COTT: August New Releases

Clash of the Titles presents four brand new inspirational novels. One’s set in a Bible camp for tweens or the tweens in your lives. Hopes and dreams are threatened in another. In the third, a town’s in need of a miracle. Two people work to cure a deadly disease in the fourth. Which one will you read first? Browse the books, then, using the voting box below, let us know the title you’ll put at the top of your to-be-read list.


SPEAK NO EVIL by Mary Hamilton
Having his younger sister at summer camp will be a pain, but Taylor Dixon, 15, never expects the pain to go so deep. When she falls for his snobbish cabin mate, a war of words and pranks escalates, threatening to land him in jail and destroying his dreams for the future—until a lesson learned from an old engine sets him free from the prison he built himself.






THE HESITANT HEIRESS by Dawn Crandall
With the rare ability to play the piano by ear, Amaryllis Brigham wants nothing more than to someday found a music school. However, someone keeps undermining her hopes and dreams, and
she's sure it's Bram Everstone--the father of the one man she's ever come close to falling for.





MIRACLE IN A DRY SEASON by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Perla Long wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter where her past can stay hidden, but she ends up in a town in desperate need of a miracle. Bachelor Casewell Phillips sees everything he wants in a woman in her, but can’t get past the sense she’s hiding something.



WITH EVERY BREATH by Elizabeth Camden
In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston's respectable life as a statistician is disrupted by an encounter with the insufferable Trevor McDonough, the one man she'd hoped never to see again. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and the only reason he seeks her out now is because of the one thing they share in common: the competitive drive to cure the world’s deadliest disease.

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Review: Victoria's Secret Sports Bra

A few days ago, I received the popular pink and red striped box in the mail. I had received an email stating that I was chosen to review the new Victoria's Secret Sports Bra. I was very surprised when I opened the box and not only was I going to get to review the Sports Bra, but also a pair of yoga pants! ;)


To be more specific, I received the "Incredible" sports bra by Victoria's Secret as well as the VS Sport "Knockout" yoga crops!

I absolutely love Victoria's Secret lines of intimates. I have worn them for many years. When I learned of this promotion, I was a little surprised that VS hadn't made a sports bra prior to this. I really liked the fit and feel of this bra and felt very supported while wearing it. I also like how the bra is lightly lined to provide "maximum coverage"! I do believe that I have officially broken up with my former sports bras and will only wear VS from now on! Prior to trying out the VS Sports Bra, I bought mine from a well-known department store. It was very cheap in cost and in the manufacturing and did come even close to the support I've received from the VS bra.
















The Knockout yoga crops were amazing as well!! They, too, provided the compression and support I expect from "workout" wear. I also like the style and color that I was sent. I highly recommend checking out these yoga crops!

I will not be posting pictures of me wearing these products as I feel that would be very immodest. I do hope you will consider my review and next time you are looking for affordable, quality work out attire, check out what Victoria's Secret has to offer you! I will definitely be checking out more colors and styles!



I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Review: Pretty Girl by Amy Heugh

Pretty Girl by Amy Heugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty Girl gets an overall 4.3 stars from me!! It has been awhile since I've read a YA book so it was refreshing to be asked to review this one!

For starters, I was confused by the cover of this book until it was almost over and then it made perfect sense! I don't normally comment on a book cover but this one had me intrigued.

Honestly, I thought this book started out really slow. I almost gave up on it!! Something told me to just push through it though and see what I could get out of it. I'm so glad that I did. I did feel like the characters were not developed until over halfway through the book. I just couldn't get a sense for where the story was going either! I sensed an "elephant in the room" for awhile but it didn't become clear until, as previously mentioned, about halfway through the book. I saw a lot of typos (but I'm forgiving of that since I did not have a final copy). Also, please keep in mind, I'm an adult reading YA. Someone in this age group may find this a more suitable book for them. I do, however, still love reading YA!

Once I "got into" this book, I felt the story really taking hold and developing almost instantly. Izzy's character was the most intriguing to me with Mason being a very close second. I found the twist of events to be interesting (I sensed something being off what a certain someone but I won't mention names to spoil it!) Overall, I was pleased with how the book ended.

For my regular readers, I do want you to know that there is very strong language in this book. It also focuses on some very intense "adult" scenes so as a parent, I would recommend reading first before your young adult reads it. They have a few questions that you would want to be prepared to answer.

Many thanks to Amy Heugh for the opportunity to read and review this book.



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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

CFBA: Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hidden in the Stars Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.

CFBA: The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead David C. Cook (September 1, 2014) by Diane Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning novelist Diane Noble writes stories that tap into the secrets of the heart.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She recently finished writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one, The Sister Wife, and book 2, The Betrayal, which are published by Harper Collins/Avon Inspire, are now in bookstores.

Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor

El Littllefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead, go HERE

CFBA: Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Thief of Glory WaterBrook Press (August 19, 2014) by Sigmund Brouwer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of nearly thirty novels, with close to 4 million books in print. Based on his inspiration for Thief of Glory, which Sigmund wrote as a way to learn and honor the his parent’s stories, especially of his father’s boyhood in a Japanese concentration camp, Sigmund leads The Chapters of Our Lives memoir seminars across the United States and Canada. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan and has two daughters.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A boy coming of age in a time of war…
the love that inspires him to survive.

For ten year-old Jeremiah Prins, the life of privilege as the son of a school headmaster in the Dutch East Indies comes crashing to a halt in 1942 after the Japanese Imperialist invasion of the Southeast Pacific. Jeremiah takes on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings when his father and older stepbrothers are separated from the rest of the family, and he is surprised by what life in the camp reveals about a woman he barely knows—his frail, troubled mother.

Amidst starvation, brutality, sacrifice and generosity, Jeremiah draws on all of his courage and cunning to fill in the gap for his mother. Life in the camps is made more tolerable as Jeremiah’s boyhood infatuation with his close friend Laura deepens into a friendship from which they both draw strength.

When the darkest sides of humanity threaten to overwhelm Jeremiah and Laura, they reach for God’s light and grace, shining through his people. Time and war will test their fortitude and the only thing that will bring them safely to the other side is the most enduring bond of all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Thief of Glory, go HERE.

CFBA: Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Driftwood Tides Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2014) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain was a Christy Award finalist. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family 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.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore. When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making drifwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.

Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Driftwood Tides, go HERE.

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!!

That's right folks, the stores are becoming inundated with Christmas decorations already!! Have you started your shopping yet? My mom has had a goal for the past several years to have all her Christmas shopping done by Labor Day. I believe she did it again this year. Me? Well, let's just say a midnight run to ToysRUs has happened a few years in a row. I'm trying to get better at it!!

That being said, some of you are in the holiday shopping mode! I want to share with you some fabulous ideas for stocking stuffers!! Lilla Rose is a company that I have recently joined. They create these beautiful hair accessories that are sure to please anyone on your list!!

Here are a few pictures that I've taken over the past few days with different products:

The top picture is of the Daisy Freestyle Dangle Flexi. It's one of my many favorites!

The second picture shows are Hawaiian Bobbies. The same pattern is also available in a Flexi! 

Pictures 3 and 4 are showing the Freestyle Flexi-Oh! This is the same piece showing both sides. You can wear one side during the day and flip it over for evening time or just pick and choose your favorite! I do need a small size than the one pictured here though!! 

If you are interested in perusing my website for more great ideas, check out www.lillarose.biz/faithfulgirlshairjewelry 

If you have any questions, please let me know! 

P.S. I'm still an It Works Distributor too!! 

One more thing...my friend April is doing a 100 days of Christmas countdown on her blog. Why don't you take a minute and check her out? 

Review: A Grand Design by Amber Stockton

A Grand Design: Quilts of Love Series by Amber Stockton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, I love the Quilts of Love series!! What a grand idea for this group of writers and publishers to develop! I have not read them all but will eventually catch up on them!

Alyssa is dared by her best friend Libby to enter a contest for an exclusive couples getaway on Mackinac Island. The only problem is, Alyssa is very single. When Alyssa finds out she has won the contest, she invites Libby to go along. They arrive in grand style with two very attractive men as their escorts once they arrive. Ben and Scott make sure the girls are safely delivered to the hotel, but not before taking great notice of them.

Alyssa's grandmother also lives on the island and has a 'project' for her to work on while she is there. Can she carry out the tasks that her grandmother asks of her and learn something from it in the process?

This book isn't really full of any surprises, plot twists, or anything overly dramatic. However, it is quite the enjoyable read. There isn't a lot to do with the quilt in the story but maybe that's what makes this book more enjoyable...you want to know and your mind wanders to more of the details.

I enjoyed this book and anyone looking for a lighthearted read would more than likely also enjoy it.

I received a review copy of this book for being a part of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I have given you my honest review in exchange for receiving this book and was in no way coerced to write a favorable review.

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