"Wings of Glass" by Gina Holmes

Gina Holmes is the President and founder of popular literary site, Novel Rocket, and award-winning author of Crossing Oceans, Dry as Rain, and Wings of Glass. She resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose. To learn more about her, visit www.ginaholmes.com or www.novelrocket.com.

Or find her on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorginaholmes

 "Wings Of Glass" by Gina Holmes gets 5 stars from me. It is about the abuse Penny gets from her husband Trent. It is a hard subject to deal with but one that is a common occurrence to often. While I was reading this novel I felt like I could have been hearing the story from Penny herself. This story is written as a letter to her son. This book needs to be given to someone that is being subjected to abuse and to people that know it is happening to someone they love! I wish I could say this book is purely fictional but we all know that isn't true!

    When Penny was seventeen, she ran off with Trent and her life was not easy. But when Trent is injured from a work accident and out of necessary he allowes Penny to take a job, Penny begins to see she has other options (she doesn't see these she at first) but she doesn't allow herself to really take them until it is almost too late. Finally she sees she has to change her in order to protect the most important thing in her life.
  I was intrigued by the title but that is explained in the story as well!
   I received this book from www.bookfun.org to read and post my honest opinion.  

"Hidden Mercies" by Serena B. Miller

"Hidden Mercies" by Serena B. Miller gets 5 stars from me."Hidden Mercies" by Serena B. Miller. This is a book that has a lot of issues covered in 348 pages, and I didn't found a single page boring. This novel kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen and I wanted something to happen and I can hear the ones reading this review right now asking "Did it happen like you want it to?", yes it did but not in the way or as soon as I wanted it too. It took an unexpected twist to turn out like I wanted but it was that twist that made the outcome so much better.
    When Tobias Miller was 17 he smashed his cousin's car into a tree killing his brother, only four hours before his brother was to be married. Tobias rans away and leaves his Amish life behind and joins the Marine. Twenty seven years later Tobias (now Tom) returns to make amends. This story is about shame and homecoming and forgiveness and unconditional love.  This story covers issues such as marital troubles, a teenage girl sneaking out at night and getting into something that is frightening that turns her life around, and some much more.  One of the issues covered in this novel surrounding a bishop's daughter had me crying! The issues in this story are real life issues even through the book is fiction!
   I can honestly say that I believe this is the best Amish novel that I have read, even through I have liked and still like all my favorite writers, I think this story will stay with me for a long time. If you take the time to read this book I believe you will agreed with me!
   This book is the second Amish book Serena has written for Howard Books. Her first book "An Uncommon Grace" is on my To Be List.  She is also planning a third book "Fearless Hope".

"Ransomed" by Shelley D Ring

"Ransomed" by Shelley D Ring gets 5 stars from me. I have to be honest and say that at first this story wasn't really getting my full attention, I was having a hard time getting into it but then the story became exciting and I wanted to see if it ended the way that I wanted it to. I can hear you asking "Well did it?' I have to say yes and no! I hope that maybe there is going to be second book, I would love to read more about Rebecca and Micah and Luke and Allison!

  This book is about a hard subject, sex trafficking. It is a Christian based book so you don't have to worry about it being in bad taste. It is written in alternating character voices and written so well that the reader can actually see the scenes being discribed.

Rebecca and Micah get in an argument and Rebecca leaves and is missing for eight years! Micah blames himself and because of quilt joins the Marines. And He has to learn about God's forgiveness also.Ransomed is the story of Rebecca's escape from her pimp and her discovery that God has never left her even through it feels like He has. It is the story of how Rebecca's brother Luke and Micah's lives are put in danger as they try to help her fully escape from the evil. I love how evil is overcome through the power of music. This story is about evil and how God's love is more powerful if we only believe and obey.
This is the second story by Shelley Ring I have read and both stories have described God's love so wonderfully that it makes the reader wonder why God doesn't give up on us, but I am glad He shows us His mercies and unfailing love everyday and everytime we fail Him. I am hoping there are more stories by Shelley Ring,
I was given an pdf file for an honest review by the artist.

Giveaway of a book and an ebook From the author of "Grace" TL Bliss and an Question and answer blog

My review of Grace is below and TL Bliss is going to give one winner an ebook copy and one winner will get a print book- So when you comment  please leave your email so we can get in touch with you if you win. I really think the winners are going to be happy with this story. It is a wonderful story with heartfelt poems written from the author's heart!
TL Bliss has agreed to answer any questions.
This will run till Sunday at 3pm. On your comments tell if you want in the drawing for the ebook or the print book.
Be sure to check out the grace fund link.


Grace
This story captures history with a sense of style. Reliving a past while enlightening a future. When Sarah interviews her neighbor Grace, she uncovers poems that Grace had written when she was a young girl. There were poems Grace had written throughout her life that brought tears to Sarah’s eyes and some that brought a smile to her face. Sarah was able to feel Grace’s pain reading the poems Grace wrote about her husband and the poems written to capture stories from the headlines, as only Grace knew best to capture them.

The poems in the book Grace reach out to every grieving heart that looks to the Heavens for comfort in a time of need. Poetry written to capture stories from the headlines, from life, poetry vulnerable to the heart. Each poem written holds a special meaning to the author. Could they perhaps hold a different meaning for you?

Now available at these locations:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C6BN9I6
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4231279
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302575


Grace Fund
Are you looking for a way to help inner city youths, struggling teens, friends and family experiencing grief, ministries searching for ways to help their congregations, counselors looking for alternative methods of inspiring others through prayer, grief counselors, ministries, struggling families, a friend or family member who has suffered pain and hardship? Do you want to pay forward what you can to help spread the word of Christ? You have come to the right place…

TL Bliss PReSS is now taking donations to help fund the cost of sending a copy (or copies) of the book Grace to these organizations that help others. We want to pay forward what we are able and in doing so, we are giving another individual the chance to pay forward as well. If we all spread our good intentions to another person, it may brighten their day or even save the life of a struggling teen.

If you know of an organization that would benefit from receiving a copy of Grace, please let us know by emailing us at press@tlbliss.com

We have set up a PayPal donation link at http://tlbliss.com/grace_fund.htm to help fund the expense of purchasing the books and mailing them out to the facilities.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Grace-Fund/586340971389668

Cry Of Freedom - Volume 3 - "Bachelor Buttons" by Kathleen L. Maher and another Question and Answer giveaway of a Irish basket full of goodies

Murray Pura's American Civil War Series - Cry Of Freedom - Volume 3 - Bachelor Buttons by Kathleen L. Maher is another 5 star volume in this series.
 This novella is about two sisters and two suitors but you don't really found out that one of the sisters wants a suitor as she is going to become a nun.
Rose and Katherine's mother has died and left behind little Thomas. Their father has given into the medicinal efforts of tonic and cannot be counted on. Rose has William, ( a fiddler player) and Dr Ian McGuiness running a race to see who wins an evening out with her. This is a funny romance story along with great dangers. Thomas gets sick and on the way to get medicine with Dr. McGuiness they are almost attacked by men who do not agreed with Lincoln's drafting people into his army. It is the wit of Thomas that saves them. This book deals with Dr. McGuiness dislike of colors and of William's friendship with them. I was drawn into this story from the first sentence, I couldn't wait until the end I wanted William Lee to married Rose. But what I really wanted to know was why the story was title Bachelor Buttons. Yes I find out but you will have to read the book to find out yourself. I believe you will like the reason!

In honor of the release of this story Kathleen L. Maher has agreed to let you the readers ask her questions and is going to give one winner an ebook copy of Bachelor Buttons and an Irish goodie basket.

The winner will be chosen on May 18 at 8 pm Eastern.

"Grace" by TL Bliss

"Grace" by TL Bliss is a 5 star book. I have to admit that I wasn't really wanting to read it at first because  I thought it was a book of poetry but I was so wrong! Yes there are poems in it but the story is so much more! The poems are based on actual events in the author's life even though the characters are fictional. These poems will bring tears! They are wonderful.They really deserved to be shared with the world.
    At the end of the story Sarah writes to her editor and I really believe that what she writes is true.
   Sarah is struggling in school with her English grade because she doesn't like to follow the rules. Her English teacher has her do an interview for extra credit and she interviews her neighbor Grace. This story is told in both Sarah's and Grace's viewpoint.
 The poems are Grace's way to get feelings out that were inside of her. These poems were kept in a little shoebox till Sarah asked for the interview. There are poems for the children killed in Newton, Connecticut on December 14, 2012, and for the terror attacks on September 11, 2011 and a poems for some of Grace's family members and other poems.
 I encourage you to get this book and share with others, for you will both be blessed!
 I was given a copy by the author TL Bliss for an honest review.
 This book is available on http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C6BN9I6 and  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302575.

"Get REAL: Stop Hiding Behind the Mask' by Jamy Whitaker

Learn more about Jamy at:http://www.jamywhitaker.com

Jamy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamyWhitakerJamy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamywhitaker

"Get REAL: Stop Hiding Behind the Mask' by Jamy Whitaker is one of those books that I will refer to time and time again and will refer others to.
 I am doing this review alittle differently than I usually do, as I am going to post what I hope to remember from what I learned reading this book when I am tempted to put on a mask and become someone that I think someone other than God wants me to be.  By posting these points I hope you will be encouraged to read this book for yourself. I am sure you will find other insights that I missed, This book is full of insights to help us drop our mask. The author uses Biblical Scriptures to prove these points and she uses our and us, and these points are paraphrases in my own words but I wanted this book to help me drop my mask so I make the points personal and I encourage you to do the same for yourself. This book is divided into three parts and at the end of the book there are Study questions to help you drop the mask, I haven't done the questions yet but will be doing them in the future!

       Here are my favorite points from the book!

Point 1=My identify is that I am an accepted Child of God because I have called on the Name Of Jesus.

Point 2 =My Worth and Purpose does not depend on anything or anyone but God and God Alone.

Point 3 = Just because I fail, and I will because we all do, does not mean I am a failure.

Point 4=It does not matter whether I feel loved or not today because the truth is I am loved more than    I can even begin to imagine.So I don't have to change who I am so that others love me.

Point 5 =I do not need to worry about the storms that this life will bring because when I am standing in Christ's shadow, even through they may rage, I am safe and He is with me in both the big and the small things.

Point 6=I will have a new name, ( one chosen by God)

Point 7=I am just like a piece of artwork, one of a kind and priceless, created by God.

Point 8 =Even Jesus was rejected.

Point 9 =God's love and compassion and forgiveness have no limits.

Point 10=When I wear my mask it causes other people to wear one.

Point 11=God has not given us the spirit of fear,but of power and of love and of a sound mind! (2 Timothy 1:7)

Point 12=When life's circumstances begin to overwhelm me, I need to take the focus off the circumstance and throw it at God's feet and let Him help me.

Point 13=I need to stop taking my time for granted and start being more deliberate about how I choose to spend it.

Point 14=God is making my life into a masterpiece.

Point 15= I need to learn to dance in the rain not complain about it.(not literally but a statement about focusing on my attitude).

Point 16=I must give God my best.

Point 17=I have to let go of the things from the past that is not letting me run the race so I can win the prize(Hebrews 12:1).

Point 18= I need to move on in the next step that God is calling me to.

 I know this is a lot of points but I wanted to share my favorite points and to say there are other wonderful things to discover in this book!

     Please don't accept my points as your own, READ THIS BOOKS AND DISCOVER YOUR OWN POINTS TO STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR MASK

I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Purchasing links:                                                                           

Get Real: Stop Hiding Behind The Mask is available at  Amazon, Barnes & Noble or WestBow Press. 

"Plain Change" by Sarah Price

"Plain Change" by Sarah Price deserves more than 5 stars but since that is all I can give it I give it 5 stars. Once again Sarah Price leaves me wanting to read any book that she has written that I haven't read yet!
  "Plain Change is the 2nd book in The Plain Fame Trilogy.It picks up where Plain Fame left off and I am eagerly awaiting the 3rd book, Plan Again.
  This story starts as Amanda and Alejandro leave Amanda's Amish farm. This story is about Amanda  learning about Alejandro's lifestyle as an hip hop artist. She is surprised that she can adapt to the English world. But even through she is no longer living the Amish lifestyle she still must keep her hair up in a bun and she doesn't like the constant parties. This book deals with the struggle of fame and how a famous person is not allowed to have any privacy. In this book Alejandro gives Amanda a GREAT SURPRISE  and a song just for her and then in the end Amanda must make another choice to love and not what her heart and Alejandro wants her to do. I am so eager to read "Plain Again" to see if what I want to happen with Amanda and Alejandro does or if something I don't  except happens .  I thought this book did a fantastic job explaining how fame effects a person. I believe a person who normally wouldn't read Amish fiction would enjoy this story.
This book has a subject matter that might brother some readers but it is done in great taste! I have read this book and  "Plain Fame" twice and I think I enjoyed it more this time because I get to start book 3 right away!

"A Clearing In the Wild" by Jane Kirkpatrick

A Clearing in the Wild receives 3 stars from me.At times I wanted to keep reading and at others times I wanted to quit reading this book, but I am glad I finished it and even want to read the next book in this series. A Clearing in the Wild is the first book in the  Change and Cherish Historical Series.
    A Clearing in the Wild is based on actual people and events. It is written from Emma's view of her life and the changes she must make in order to insure her and her family survival and happiness.
Emma is a young woman who is part of the Bethel colony,ruled by Wilhelm Keil. Emma doesn't have complete and blind trust in Kiel.
  Keil tries his best to keep Emma and her husband Christian apart by sending Christian and other scouts out to find her land for their colony. Emma is finally allowed to travel with the scouts and she learns to use her questions and doubts. Emma is courageous and she wasn't afraid to break a few rules to help her family and the other members of the colony.  
   When they find a land, Kiel rejects it and Emma finds a new way to keep her family and the others who want to stay there a way. That way is how the book ends and that is why I want to read the second book in this series. 

    “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

"Plain Fame" by Sarah Price

Once Again Sarah Price does not disappoint. I have enjoyed every book that I have read by Her.  "Plain Fame" by Sarah Price is another 5 star book. It is a little difference than your normal "Amish" novel. I think readers that don't normally read Amish novels would like this one, as it in my opinion, this book is more about how fame affects someone more than being just an Amish novel. I haven't read the other two books in the trilogy, (but I do have the second one waiting one the third to be released) so my opinion might change. I realized my opinion is somehow different than someone reading this book just to be reading it because I read it for a book discussion for an online book club that I am in and after reading and discussing a book with the author you understand and sometimes get a different persecutive  then you normally would have.
    Amanda (an Amish girl) is crossing the street in New York City and an accident occurs that causes her and Alejandro( an famous Cuban Hip Hop singer) to met. This meeting changes both of their lives. Alejandro decides to take Amanda back home to Pennsylvania himself not thinking of the damage it can do to the small Amish community. At the end of this book Amanda must make a choice! I won't tell you want the choice is because I want you to read this book and find out yourself and if you do, maybe you can tell me if you think she made the right choice! Now on to the next book!
Happy Reading!