He Knows Your Name

By: Travis Cottrell

This may be a small book but it is filled with a powerful message.  Beth Moore pens a beautiful introduction regarding worship.  Travis Cottrell then invites us to understand the depth of The Lord’s love for us.  Each chapter contains a beautiful message which is worthy of reflection.  The author includes quotes from well-known Christians and a space for Reflection and Application.  Each chapter ends with a prayer.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to giving it a gift to others in need of encouragement.      

*I would like to thank Worthy Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

The Power of an Ordinary Prayer

By: Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith has a written a book about a beautiful Prayer of Blessing.  He describes how his mentor has spoken blessings over him and how it has impacted his life.  Therefore, speaking a blessing over others has become part of his life.  Before Michael W. Smith shares the prayer he wisely explains how speaking this prayer is no way a formula to get what we want from God.  He explains how we need to pray and submit our will to God’s will and He in turn will bless us more than we could ever imagine.

Michael W. Smith has broken the prayer up into six blessings for which there is a chapter for each.  Each chapter explains the blessing and there are quotes and questions to encourage times of reflection.  I was blessed by this book and the beautiful prayer.  I would love to hang a copy of this prayer up in my home as a reminder to stay focused on what is important in this life.  I look forward to gifting this book to others so they too may be encouraged and blessed.      

*I would like to thank Worthy Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

KJV Homeschool Mom’s Bible

By: Zondervan

 

I love the cover of this Bible as it is cute and colorful!  The Foreword is written by Vickie Farris who is the wife of Homeschool Legal Defense Association Founder, Dr. Michael Farris.  This Bible also contains 365 devotionals written by Janet Tatman who has 25 years of homeschooling experience.  She was also a copywriter for Alpha Omega Publications.  Part of her job there was to write a daily devotional that was sent out via e-mail to subscribers.  Her daily devotionals became very popular and have now become part of this Bible. 

I believe these daily devotions are perfect for mothers who are short on time.  The devotionals contain a scripture, a story and a prayer.  Also, the page number of the next devotional is listed at the bottom.  This makes it easy so the reader does not have to skim through the Bible to find the next one.  Also, the Bible verses contained in the devotionals do not correspond with where the devotional is found in the Bible.  For example, a devotional may be based on a scripture found in James but the devotional is found between the pages of Genesis.  For those who are looking for a deeper study this may not be what you are looking for as there are no questions for further reflection.   

 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

Press Release

I have been given a great opportunity to review two new books mentioned below.  The first book is "The Power of Ordinary Prayer" by Michael W. Smith.  The second book is "He Knows Your Name" by Travis Cottrell.  I will be posting my reviews next week!

 

 

GRAMMY AND DOVE AWARD-WINNING RECORDING ARTISTS

PEN TITLES WITH WORTHY PUBLISHING

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 11th, 2013—The Worthy Publishing Group rounds out its Spring/Summer 2013 list with two gift titles penned by award-winning singer/songwriters Michael W. Smith and Travis Cottrell.

 

Smith’s book The Power of an Ordinary Prayer (Worthy Publishing, 9781617951923, July 2013, $14.99, hardcover) explores the heart of prayer and its power to transform your world. The beautifully-designed, hardcover gift book inspires readers to pray blessings over their loved ones, and in return discover the abundant joy and peace that can be theirs through the power of this simple blessing. 

 

Dove-award winning artist, Travis Cottrell’s 144-page gift book entitled He Knows Your Name (Worthy Publishing, 9781617951916, July 2013, $14.99, hardcover), looks at those surprising times and places when God proves his radical love. With a remarkable introduction by NewYork Times best-selling author Beth Moore, Cottrell reminds readers that God is the hope, strength, and deliverance they desperately need in every circumstance—especially those moments when it is least expected.

 

“These books, written by award-winning recording artists, come on the heels of our success with titles from contemporary Christian music artists Laura Story and Nichole Nordeman,” says Jeana Ledbetter, Vice President of Editorial.Within the past year Worthy Publishing has struck a chord with readers with the release of Grammy-award winning songwriter Laura Story’s devotional, What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops? (Freeman Smith, 9781605873220, March 2012, $11.99, trade paper) along with Dove-award winning artist Nichole Nordeman’s Love Story (Worthy, 9781617950513, August 2012, $16.99, hardcover). “It seems we have found a niche transforming best-selling recording artists into widely read authors,” Ledbetter continues.  Worthy is also scheduled to release Big Daddy Weave’s devotional Redeemed (Worthy, 9781605875224, August 2013, $11.99), based on the song recently awarded “Song of the Year” at the K-Love Fan Awards on June 1^st.

 

Michael W. Smith is a multiple-time Grammy and Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter, having recorded more than twenty-two albums and written numerous hit songs.  Smith has written several best-selling books, including Old Enough to Know and Friends are Friends Forever. He and his wife, Debbie, have five children and live in Nashville.

 

Travis Cottrell is a Dove Award-winning recording artist and songwriter and has been the worship leader at Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live conferences for fifteen years. He also serves as the Worship Pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife, Angela, and their three children.

 

Worthy Publishing Group (www.worthypublishing.com) is a privately held, independent voice in Christian and inspirational publishing, based in Nashville, Tennessee, comprised of three divisions. Worthy Books publishes a boutique list of trade titles across a broad spectrum of genres, including current events, biography, fiction, devotionals, spiritual and personal growth, and specialized Bibles. Ellie Claire is a line of gift and paper expressions, and Freeman-Smith is a value-priced, impulse book imprint.  

Forever Friday

By: Timothy Lewis

Adam Colby’s divorce leaves him bitter and questioning whether true love really exists.  As he was cleaning up after an estate sale he came across an album full of postcards.  Each postcard contained a poem written by Gabe Alexander to his wife Pearl (a.k.a. Huck).  Adam was intrigued by the depth of their love and set out on a quest to find out more about this couple.  Yvette is the only one who knows Gabe and Huck’s story.  At first she is reluctant to meet with Adam but she soon realizes he is just the right person to gain insight into this beautiful love story.

I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the front cover.  The story mainly focuses on the lives of Gabe and Huck with interjections of Adam’s life.  Although I enjoyed most of the story, I felt some of storyline was unnecessary and not developed enough.  Without getting into too much detail, there is a part in the book where Huck runs into her ex-fiancé.  I found this part of the story to be a little unrealistic and disturbing.  I also felt that the story about Adam and Yvette was not developed enough.  I know they were not meant to be the main focus of this book but I feel like their story could have been portrayed better.  Overall I think this was a good book with a great love story.  One interesting fact that the author shared is how this story is “loosely” based off of the lives of his great aunt and great uncle.  I look forward to reading more from this author.  

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.

 

Barefoot Summer: A Chapel Springs Romance (Book #1)

By: Denise Hunter

This book allows a glimpse into the lives of Madison McKinley and Beckett O’Reilly.  The two have known each other since their school days.  Beckett had a reputation for being the bad boy and Madison was a picture of perfection.  While Beckett came from a broken home, Madison seemed liked she had it all.  Although behind every picture of perfection there is often hidden pain.  Madison tragically lost her twin brother and while everyone else seems to have gone on with their lives she cannot seem to get past the pain.  She desperately wants the nightmares to stop and she believes that by fulfilling her brother’s dream of winning the town’s regatta that she can finally move on.  When Madison wins boating lessons at an auction she is both scared and excited to embark on this adventure of competing in the regatta.  However, plans change when her instructor is unable to fulfill his commitment and she is forced to learn from Beckett O’Reilly.  Beckett will do anything to help Madison win this race as he has kept his feelings for her buried as he believed someone like her could never be interested in him.  As the boating lessons begin the chemistry between them is undeniable.  Will a secret that Beckett has kept for years tear them apart?

Denise Hunter has written a beautiful love story with all the emotions and flaws of real life.  Two hurting people fall in love and have to figure out their way through the twists and turns in life.  I really enjoyed this story and found the characters to be very relatable.  I look forward to reading the second book in the series called Dancing with Fireflies coming in April 2014.    

 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

Derailed

By: Neta Jackson & Dave Jackson

Derailed is the second book in the Windy City Series.  This book focuses on the lives of Harry and Estelle Bentley who appeared in the first book Grounded.  Harry and Estelle contemplate the next phase of their lives as they consider a move into a two-flat foreclosure on Beecham Street.  This would provide them with more space as their grandson lives with them and they would like to have room for Harry’s mother.  After the Bentley’s move into the home an unexpected turn of events leaves them in a precarious position as Harry’s mother is unable to move in with them.  Due to the loss of income they were expecting from Harry’s mother they are forced to look at the options before them to determine how to pay for the new home. 

Rodney, Harry’s son, recently moved in with them as he needed a place to stay after being released from prison.  He was having a difficult time finding a job and certainly did not have the money to pay them rent.  As Harry and Estelle looked at their options they decided that it would be best if Harry went back to work after being retired from the Chicago Police Department.  He was offered a job as an undercover detective which he originally declined; however, maybe this job was the answer to their prayers. 

After much prayer and consideration, Harry decided to accept the position and began work with no time to waste.  His undercover assignments included him traveling on the train to help bust the drug cartels.  One assignment was especially difficult for Harry as he was forced to question whether a neighbor and his son were caught up in one of the large international cartels.  His neighbor seems like an unlikely suspect but his son’s past makes him a prime suspect.  Although Rodney seemed to be on the road to recovery could Harry have been deceived? 

I enjoyed getting to know Harry, Estelle and their family.  They seem like a family that could be living next door.  They are good-natured people with situations that many may be facing today.  As with Grounded, there are many life lessons to be taken from this book.  Look for books three and four coming in 2014.  The titles are Penny Wise and Pound Foolish.

*I would like to thank Worthy Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.