Songs for a Sunday ~ a book review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Songs for a Sunday by Heather Norman Smith, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

About the Book

Title: Songs for a Sunday

Author: Heather Norman Smith

Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction

Release Date: February 7, 2023

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction/Southern Fiction/Split Time

Two sets of sisters, generations apart–can one big sister’s sacrifice teach the other about love and forgiveness?

1963: Twenty-year-old Annie dreams of managing the dance studio where she has trained since childhood and of marrying her high-society boyfriend. But when her younger sister with special needs gets pregnant, Annie is forced to set her dreams aside for the sake of family.

Present Day: Missy Robbins has always lived in her younger sister’s shadow. When given the opportunity, Missy steps out of her comfort zone as stay-at-home mom of four to prove she’s as good a singer as Erica. Missy’s new pursuit puts her on a path to self-discovery and reclaiming her discarded faith. Until she discovers her grandmother has a sixty-year-old secret.

Will Missy conceal Grandma Annie’s deception or will she be forced to reveal the hidden truth?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub
(none of these are affiliate links for this blog)

My Summary and Thoughts:

This novel is set in multiple times and explores the lives of two sets of sisters. The sisters influence each other, for good and otherwise, though that influence is not always seen until later. Annie’s life is changed suddenly when her mentally challenged sister has a major need, her job disappears, and her fiance drops her. Where does she go from there? In another time, her granddaughter Missy is struggling with her self-image as the “average” stay-at-home mom of 4. She feels she doesn’t live up to expectations. Can she step up and bring about the change she wants to see? But what about when she finds out more about Grandma Annie’s past? What now?

This is a beautiful story that shows the power of love and goodwill. When a family member steps up in a moment of need, you cannot help but find hope in that love, especially when it is nothing like the dream that existed in that space before. Dreams change and grow and morph into something even more beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this process through the story because it is so easy, in our world, to just let go of a dream when things go awry. Throughout this story, the characters sought their own growth and that of those around them. Taking on dreams of another that you love can grow that dream and bring strength in the midst of heartache.

How beautifully this story shows these themes and ideas. Family is more than what we initially imagine and dreams grow in the midst of it all. As we follow the family trying to grow and change amidst shocking secrets and dreams gone awry, we fall in love with the love they have for each other. This is one to add to your must read list.

About the Author

Heather Norman Smith is a Christian fiction and devotions author. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She also enjoys singing about Jesus. Heather is a proud life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her fiction. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, N.C., where she lives with her husband and their four children, and several pets.

Connect with Heather by visiting heathernormansmith.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 6, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 13, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

The Lifeway Women’s Bible ~ review and giveaway

Disclosure: Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

The Lifeway Women’s Bible is a CSB (Christian Standard Bible®) translation and study Bible, and it would make a lovely Christmas gift for women of any age. (Hint: You can get 50% off your copy of the CSB Lifeway Women’s Bible today using the code SAVE50LWB!)

There are several features to this Bible to assist with study and diving deeper into God’s word. Also, there are some that placed in this Bible specifically to speak hope and truth into women’s hearts.

• over 100 articles placed alongside corresponding Biblical texts to help in study and to foster deeper reflection on the topics and passages, many focusing on the needs of women
• close to 100 short devotionals placed throughout the Bible
• short Bible genre introductions with an overview and reading plan highlighting key sections in that genre
• book introductions for each of the 66 books of the Bible, including an overview and book-specific timeline
• character profiles of over 40 women in the Bible with study questions for application
• reflections questions to help women engage more deeply with the Bible
• about 100 brief inspirational quotations sprinkled throughout
• over 25 word studies on meaning and significance
• over 30 charts, graphs, and maps
• multiple reading plans, including 90 days, one year, and three year plans
• concordance

This lovely Lifeway Women’s Bible comes in genuine leather, LeatherTouch, or cloth-over-board covers. The marigold LeatherTouch that I received is bright and beautiful. It is a heavier Bible with wide margins for note taking or illustrating. Each page contains a single column with cross-references and text notes at the bottom. The text is a black on white print in a 9.5 point size. There are 2 ribbon markers sewn into the binding, which is a Smyth-sewn, lay-flat binding. All-in-all, this is a lovely Bible that I can’t wait to begin using.

How To Purchase:

Get 50% off the purchase of (1) Lifeway Women’s Bible with code SAVE50LWB
(Only available on Lifeway.com. Limit 1 Bible at 50% off retail price, any Lifeway
Women’s Bible sku. Limit one offer per person. Cannot be stacked with any other
offer. Valid 11/15/22-12/31/22.)

Giveaway:

1 (one) copy of the Lifeway CSB Women’s Bible (Marigold LeatherTouch
Edition) Note: This is limited to US winners only. Winner will be drawn on December 13. Enter through the link below.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6ac1648a20/?

Good Luck!

Blessings,
Lori, At Home.

Giveaway from the Homeschool Review Crew – 1 year membership to SchoolhouseTeachers for 3 families

 

Giveaway open January 20, 2020 through January 26, 2020.
Further details on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

I can’t say enough good things about this site and highly recommend it. We watched an apologetics class just yesterday from SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  (affiliate link) It was on how dinosaurs relate to the understanding and timeframe of the Bible. Taught by Patrick Nurre, it was a good class. His geology class is one I am hoping to go through myself this year.

You can read our most recent review of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, published just a couple of weeks ago.

With over 460 classes, SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a complete curriculum for PK-12.

Every Subject – Every Grade – Every Student 

Head over to the Homeschool Review Crew blog by clicking the text link or either of the images to find the entry for the giveaway and plenty of reasons to enter. Good luck!

Blessings,
Lori, At Home.

NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible ~ a review & giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) for this review. This post is sponsored by Zondervan.

Designed for girls ages 8 and up, this beautiful coloring Bible will help bring the word of God to life and allows space for personal artistic expressions.

Journaling and coloring are two ways of bringing to life the words of God that He gives us in His Bible. The NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls is a lovely Bible that incorporates both of these styles of expression.

The NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls is stunning with many lovely, quality features. These include:

• Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art
• Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking
• Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art
• Complete text of the accurate, readable and clear New International Version (NIV)
• Easy-to-read black letter text in single-column format
• Lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Ribbon marker
• Beautifully designed Leathersoft-over-board cover featuring screen-printing and other cover embellishments
• 8-point type size

With both full page and margin sized illustrated verses, there are plenty of verses to color.

Print your own pages to color by visiting Zondervan.

Okay – so now you know the stats, let’s talk about this in my own words, right? This cover is beautiful. The pink with silver is cheerful and bright. It is a comfortable book to hold and the printing is lovely. It does sit open well so that you could easily have it open on your lap while taking notes and following along during a sermon.

The pages have a nice feel to them. They are not super smooth, which means a bit of grip to help a colored pencil cover well. I do like that. They are a bit thinner than I would like to see in a Bible that is designed for coloring. I can see how they could easily tear, especially when I consider how my middle and youngest girls were at age 8. A couple of years can make a big difference and I feel confident that my 10-almost-11 year old will do well with these pages.

The margins are nice and wide. This allows room for note taking, journaling, or designing personal illustrated verses. With faint lines to guide the writing or drawing, the wide margins are perfect for personal expressions. Every page includes either the lined margins or an illustrated verse.

There is both a Table of Contents and an Alphabetical Order of the Books of the Bible at the front. Each has the page number where that book can be found. As far as appendices, there is only a Table of Weights and Measures and an Index of Artists and Their Work. There is not a concordance or an index for names, places, etc.

Zondervan has given us a nice Bible that will appeal to girls in the 8+ age range. It feels sturdy and is cheerful. If you are interested in winning a copy of this Bible, please visit the Rafflecopter for this giveaway by clicking on the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am pleased with the all-new NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan. I think it will be a hit with my preteen girl.

Blessings,
Lori, At Home.

God’s Great Love For You ~ a Flyby book review and giveaway

Best-selling author Rick Warren has created a simply beautiful children’s book showing the expansiveness of God’s love. God’s Great Love For You is a sweet reminder for children that God’s love is everywhere and is always with you.

It starts at the beginning – God created the world, the universe. And everything that is in the world.But it quickly moves to the fact that God created you, the reader. What an important truth for our youngsters to know, understand, and believe.

And the reason God created you is love – His love for you. It is deeper than the deep things on earth. It is higher than the high things on earth. It is great and is everywhere. No matter what.

Am important truth.

The simple statements are easy for children to listen to and are supported by absolutely lovely pictures, created by Chris Saunders. This would make a beautiful gift for any child.

I am holding a drawing via Rafflecopter for one copy of this book. It will be sent to you through Flyby. Only open to continental US residents. Click on the link below to be taken to the Rafflecopter entry form to win a copy of this book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

At Home.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

When We Last Spoke – Flyby book review

Charming. Down-home. Small-town. Close-knit.

This is Fireside, Texas. Nestled in the hill country of central Texas, this little town is full of all the quirky, fun-loving, interesting friends and neighbors that make life just a tad bit more fun.

 

Living in Fireside, we find Walt and Ruby, Juliet and Evangeline. Walt and Ruby are raising their granddaughters Juliet and Evangeline when their father is called to war and their mother decides her calling is on the stage. While Juliet and Evangeline find love, care, and warmth with their grandparents, there is an ever-nagging feeling of something missing.

Walt and Ruby are the perfect example of long-lasting love and marriage and the girls realize just how blessed they are to have such a family. Busy days on the farm are followed by cozy nights in the farmhouse. Both are full of family and love. Each week the girls do many things that help them learn to be a part of the community and to help those that can’t help themselves, even when it is hard. One example is helping an older lady by taking her meals each week. The girls find out that Ruby has been doing this since she graduated high school. This, the girls discover, is what neighbors do for each other.

Most of the book takes place when the girls are young, though it opens and closes in the present. This flashback setup does leave bits of the story that you have to be patient for. For example, we find out right away in the opening of the book that Juliet and Evangeline are estranged. The reason for that does not come out until the book is almost over and the setting is once again in the present. The closing of the book brings some answers and encouragement for families to live and love and forgive, though it wasn’t as smooth flowing and comfortable to read as the majority of the story.

This was an easy read, with plenty to make you smile and laugh and wish for those carefree days, sitting in the shade of a tree in a small town sipping lemonade and wondering what your neighbor is doing. Marci Henna wrote a winner with this one.

Henna was born in Austin, Texas, but spent many years growing up in Kenya where her family worked at a medical research station. She moved back to the Texas Hill Country as an adult, living on a ranch that has been in the family since the 1800s. She currently lives in Austin.

 

If you enjoy easy to read stories that remind you of a simpler time, then this is a story for you.

At Home.

Find out more about the book and author Marci Henna on these social media platforms:

Facebook        Twitter        GoodReads

        FiresideTexas.com (http://bit.ly/FiresideTexas_URL)

You can purchase a copy of the book:

Softcover or in Kindle format

From February 20-24, Henna will be giving away a FREE Kindle version on Amazon.

Please enter the giveaway for a single copy of this book by Marci Henna by filling out the Rafflecopter giveaway. Just click the link to be taken to the form. This is open to US residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Where Jesus Slept ~ giveaway and review

Our family adores books that relate the story of the birth of Jesus. This is a precious picture book about Jesus’ birth. Told in cumulative story form, all of the pieces of the story come together to tell us of the harsh conditions of the night that brought us the most precious gift in the world. Ever.

This is the bed where Jesus slept.

This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept.

These are the first two lines in the retelling of the birth of Jesus. From the bed in which Jesus was laid to the angels rejoicing in heaven to the visit and gift of the wise men, this story will delight readers of all ages. While we don’t know the exact time of year Jesus was born, this story reminds readers of the joyful event that we often celebrate in December at Christmas.

The pages are beautifully illustrated with vivid colors and lovely images. These images bring the story to life.

 

This book is written by Norma Lewis, who is the author of 10 books and lives in MI with her marmalade cat named Scalawag. She enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren. The book is beautifully illustrated by Katy Hudson. Where Jesus Slept brings joy to all who experience it.

I get the privilege of sharing this beautiful books with one winner. Unfortunately, this giveaway is for US addresses only. One winner will be chosen from all entrants and notified by email. Giveaway will end at midnight on 11/16/16. Winner must respond by email within 48 hours of notification. Click the link below to be taken to the form for the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

At Home.

Wordsmithy ~ a review

“a writer down book-worder”

Yep. That is what Miss E wanted to be when she was four years old. And books are still some of her very best friends. But, to be a “writer down book-worder”, what do you need to do? What will help you on your way?

Douglas Wilson, author of Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life, tell you just what will help you in this fascinating, funny, and filled book. Timberdoodle sent me Wordsmithy and asked me to review it. It was such a fun book to read. Non-fiction books don’t often get that moniker but this one deserves it.

Whether you are a writer working on your hundredth book or a youngster who is wanting to be a “writer down book-worder”, Wordsmithy has a ton of encouragement and practical suggestions just for you. Broken down into 7 tips that each have 7 parts, Wilson has wasted no extra words just for the sake of it. Clear, clean, and concise, you will enjoy learning about how to learn about words.

Beginning with knowing the world outside of books, Wilson encourages the hopeful author to “do”. Learn from the world around you and not just the different, exciting things but the day-to-day, as well. He encourages us to learn from books – all kinds of books, from the stuff you want to tell others about to the ones that you want to tell no one about. Read the real, the imagined, the boring, the exciting. Read the dictionaries (yes – he really said that and I totally agreed with his reasoning!) and books of quotations. Read and then read some more.

From learning another language, even if you don’t master it, to writing down things that inspire or sound fun, the tips in Wordsmithy were a major encouragement for me. And I can see how they will be of great value to students, especially ones who enjoy words of all kinds. Timberdoodle has included this book in the 11th grade curriculum kit since it is such a good instruction book. If you have a student who enjoys sounds, words, and how they all work together, this is a book for them to read. I believe that I will be having Miss E, age 12, read it this fall.

Creating a commonplace book (I didn’t even know what that was until reading this!) is now on my goals list. Simple, easy-to-incorporate ideas such as this make Wordsmithy a book that is worth your time to read and share with anyone who will have to do any writing. Even essay writers will benefit from the wisdom of Wordsmithy.

Visit Timberdoodle to read an excerpt from the book or to get your copy of Wordsmithy.

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GIVEAWAY:

Timberdoodle has offered one copy of this book for a giveaway. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please click the link below to enter the giveaway through Rafflecopter. The giveaway will end at midnight on 9/03/16 and the winner will be contacted through email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Night Night Farm ~ a review and giveaway

Sweet bedtime books are just about my favorites. Especially for newborns and infants. I was given Night Night Farm by Amy Parker, illustrated by Virginia Allyn to review for Flyby Promotions.

This board book is just perfect for cuddling with your sweet little one as sleepytime approaches. Featuring bright, vibrant images and cheerful, rhyming verse, Night Night Farm brings nighttime to the farm and to your home. With all the animals small children love – cows, pigs, horses, owls, cats, sheep and chickens – saying good night has never been more fun. Your children will revel in the antics the animal babies go through on their way to bed.

As the farm says “good night,” each animal prominently takes the time to say good night in their own special ways. From getting their baths (messy little pigs!) to a sweet lullaby (sung by mama cow) to snuggling down with daddy to watch over (as daddy owl does), the farm goes through the same bedtime routine each little boy or girl does.  But my very favorite part is the last page where the reader, or listener, is reminded that God made not only these very special animals who each have their own special place on the farm but he made the special listener or reader as well. And it is important to say “good night” to God, too.

I would definitely be happy giving this book as a gift to a family who is expecting a new baby sometime soon. Vibrant, fun, and colorful, Night Night Farm by Amy Parker is a joy.

At Home.

 

About the Author:

Amy Parker’s children’s books have sold more than 800,000 copies including two Christian Retailing’s Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. She lives outside Nashville with her husband and two children.

You can purchase this book online at this retailer:  http://bit.ly/Blogging-NNF

Facebook @AmyParkerAuthor

Facebook @TommyNelsonBooks

Twitter @AmyParker

Twitter @TommyNelson

Instagram  @TommyNelsonBooks

Pinterest Tommy-Nelson- Books

 

 

Want to Win a Copy? There will be one winner of Night Night Farm and this is open to residents of the US or Canada. The form will be open from 8/12/2016 through 8/20/2016. Here’s the nitty-gritty requirements posting:

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Click below to be taken to the Rafflecopter form for this giveaway.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

FishFlix.com – I forgot their giveaway!

So, when I wrote the review for The Gospel of John DVD from FishFlix.com, I forgot to include the giveaway that they have offered to the readers of the Review Crew blogs. It is a simple entry – just go sign up for their newsletter HERE. They are giving away $80 in videos just for signing up. You have about 3 weeks to do this but it is simple so go sign up right now! There are also ways you can get additional entries.

The videos being given away by FishFlix.com are:
War Room
The Ultimate Gift
Superbook: A Great Adventure
My Son, My Savior and
Owlegories 2

Writing about this giveaway was not required as part of the review but who doesn’t want a chance to get some free movies when they are THIS good? So, I thought it deserved it’s own quick little post so that you, my readers, don’t miss out on this as you would have if I had just updated my post. So, please go enter by signing up for the newsletter offered by FishFlix.com.

At Home.