Friday, March 24, 2023

Playing In The Dirt 90 Devtions For Crazy Plant Lovers

 

A 90-day devotional gift book for women who love the greener things in life.

Playing in the Dirt: 90 Devotions for Crazy Plant Ladies is for those who enjoy bringing things to life and watching them grow. This devotional sheds light on the Great Gardener who is tending to our souls ― and how He fosters the fruitfulness in our lives. Readers will learn how to find rest in Him as they take inspiration from the Scripture-based lessons and delightful botanical illustrations sown throughout the pages of this unique inspirational book for plant and garden lovers.

Pick up your copy here...


DaySpring was founded in 1971 and has been in the business and ministry of Christian products and content since its inception. Each book we write and publish at DaySpring was prayerfully crafted with the reader in mind - thoughtfully written, designed, and packaged to encourage hearts with God’s promises. At DaySpring, it is our vision to see every person experience and express the life-changing message of God’s love. It is our sincere hope that through these Truth-filled books, lives will be touched and blessed.

Just a fun gift idea for the Crazy Plant ladies in your life.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

To The Girl Looking for More by Grace Valentine

 

In this 90-day devotional for young women, Grace Valentine encourages you to stop settling for the world's image of post-worthy perfection and live for more: more joy, more peace, and more meaning.

Grace has felt the pressure of our culture's conflicting messages about girls and God, from the picture-perfect “good Christian girl” that toxic culture touts or the God who treats women like sidekicks or after-thoughts. For any girl tired of the lies and expectations, Grace has a message for you: you are important to God, and He has so much more for your life.

In her first devotional, Grace shares the lessons she has learned through her own challenges and guides you to discover your true identity and self-worth in the eyes of your Creator.

In these 90 daily devotions, Grace breaks down the truth of Scripture with her genuine, been-there honesty that has made her a role model for young women. She shows girls of all ages how to

  • stop hustling to please, perform, and be perfect
  • recognize toxic relationships and leave them
  • let go of impossible expectations on yourself, your people, and your body
  • replace worry, pressure, and fear with God's peace
  • choose kindness and positivity
  • navigate all the mixed messages around sex and dating
  • live out God's amazing plans for your life
"I get it. You're busy! But stop trying to just get through another week, and grab this devotional. Five minutes a day will help you discover how to live your MORE. You deserve this, sister!” —Grace Valentine

Pick up your copy here...



Grace Valentine is an author, blogger, podcast host, and speaker. Her readers love that she is so relatable. They say her fresh voice helps them navigate their own faith and life, which in turn helps fulfill her mission to show others that Christianity is an adventure worth living. After growing up outside New Orleans, Louisiana, Grace attended Baylor University, graduating in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She now resides in Orlando, Florida, where she enjoys running and eating lots of sushi. Grace loves connecting with readers, so send her a message!

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Nana the great Goes Camping by Lisa Bergren

 

This tender, spunky picture book from the bestselling author of the God Gave Us series celebrates the ways loving grandparents help children find new adventures—and timeless wisdom—around every corner.

Summer vacations are great—and they’re even better when they include camping with Nana! Nana is great at hiking, campfire cooking, and making new friends. She encourages slowing down to enjoy nature’s wonders, learning new skills, and watching out for the discoveries that await outside everyday routines. Most of all, Nana is great at making treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

Pick up your copy here...



Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling author of over fifty novels, children's books, and nonfiction books. Lisa and her husband Tim reside in Colorado with their three big kids and a white, fluffy dog named Talisker Beatrice.

You can find out more about Lisa & stay up to date by following her...

On the Web: www.LisaTawnBergren.com

On Facebook: Lisa Tawn Bergren; River of Time Series

On Twitter: LisaTBergren 


This is such a cute children's book. I'm going to add it to some Easter baskets that I am making.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Second Time Around by Melody Carlson

 

Who doesn't love a second chance?

When empty nester Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother's run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon, it seems the only sensible thing to do is to sell it. But when her former secret crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the property in order to complete his plans to redevelop the funky town's business district into a soulless, cookie-cutter outdoor mall, Mallory digs in her heels and decides to renovate the property herself.

With a lot of hard work and a little bit of help, Mallory makes incredible progress turning the store into an eclectic home décor shop called Romancing the Home--all while trying to ignore the depressing and decrepit apartment she's living in on the second floor. When the shop catches the eye of a popular renovation TV show producer, Mallory is thrilled--until it becomes clear that her apartment is to be part of the segment as well.

She's tempted to abandon her dreams and the town under a cloud of shame. But perhaps there's more to Grayson than meets the eye. Can he swallow his pride, change his plans, and help Mallory romance her own home--and possibly her life?

Pick up your copy here...


Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

My Thoughts...
I always really enjoy Carlson's books. This one was fun one and I loved the fun characters and the small-town setting. The romance was a little bit drawn out and took a while to form but the ending was worth it.
4- stars and I recommend this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, March 20, 2023

I will Find You by Harlan Coben

 


Five years ago, an innocent man began a life sentence for murdering his own son. Today he found out his son is still alive.
 
David Burroughs was once a devoted father to his three-year-old son Matthew, living a dream life just a short drive away from the working-class suburb where he and his wife, Cheryl, first fell in love--until one fateful night when David woke suddenly to discover Matthew had been murdered while David was asleep just down the hall. 
 
Half a decade later, David’s been wrongly accused and convicted of the murder, left to serve out his time in a maximum-security prison—a fate which, grieving and wracked with guilt, David didn’t have the will to fight. The world has moved on without him. Then Cheryl’s younger sister, Rachel, makes a surprise appearance during visiting hours bearing a strange photograph. It’s a vacation shot of a bustling amusement park a friend shared with her, and in the background, just barely in frame, is a boy bearing an eerie resemblance to David’s son. Even though it can’t be, David just knows: Matthew is still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape, determined to achieve the impossible – save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened. But with his life on the line and the FBI following his every move, can David evade capture long enough to reveal the shocking truth?

Pick up your copy here...


With over 70 million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times author of thirty one novels including RUN AWAY, FOOL ME ONCE, TELL NO ONE, NO SECOND CHANCE and the renowned Myron Bolitar series. His books are published in 43 languages around the globe.

Harlan is the creator and executive producer for the Netflix television dramas SAFE starring Michael C. Hall, Audrey Fleurot and Amanda Abbington, and THE FIVE starring Tom Cullen and OT Fagbenle. He is currently filming THE STRANGER, based on his novel, for Netflix starring Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Jennifer Saunders and Stephen Rea. Harlan was also showrunner and executive producer for two French TV mini-series, UNE CHANCE DE TROP (NO SECOND CHANCE) with Alexandra Lamy and JUST UN REGARD (JUST ONE LOOK) with Virginie Ledoyen. KEINE ZWEIT CHANCE, also based on Harlan’s novel, aired in Germany on Sat1.

Harlan’s novel TELL NO ONE (NE LE DIS A PERSONNE) was turned into the renowned French film, directed by Guillaume Canet and starring Francois Cluzet. The movie was the top box office foreign-language film of the year in USA, won the Lumiere (French Golden Globe) for best picture and was nominated for nine Cesars (French Oscar) and won four, including best actor, best director and best music. The movie with subtitles is now available on Netflix, Amazon Prime and DVD/Blu-Ray.

Winner of the Edgar Award, Shamus Award and Anthony Award – the first author to win all three – international bestselling author Harlan Coben’s critically-acclaimed novels have been called “ingenious” (New York Times), “poignant and insightful” (Los Angeles Times), “consistently entertaining” (Houston Chronicle), “superb” (Chicago Tribune) and “must reading” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

In his first books, Coben immersed himself in the exploits of sports agent Myron Bolitar. Critics loved the series, saying, “You race to turn pages…both suspenseful and often surprisingly funny” (People). After seven books Coben wanted to try something different. “I came up with a great idea that simply would not work for Myron,” says Coben. The result was the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller TELL NO ONE, which became the most decorated thriller of the year. Two books later, Bookspan, recognizing Coben’s broad international appeal, named NO SECOND CHANCE its first ever International Book of the Month in 2003 – the Main Selection in 15 different countries.

Harlan was the first writer in more than a decade to be invited to write fiction for the NEW YORK TIMES op-ed page. His Father’s Day short story, THE KEY TO MY FATHER, appeared June 15, 2003. His essays and columns have appeared in many top publications including the New York Times, Parade Magazine and Bloomberg Views.

Harlan has received an eclectic variety of honors from all over the world. In Paris, he was awarded the prestigious Vermeil Medal of Honor for contributions to culture and society by the Mayor of Paris. He was won the El Premio del Novela Negra RBA in Spain, the Grand Prix de Lectrices in France, and the CWA/ITV3 Bestseller Dagger for favorite crime novelist in England. On the other end of the spectrum, Little League Baseball inducted Harlan into their Hall of Excellence in 2013, and Harlan is also a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame from his playing days at Amherst College.

Harlan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He still lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children. 

My Thoughts...
This is my favorite book by Coben, I could not put it down. I loved every single thrilling moment of this book.
You are not going to see this one coming. I am not going to give anything away. But that ending was worth holding my breath.
5 stars must read. I highly recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Friday, March 17, 2023

We love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer

 

Holly and Robert Barron are attractive young real-estate investors and contestants in a competition run by To the Manor Build, the nation’s most popular home renovation app. With millions in product endorsements and online followers at stake, they’re rehabbing a Vermont home they scored at a bargain price into a chic hilltop estate ideal for entertaining.

It’s all camera-ready laughs and debates over herringbone tile until Holly and Robert go missing hours after their picture-perfect wedding—leaving behind a bloody trail.

Suspicion falls quickly on Erika Turnbull, the Barrons’ twenty-something assistant—eager, efficient, and secretly in love with Robert. Did Erika let her misguided passion turn her into a murderer? So claim the townsfolk of Snowden, Vermont, who still haven’t forgiven her for a tragic accident back in high school.

But Erika’s mother, Kim, is not about to let small-town gossip and a cop with an axe to grind destroy her daughter—again. With time running out and their own lives at risk, the mother-daughter duo set out to find what really happened to the Barrons. First, though, they’ll have to confront the vengeful former owner of Holly and Robert’s estate, ruthless reality-show producers, and a secret that might bring their own house down.

Fast-paced, full of humor, and undeniably twisty, We Love to Entertain is another winner from Sarah Strohmeyer.

Pick up your copy here...



Sarah Strohmeyer is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of eighteen novels for adults and young adults, including the Bubbles Yablonsky mystery series and The Cinderella Pact which was made into the Lifetime movie, Lying To Be Perfect. A former newspaper reporter, she is currently the elected Town Clerk of Middlesex, Vermont where she lives with her husband and cat. Two adult children occasionally drop by. For more info or to contact, please go to sarahstrohmeyer.com. 

You are going to enjoy this one. A home of their dreams could prove to be their worst nightmare. What could go wrong. This made me want to dive right in and it entertained me until the very end. I recommend this 4-star read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

The Miracle of You by Cleere Cherry Reaves

 

A lyrical picture book from Cleere Cherry Reaves of the popular brand Cleerely Stated, The Miracle of You celebrates the unconditional love of a parent and the uniqueness of your child among all the beauty of God's creation.

From the creatures that swim deep in the sea to the galaxies that reach far and wide, the world is filled with the color and creativity of God. Yet nothing compares to experiencing His miraculous design like the gift of the child He has given you.

When Cleere Cherry Reaves's son was born three months prematurely, Cleere and her husband watched as their child--their miracle--fought for his life, developed, and began to thrive. In The Miracle of You, Cleere's poetic words speak for every parent and grandparent in awe at the God-given miracle of their little ones.

This read-aloud book for boys and girls ages 4 to 8

  • pairs heartwarming rhymes with whimsical artwork;
  • teaches children that Jesus is the giver of miracles;
  • is a perfect gift for a baby shower, baptism, baby dedication, child's birthday, or Mother's Day;
  • serves as a stunning decorative piece in nurseries and children's bedrooms; and
  • builds a healthy self-esteem in kids, focusing on who they are, not what they do.
A love letter to the child of your heart, The Miracle of You reminds children that they are more marvelous than anything else God created and loved beyond anything they could ever imagine.

Pick up your copy here...


Cleere Cherry Reaves is the owner and creator of Cleerely Stated, a successful business that started with a simple blog and turned into a full product line that can be found online and in retail stores all over the United States. Well-known for her easy-to-relate, practical writing style, Cleere’s mission is to help others see themselves and the world around them through the eyes of Jesus. Cleere now hosts a growing podcast called, “Let’s Be Cleere”, where she hopes people are encouraged by the raw, real love of Jesus. She was born and raised in Greenville, North Carolina. She’s a proud alumni of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, happily married to her husband Will and they are expecting their first child in October. Cleere is passionate about others being reminded of the love and kindness of Jesus and loves to live life to the fullest.