Sixteen Brides, by Stephanie Grace Whitson, is one such story. In the very beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to a group of women, getting to know each one by name, getting to know each one’s likes/dislikes, quirks, etc. Each woman shares a common life thread, though, in that each one is a widow, due to the Civil War.Characters like Caroline Jamison, Sally Grant, and Hettie Gates definitely bring an interesting spark to the story.

The story starts out with the promise of adventure, as each woman has been duped. A journey west has promise of land to start new homesteads….only the promise is not as it seems. It would seem the mail order bride business is in full business with the arrival of this group of ladies. The awesome part is that even though some are fine with marrying off when they arrive, others are quick to stand up for themselves, starting a new life, working as a team to survive in the frontier. Of course, the story doesn’t stop there….

There is promise of romance and adventure within this story, as other characters are introduced….characters that’ll tug on the reader’s heart. While sometimes it seemed the story flitted back and forth a bit too much, and at times it could be a bit confusing, it was still a great story. The writer does a good job of transitioning between characters; it’s just up to the reader to pay attention. It does leave the reader wanting to know what happens to each person. You can purchase Sixteen Brides for $11.99 from Bethany House.

(Disclosure: I received this book, free of charge, from Bethany House, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

If you’re in the mood for a good laugh, as well as honest, helpful advice, consider reading Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy, by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson. Oh my gosh, this book is so real and hilarious and down to earth. Shellie tells the reader how it is, from a very respectful standpoint….but from the standpoint of her true Southern roots. This book isn’t a tough read; it’s an enjoyable, lighthearted read, yet one that’ll definitely inspire and motivate, as well.

Here’s a basic rundown of the contents of this book:

• She Got Those Heavy Legs from Her Mama’s Side- This chapter really covers fitness and health, again, from that southern belle standpoint. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “She’s just big-boned.” Yep, Shellie goes there.
• The Science of Bubba Whispering- A Bubba, in southern terms, is the husband. There are three different kinds of Bubbas: Stray Bubbas, House Bubbas, and Yard Bubbas. This chapter gives insight on how to best “train” and how to “Bubba whisper.” It totally cracked me up, but it’s so full of great advice.
• Normal Crazy vs. Straight Running Crazy- This chapter talks about things that can make a person go crazy.
• Self-cleaning Underwear, an Idea Whose Time Should Never Come- This chapter cracked me up. It talks about different business ventures but also managing time. Shellie shares her fiascoes with the Walmart self-checkout lines. Oh, I have so been there! You have to read this to get the full laugh.
• Ya Southern Mama is Following You on Twitter- More etiquette, especially where social media is concerned.
• Paulette the Pundit, Lord Help Us One and All- Political and Economic Observations….
• Rein It In, Geraldo- Regional Showdowns….
• Parties, Presents, and a Missing Bubba Perched in a Deer Stand- Shellie dishes on the holidays and how southern belles cope and finagle their way through this perilous time of the year.
• If All Else Fails, Laugh- Shellie just finishes up by commenting on a variety of topics in this one last chapter.

Not only will you laugh your way through this book, reading about anything and everything related not just to southern belles but to women everywhere, you’ll also find recipes at the end of each chapter. There are a ton of different recipes, including holiday recipes, snacks, soups, etc. Shellie also shares tidbits from her Belle Doctrine (which is almost like a 10 Commandments style listing). The Belle Doctrine will give you little thoughts to carry with you, sometimes to laugh, sometimes to really think about and apply to your own life. I like that Shellie doesn’t accept excuses; she confronts them head-on in her true southern manner (with elegance of course). When you’re reading this book, it’s like you’re conversing with Shellie….she tells it like a story, also including real-life stories throughout.

This book is one I’d highly recommend to anyone who just needs a break; it’d make a great beach book, a great summer read. You can purchase Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy for $10.20 on Amazon.

(Disclosure: I received this book, free of charge, from Litfuse Publicity Group, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

Honestly, I could NOT put this book down. You can ask my husband. He walked in one day to see me standing over the stove, stirring a pot of noodles, book in hand, reading away. Branded, by Tim Sinclair, is written from the perspective of a very experienced marketer who has worked with big-name brands and knows what it takes to help a company or brand succeed. He really gets down to the nitty gritty of why people are turning away from Jesus, away from true Christianity….he will step on your toes in this book, let me tell you. He’s just not afraid to go there, and I think that’s one reason I couldn’t stop reading.

Tim calls on all Christians to break tradition, to step out of their comfort zones, and to look at their Saviour through a new, different kind of lens. There are things that just aren’t working to further the Gospel, and he brings those things to the table. Some things might include promising those who come to Christ that they will be healthy and wealthy the rest of their lives; judging another/promoting intolerance before ever looking at one’s own heart (he gives examples of the life of Jesus and the people that Jesus “hung out with”); how simply handing out tracts or keeping with traditional methods of evangelism just isn’t reaching the hearts of people, etc. He talks about how there are so many religions and types of spirituality, that it’s a bit like going to the cereal aisle. People might stand there scratching their heads, wondering what the heck they should pick out and take home. He makes so many great points that I wish I could remember every single one and take the time to share them here….but you’ll just have to read the book.

Tim doesn’t just show what is wrong with today’s evangelism, though; he gives examples of big-name companies with outstanding marketing strategies, as well as suggestions and ideas for how Christians can shake it up in their own communities and churches. Think about Apple. Think about not just creating customers for life but true followers who love the brand (in this case, Jesus) and want to share that brand (Jesus) with everyone they know. Thus enters the world of social media (at least in my thinking as a blogger). The last chapter is full of What Ifs….things we can effectively do to share our Saviour in real life with our friends, family, neighbors, etc.

I can’t recommend this book enough; in fact, I think every Christian should have a copy, it is that good. You can purchase Branded for $8.81 on Amazon. Be sure to Follow @timjsinclair on Twitter and Like Tim Sinclair on Facebook.

About Tim Sinclair:

Tim Sinclair is a radio personality on one of the top Christian morning shows in the country, Mornings with Tim and Pam. For over a decade, he has been helping radio stations and various other businesses creatively and effectively market themselves. His award-winning productions have been heard on more than 2,000 radio stations worldwide and recent clients include McDonald’s, Word Records, Moody Press, and the country’s most-listened to Christian nonprofit radio station KSBJ/Houston. Tim has written for CCM Magazine and the Huntsville Times. For more about Tim, please visit his website, http://www.tim-sinclair.com.

Kregel Publications is sponsoring a $50 Amazon.com Giveaway, and you can enter by sending a tweet (using the hashtag #litfuse) about Branded or sharing on Facebook. If you tweet be sure to link to @litfuse, and they’ll have you entered. If you Facebook, you can send your status link to info@litfusegroup.com.

Be sure to check out Litfuse to read more reviews of this book.

(Disclosure: I received this book, free of charge, from Litfuse, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

This past weekend, I attended a different sort of conference, Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged….an awesome conference that helped several of us to just unplug in a beautiful setting. Check out Arkansas Women Bloggers.

Gwen and Shannon were speakers at AWBU, and I learned so much from them about branding my own blog/business. Check out their site, NWAMotherlode.com.

Have you joined Pinterest yet? Oh my, you will love it, and you’ll soon be addicted; trust me!

That’s it for now….be sure to link up your giveaways!

This book tells the story of how two people fell in love, pretty much from the moment they set eyes on each other. Jacob had been sent to Missouri on false pretenses, mainly so his father could get him away from his girlfriend, an influence who wasn’t the greatest for a man about to commit to the Amish church for life. Even though he’s upset, he’s instantly intrigued by Becky, or Bex as he nicknames her. Becky has enough heartache of her own and has pretty much resigned herself to being an old maid for life. You see, her reputation had been tarnished within the community when she’d made a mistake not so long ago. It’s uncanny how circumstances throw these two together, and as you read, you get to share in their roller coaster ride of emotions, obstacles, and life issues that seem to get in the way of their love for each other.

Reading this story, I felt like I got to know each character on a deeper level, as the author really has a way of describing each character and taking the reader along for the ride. The story was really a simple love story, but it had enough human emotion and real-life scenarios that it was easy to identify with on a human level. The book was interesting and kept me wanting more. In fact, I’d love to see a second book come out.

You can purchase Patchwork Dreams for $6.99 on Amazon. You can also read the author’s blog, Lighthouse-Academy.

Great news! You can enter to win a giveaway hosted by KCWC. All you have to do is leave a comment below, and you’ll be entered to win the Grand Prize, an Amish Gift Set ($50 value).  I will be randomly choosing, via random.org, a finalist’s name to send to KCWC, and they will then pick the final winner of the grand prize on June 20. The gift set includes the following:

(Disclosure: I received Patchwork Dreams, free of charge, from KCWC, free of charge, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

Well, my dad kinda had a moment like this a few weeks ago. He brought home a 50 pound bag of sweet onions (which he bought for about $4.50 at a sale), giving us several to bring home with us. Yum!Of course, there were also the farm fresh eggs, which have been so delicious….there’s nothing like farm fresh for sure.Happy summer, dear readers!

Judy, from What I Live For, has a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie, using Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.

Sawdust and Paper Scraps shares a how-to for the cutest ever Reversible, Reusable, Ruffled Grocery Bags.

Keeper of the Home shares 15 Fun & Frugal Memories to Make with Your Kids This Summer.

A Soft Place to Land shares her finds in Thrifting with the King.

Link up your giveaways, and have a wonderful week!

Missions of Mercy

Point of No Return is the first book in the series. In this book, we meet Chet Stryker who is put to work to help find a missing American and a warlord’s daughter in a war-torn Eastern European country. Going in, Chet realizes that he will have to work with his old fiancee….just one of the many seemingly obstacles he will encounter along the way. Not only that, but he will uncover secrets that’ll mean change to his life. This story is full of action, adventure, romance, and family ties. Not only that, but as it implies, it’s an inspirational book that’ll leave the reader with food for thought.

Mission: Out of Control is the second book. The reader will follow Brody Wickham as he becomes bodyguard to a tempestuous singer named Vonya, also the daughter of a senator who has put some very controversial policies into place. Vonya (or Veronica) is going on her European tour, but her father feels that she is not safe and must be protected from the likes of people like Mubar who trains up children to be child soldiers. This part of the story is very person to Veronica as one particular child holds a very special place in her heart. As she continues to harbor a secret, Brody seeks to protect her ever more.  This story again is full of action, adventure, and romance.

Undercover Pursuit is the third book. This story follows Scarlett, who’s been asked to be a bridesmaid in her sister’s wedding in Mexico. Only she doesn’t expect to be mistaken for an agent by Luke Dekker, who’s on a mission to bust a drug cartel. Scarlett’s wedding adventure turns out to be way more than she bargained for, and Luke is left trying to protect Scarlett, as he finally realizes she’s not the agent who was supposed to be helping him. Scarlett’s also dealing with deep personal hurt….one reason she just doesn’t feel like celebrating the wedding of her sister and fiancee. You’ll have to read the book to find out more.

While thin romance books aren’t always my choice of reading….I will say that Susan May Warren has certainly changed my perspective. She’s written three awesome novels that lead not only to romance but like I said, plenty of action and adventure. The suspense in these stories makes them absolutely worth reading, and the stories are not cheesy in the least bit. She has a way of weaving chapters together to form a story that is both interesting and leaves the reader asking for more. I would definitely recommend these books for a relaxing weekend or maybe even a beach day.:) To read more reviews, be sure to check out the Litfuse Blog Tour. Read on to find out more about the books, the author, and about an awesome giveaway going on right now.

About Susan:

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press.  A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.  A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you! She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

For more about Susan and her other books, please visit www.susanmaywarren.com.

Three heroes, all on missions of mercy, who discover that God not only saves us from evil, but from the darkness inside.

Point of No Return: Can God deliver us from our mistakes? This question is posed to Chet and Mae as they race to save Mae’s nephew from an evil warlord in the Republic of Georgia. More here.

Mission: Out of Control: Does God turn his back on us when we fail? Brody and Vonya discover the answer as they conspire to capture an international smuggler and free a child soldier from war. More here.

Undercover Pursuit: What if we deliberately sin and harbor bitterness in our hearts? Is there a rescue from the dark places inside? Luke and Scarlett find out as they work to protect a bride-turned-informant whose courage could dismantle a human trafficking web. More here.

To celebrate the series, Susan is giving away a Missions of Mercy Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new FLIP HD Camera
* The entire Missions of Mercy series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. You may enter once per email, facebook, and twitter. The contest ends on May 31st. Tell your friends! Winner will be announced on June 1st at the Litfuse Publicity site and at Susan May Warren’s website. (While you’re there, check out her rockin’ new website!)