Across the Wide River - a Kregel Review

Across the Wide River, written by Stephanie Reed, is an inspiring tale (based on real individuals and real events) about a young boy and his family's experiences as pro-abolitionists. This story is earmarked for teens, but honestly it could be read by younger children and adults can certainly appreciate it as well.

In Across the Wide River, main character Lowry Rankin, an ordinary boy yet extraordinary in character, finds himself in situations where he witnesses the plights of slaves. Having watched his own black friend nearly beaten to death, Lowry finds himself in agreement with his family that slavery is wrong.

Lowry, as an adolescent, struggles with his own problems with self-esteem because of being bullied by those who disagreed with him and his family's beliefs in abolishing slavery. Lowry battles between acting on what was right or whether to turn a blind eye to slavery.

This book was thought-provoking and moving. I highly recommend this book to all teens and adults who appreciate historical fiction. If you're interested in more information about the real Rankin House and story, click {here}.

I received Across the Wide River as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours. My comments and opinions are my own.

Mine is the Night - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs was a breathtaking book that read like a classic to me. It had a Jane Eyre feel to it, I thought, and it had me in anticipation from start to finish.

Set in 18th century Scotland, Mine is the Night is a story of two ladies' journeys from prosperity to poverty. Due to the loss of her husband and her sons (Jacobites) after they were lost in battle, widow Marjory Kerr and her widowed daughter-in-law Elisabeth set off for the Kerr hometown of Selkirk to begin life anew. Running from dragoons who would surely capture them and turn them into the King for their treason frightened them, but they found Selkirk to be fairly safe.

After being reluctantly accepted by the townsfolk, Marjory and Elisabeth, with the help of their cousin Anne who provided shelter, began to support themselves. Marjory learned to cook and care for the home (having been a mistress of a large home with servants, she'd not had to do that before), and Elisabeth became a seamstress in town.

After admiral Lord Jack Buchanan was awarded an estate in Selkirk by the King, Elisabeth applied for a servant's job--as seamstress. She was quite a talented seamstress and caught Lord Jack's eye immediately.

What results is a story that will warm your heart. The story has a Ruth-Naomi-Boaz feel to it that is sure to please.

I had never read any of Higgs' books, but now I'm definitely ready for more. This was a winner!!



I received Mine is the Night as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Thunder of Heaven - a Zondervan review

Ok. Let me just get this off of my chest:

WOOOOW!!

Thunder of Heaven is absolutely incredible. When I was given the opportunity to review this second book in The End Series written by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall, I knew it was going to be good. I didn't waste any time trying to read the second book before having read the first, so luckily I found it at the libary. By the time Thunder of Heaven arrived at my door, I'd read Edge of Apocalypse and was ready to roll. :)

Thunder of Heaven is a book that has a similar feel as the Left Behind series. It's captivating, full of drama, and it leaves you on the edge of your seat. The End Series, however, focuses more on military aspects than the Left Behind series does, but don't let that discourage you from reading if you're not entirely too thrilled about reading military jargon. I'm normally not interested in military or political fiction, but this book has completely changed my mind. Coming from a girl who tends to prefer chick lit, that's saying a lot! ;)

Main character Joshua Jordan, retired colonel from the Air Force, is the head of a secret "round table" of individuals who meet regularly to try to protect the country from disaster when the government seems to turn a blind eye to danger. So Joshua Jordan and some of his pals created a RTS (Return to Sender) antimissile defense system, which had first been used in the first book (Edge of Apocalypse) to detract certain demise intended for New York. The RTS system was considered controversial, and Joshua Jordan was considered a criminal for using a system that hadn't been given the OK by the government.

Joshua's wife Abigail, their son Cal, and daughter Deborah are thrust headfirst into chaos when threat comes from Russia. Joshua and Deborah head to Israel to attempt to help the Israelis thwart an attack, while Abigail and Cal work to keep things together as the round table is being brought to justice for their secret meetings.

Even though this book is set in the future, it has an intensely current feel to it. LaHaye and Parshall do an excellent job fleshing out the characters, portraying the feel of corruption, and leaving the reader turning the pages furiously in attempt to absorb it all!

I hope that they're working on Book 3, because this chick is ready for more!!

I received Thunder of Heaven as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Zondervan.

Health & Beauty Products I LOVE!

I was just thinking the other morning while I was doing my morning "beautifying" routine that I need to make a blog entry about the products that I love the most. There are certain beauty and health products that I would truly hate to see go away because I absolutely love them. And here is a list of those things I LOVE (in no particular order).

Coconut Oil
I have recently bought coconut oil in order to make homemade deodorant. I LOVE it! Not only can it be used in the making of deodorant, coconut oil is also very good for you. It can be used for dry skin and irritating skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. (Combine it with honey, and it feels so awesome on the face!!) My grandfather is a barber, and I remember he always had a jar of Coconut Oil in his shop; it's a great dandruff-buster and hair conditioner!! It also is a healing agent for cuts and scrapes. I hear that coconut oil rubbed on the forehead is also good for stress. (Haven't tried it yet myself though.) It also supposedly helps in digestion, vitamin absorption, irritating bowel problems (IBS), stimulates metabolism, and improves thyroid function. Coconut oil is a must-have for me from now on!!


Bare Escentuals bareMinerals
I LOVE this stuff! This makeup is the only makeup I've ever had that has not broken out my skin. In fact, it has done the opposite!! The acne that I used to have all the time--great big zits, y'all--are all but gone. I just thought that I was one of those unfortunate adults who was cursed with acne forever. Obviously, I still get little teeny things when hormones hit that crucial stage during the month, but as for the huge, ugly beasts that I got regularly, they are gone. I highly recommend this makeup for any adults (and teens) who struggle with sensitive skin like I do. It's a little more expensive than the typical Cover Girl products I used to buy, but it lasts me a long time (especially the blush). Typically, the foundation lasts three months and sometimes a little longer. So when you consider $16 on foundation for three months' time (especially knowing that it won't break your skin out!), that's a pretty good deal.


Organix shampoos and conditioners
This brand is my absolute favorite. It's an organic shampoo and conditioner (and sulfate free!) that leaves the hair's natural oils intact. I use the "flavor" you see on the left because my hair tends to get dry. There are other blends like, but not limited to, cherry blossom ginseng, coconut milk, vanilla silk, teatree mint, and coconut butter.

This shampoo can be found at most pharmacies and stores like Walmart. I'm able to buy each bottle around $6 at Walmart, and they last me about three months. (I wash my hair every other day.)

Renpure Organics
This is another organic shampoo and conditioner that I like. I also use the "flavor" that you see on the left: it's the pomegranate, papaya and olive leaf. I came upon this brand by accident. I'd sent my husband shopping at Walmart one day and he came back with this instead of my usual Organix brand of shampoo. I was a little worried at first, but when I tried it, I was pleasantly surprised. It works about as well as Organix, and is just slightly cheaper than Organix. I am able to buy it just shy of $6 at Walmart. They also have other blends. Check them out!


Essential oils
A few years ago, if someone had talked to me about the use of essential oils, I'd have thought they were old school. I won't discount traditional medicine, but the use of essential oils in treating simple problems (and even some complex ones!) shouldn't be forgotten. Grandma's use of cloves for your toothache wasn't just some back hills remedy. It worked.

I LOVE lavender. I absolutely love it, and have used it so often for healing acne and boils and the like that it has become a staple in my medicine cabinet. Add to the fact that it's soothing and relaxing, and you've got a winner.

I also regularly use lemon oil, peppermint oil on occasion, Thieves oil (though I'm mildly allergic to cinnamon, so I have to use with caution), and tea tree oil. If you don't know much about the healing properties of essential oils, I highly recommend you look into it!

Melt and Pour Soaps
I love making my own soap. There are companies out there like Bramble Berry who sell organic melt and pour bases so that you can make whatever flavor of soap you want. Twenty-five pounds will cost you about $40, but you can make a looooot of soap with 25 pounds! Add some essential oils like Rosemary or Tea Tree and some fragrance oils that you like, and you're set!


Amber necklace
I was first introduced to amber for headaches by my friend Kristin. She'd found a website called Inspired by Flynn. The website features necklaces, bracelets, etc. that have healing properties. You can read here about the healing properties in amber.


What are the health and beauty products that you cannot live without? Please share!!

I have not been paid to review any of these products. My opinions are my own.

Of August Lineage

Recently, my sons and I were talking about the timeline for heavenly events. My boys, 11 and (just today) 7, have grown up in church and so it's not unusual for us to talk about the Bible, the Lord, or even things complicated like prophecy. Revelations is an especially interesting topic to my eldest son Daniel. He's fascinated with events leading up to the rapture and what happens afterward. And the great thing is, I'm fascinated with that timeline as well! :)

So when Daniel asked me about how things will work during the tribulation and the thousand year reign, I was excited. He always tends to ask me difficult questions while we're driving and I can't dig my pocket-sized Bible out of my purse (it comes in handy when I'm not driving! lol).

I always get excited to talk about the calling up of believers, the millennial reign, and New Jerusalem. The fact that I have been adopted into the family of the most Righteous on High (Eph. 1:5) never gets old, because by my own merit I'm not worthy of heaven.

Ephesians 2:8 tells me "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." [Emphasis mine] There's nothing on this earth that I could do to earn God's gift. That verse specifically says that salvation IS A GIFT! The Merriam-Webster online dictionary's definition (specifically the second one) of "gift" is:

something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

God doesn't require us to pay Him back for that gift of salvation. He doesn't offer salvation expecting something from us in return. He gives salvation simply because he WANTS us to have it. God created man so that He might have a relationship with him. He wants to have fellowship with His creation. Even when Adam and Eve sinned and men and women continually showed God that they were sinful and at times unlovable, God didn't give up on His creation. He sent Jesus to the earth to be "the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when He was rejected by His very own lineage, allowed the Gentiles to be adopted as part of the heavenly, the august, heritage.

I'm so glad I'm part of the family of God!!

(Fast-forward to 1:40 for the song :P)
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

Seek Me with all your Heart - a BookSneeze review

Seek Me with all your Heart, written by Beth Wiseman, was a fantastic book! I've had the privilege of reading and reviewing several of Beth's books, and I have to say they're just fabulous reads. Beth never lets her readers down!

Seek Me with all your Heart is book one in the Land of Canaan series. Emily Detweiler, the heroine, and her Amish family had recently uprooted from their Ohio community and settled in Canaan, Colorado, where they had hoped to start anew. Emily had faced unbelievable circumstances in Ohio, which caused her faith to be battered.

David Stoltzfus's family moved to Colorado due to financial reasons. Because of a health condition that David had suffered, his medications would be costly for the rest of his life. However, David's parents hadn't told him this, so he wasn't aware of the real reason for moving to Colorado. David was determined to save his money and eventually move back home to Paradise, Pennsylvania. David had his own burdens and reasons for remaining single. But then he met Emily and things began to change.

If you're an avid reader of Amish fiction, you'll love this book! I highly recommend it and I have to say that this is definitely:

Beth has available a sample of the first few pages of this book that you can listen to on her website.

Please visit Beth today!
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I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Author Interview - Tracy Krauss!

It is my great pleasure to host an interview with Tracy Krauss, who is a best selling author, playwright, artist and teacher. She currently has two 'edgy inspirational' novels and one play in print and is working on several other books and plays. She is a member of 'American Christian Fiction Writers', 'Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship', and 'Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers', as well as several writing related social networking groups. Originally from a small prairie town, Tracy received her Bachelors Degree from the university of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Sask. with majors in Art, and minors in History and English. She teaches High School English, Drama and Art. Apart from her many personal creative pursuits, she also directs an amateur theater group and leads worship at her local church. She and her husband, an ordained minister with the PAOC, have lived in many remote and unique places in Canada's north, including Churchill Manitoba - the 'polar bear capital of the world', the Yukon, and the NWT. They raised four children and were active advocates of the homeschooling movement for many years. They currently reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC, known for its waterfalls.

And now, on to the interview!!

Jami: When did you begin writing?

Tracy: I started writing seriously about 25 years ago shortly after I had my first child. I wrote every afternoon while she napped. Although I had dreams of publication even back then, I never acted on those dreams until years later.

Jami: I think a lot of writers can relate to that! What are your motivations for writing? What/Who inspires you?

Tracy: Like many authors, I am compelled to write. It certainly is not for the fame and fortune, since these are very hard to come by. I get ideas from all kinds of places. It’s pretty hard to narrow it down to one thing. Long ago, I did decide to dedicate my writing to God, so a Christian theme has appeared in each of my novels so far.


Jami: Amen. You have experience in the classroom. How do you feel that teaching has impacted your writing?

Tracy: I teach high school Art, English and Drama. Teaching is actually a very creative process, so I think this transfers to my writing. I’m constantly trying a new approach, tweaking, and making things better. Also, dealing with people all day long can be practically applied in terms of characterization. As far as each subject goes, Art simply inspires me, my English classes have kept me immersed in ‘words’, and my Drama classes have inspired me to write many plays. For those who love to teach, like me, the educational field is very rewarding, and living a fulfilled life can only help you as a writer. The down side is the time commitment. I’m always burning the midnight oil, squeezing in my writing after hours.


Jami: I can empathize with you. As a teacher myself (now homeschooler), I agree with you. I found myself being inspired a lot by my job. Going back to the questions, you're not only an author of books, but you're a playwright! Tell us about your passion for theater.

Tracy: I’m glad you used the word passion. I truly love live theatre, and writing and directing affords such a wide range of creative outlets. Seeing a play you’ve written performed is so immediate, because you get to feel the audience response directly. I’m not sure there is anything that compares. Also, it is a very collaborative art form – each actor brings something to the play that you maybe didn’t even realize was there.

Jami: I agree with you. Theater is word put to life! Speaking of life, your characters in your books are so full of that. They're so real! When I read the title for your novel My Mother the Man-Eater, I couldn't contain the laughter. All sorts of crazy images burst through my head. I can say that Joleen's character definitely seems to fit the title. Can you give readers a brief view into Joleen's world?

Tracy: Joleen Allen is a ‘cougar’ – a forty something woman who finds fulfillment and self-worth through relationships with men – lots of them. On the surface this might seem shallow, but we discover she actually has some dark secrets from the past that keep driving her penchant for sexy younger men. The story gets complicated by the fact that she is also the mother of five grown daughters, all with their own strengths and issues. Unknown to any of them, some of her current boyfriends also get involved with her daughters, with comic (and sometimes messy!) results. Added to this, her ex-husband, who is a convicted criminal fresh out of prison, arrives back on the scene out for revenge. It’s a twisted merry-go-round that is both humorous and very dramatic at the same time.

Jami: The first chapter of And the Beat Goes On is quite riveting and different from My Mother the Man-Eater. Tell us about the inspiration behind this story.

Tracy: This book is about an archeologist who discovers pterodactyl and human remains buried together in the mountains of Africa. In his quest for the truth, he soon discovers that some of the ‘powers that be’ don’t want this kind of evidence for ‘Intelligent Design’ to surface. There is also speculation that the giant human bones are actually the ‘Nephilim’, a race of ‘god-men’ mentioned in the Bible during pre-flood times. The chapter you are referring to is the prologue, I assume, which is a peek into that ancient world where a Nephilim king is about to witness an orgy involving human sacrifice and pterodactyls. This was my imagination running wild as I tried to portray just how low man had become before the flood. The topic of creationism vs. evolution has been very interesting to me since I became a believer. I wanted to know how creation lined up next to accepted scientific theories of the origins of the universe. Years of research led to the idea for this book, which also has a romantic twist.
In fact, both books are ‘Romantic Suspense’ with lots of action, intrigue, murder and mayhem, so even though they may seem different on the surface, my writing style isn’t really that divergent.

Jami: Most writers find themselves diligent readers. I know that's certainly the case for myself. Other than your own books, what is your favorite book of all time?

Tracy: I love good spec fiction and nobody does it better, at least from a Christian perspective, than Frank Peretti. I have all his books, but Monster is still probably my favorite. I also love Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood – not a Christian book by any means, but still riveting and twisted, the way I like it.

Jami: I always wonder about how other writers get themselves in the "writing mode." Describe your preferred writing environment. What tools do you use, what room or outdoor area, music, comfort food/drink?

Tracy: I mostly sit in my office/library at my desk, or sometimes I use my laptop at the kitchen table. Once I’m in the zone, it doesn’t matter much where I am. As long as I have good light, I’m fine. I don’t actually eat, drink or listen to music while writing. I just get so tuned in to what I’m doing that I forget everything else … the snack sits uneaten, the coffee gets cold, the music stops … and I rarely notice.

Jami: Has a funny or inspirational event spurred your creative juices? If so, in what way?

Tracy: I know this sounds cliché, but I feel as if I’m constantly internalizing everything for later use. My head is in a constant swirl of ‘possibilities’ for the next novel, play, painting or lesson. I can’t help it. So this question is very difficult to answer. When has something NOT spurred my creative juices? In my thirty years with my husband, an eternal optimist and adventurer, I have been in some interesting (read ‘scary’) situations. I’ve been stampeded by a herd of buffalo (on foot), come face to face with a polar bear, (more than once with nothing more than the car window between us) slept out on the tundra with no gear, been out to sea in an 8 foot boat with giant waves almost capsizing us, had whales go under the canoe and almost capsize it, slept in my vehicle for weeks on end while on ‘vacation’, driven for five hours just to meet someone for ‘coffee’ and then driven home again … I could go on. Raising four kids, homeschooling for many years, being in ministry … these have all contributed to my stockpile of fodder.

Jami: Crazy! You've definitely been inundated with inspiration, it seems! As God's word says, "All things work together for good to them that love God (Rom. 8:28)." How has God's word encouraged you during your writing career?

Tracy: I love that ‘God makes everything beautiful in its time’. He knows the plans He has for us and each day is marked out for us even before one of them came to be. This has given me the drive the continue writing despite the setbacks and rejections. I believe that God did not make a mistake when He made me with this burning desire to write. What happens with those words is up to Him, and I am content with that. My path is not the same as someone else’s and I try not to measure my success in dollars and cents.

Jami: What advice would you give to someone who wishes to publish?

Tracy: Perseverance is key. Do not get easily discouraged, especially if your goal is traditional publication. The competition is fierce and you really need to do your homework in terms of how to make a good pitch etc. Then sit back and wait for the rejections to come in. It takes fortitude and courage to expose yourself to criticism, but in the end it is worth it. Of course, there are many options open to writers these days, but make sure that your writing is excellent. Sub standard writing is one of the pitfalls of self-publication, so if you go that route, spend the extra money to get outside editing.

Jami: Great advice, Tracy. If you could recommend one book in aiding someone whose goal it is to be published, what book would that be?

Tracy: Sally Stuart’s Guides are like the Bible of Christian publication. It’s tried, trusted and true, so go with her. There are lots of other good resources, too, but it might take some weeding online.

Jami: What's next for you?

Tracy: A third book called Play It Again is now in production. It is actually the prequel to And The Beat Goes On. I also have another manuscript I am preparing to pitch, and of course, I continue to work on several other projects.


Jami: I've really enjoyed this interview and learning more about you, Tracy. I hope that in a few years I can have you back to find out what new things you've been delving into! Do you have anything else to add that you'd like readers to know about?

Tracy: Thanks so much for hosting me today. You can check out any of these sites for more information:
Website: www.tracykrauss.com
Blog: www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com
FB fanpage: http://tinyurl.com/Tracy-Krauss-Author-Fanpage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TracyKrausswrtr

Also, you can check out this trailer for Tracy's book And the Beat Goes On:



Thanks for joining me, Tracy! God bless you in your efforts! Be watching this blog for future author interviews!

If you're a Christian author and you're interested in being interviewed, you can contact me at xjacielbx @ yahoo.com.