~Scents of the Season-Scentsational Spring Pinterest Contest~

Purex is having a Scentsational Spring Pinterest Contest!  5 winners will each win a 4-pack of Purex Crystals. 

To enter, click here.

Note: This contest ends Friday May 31 at 3pm PST, so hurry and enter! Good luck!

~Family Fun Magazine Giveaway~

Purex is teaming up with Family Fun magazine to give away 15,000 subscriptions to Family Fun Magazine!  What a great way to start summer with all sorts of ideas, recipes, crafts, and more! 

Click here to enter. 

Note that this sweepstakes ends Friday May 30 at 3pm PST, so hurry and enter!

Book Review~A Stitch and a Prayer

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Stitch and A Prayer Abingdon Press (May 20, 2014) by Eva Gibson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

(No image available) Eva Gibson is the author of twenty books, including A Stitch and a Prayer, the latest release in the Quilts of Love series from Abingdon Fiction. She currently teaches Writing Your Life Story classes for Portland Community College and is an active member of Oregon Christian Writers. She has lived most of her life on the family farm in Wilsonville, Oregon, which is the setting for her novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her fiancé returns from the Klondike gold rush in 1897, Florence Harms sets about building a new life in her new marriage—even though the lingering effects of illness have left her weak and vulnerable. She and her young husband, Will, work tirelessly to clear the land around their Northwest cabin, content with their modest life. But then a stranger comes knocking and Florence suddenly senses a restlessness in Will’s spirit that she had never seen before. When he leaves her with only a note that tells her he will return before their baby’s birth, she is devastated, and the illness that stiffened her joints returns. Counting the days until Will walks back through her door, Florence busies herself with a Tree of Life quilt displaying a map of the farm they call home. Doubts claw at her heart as Florence struggles to believe Will’s promise to return to her. Will her labor of love—and faith in God—sustain her as she waits to see her beloved once again?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Stitch and A Prayer, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS: A Stitch and A Prayer is part of the Quilts of Love series, a series of books by various authors, with quilts and quilting as the central theme of the stories.  I've read several of them, and have really enjoyed them.  Although I'm not a quilter, I'm fascinated by quilts and quilting.  A Stitch and a Prayer was a sweet story of a fragile young woman who is newly married and living in the woods in a cabin.  I enjoyed the story for many reasons, as it had several components of things I love reading about-new settlers in the West in the 1800s, pregnancy and birth, and quilts.   At the start of the story, there were several characters introduced and I had a hard time keeping them straight.  For a moment, I thought maybe this book was  a sequel.  As I got further into the story, I was able to keep everyone straight.  The story was a quick read at just 197 pages, with discussion questions after as well as a sneak peak at a new book, Rival Hearts. 

Wordless Wednesday~Cool Dude!

Book Review~9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom

I recently read the ebook 9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom: Replacing My Worst with God's Best by Sue Detweiler.  It was such a blessing!  Even though I've been at this parenting thing for almost 23 years,  and now a Grandparent, I'm certainly not perfect.  I make mistakes.  This book will help you feel okay when you blow it as a parent, and guide you back on track.

There are 11 chapters, covering 9 traits: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.  Each chapter is full of personal stories, wisdom, inspiration, and plenty of scripture.  There is also prayer at the end of each chapter focused on that chapter's trait. 

There is a Bible Study that goes along with the chapters, composed of 11 lessons.  Each lesson has a woman's personal story, Reflection Questions, and Group Discussion.  At the end of the book are additional resources. 

9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom was definitely a blessing to me.  We can all use a little (or big) reminder of the amazing job God has entrusted us with in raising our children. The author also reminds us to not beat ourselves up-that we are not perfect, and we should not be striving to be Supermom.  This book would be great for Moms with children of any age to read. 



Connect with author Sue Detweiler on her website , Facebook, Twitter , and Linked In.  9 Traits of a Life Giving Mom is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this ebook free from Christian Women Affiliate in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review~Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE BOOK:
New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.
Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her when she fell through the ice, and he’s been by her side ever since. After his parents died in a car accident ten years ago, the Kempfs raised Aden as one of their own, and everyone sees Aden and Christina as brother and sister. But Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife.
Aden always planned to court Christina. But losing his mother and father changed everything—except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He can’t betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister . . . yet so much more.
Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek’s young men, and now, Aden must make a choice. Will he stand by and watch the love of his life slip away? Or will he risk losing the love and trust of the family he holds dear to tell Christina how he truly feels?
Thankful includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.

MY THOUGHTS: I was very excited to read Thankful, as I had very much enjoyed Hopeful, the first book in the Return to Sugarcreek series.  I was not disappointed with Thankful-it was just as great as I had hoped it would be!  I enjoyed the main story of Christina and Aden, and also the two other stories that were going on throughout the book.

 Having fostered and adopted children, I liked that the subject was part of the book, both in Christina and Aden's story and with Judith and Ben.  The sticky situation of two people raised as siblings that are not blood related, then falling in love, is fascinating.  Having been adopted myself, and having both biological and adopted children, it just really got me to thinking of how I would feel if something like that happened in my family. 

Bonuses to the book are some yummy recipes and a sneak peak of the next in the series, Joyful!

To learn more about author Shelley Shepard Gray and her books, visit her website and Facebook.  Links to purchase Thankful are available on her website. 

   

Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel). Visit the movie website for more information.

Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party! 

Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.

Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.

Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we'll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.
 

"This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.

For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances." Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.