Merry Christmas from Window To My World

I will be caring for my parents this month and will be unable to post regular reviews.  I will return in January, and I look forward to sharing many new and exciting books!

Christy by Catherine Marshall - REVIEWED

About the Book:
The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions. But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her---and her one-room school---as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two equally strong, but different men. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

My Thoughts:

I'm going to date myself terribly when I say this, but I remember my sister's copy of this book - decades ago.  I realize that this is the 50th anniversary edition, and my sister is only a decade older, but I remember her reading this book as a young teen.  I even remember the cover of the book!  Sadly, I didn't read it then, and my first real encounter with the story was the television seasons that ran for a few years.  When I had the chance to read and review the story, I could barely wait to get started!

I have to say that this book is one that literally sweeps me away to a different time and place.  I lost all sense of time when I began reading, and as I followed the people of Cutter Gap and Christy's transformation as she came to care about them, my heart was totally involved.  I laughed and cried, cringed and startled....my emotions ran the gamut with this story, and I fell as deeply in love with the folks of Cutter Gap as Christy herself.

This story is meticulously developed, and the characters walk from the pages of this story straight into your heart.  Life was rough in Cutter Gap, but Christy never lost her enthusiasm and desire to have these folks improve their lives and reach beyond their cove and begin to learn about the world beyond their boarders.  All the while, she also learns the value of the traditions and sense of family that has fueled the survival of these hearty folks.

What Christy brings above all else is the love of Christ.  She literally becomes the hands and feet of Jesus in this community.  Oh, Miss Alice and David have the mission well in hand before she arrives, but her big heart and her desire to bring help and healing to these people begin to challenge and inspire those who'd already begun to pave the way.

This book has endured for 5 decades, and will endure for 5 more if the Lord tarries.  This is a timeless novel that I am VERY grateful to have taken the time to read - finally!!  This should be in every reader's library!!


About the Author:
Catherine Marshall is a New York Times best-selling author of 30 books. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine's enduring career spanned four decades and reached more than 30 million readers.

Pass It On by Champ Thornton - REVIEWED

About the Book:
Pass It On is the perfect gift for an older member of your family who would like to leave a lasting legacy for someone younger. It includes questions for each chapter in Proverbs and also gives space for prayers, memories, and stories to pass on to the next generation. This beautiful journal will be valued by the person who receives it and also treasured as a lasting keepsake by whoever they choose to “pass it on” to! In Proverbs, God has left an amazing legacy of wisdom. It’s our privilege to pass that legacy on to the next generation. There are many different kinds of legacies to leave, but sharing yourself and your faith with the next generation will always stand the test of time.

As readers are guided through the book of Proverbs, they are asked to create their own personalized, wisdom journal with the aim of giving it to someone they love. Through answering questions on each chapter, writing prayers, and sharing personal stories, readers create a lasting keepsake for themselves and their families and friends. Created by Champ Thornton, best-selling author of The Radical Book for Kids, Pass It On is an innovative resource to strengthen families and help them grow in their love for God and each other. This is a perfect gift for an older and wiser friend or relative that will encourage them to share their life and faith with the next generation.

An easy-to-accomplish devotional and journal allows users to go at their own pace through Proverbs.
Users create a personalized journal filled with God’s wisdom and their own faith story.
Encourages older and wiser friends and relatives to share their faith with the next generation.
The perfect gift that will be cherished and passed on from one generation to the next.


The fresh and careful translation provided comes from Dr. Bruce Waltke, who has devoted his life to the study of God’s Word, and especially the book of Proverbs. His two-volume work on Proverbs is considered by many as the premier commentary in the English language.

Purchase your copy HERE.

My Thoughts:

This is a beautiful book, and is challenging me to consider Proverbs and the truths of the book in an entirely new way.  The author give correlating scripture to consider as you journal through the proverb, and many times asks that you re-write it in your own words.  This is a powerful tool for me personally, because I'm literally writing out what I "hear" God speaking to me through the Scripture.

Now, part of this journal provides space for remembrances of your own faith journey.  While this is healing and beneficial to do for myself, I'm not sure I'd share the nitty-gritty details with someone coming along behind me on this journey of faith.  It is entirely possible that I'm a little TOO literal in my answers, but once I see it on paper, I become a bit hesitant to share it with someone else.  This may change as I make my way through, but I'm a bit on the fence with this right now....at least if I'm the one passing it on!

The thought has occurred to me that perhaps I need to gift this to some mature Christians that I'd like to receive insight from! :)  My first thoughts were to share this with my children, but then I hit this wall of privacy in my own mind and I wonder how much of my story to share.  Proverbs deals with some very personal issues.  That is good for me to consider, but sharing it?  I don't know.

So, this a GREAT journal!! But for now, this is between me and God.  And that may be all it needs to be.  I'd encourage you to check it out!  It would be quite a treasure to receive it back filled with wisdom from a mature Christian you admire.  This is really a brilliant, thought-provoking journal whether you keep it as a reminder of your own faith journey, or if you choose to share it.


About the Author:
Champ Thornton, MDiv, is associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Delaware. He has pastored in South Carolina and served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, OH. He is also the author of The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith, God’s Love: A Bible Storybook, and Bible curriculum for early and upper elementary-aged children. Champ and his wife, Robben, have been married since 1996 and have three children.

ordinary graces by Lucinda Secrest McDowell - REVIEWED

About the Book:
Everyone loves to receive a gift. And God has given us many, such as his grace—the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?

God’s Word will stand forever, in any season of life. These truths prompt us to respond with compassion and courage.

Through inspiring devotions, Lucinda Secrest McDowell reveals biblical blessings that remind us that: God’s promises give us strength, God’s grace can be most evident at our weakest points, a proper response to our abundance of blessings is simply gratitude, and the “more” we are all looking for is the same abundant life that Jesus came to give us.


Would you like to receive these gifts of ordinary grace? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions for any and every season to explore the many facets of Grace, Strength, Gratitude, and Life.

Purchase your copy HERE!

My Thoughts:

There is a particular gentleness about Lucinda McDowell’s writing that strengthens and centers me.  I don’t review devotionals very often, but even the title of this book, ordinary graces, seemed to speak to me.  I’m very glad I have crossed paths with this author, because this book was a timely God appointment in my life.  As I navigate an empty nest, elder care for my parent’s and learning to parent adult children, this devotional has helped me immeasurably!

McDowell had divided the book into the categories of Grace, Strength, Gratitude and Life.  Honestly, the entire devotional encompasses all of this and more!  Each thought occupies two pages and each contains Scripture and a brief and personal insight from the author.  She closes each entry with a prayer that is powerful and very personal.  Each time I sat down with this book, I came away with a quiet sense of God’s presence.  I am grateful that Lucinda McDowell was faithful to share her love of Christ with readers in this very precious book!

I HIGHLY recommend this devotional!!

About the Author:

Lucinda Secrest McDowell is the author of 13 books including Ordinary Graces: Word Gifts for Any Season and Dwelling Places: Words to Live in Every Season, has contributed to an additional 30 books, and has been published in more than 50 magazines. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, she speaks internationally through her ministry “Encouraging Words.” An award-winning writer who has earned accolades from prominent writers’ conferences and retreats, McDowell directs reNEW—retreat for New England Writing and has also worked in radio broadcasting and on church pastoral staffs. She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in Connecticut. Find her online at EncouragingWords.net.

Reta Watkins - That Christmas Feeling - REVIEWED

Worship leader, recording artist and vocal stylist Reta Watkins is thrilled to announce the release date of her debut solo album, That Christmas Feeling. The project is slated to impact retail on Friday, November 17, 2017, from Suite 28 Records through Naxos of America, Inc., the nation's leading independent classical music distributor.

"I've waited my whole life to do this record," says Reta. "My father passed away 10 years ago. I loved my dad so much, and one of my fondest memories was of us singing Christmas carols together. Dad was an outstanding tenor who grew up in the heyday of the big band/jazz era. We would sit together, listening to and singing along with the greats--Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby. In particular, he loved all things Christmas, and I loved what he loved, so I fell in love with the Christmas carols. I would listen to Christmas music all year long if I could."

The gifted vocalist, who cut her musical teeth singing with her 'musicianary' family band, and later with the contemporary Christian band, Pilgrim's Progress, breaks new ground with her debut solo project, That Christmas Feeling. On the new project, Reta revisits the rich repertoire of timeless holiday standards that have become the Christmas soundtrack for generations of Americans. The 10 lushly orchestrated tracks on the album were produced by Scott Williamson (Point of Grace, Lincoln Brewster) and showcase Reta's compelling vocal stylings. Tracks include the best of the big band era, along with a few more recent additions to the Christmas music lexicon.

The road to making That Christmas Feeling ran from Reta's suburban Philadelphia home, straight to Nashville, where she enlisted the considerable talents of long-time friend and producer, Scott Williamson, who had been itching to produce a big band jazz record. Williamson enlisted the aid of his father, celebrated Dove Award winning composer/arranger Dave Williamson. When Dave unfortunately fell ill and passed away before the album could be completed, Williamson called on the talents of Jason Webb (Lauren Daigle, Amy Grant, Lee Brice, Richard Marx) to step in and complete the arrangements.

"Jason had to pick up the ball and run with it when my dad fell ill," Scott explains. "Not only did Jason do five of his own incredible arrangements, but he also took the five that my father had started, and finished them in a way that blew everybody's mind."

A highlight of the project is the album's first radio single, a stunning, big band version of the beloved contemporary classic, "Mary Did You Know." While retaining the song's reverential awe, Reta injects a smoldering vitality that carries the tune from the familiar into uncharted territory. Reta wraps her mellifluous vocals around traditional big band holiday favorites like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and the delightfully jazzy "Sleigh Ride." Her emotion-laden take on the slightly melancholy, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" will have you raising a cup of wassail to absent friends and loved ones...and maybe wiping away a tear. Reta jazzes up the Paul McCartney fave, "Wonderful Christmastime," pulls back for a swaying, flirty version of the Irving Berlin classic, "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," then evokes the smooth, silky delivery of Nat King Cole on "The Christmas Song."

Producer Williamson pulled a pair of contemporary favorites from the songwriting team of Paul Marino and Jeremy Johnson to complement the album's classic carols--the worshipful and peace-evoking piano ballad, "Behold Emmanuel," and the heartbreaking jazz number, "Christmas in Heaven." Of course, no Christmas album is truly complete without the worldwide best-selling single of all time, "White Christmas." 

"Growing up in the northeast, I experienced many white Christmases. That's what I think of when I think of Christmas music--big band orchestration, classic holiday songs, fresh arrangements. With the joys and family traditions of the season, That Christmas Feeling is the soundtrack for that Christmas feeling that has always remained deep in my heart. I know Dad would be proud."

My Thoughts:

I’m no musical expert, but I’ve listened to a LOT of Christmas music over the past 5 decades, and Reta Watkins Christmas album is a beautiful blend of classic and individual style. This has a definitive jazz sound that I adore!!  There is a big band sound that will take you back through time and transport you to Christmas past!  You’ll be able to create Christmas memories galore if you have this CD playing throughout the holiday season!  

I think my favorite is “Wonderful Christmastime”, because it is so upbeat and fun! You can’t help doing a little Christmas jig as you listen!! “The Christmas Song” and “White Christmas” are also most excellent!!  This is going to be a classic folks!  I highly recommend you add it to your collection!

About Reta Watkins:

Worship leader, vocalist and recording artist Reta Watkins was just six years old when she recorded her first single. Growing up the youngest of five children in a family of musical missionaries, Reta remembers life was an adventure.

"We lived by faith," she muses. "We slept in a camper or in people's homes. We received love offerings and sold records and tapes to support the ministry. Everyone in the family played an instrument. I gravitated toward percussion, but mostly, I was a singer. I wouldn't take any of it back."

Reta shared tag-team vocals with her brother, singer/songwriter Steve Garrett, in the Christian pop/rock band Pilgrim's Progress, and has honed her skills as a vocal stylist for more than 30 years. It doesn't take more than a cursory listen to realize that her debut solo album, the holiday themed project, That Christmas Feeling, was well worth the wait. To learn more about Watson and That Christmas Feeling, visit retawatkins.com.

 

About Suite 28 Records: 

Suite 28 Records is an independent label that was established to serve talented artists whose music deserves to be heard outside of their local scene. 

 

Recognizing a need to give musicians a voice that transcends genre or cultural constraints, Suite 28 Records produces and releases recordings that often combine genres, drawing influences from classical, jazz, and world music.  

 

Suite 28 Records is proud member of the Naxos Music Group. For more information, visit Suite28records.com. 

Robert Donohue Q&A - Child of Creation

What genre do you write and why? I write to relax.  I enjoy reading Epic Fantasy novels and so, my first published book is in that genre.  I grew up reading Louis L’Amour and Clive Cussler though, so I have a desire to try that genre at some point, and I have started about half a dozen times a book about my adventures in Baghdad, Iraq in 2004 when I was there serving as a police advisor helping to stand up a democratic policing presence in a country that had none.  Basically, I just like to write, and the fantasy genre is the most open, allowing me to be the most creative with character development and what I can do to create conflicts that drive character interaction.

Tell us about your latest book.  Child of Creation is an epic fantasy novel about a young man, Lark, who is suddenly, and violently, torn from the only world he has ever known when the small village he has never been more than a few miles away from is attacked and everyone in it, including his parents, killed.  As the only witness to that atrocity, Lark is sent away by his mother who strangely tells him to keep who he is a secret just before sending him away.  Lark then has to figure it all out, how to survive in a world he doesn’t even really understand and wanders into a variety of challenges along the way, forcing him to grow up faster than he ever thought he could, and face the fact that somehow, his tragedy is tied up in a much greater series of events than he ever imagined he could be a part of.

What did you edit out of this book?  I started this book when I was a young police officer, and as such, I was seeing quite a bit of the seedier side of life.  As I got older, and my children started growing up, I started to wonder if what I wrote was appropriate for them to read.  With a book about a 14 year old I wanted kids around that age to be able to enjoy it as well so much of the more descriptive depravity of the world Lark finds himself in was edited out to make the book more acceptable to me as a parent.

How do you select the names of your characters?  The most popular question I have received since people started reading my book.  I basically didn’t want to accidentally step on any toes, so whenever I ran into the need for a new character name, I would start putting vowels and consonants together until they sounded like the character I was creating.  I wanted an entirely new world that broke stereotypes from other worlds while at the same time, creating an entirely new set for this new world’s inhabitants.  There are patterns in the names that I try to follow.  I will leave the identification of those patterns to the imaginations of my readers.

What marketing methods are you using to promote your book? A part of my choosing Page Publishing was their offer of sending out a press release about the book’s release and setting up a web page.  I was also moved to work with a terrific group of publicists out of Austin, Texas, called PR by the Book who helped me make contact with you.  It is an uphill battle for any self-published author to convince people to give your work a chance, but I have been pleasantly surprised at the acceptance the book has received and hope that the more people read it, the stronger word of mouth advertising will work in my favor.  It is about the characters and the world they live in, and if they drive people’s imaginations strongly enough, I will reach a point where the book can and should sell itself.  All I have to do is keep finding people to convince to read it until I reach that point.

What formats is the book available in? The book is available in paperback, and ebook versions.  It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-Tunes, Google Play, and Kobo along with a host of other sites.  It is also available through Ingram wholesalers for any bookstore looking to carry it. 

Who is you favourite character in your book and why?  I tend to be like a parent who prefers not to declare one of his kids, (characters), the favorite.  They all have their positive and negative traits but in the end, it is their humanity and their way of dealing with each other that will define them.  I truly would rather each reader find their own favorite for their own reasons.  Imagination is a wonderful thing and, at least inside this world we live in, each person has his own experience and environment to rely on to help him choose who might become the one he most wants to know what is going to happen to as the series develops.

Where can a reader purchase your book?  My book is available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-Tunes, and Google Play as well as on request from most any book retailer upon request.  I would really love to see sales pick up in the local bookstores as I am a small-town guy and that would generate interest that would allow me to make some appearances in many of these smaller venues where the events would be more personal.           

What is your work in progress? Tell us about it.  Book two of the Then Came a King series, Coming of Age is complete…for the most part.  I am editing it for contextual disagreements with book 1and trying to make sure I haven’t taken the characters to places they really don’t need to go.  I am afraid of the sequel syndrome where everything after the first one is disappointing and so I want to use each book in the series to build a stronger connection between the readers and their favorite characters.  The hardest part of that for me is keeping each character in their lane so to speak.  The amount of time it has taken to get this published has made that effort considerably harder than it should have been.  Imagine trying to remember what your motives were for a particular idea, 25 years ago.

What are some of your all time favourite books?  The Sword of Shannara was the first Fantasy novel I ever read.  The Belgariad series by David Eddings was an important part of my teen years, as was Louis L’Amour and Clive Cussler.  I stumbled into the Song of Ice and Fire long before it was a fad to do so and really really liked it.  There are so many historical books that I have really enjoyed that I can’t even name a single author other than Winston Groom who wrote an interesting historical non-fictional account on the Battle of Vicksburg about the town I live in.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?  My wife would tell you I am a professional sleeper, but in reality, I work about 60 hours a week between all of the jobs I work and then I am a part time graduate student as well.  Soon I will be teaching at the college level also and hopefully still be writing and doing press and book signing events.

Deeds of Darkness by Mel Starr - REVEIWED

About the Book:
To bring justice, Master Hugh must foil the corrupt power of great men

Many medieval scholars discontinued their university studies before completing their degree. Some lacked funds; others became bored with a scholar's life. Occasionally these young men formed lawless bands, robbing and raping and creating chaos. They were called goliards.


In Deeds of Darkness Master Hugh learns that the Bampton coroner, an old friend, has been slain while traveling to Oxford. As he seeks the killer (or killers) he discovers a band of goliards in the area between Oxford and Bampton. But how to apprehend these youths? They have protectors far above Hugh's station. He must deal with the claims of justice on the one hand and the power of great men to protect their henchmen on the other.

My Thoughts:

“Evil men cannot be discovered and apprehended from a distance.”  (p. 113)

Hugh de Singleton has sought many an evil man throughout his adventures while serving as both surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert Talbot.  I’ve followed Master Hugh through marriage, fatherhood, and, along the way, injury at the hands of the evil men he pursues.  By now, is precious wife and children provide more than enough incentive to ensure the safety of everyone in his realm. In his installment, there seems to be an abundance of loss of both life and property, and Master Hugh cannot seem to make all of his clues reveal the culprit behind the many losses.

As always, this medieval CSI detective observes the very smallest detail of every crime scene.  As he makes his discoveries, he is always stitching the wounds of those on the receiving end of the weapons, and I absolutely relish the way he follows one leader in the field of medicine and shares with the reader why one form of treatment is better than another.  But, I digress…

This mystery seems layered with complications because there seems to be a band of men perpetrating the crimes.  At some crime scenes there are three men, at others four…and not very much consistency beyond that. As Master Hugh ventures out into the surrounding communities seeking answers, he discovers his father-in-law is also in need of his aide.  It is in the daily ministrations of Master Hugh’s life that answers begin to emerge.  

I remain a HUGE fan of this series, and I look forward to each new adventure.  The details of life in the 1300’s continue to fascinate me, and I come away very thankful that God placed me further along the time line of history!  Master Hugh is the epitome of a gentleman, and if it were possible, I’d order up a medieval surgeon and bailiff of my own!! Until next time… 

About the Author:
Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years--thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he chaired the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel retired in 2003. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Where We Belong by Lynn Austin - REVIEWED

About the Book:
Join Two Incomparable Sisters on Adventures That Span the Decades And Cross the Globe

In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules and expectations for Victorian women are strict, their roles in life limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents have taken them out of society ballrooms and delivered them to the Sinai Desert--and into the teeth of a sandstorm.

Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a plucky street urchin learning to be their ladies' maid, the two women are on a quest across the desert chasing rumors of an important biblical manuscript.


As the expedition becomes ever more dangerous and uncertain, all four travelers sift through memories and adventures of their past, recalling the events that shaped them and the journeys and providence that brought them to this very time and place.

My Thoughts:

Lynn Austin has been able to create fictional worlds that I readily and easily get lost in, and I never regret the journey she takes me on!  I’ve been reading her words for years, and I have to say that Where We Belong may be my favorite!  Rebecca and Flora Hawes are unforgettable heroines who stand up and create live that women only dreamed about in the 1800’s!  Mercy, women still long to live the honest, true-to-yourself kind of life that these two lived! 

And if these two characters don’t satisfy, Soren and Kate are sure to capture your hearts!  Austin has taken these four on such amazing and breathtaking adventures, that you can barely read fast enough!  When I reached the end of the book and discovered that the two Hawes sisters were based on real life people, you can bet I was eager to read more!  Austin seems to discover the most fascinating lives and then builds entire lifetimes around an idea that just never lets go of your heart!

There is danger more often than I expected, but no matter the circumstance the Hawes sister’s faith never wavered.  How I loved their fearlessness and boldness!!  Their faith was as much a part of their lives as the air they breathed.  Austin wove this element very naturally throughout the story, and I was left feeling encouraged and challenged because of their faithfulness!

I can’t begin to recommend this book highly enough!  It is truly a treasure among historical fiction!

About the Author:

Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home in western Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.

fierce hearted by Holley Gerth - REVIEWED

About the Book:
Every day we struggle to find more freedom, joy, and purpose. What if the solution isn't trying harder or being better but embracing the fiercehearted woman already inside us? A fiercehearted woman looks life in the face and says, "You can't beat me." She lives fully and loves bravely. She never gives in, never gives up, and never lets go. She dares to be who she is--imperfect and beloved.


In her most powerful and personal book yet, bestselling author, counselor, and life coach Holley Gerth empowers and encourages women not simply through "how to" but by life-changing, heart-freeing "me too." Join Holley on this journey to becoming a fiercehearted woman and discover what she did: the freedom and courage to embrace life, love, and faith to the fullest because your struggles can no longer hold you back.

My Thoughts:
“Our role is obedience, God’s job is results.  It’s all about loving him and the people he entrusts to us.  Serve whoever is right in front of you, and he will make a way.”  (p. 85)

God used this book to set me free in areas of my life that I’ve allowed to hold me hostage for years!  I cannot begin to tell you the sweet times of worship I had as I read the pages of this book!  I underlined, and highlighted, cried and rejoiced, texted passages to family and friends….this book has been a holy appointment in my life for which I thank God!!  I thank God for allowing Holly Gerth to write from her heart and share her own struggles, because as I read, it was if I heard a holy echo….you too?

Each chapter is a personal vignette that build seamlessly toward a simple, but profound truth.  Each life situation will feel familiar and make you feel as if you’ve just shared time with a trusted friend.  Living fully and loving bravely are mutually exclusive and until you are freed from fear and unrealistic expectations, you can’t live or love as God intended you to do.


I fully expect that Holly will receive an outpouring of thanks for writing such a transparent, bold book that reveals her heart so clearly to others.  This book has been a treasured gift to my heart, and I can’t begin to express my gratitude to God for guiding Holly to write such an amazing book!!

About the Author:

HOLLEY GERTH can often be found at a quiet corner table in a coffee shop with a hot latte and her banged up, beloved laptop. She’s the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of You’re Already Amazing and several other books as well as a counselor and life coach. Until you can join Holley for your favorite coffee or tea, she’d love for you to hang out with her at www.holleygerth.com.

She's Got the Wrong Guy by Deepak Reju - REVIEWED

About the Book:
The control freak. The angry man. The lazy guy. The unteachable guy. The promiscuous man. The unbeliever. The lone ranger. The unchurched guy. The new convert. The commitment-phobe.

For any woman who has struggled with failed relationships, this may seem like a familiar list. These are the men your friends and family have in mind when they think, “she’s with the wrong guy.” And while the reasons women choose these types of men are complicated and varied, ultimately, they will all let you down.

In She’s Got the Wrong Guy, Deepak Reju offers a different kind of dating book, discussing the types of guys women should not marry and offering biblical reasons why they aren’t suitable spouses. Writing from his years of experience as a pastor and counselor, Reju shares with women his perspective on how to assess a relationship’s strengths from the beginning, how to identify possible pitfalls, and how to have the courage to wait for a relationship that will be a blessing for both of you. Using stories that single women can relate to and highlighting contemporary issues in the modern world of dating, Reju gives readers clear, biblical direction on how to have positive, life-giving relationships with members of the opposite sex.

With a strong, Christ-centered focus, women will better understand why they “settle” for less than what God intends for their romantic relationships and learn to put their hopes and find their happiness in Jesus, not marriage.

Unlike typical dating books, this book highlights the type of men Christian women should not marry.
Details ten profiles of the wrong type of guys, and offers biblical reasons why they are not suitable spouses.

Written by a pastor and counselor with years of experience in addressing these issues and seeing the harm that unhealthy romantic relationships can do.


A strong, Christ-centered focused that helps readers put their hope in Jesus, not marriage.

My Thoughts:

“We need God’s standard to ring loudly in our ears because the voice in us and the voices around us want nothing more than for us to abandon God’s Word.”  (p. 49)

There are not enough words or enough emotions in the world to express how I feel about the importance of this book.  After experiencing the end of 22-years of marriage, I’ve ministered to a lot of single women, and I KNOW the teachings in this book are true, accurate and biblically sound.  I want to buy cases of these books and scatter them like so much confetti to all of the single women I know – to all of the single men I know!!  THIS IS A TOOL straight from the Father’s heart to minister to everyone who has settled for anything less than God’s principles for relationships.

This isn’t a book of “do’s” and “don’ts’s”, rather, this is a book written from years of counseling men and women who settled for relationships that were less than God’s best.  God’s grace covers all of our relational mistakes and His forgiveness draws us back to His heart if we submit to Him.  Pastor Reju tenderly guides readers through principles and truths from God’s Word to equip them to choose and live wisely as unto the Lord – to wait patiently and serve God with our whole hearts as we become the people who live yielded to His will and plan for our lives.

I thank GOD that this book has been written, and I plan to use it as a teaching tool for friends and small groups at the earliest opportunity.  I want to live for Christ and Christ alone so that others will see and know that He is enough.  He sustains, guides and loves us through this lifetime and into the next.  I don’t have to settle than less than His best for me!! EVER!!  AMEN!!!

Purchase your copy HERE!!

About the Author:

Deepak Reju, MDiv, PhD, serves as the pastor of biblical counseling and families at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, as well as president for the board of directors of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He is the author of several books and articles, including Great Kings of the Bible: How Jesus Is Greater than Saul, David and Solomon, The Pastor and Counseling, and On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church. Deepak and his wife Sarah have been married since 2001 and have five children.

Descriptions and Prescriptions by Michael R. Emlet - REVIEWED

About the Book:

OCD, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder . . . these are no longer just technical terms and medical diagnoses, they are part of our common vocabulary and culture. As Christians, we shouldn’t isolate ourselves from this discussion or dismiss these important issues. But we also should be careful not to accept the entire secular psychiatric diagnostic and treatment enterprise without question. What we need is a balanced, biblically (and scientifically) informed approach that neither blindly accepts nor harshly dismisses psychiatric labels, diagnoses, and medicines that are prescribed to help those who are suffering.


As both a Biblical counselor and medical doctor, Michael R. Emlet, MD, gives readers a Christ-centered approach to psychiatry and guides both lay and professional helpers through the thicket of mental health labels and treatments with a biblical lens. In a clear and thoughtful way that puts the person experiencing mental health issues at the forefront, Emlet uses Scripture to show how the Bible engages in the discussion of psychiatric labels and the medications that are often recommended based on those labels. The first book in the “Helping the Helper” series, Descriptions and Prescriptions will give readers a biblical, gospel-formed perspective to help them understand and minister to those struggling with mental health issues.

Purchase your copy HERE.

My Thoughts:

“At the end of the day, the goal is not to confirm or condemn a given diagnosis but to carefully, persistently, lovingly, and biblically bring God’s redemption to bear upon people who struggle with the problems encapsulated in a diagnostic description.”  (p. 48)

I have to admit, that when I first saw this offering, I almost passed on the opportunity to review the book.  I’m so glad I chose differently!  This book, although written by a physician/counselor, is a fantastic tool for anyone to use as they walk in any type of ministry setting.  I would think pastors that do any type of counseling would find this to be an invaluable tool in the library!  I lead women’s small groups for my church, and I can tell you that in the four years since I began serving my church family, I would have love to have the knowledge and explanations in this book at my disposal!  Mental illness, or a diagnosis along the spectrum, presents a unique and challenging problem in today’s world.

What I appreciate most about this book is that a layman can understand the concepts.  Dr. Emlet tackles a very controversial topic with compassion and empathy.  He doesn’t hide the facts about how little is still know about both the physical function of the brain and its chemical components, nor the medications currently used to treat people who suffer the effects of mental illness.  As I read, I couldn’t help but be both thankful for the relief given to those suffering the effects of a mental issue, but I was also left feeling a little fearful about the way folks might have to suffer through a trial and error type path to find the help they need.

I have been prescribed and taken medications for depression off and on over my lifetime.  I have been fortunate to have physicians who approached this in a holistic way and listened to and responded to my concern over the course of treatment.  I’ve also been blessed with really fantastic counselors, and I see the value in both.  I’ve also had friends who have suffered the effects of mental illness to the point of almost leaving this world prematurely.


In short, I feel this book offers a significant amount of information for anyone in ministry on any level.  This issue affects more people than you can imagine, and must be dealt with in biblical truth and love.  I highly recommend this book!

About the Author:

Michael R. Emlet, MDiv, MD, practiced as a family physician for over ten years before becoming a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He is the author of the book CrossTalk: Where Life & Scripture Meet, the minibooks Asperger Syndrome; Chronic Pain; Angry Children: Understanding and Helping Your Child Regain Control; and Help for the Caregiver: Facing the Challenges with Understanding and Strength, and many counseling articles.

Everywhere You Go There's a Zacchaeus Up a Tree by Roger Campbell edited by Timothy Campbell

About the Book:
Every week for nearly forty years, Roger Campbell took up his pen to craft a newspaper column that would make a difference in the lives of his readers. His tales of fishing, family, friends, and fun helped them to trade their fears for faith, their sorrows for songs, and their doubts for certainties.

Everywhere You Go There's a Zacchaeus Up a Tree is an anthology edited by his son, drawn from these weekly columns. Based on Roger's experiences in the world at large, the pastorate, his community, and his family, these brief but wise essays are enriching, instructive, and gently challenging. Roger's habit of humbly talking with people from all walks of life wherever he went provided ample opportunity to impact generations of folks. His warm words still bear witness to the truth that God meets us where we are and uses us when we are willing.

Always starting with a Scripture reference, these short entries can be read as a daily or weekly devotion.


For those longing for a simpler time and the flavor of small-town life, Everywhere You Go There's a Zacchaeus Up a Tree shares a deep, abiding, homespun faith that knows, as Campbell wrote, that "God loves you no matter which way the wind blows."

My Thoughts:

"Whether at the post office or at the back, a restaurant or the super market checkout lane, everywhere you go, there's a woman at the well and a Zacchaeus up a tree!"  (p. 10)

I imagine that Timothy Campbell cherishes this book, because these articles were written by his earthly dad and changed the lives of many people over several decades.  I will always be grateful he chose to share these treasures with the public, or, sad to say, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the benefit of Roger Campbell's godly wisdom.

This is a book that contains a treasure trove of personal and spiritual insights gleaned over decades of spending time immersed in God's Word and in serving others.  The one thing that is consistent and very evident is Campbell's love for God and his people.  There is an humbleness about the words he chooses to share that open the reader's heart to receive the truth of God's Word as it is given in the context of everyday living.

The Campbell household was blessed to have a husband and father who lavished words of encouragement and godly wisdom upon them.  And I'm quite sure as they shared the relationship with the world as his weekly articles were publishes, that their own heart were transformed by the power of God's Word as it was shared through Campbell's pen.

This is a unique and powerful little book - to be ingested slowly and thoughtfully.  I highly recommend this to everyone!!

About the Author:

Roger Campbell (1930-2015) was in the ministry for over fifty years. He spent many years as a pastor, and in the late 1970's he launched Roger Campbell Ministries, an evangelical ministry through which he produced radio broadcasts, wrote weekly newspaper columns, and spoke at church Bible conferences. He is the author of nearly 30 books, including the acclaimed Preach for a Year series.

Timothy Campbell, Roger Campbell's son, is owner of and counselor at Life Resource Christian Counseling Center in Lapeer, Michigan, and an ordained chaplain.

Counseling Under the Cross by Bob Kellemen - REVIEWED

About the Book:

Martin Luther was not only a theologian, a writer, and a preacher, he was a pastoral counselor who longed for peace with God. Now, 500 years after he posted his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, his teachings on gospel-centered and cross-focused pastoral care can transform our approach to soul care, and teach us that daring faith in Christ alone can change our life today and give us peace forever.

In Counseling Under the Cross, biblical counselor and noted author Bob Kellemen mines the riches of Luther’s letters of spiritual counsel to give readers a new understanding of how Luther engaged in the personal ministry of the gospel. He guides pastors, counselors, lay leaders, and friends toward a deeper understanding of the gospel that will directly impact their personal ministry to others. Through lively vignettes, real-life stories, and direct quotes from Luther, readers will be equipped to apply the gospel to themselves and others, and learn that pastoral care is what every believer does in one-another ministry.

As one of the most influential figures in Christian history, Luther was not only the father of the Reformation, he was also the father of “gospel-centered counseling.” As sons and daughters in the faith, we have much to learn from him. Counseling Under the Cross equips us to apply the gospel richly, relevantly, and robustly to suffering and sin so that we find our hope and help in Christ alone.

My Thoughts:

“Grace is Christ’s prescription for our disgrace – forgiving medicine for sin, preventative medicine for victory over temptation, and cleansing medicine for victory over Satan’s condemnation.” (p. 169)

This power-packed truth is what is referred to in Bob Kelleman’s book, Counseling Under the Cross, as a “tweet sized summary.”  Lest you think this is a light, non-relevant book, think again!  This brilliant author has made a very complex and historically foundational giant of the faith VERY relevant and very timely!  Martin Luther began a movement away from religion and toward relationship with Christ that has changed the very heart of Christianity.

Kelleman takes a look at the life of Luther and places in the context of his desperate longing to know and walk in the freedom of God’s grace that was purchased for us at Calvary.  At the end of each chapter he closes with “Timeless Truth for Life and Ministry Today.”  He realizes that now, more than ever before, we need to be able to tell others why we cling to the truth of Christ.  He speaks to a generation that has walked away from religion and is hungry for relationship. 

I must confess, I haven’t read all of this book yet.  The mailman delivered it to a neighbor, and it wasn’t returned to me until just a few days ago.  But I’ve read enough to be able to tell you that this is an important book for church leaders and pastors who want their body to be healthy and strong in a time where many are walking away from the church all together.

I am happy to recommend this book!  It is a powerful teaching tool that will make a difference in many lives.

About the Author:

Bob Kellemen, PhD, is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chair of the Biblical Counseling Department at Crossroads Bible College and the founder and CEO of RPM Ministries. He is also the author of many books, including Gospel-Centered Counseling and Gospel Conversations. Bob and his wife Shirley have two children and two grandchildren.

If We Make It Home by Christina Suzann Nelson - REVIEWED

About the Book:
An exciting story of survival and spiritual renewal

When four college friends graduated from the University of Northwest Oregon, their lives stretched before them, full of promise and vows to stay connected. But life has a way of derailing well-laid plans.

Now they haven't spoken in twenty-five years. But against all odds, three of them have found themselves back in the same place--at their alma mater, wondering how they got there. When they discover their fourth friend, Hope, has died, Jenna, Ireland, and Vicky decide to embark on a wilderness adventure to honor her memory--and for secret reasons of their own. Jenna wants to show her husband that she's more than a helpless, overweight, middle-aged empty nester. Ireland wants to get back to the nature she loves and hide from the charges being pressed against her. And Vicky wants to show she cares for something besides her ministry--and put off the disaster waiting at home for as long as possible.


They never bargained for the dangers they face in an unforgiving wilderness. Now they'll have to work together if they hope to make it home alive. While the three women fight to survive the elements, their toughest battles may be with themselves.

My Thoughts:

"I told my story, all of it, and I wasn't rejected. I was revived." (p. 265)

Granted, this thought comes at the end of Christina Nelson’s novel, If We Make it Home, but, to me, it beautifully epitomizes  the end goal (or rather, result) of a very harrowing tale.  Nelson masterfully weaves the story of three former college friends who end up on a very unintentional journey of  self-discovery.  The circumstances that bring them together are very plausible, and each of the women represent a part of the “mask” we all put on during our lifetimes to become what others perceive or demand we become.  In the process, we lose ourselves and wind up in situations we never dreamed possible.

This book hit a nerve for me, because even though none of us has a clue what life has in store for us when we are young adults, life throws all of us some unexpected curves and bends in our journey that force us to either take an honest look at ourselves or disappear altogether.  These three women not only must face their inner demons, but they wind up fighting for their very lives when they choose to go on an extreme survivalist hike trying to outrun their own life choices.

This is a very well-written and poignant novel of discovery. I recognized part of my own brokenness in the lives of all three of the main characters.  This novel encouraged me to continue on my own journey of self-discovery after facing my own survivalist experience!  I encourage everyone to read this book with an open heart and mind.  Don’t be afraid to take an honest look at your own life and begin the hard, but very rewarding journey, of becoming the person God created you to be! 

This is a phenomenal book, and I highly recommend it to everyone!  Be willing to fight to become who you were meant to be! 

About the Author:
Christina Suzann Nelson is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and ACFW. Her essays have been published in the Cup of Comfort series. Nelson lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her husband and four children. This is her first book.

Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig - REVIEWED

About the Book:
When You Stare Into the Abyss It Also Stares Into You

The bullet that rips into Cole "Tox" Russell was never meant to kill. It was meant to send a message. Only one man is skilled enough to have taken the shot, a rogue Special Forces operator who vanished months ago.

Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.


Afraid his old friend could be right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team are forced into another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is harnessing the power of a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming

My Thoughts:

“What concerns me….is that he’s treading a fine line between fighting evil and becoming it.”  (p. 91)

I was introduced to Cole “Tox” Russell in January of this year when I reviewed the first book of this stellar series Conspiracy of Silence.  This second book of the series, Crown of Souls, takes a suspense and thrill read to an entirely new level of shudders!  I mean, Kendig combines the military prowess of a black ops team, the historical background of an historical anthropologist and layers it with a REALLY creepy element of the supernatural that isn’t out of the realm of believability at all!

All that said, Kendig even takes time to build relationships between her characters that are realistic and believably challenged by the careers they have chosen for their lives. Cole, well, he is a guy that you want to hug and say, “it’ll be alright” and comfort him. But comfort isn’t in the realm of possibility when a soldier goes rogue…well sort of…he had a little help...I can’t tell you details because that will spoil your fun!!

So…go!!!  Go now!! And grab a copy of this amazing book!  You can understand it without reading this first book in the series, but if you haven’t read it….read it first.  You will gain valuable background and understanding!  This….oh this….this is my kind of read!! LOVE IT!!!!  You will too!!  Enjoy!!

About the Author:

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. She's penned over a dozen novels, including The Quiet Professionals series and the A Breed Apart series. She and her hunky hero hubby have a fun, crazy life with their children and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia.

Liar's Winter by Cindy K. Sproles - REVIEWED

About the Book:

Lochiel Ogle was born with a red-wine birthmark--and it put her life in jeopardy from the moment she entered the world. Mountain folks called it "the mark of the devil," and for all the evil that has plagued her nineteen-year existence, Lochiel is ready to believe that is true. And the evil surely took control of the mind of the boy who stole her as an infant, bringing her home for his mother to raise.

Abused and abandoned by the only people she knows as family, Lochiel is rescued by a peddler and given the first glimpse of love she has ever known. The truth of her past is gradually revealed as is the fact that she is still hunted by a brother driven to see her dead. Unsure if there's anyone she can truly trust, Lochiel is faced with a series of choices: Will she continue to run for escape or will she face her past and accept the heartbreaking secrets it reveals? Which will truly free her?

Set in the wild and beautiful Appalachian Mountains of nineteenth-century East Tennessee, Liar's Winter is an unflinching yet inspirational exploration of prejudice and choice.

My Thoughts:

“Kindness is from the soul.  It’s gived ‘cause it can’t help but be gived.”  (p.50)

Lochiel Ogle couldn’t begin to comprehend the life giving truth of these words when she heard them.  Lochiel is what I consider a tragic character, suffering innocently at the hands of desperate, ignorant people.  Her story is told with powerful, beautiful prose, and the process of transformation unfolds in unexpected and unusual ways in the hills of Tennessee.  This story is one that spans a couple of decades in a family’s history, and, as truth is revealed, the reader’s heart is painfully stretched to choose kindness.

I love a book that compels me to highlight and underline passages just so I can return to the words and savor their beauty.  Cindy Sproles tells such a story, and, through her prose, she creates characters that come to vivid life and cause you to laugh and weep right along with them as they experience their story.  Sproles really illustrates grace, time and time again, as her characters strive to find freedom and truth  as they are relentlessly pursued by an evil that seems to know no bounds.  I’ll be honest, there are characters in this book that I could not muster an ounce of kindness for. 

This book is filled with the truth of the gospel told and expressed through the lives of these characters and their circumstances.  I believe this is why this novel is so incredibly powerful.  I also love the way Sproles illustrated the living power of God’s Word and its transformational influence on the hearts of all who receive it! This book is SO RICH!!!  I can’t recommend it highly enough!!

About the Author:

Cindy K. Sproles is the author of devotions published in newspapers across the country and a teacher at Christian writers conferences. She spent her formative years showing off her beloved Appalachian Mountains to others, and she and her family still live in the mountains of East Tennessee. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart - REVEIWED

About the Book:
Francine Howard has her life all mapped out--until the man she loves announces his plans to bring home an English bride from war-torn Europe in 1945. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

My Thoughts:

“Perhaps the Lord had put her right where she was supposed to be.”  (p. 59)

Ann Gabhart inserted a prophetic word over Francine Howard’s life early in her latest novel, These Healing Hills.  I was totally drawn into this novel from the very first pages.  Francine (Fran to the other characters in the novel) followed her heart into the midwifery calling, but discovered the truth of God’s Word when God worked things out for her good and His glory. 

We are able to watch Fran fall in love with her calling, and then with the people of Kentucky – Ben  Locke in particular.  I was so excited to learn all about the Frontier Nursing and that it was indeed founded in the 1920’s, and can STILL be chosen as an education option today!! (isn’t Google fun!)  Anyway, Fran finds herself in the hills of Kentucky at the end of WWII, and while she is following her own dreams of a nursing career in midwifery, she is also making a fresh start for herself after being jilted by the man she thought she would marry at the end of the war.

This book is so well-written that the characters leap from the pages into your heart!!  Granny Em and Willie will win you over quickly, as will the rest of the nurses!  And I can’t forget Sarge!  You’ll get to know and love him too!  The community is so connected and vibrant, you will find yourself totally immersed in story and having a hard time finding a stopping point!  Enjoy the journey, readers!! I certainly did!  You don’t want to miss this!!

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

The Assault by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky - REVIEWED

About the Book:
As Darkness Threatens, Four Gifted People Will Give the World Its Best--And Maybe Only--Chance to Survive. This is Harbingers.

In Invitation, four beloved and bestselling suspense authors introduced supernaturally gifted characters on a race to stem the tide of growing evil. Now Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky return with the next cycle of fast-paced and riveting tales.

In Bill Myers's "The Revealing" the team finds themselves in Rome trying to retrieve the mystical spear Hitler once stole. The task will take them from hidden chambers inside the Vatican to a mysterious seaside cave with unexpected and dangerous powers.

Frank Peretti's "Infestation" tells of a microscopic plague unleashed on the world that deceives, blinds, kills, then spreads and kills again. The Harbingers team must confront this faceless evil bent on seducing and destroying humankind.

In "Infiltration" by Angela Hunt, a seaside respite intended to buy time for the wounded team turns deadly when misplaced trust leads the Harbingers into dangerous waters.

Alton Gansky's "The Fog" reveals a supernatural mist unlike any other, filled with vicious monsters that kill whatever they find. When one team member realizes the only way to stop the fog is to enter it, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

My Thoughts:

The Assault – WOW!  How to you begin to tell others about a book, written by four of the best writers in the genre of supernatural thrillers?  This was a book I literally could NOT put down!  I didn’t have the time to read, I could barely stay ahead of all that was going on in life, but I carved out time for a few pages of this book every single day until I had finished every word!

I think was really appealed to me most was that each author told the story from a different character’s perspective.  The story continues at break-neck speed from first page to last, and there are many, many times you think that the characters won’t survive until the next page – and they almost don’t!    So all of the characters you came to love in the first book of the Harbinger series.

I want to tell you some things, but I dare not spoil the thrill of the ride!  Just trust me when I tell you that you will encounter things that will bend your mind like a pretzel!  Just remain pliable!  It is SO WORTH the ride!!  The gifts that the characters discovered in the first book, they polish in these stories.  Like all believers, they must learn to trust God to move when He wants to and not when they want to.  This was one of many truths that this book showcased that kept the pages turning! 

I cannot begin to recommend this series highly enough!  I would suggest reading them in order so you will be able to fully appreciate all of the subtle nuances of these incredible stories!

About the Authors:

Bill Myers is a youth worker, creative writer, and film director who co-created the "McGee and Me!" book and video series; his work has received over forty national and international awards. His many books include Hot Topics, Tough Questions, and The Dark Side of the Supernatural.

Frank E. Peretti is one of American Christianity's best-known authors. His novels, including This Present Darkness, have sold more than 10 million copies. He makes his home in Idaho. Learn more at www.frankperetti.com.

The author of more than 100 published books and with nearly 5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Timesbestselling author of The Note, The Nativity Story, and Esther: Royal Beauty. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, Angela completed her PhD in Biblical Studies in Theology. She and her husband live in Florida with their mastiffs. She can be found online at www.angelahuntbooks.com.

Alton Gansky is the author of twenty-four novels and eight nonfiction books. He is a Carol Award winner and an Angel Award winner, and has been a Christy Award finalist. He holds a BA and an MA in biblical studies and has been awarded a Doctor of Literature degree. Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Gansky also serves as an editor and collaborative writer for top tier authors. He lives in California.