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It was so fun to get this review of our book by a Writer's Digest judge. I am continually awestruck and blessed when we get to hear encouraging things like this about the words God definitely put on our hearts to share.  Thank you to all of you who helped us along the way as well! Judge’s Commentary* : This couple’s story is a testament to trusting in God, no matter what. Their voices of faith are challenging and inspiring to people who long to follow God in all things. While the story has takeaways for people of faith, and the authors encourage others to learn from their story, the story itself rightly takes center stage. By focusing on the ups and downs of their lives, they convey and openness and humility that is inviting rather than seeming like towering people of faith who are lecturing those living more mundane lives. While their faith is unwavering, they don’t gloss over the fact that hardships are just that: hard. The alternating voices of husband and wife mesh toget...

Just after I began reading For The Record , a family member had a medical emergency. So, I tucked the book into my bag on the way to the hospital and brought it with me. Sixteen hours later, I was so glad that it was an enjoyable read! In fact, it was one that I actually would be willing to read again. Jennings' story centers on the relationship between an aspiring local writer and a deputy stranger with a hidden past. There were several things I liked about this tale. First, there were layers of mysteries going on at the same time, but it didn't feel muddy or confusing to the main plot. Since a journalist and a lawman are both the types of people expected to encounter and help mend unusual situations, it was fitting that they were in the middle of several things at once. The story moved along well and was actually quite funny in places. I also enjoyed the way Jennings' use of language seemed true to the historical era. Among her characters, one "smelled like a vat...

You know those evenings as a child that were full of excitement and anticipation because you knew tomorrow was full of good things? The day before a big vacation trip was to begin. . . or the day before your grandparents were coming to visit. . . or the day before your birthday? Then, you get a little older and it's the day before the prom, or graduation, or the first day of college? Maybe the first day of work at the job you've dreamed of for a long time. . . We kind of feel like that tonight because copies of our book Stacking Stones: Stories of God's Faithfulness in Far-Off Places is en route and scheduled to arrive to us tomorrow! Then, we get to have our first book signing this weekend! If you're local and want to attend, drop us a note. After that, Monday, from 5-7PM California time (8-10 on the East Coast), we will be having an online launch party via facebook. Join us for fun, giveaways, conversation and surprises. . . but no food, because, well, it's a...

August 14th was the day our e-book went live on amazon.com!  (Click here for link) It has been such a blessing to hear feedback from people who have enjoyed reading it. Thanks to all of you who have shared your thoughts about it with us. The print version is on its way. . . we are looking forward to getting our first copy, too! So, please watch for that! We also have a couple of book signings coming up and will do our best to keep you posted. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers. Let us know how we can pray for you, too.

One of the best things about children's picture books is their illustrations, and when What a Bragger!  by Lee Ann Mancini arrived in the mail, its artwork certainly caught my eye! Dan Sharp's under-the-sea images are creative, colorful, whimsical. I wondered if the book's text would hold up to the lovely outside cover, but Mancini's story is engaging, relevant and well-told. In this book in the "Adventures of the Sea Kids" series, Melissa the blowfish starts bragging about things she supposedly has at home. However, she is suspected very quickly of lying. How the situation is resolved in the end is realistic and compassionate, and subtly teaches little listeners a way to handle this part of growing up. I think children would love this book. It has cute characters and a theme that they can both relate to and learn from. I also love the attention to detail in the book. Sharp's artwork includes more than a dozen icthus fish, hidden on the pages for r...

I grew up in church and don't remember an age where I wasn't either reading the Bible or having it read to me. So, I'll admit that there was a part of me that wondered about the title of this book. If I don't enjoy reading my Bible (I do, but that's a hypothetical "if") after this many years, how is this little ten-dollar paperback going to make a difference? I underestimated it. Just as the title says, this book contains ten tips (in ten chapters, followed by study guide sections) to enjoy Bible reading. Ferrin looks at the mental, spiritual and physical approach we take to Bible reading and how our routines are often erroneous. By changing our perceptions and habits, our lives can be changed. That sounds a bit exaggerated, I realize, but it's true. How we look at the Bible, how we make time in our schedule for the Bible, how we study the Bible. . . . these are all worth a second look. I don't want to give away too many of his th...

This book is misnamed .   This short, eight-week study aims to provide a "light," "fun" Bible study option, giving Biblical perspectives on topics important to women. Since I've been asked by girlfriends for a Bible study program without homework, I was excited about this one, marketed right to them. The author organized her book into nice, easy-to-follow sections and I love the pretty, inviting cover. I received the book (ISBN 9781482083910) directly from her, and she even autographed it and wrote a personal note. Tate seems sweet and genuinely concerned for other women. That's one reason this review is so painful to write. I can't recommend her book. I think her title is a misnomer. The No-Homework Women's Bible Study: Group Hug doesn't seem "no-homework" or "Bible Study." True, no chapter analysis is required as homework. However, there are plenty of suggested optional tasks, from organizing to exercise,...

A BOOK THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS I was so happy to be able to review No More Peanut Butter Sandwiches , by Jeff Davidson (currently available at http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Peanut-Butter-Sandwiches/dp/1633570010 ). This book is an honest story from a dad whose son was born with special needs.  Jeff Davidson was expecting a healthy boy with whom he could play basketball and teach to drive a car.  But his precious son, Jon Alex, was born with cerebral palsy and autism.  He is nonverbal and needs help to eat and dress. This book is meant to benefit other parents of special needs children, and especially to encourage dads to care for their wives and participate in their children's lives.  I didn't really know what to expect as I began this book, but I grew so much in my understanding of special needs individuals and their families.  There were so many things that I didn't know or hadn't thought about, and I feel very inspired and ...

Have you ever felt blindsided by life? Have you ever felt blindsided by God? That is the subject of Peter Chin's recently-released book, "Blindsided by God: Disappointment, Suffering, and the Untamable Goodness of God." Can I just say, in short, that I LOVED this book? I did. Peter Chin and his wife moved with their two daughters to an inner-city location where they began a church congregation. He felt certain he was in God's will. They were blessed with health, purpose, each other. . . then they experienced some tremendous suffering in the span of a few short months. Miscarriage, a robbery, breast cancer, termination of health insurance. . . Why was this happening to them? If they were doing God's will, why would he allow them to suffer so much? This is a powerful book. One thing that I especially loved is that he doesn't preach at readers, but just tells his story and what he learned. And, along the way, we see some of God'...

Tracie Miles wrote this book about an incredibly important topic, how God can use our past to impact other people in our future.  He doesn't make mistakes, and our own mistakes can be exactly what he uses to help those who are hurting.   This is an inviting book, with a nice cover and title.  I found Miles' writing to be engaging, and her stories to be vulnerable without being sensationalistic.  I loved the testimonies and questions that were included.  Miles wants people to work through their pasts in a God-centered manner and I think the Bible study questions could be a powerful tool for breakthrough in this regard. I can see her work being extremely useful for people wanting to move from painful backgrounds into all God has for them. I would have liked to see less of an emphasis on public platforms.  Not everyone is called to be a public speaker or author.  She says this in the book, but I felt it got a little lost in her encouragement to...

My mom gave me a phenomenal Christmas present this year.  She registered us for the 2015 West Coast Christian Writers Conference. We weren't first-timers.  She and I had been once before, back in 2006, I think it was.  Back then, Lee Roddy was keynote speaker, Jon Drury was Director, it was held under the name "Christian Writers Seminar" in Castro Valley, and I was working on a contemporary novel.  This past weekend, Kathi Lipp was keynote, Susy Flory was Director, we met in Fremont, and I was a little stuck on the non-fiction project I have poured myself into for the past two years. There are so many things to share about the conference, and maybe in the future I will write more about those.  Today, though, I want to tell you about something very personal that happened to us.  Something that felt, in a sea of strangers, like it was meant just for us. Road trip selfie My mom and I are both working on projects, and had a hard time selecting a con...

Tonight, I'm posting my first review for the Bethany House Blogger Review program.  Check it out! Don't you love great books?  What are you reading?  Share with us. . . what is a book that you read this past year that was meaningful, memorable or even life-changing for you?  Leave a comment!

I'll be honest; historical romance novels aren't really my thing.  While other girls swooned over Heathcliff or Mr. Darcy, I was reading books about best friends and their adventures--Trixie Belden mysteries, In Grandma's Attic and so on. Yet, I was drawn to The Brickmaker's Bride .  First, the cover is fantastic.  From the layout to the color scheme to the embossing, this is a beautiful book.  Secondly, the story sounded unusual, unlike other romances I had read.  I want fiction to transport me.  This did--to a world I knew little about.  Facts about the brickmaking process in the late 19th century were woven in deftly and I stayed engaged to the end.  When it came time to put the book down, I didn't want to leave the characters! I only had two strong criticisms.  First, I think the first chapter would have benefited from more editing.  "Brickyard" appeared in it twenty-six times. (That doesn't count additional uses of "bricks,"...

And the winner is. . . . . Jon! Congratulations!! I will try to get that out to you this week. Thanks for participating!

Giveaway #3 So, awhile back I mentioned that I haven't had much time to read paper-and-ink books lately.   Sad, but true.   I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks at work instead.   Well, I did read one book with a binding lately--a slim, but important volume that I would like to share with you. Here it is: I met and worked with author M. J. Weissenberger in South America.   She was a new missionary who would be teaching English to our children.   I can't even express how blessed I am for what she has meant to them. So, when she announced the publication of her book, Two Heavy Words: Reflections of a First-Year Missionary, I was quick to buy it right away, snatch it from its envelope and devour it.   I paid for it, but reading it was a gift. One of the things I love about Mrs. Weissenberger is her honesty and frankness.   Another is her deep passion to keep pushing on and pressing forward in her faith and walk with God. ...