due to the overinvesting in the railroads. Many businesses that depended upon the railroad were forced to shut their doors. Quite a number of banks either closed or called in their loans. It was a difficult time.

 

Such is the backdrop for my new novel, To Claim Her Heart. This book is especially significant to me since it was my dear mother-in-law who introduced me to the history of the land run. It mattered to her because she had several relatives who completed in the land race and found claims. I vividly remember the summer of 1997 when we stopped off in Oklahoma to see one of those original properties. My sons and I tromped over the land and saw the homestead that was built in 1894. The first home had been a soddy that didn’t last longer than a year.

 

The rock home I saw was partially built into the side of a hill and in a state of disrepair. A stream gurgled nearby and within a couple of miles, the Gloss (Glass) Mountains cropped out of the landscape. It didn’t take much for me to start imagining characters tromping through the area and choosing to settle there.

 

While Mom never lived to see this book finally published, she knew that I was working on it in her last days. I’m so thankful that she shared her rich family history with me. Quite a few of the family stories she told me were included in my book.

 

Back Cover Blurb for To Claim Her Heart

  In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his ‘Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn’t counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.

Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith’s only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land’s not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She’s willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie’s determined to keep it.

Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.

 

Links:

 Purchase Link for To Claim Her Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Claim-Her-Heart-Jodie-Wolfe/dp/1946016470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525790723&sr=8-1&keywords=to+claim+her+heart

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Bio:

 Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) and has been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She’s a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

I’ll be giving away an ebook, so be sure to leave a comment. What time period/historical event draws your attention?

Coffee Shop Devos with Tessa Emily Hall

Julie: It’s my pleasure to share an interview with Tessa Emily Hall today. She speaks my language, a heart for teen girls. I hope you enjoy learning more about her and her new release, Coffee Shop Devos!

Teen girls today face a lot of challenges. What are some of the struggles they face?

The teen years present a unique set of challenges for girls. It’s a transition period when teens discover who they are, face life-changing decisions and temptations, and leave their childhood behind as they face their future. The Internet and social media have presented a whole new set of temptations and struggles.

Cyber bullying has become the norm. Instagram has made it even more challenging for teen girls to avoid the comparison trap. I believe there is one underlying factor behind most of the struggles teen girls face—and that is the longing they have for affection. Just like every human being, teens yearn to be understood and accepted, and sometimes they’ll go through great lengths in effort to attain this. Girls will often fall for the lie that their number of likes and followers on social media defines their worth.

In Coffee Shop Devos, I hope to bring light to the truth that this desire for acceptance and intimacy has been placed inside of each of us for a reason. Why? So we can discover that Christ is the only One who is big enough to fill this emptiness. Not only does He satisfy, but He walks with us in our struggles. This is why I categorized Coffee Shop Devos by the teen girls’ daily needs—so they can see that He meets them where they are and is the answer to their heart’s every longing.

What advice can you give to teens about how to step away from busyness and take time to be quiet and hear God’s voice?

If we only understood how productive our time with Him is, then I believe we would never be tempted to skip out on it!

We make it a priority to spend time with our loved ones, don’t we? It’s how we get to know each other and grow in that relationship. Similarly, if we want to receive the depths of Christ’s love for us, experience to the fullness the life He has called us to live, and hear His voice, then we should make it a priority to strengthen our relationship with Him as well. It’s that simple and far too valuable to neglect.

If teens are struggling to make the time, then I’d advise that they analyze their daily schedules. Is there something they can cut back on–such as TV or social media time? Could they wake up fifteen minutes earlier than usual, or perhaps listen to the Bible on audio during their ride to school? Even the smallest amount of time spent with Him can make a big difference! As our relationship with God is strengthened, then we’ll begin to discern His voice and live the life He’s called us to live. But it’s only when we break away from the noise of the world, quiet down, and carve out a space to meet with God, that we will hear His whisper above the other noises vying for our attention.

What is your hope for those who pick up Coffee Shop Devos?

My hope is that girls will come to know Jesus on a deeper level of friendship. The reason I categorized the devotions into the teen girls’ daily needs is so they can realize that Christ is the answer to our heart’s every longing. He is the One we’re searching for, and it’s only through this intimate relationship with Him that we will truly receive the peace, hope, joy, and love that we crave.

Just like how a good cup of coffee gives us the strength and energy for the day’s demands, our time with Jesus rejuvenates us spiritually and prepares us for the day ahead. So, I hope that, after girls read a daily devotion, they’ll be thirsty for more of Jesus and compelled to develop a daily habit of spending time with Him–an addiction that’s far more powerful than even their favorite daily Frappuccino drink from Starbucks.

A Christmas to Remember Boxed Set

I know I sound like a broken record, but as an author there was only one thing I really wanted to see happen beyond readers finding me and being encouraged: being part of a Christmas collection.

That dream became a reality late last year as I joined Kimberly Rose Johnson, Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey, Ginger Solomon, Lindi Peterson, Deb Kastner and Janet W. Ferguson, fellow bloggers at Inspy Romance, for A Christmas to Remember.

It is now available for pre-order at .99. That’s right. Eight Christian romances for .99.

I had so much fun writing mine, Restoring Christmas.

I wanted you to learn about each one, so here’s everything from Valerie Comer:

Only available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited!

October 2 – December 31, 2018, only!

Laugh, cry, and fall in love as you savor these brand-new Christmas romances from some of your favorite authors. Pair with a peppermint chai, hot chocolate, or your favorite wintry flavors, then snuggle down in front of the fireplace with a quilt over your lap… and maybe a purring cat!

Eight authors have joined together in this Christian romance collection that will leave you celebrating the gift of Christmas.

Until I Met You by award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson

After a difficult breakup, Brandi Prescott is taking a hiatus from men and focusing on her career, the Lord, and getting to know herself. Everything is going according to plan until one fateful, rainy morning in Seattle when a passing car drenches her and everything changes.

The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion by USA Today bestselling author Valerie Comer

The Cowboy Santa program is supposed to be a chance to help his neighbors. When Kade Delgado’s ex-fiancée, now a single mom, shows up on his list, neither of them are thrilled. Is there any hope for a second chance at love?

Hope for Christmas by Elizabeth Maddrey

When he arrived at the ranch, he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. She wasn’t looking for anything beyond stability for her son. Christmas might be a season of hope, but do they dare risk everything for love?

Can’t Live without You by Ginger Solomon

Clarissa Harding’s fiancé’s betrayal doesn’t hurt as much as learning her best friend, Sawyer Chasin, knew his brother’s secret and didn’t tell her. The marriage would have been fake, but her feelings for Sawyer aren’t.

Beautiful Heart of His by Lindi Peterson

Two wrongs don’t make a right has never been more true. Will Mason’s past wrongs push Scarlett away or help her fall in love with him?

Restoring Christmas by Julie Arduini

Filled with grief and regret, Holly Christmas returns to Geneseo Valley and the family business, The Christmas Mansion. Can Kevin Holt restore her love for the season and the memories she left behind?

The Cowgirl’s Christmas Gift by Publishers Weekly bestselling author Deb Kastner

Cowgirl Maisey Gray knows horses, not six-year-olds. But when her socially-awkward, VR glasses-wearing neighbor needs help creating the perfect Christmas for his nephews, it’s up to Maisey to make sure Cam and the boys have a Christmas they’ll never forget.

Falling for Grace by Janet W. Ferguson

Grace Logan needs a place to pick herself up now that her ex is marrying her former best friend. Grief drives Seth Gibbs to his family’s vacation home, and three years later, he has no plans to leave. Until Grace falls into his life.

This is a beautiful project I’m really excited about. Pre-Order now! Tell others. If you enjoy it, would you do us a favor and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? Thank you so much!

Pre-Order A Christmas to Remember

DVD Review: God’s Design for Sexuality in a Changing Culture

Everyone outside the church is talking about sexual issues gender identity, same-sex attraction, same-sex marriage the world s perspective on these issues has certainly changed over the last decade. So how do you answer questions about God s design for sexuality for church members and their families? Is your church equipping your people to understand a biblical perspective on sexuality and form a gospel-based response to questions from both inside and outside the church?
Harvest USA, an organization that has been thinking biblically and redemptively about these issues for decades, has now made available a video series that will help you wisely, kindly, and truthfully help your church to understand God s biblical design for sexuality and give direction on how to speak the truth in love to the world around us.

The seminar consists of fifteen 30-minute videos (suitable for use during Sunday school or in small group), downloadable leader guide, and participant outlines that address questions and topics about God s design for sexuality including the following:

Why do we need to talk about sex?


Why do we struggle with our sexuality?


Is God s design for sexuality still relevant today?


What does the Bible really say about homosexuality?


Can you change if you are gay?


How can a single person live out God s design for their sexuality?


Understanding gender and transgender issues


Pornography


How to help the sexual struggler


Key steps for raising sexually healthy kids


Keeping your kids safe in an Internet world

God’s Design for Sexuality in a Changing Culture is a DVD to help the church as a whole navigate through the current world we live in. There are 15 videos by a few different speakers, each about 30 minutes long. The topics are all ones we’d rather ignore and sweep under the rug, but what a tragedy if we as the church do. The topics cover every aspect of sexuality I can think of, including gender and transgender issues, internet safety for children and more.

Although the videos aren’t visually what you might be used to as a resource compared to Francis Chan or Lysa TerKeurst, the information is Biblical and critical. I think it would make for a good study in church staff meetings as well as a Sunday School class.

Like I wrote for the Alive review, I work with teens and they are precious. They are vulnerable. If they don’t hear the truth in love from us, they are going to hear a message from the world. I highly recommend every church study this resource and pray for our families.

To purchase God’s Design for Sexuality in a Changing Culture, click HERE.

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

Book Review: Alive by Cooper Pinson

Alive by Cooper Pinson/Harvest USA

Alive: Gospel Sexuality for Students gives teenagers and young adults a biblical, gospel-centered framework to understand sexual issues. In a changing culture where feelings about our identity inform our sexual choices, this ten-week small group resource by Cooper Pinson of Harvest USA, applies biblical truth in a compassionate way to sexual struggles.
Cooper Pinson, with years of experience working with students, aims to bring the theological truths of our union and communion with Christ into the world of sexuality. Students are met where they are and encouraged to talk about the issues that are part of their everyday world. At the same time, they are guided to learn robust, deep, and strengthening theological content that will help them follow Jesus in how they express their sexuality.
Out of this framework, topics addressed include God’s good design for sexuality, gender-related issues, singleness, dating, marriage, masturbation, pornography, and same-sex attraction, among others. Students are shepherded to understand their sexuality in the light of who Jesus is and to approach these issues with truth, faith, and compassion.

I love to be around young people. When I taught Sunday School I let them know it was because I walked away from church and missed hearing important, life-changing messages in my formative years. They might reject any message I share, but at least they will have heard it. That’s the same mentality I have for teens and God’s design for sexuality.

Teens need to hear Biblical truth, especially when it comes to sex. There is so much pressure, starting at younger and younger ages over all the topics that Alive covers. I appreciate that Alive tackles every possible subject I could imagine when it comes to sexuality, down to transgender and dating abuse.

This 10-week study starts with a weekly scenario, then moves on to reflective questions regarding the scenario. There is Biblical search and discussion on the topic, as well as questions to thoroughly engage in the topic. I thought the author did a fantastic job tackling the sensitive subjects with such comprehension and Biblical wisdom. The Leader’s Guide is probably the best resource I’ve ever come across in a study. I know most youth groups might be nervous to talk about the very specific issues included in this study, but if we don’t, the world will. I can’t think of a book more relevant that doesn’t compromise truth, yet also is not a harsh political agenda, than Alive. I truly hope youth pastors and leaders embrace everything Alive offers teens, and that teens move past the awkward silence and giggles to tackle everything Alive has. I truly believe the teen years will be better handled with this information.

Alive is intended for 8th grade through high school and suggested to use in a small group, gender specific format. They believe by doing so, a small group featuring leaders of the same sex as teens will help make the study more comfortable and the atmosphere one to build trust and conversation.

To purchase Alive, please click HERE.

I received a copy of Alive in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Fiction Finder: September New Releases

September 2018 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

A Baby for the Minister by Laurel Blount — Jilted at the altar, Natalie Davis has no one she can turn to—until Jacob Stone steps in. The single minister’s drawn to the beautiful mommy-to-be and wants to help…even if it goes against his congregation’s wishes and could cost him his job. But when she refuses to accept charity, can he convince her she’s more than a ministry project? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Courting Her Secret Heart by Mary Davis — Deborah Miller lives a double life as an Amish woman—and a fashion model! All photography is forbidden in her Plain community, so she must keep her job a secret. But when Amos Burkholder starts helping at her family’s farm, hiding the truth from him is impossible. And soon she must choose between the Englischer world of modeling and the Amish man she’s come to love. (Contemporary Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

12 Gifts of Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley — Can Malcolm MacGregor, a contemporary descendant of Scottish lairds, capture the heart of Brazilian-Italian beauty, Alanza Cantalamessa, in 12 days? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)

All Made Up by Kara Isaac — Katriona McLeod has never gotten over Caleb Murphy, the one guy she’s ever loved. When she accepts a job as a make up artist on the latest looking-for-love reality TV show, Falling for the Farmer, she discovers to her horror that Caleb is the leading man and she’s cast as one of his harem. But she hides a secret that means that even if she wanted a second chance with the guy who broke her heart she could never have it. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

An Amish Holiday Wedding by Carrie Lighte — On the brink of losing her bakery, the last thing Faith Yoder’s interested in is courting—until Hunter Schwartz returns to Willow Creek. After hiring him to deliver her treats to a Christmas festival, Faith’s determined their relationship will stay strictly professional. But despite a secret that’s kept her single, Faith can’t help but wish she and Hunter could become husband and wife. (Contemporary Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Cozy Mystery:

Deadly Holiday by Marissa Shrock — The Christmas season greets Georgia Winston with a new boyfriend (maybe), a Christmas program to run, and a man dying at her feet. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

General Contemporary/Women’s Fiction

From the Lake to the River by JPC Allen, Bettie Boswell, Carole Brown, Sandra Merville Hart, Tamera Lynn Kraft, Sharyn Kopf, Michelle Levigne, Cindy Thomson, and Rebecca Waters — Set in Ohio, in the past and present, these nine short stories and novellas by Ohio authors cover a wide range of genres, topics and locations. From Troy in the west to the North Coast and south-central Ohio. From Lake Erie to the Ohio River. From romance to YA adventure, with touches of mystery and humor. Dealing with historical events and situations, such as floods and the lasting effects of the Civil War. With characters involved in square dancing, theater, and music. Dealing with loss and danger, a second chance at love and taking a chance on love for the first time. Chances are good, no matter what you have a taste for reading, you’ll find something to like. Welcome to a taste of the Buckeye State! (General Contemporary from Mt Zion Ridge Press)

Place Called Home by Brenda S. Anderson — While building his graphic design company, Nate Brooks is focused on the future he’s dreamed of: traveling around the country from the comfort of his renovated school bus. But when he picks up a wounded, mysterious hitchhiker, those well-laid plans take a backseat to protecting her. Hobbled by her injury, and unable to keep running from her controlling ex, Tessa fears she’ll never find freedom. Or has she found it with the family who graciously opens their home to her? And will Nate’s protection put his family–and his heart–at risk? (Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Swimming in the Deep End by Christina Suzann Nelson — Jillian Connors has big expectations for her teenage daughter, Gabby, an Olympic hopeful—until Gabby becomes pregnant with her boyfriend Travis’s child. Meanwhile, Margaret Owens is furious that Gabby’s condition jeopardizes her son’s baseball scholarship. In the midst of the family drama lies the fate of the unborn baby. What does the future hold for him? (General Contemporary from Kregel Publications)

Historical:

Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson — A gripping time-slip novel about hidden treasure, a castle, and ordinary people who resisted the evils of the Hitler regime in their own extraordinary way. (Historical from Tyndale House)

Everything She Didn’t Say by Jane Kirkpatrick — A Victorian woman who traveled 15,000 miles by stage between 1870-98 decides to tell the story behind her memoir believing her husband will never see it. (Historical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Enya’s Son by Cindy Thomson — This retelling of the early life of St. Columcille and his mother will usher readers on a fateful journey through ancient Ireland’s monastic centers, her wild coastline islands, and the land Columcille believed was filled with holy angels, a place where he felt safe … yet was destined to abandon. (Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Victorian Christmas Brides by C.J. Chase, Susanne Dietze, Rita Gerlach, Kathleen L. Maher, Gabrielle Meyer, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Vanessa Riley, Lorna Seilstads, and Erica Vetsch — Faced with the daily extremes of gluttony and want in the Victorian Era, nine women seek to create the perfect Christmas celebrations. But will expectations and pride cause them to overlook imperfect men who offer true love? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Esther’s Temptation by Lena Nelson Dooley — Saddle weary, former deputy US Marshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas hunting a swindler-and-daughter criminal team and finally feels he’s caught up to them. Unfortunately, he becomes distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians. Esther, feeling like an old maid surrounded by all her close friends who are happy married couples, is drawn to the intense gaze, blue as the Texas sky, of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being. Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence? What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become Esther’s husband? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Sound of Distant Thunder by Jan Drexler — Katie Stuckey and Jonas Weaver are both romantics. Seventeen-year-old Katie is starry-eyed, in love with the idea of being in love, and does not want to wait to marry Jonas until she is eighteen, despite her parents’ insistence. So much can happen in a year. Twenty-year-old Jonas is taken in by the romance of soldiering, especially in defense of anti-slavery, even though he knows war is at odds with the teachings of the church. When his married brother’s name comes up in the draft list, he volunteers to take his brother’s place. But can the commitment Katie and Jonas have made to each other survive the separation? (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Romantic Suspense:

Loving the Texas Negotiator by Mary Connealy — Beth Garrison is the top hostage negotiator in Rocky Ridge Texas. She’s called in to a task force to investigate a killing that is a copy cat of her first bust as a rookie cop. The Valentine Killer.

Tate McCade, with the best arrest record on the force and a reputation for steamrolling anyone who gets in his way, heads the task force. He’s had a run-in with Beth and her oversized ego. He’s got a bruise on his face to prove it. Rather than have the pleasure of busting her back to walking a beat, he has to work with her. And the clock is ticking because there’s a woman and child missing and nothing about the crime adds up. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Speculative:

Guardian of Ajalon by Joan Campbell — The poison tree path is Shara’s road home. . .if she and her companions can survive the journey. In the danger and darkness of the forest, her only respite is in the story unlocked in the Old Tongue book. In this vivid world, Shara finally discovers what she has longed for all her life: the key to the secrets of her past. Yet time is running out for Shara—and all of Tirragyl—as Lord Lucian, King Alexor, and the royal army attack the Guardian Grotto to claim the powerful Guardian Rock. Unwilling to sit idly by as her kingdom is destroyed, Queen Nyla leaves her hiding place to recruit a most unlikely army—the Charab. But how can she win over the infamous assassins who have been oppressed by her family for generations? (Speculative Allegory from Enclave Publishing)