$100 WINNER!

The WINNER of the $100 Amazon Gift Card for when we reach 1000 blog followers is DRUM ROLL Please... Trinity Clark. Trinity please email me your mailing address because I also am sending you a box  full of books.

As soon as we hit 1500 blog followers I will draw for the next Giveaway $500 Amazon gift card!

The next GIVEAWAY will be an ipad of the winners choice when we reach 2000 blog followers.

Someone has graciously agreed to buy one blog follower an apple ipad of their choice.   So spread the word and share this blog with your friends and family.


Thank you to all my blog followers and those who comment every day on my posts. I love you and and I am so thankful for your support!

The Baggage Handler By David Rawlings

When three people take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, their lives change forever.
A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job.
A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her sister's house before her niece’s wedding.
And a young artist pursuing his father’s dream so he can keep his own alive.
When David, Gillian, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they can’t imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.
In this modern-day parable about the burdens that weigh us down, David Rawlings issues an inspiring invitation to lighten the load.


Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Baggage-Handler-David-Rawlings/dp/0785224939/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551957929&sr=8-1-fkmr0

David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face.
Website: www.davidrawlings.com.au; Facebook: David Rawlings – Author; Instagram: davidrawlingsauthor.

My Thoughts...

We all have baggage. How we perceive it is what matters. This is such a thought provoking read. I read it in one sitting. It made me think of Andy Andrews books. This is a book I want everyone I know to read. I can't wait to read more from Rawlings.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Courting Mr. Emerson By Melody Carlson

When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process.

A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.

But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?

With her signature heart and touches of humor, fan favorite Melody Carlson pens a story of two delightfully eccentric characters who get a second chance at life and love.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Courting-Mr-Emerson-Melody-Carlson/dp/0800735277/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551732679&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

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 fly through Carlson's books they are fast easy reads. I did connect with one of the characters I to have OCD. So this was a fun read. I will tell you it is a fast one sitting read. I can't wait for Carlson's next book.
I gave this book 4 stars. I 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.

Far Side of the Sea By Kate Breslin

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life--a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Far-Side-Sea-Kate-Breslin/dp/0764217828/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551382259&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her debut novel, For Such A Time, was shortlisted for both the Christy and RITA awards and received the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2015 Carol Award for Debut Novel. Kate's third novel, High As The Heavens, released June, 2017. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com

My Thoughts...

Historical book fans this is your lucky week.
If you have not read a book by Breslin then this is the book to start with.
Romance lovers even have a surprise in this one.
Very well thought out and  very well researched I even enjoyed this one.
I will say I felt a loss so just know that.
You are sure to be sharing this one with many friends.
I gave this book 4 stars. I hope that you enjoy 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.

Of Fire and Lions By Mesu Andrews GIVEAWAY!

Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?
     Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Lions-Novel-Mesu-Andrews/dp/0735291861/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?crid=2OMIAWAMYW9LS&keywords=of+fire+and+lions+mesu+andrews&qid=1551223184&s=gateway&sprefix=of+Fire+and+Lions%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-3-fkmrnull

Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.

The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.

Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.

The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.

Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days.

My Thoughts...

Do you remember the story of Daniel and the lions den?
Well you are in for a real treat with Andews latest Biblical retelling.
This was very researched and so worth the read. This book is written so well you can see it playing out in your mind on every page.
I have to tell you, you don't want to miss this. Historical lovers and biblical retelling lovers are going to devour this book.
I gave it 4 stars and 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.


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Other Bodies By Joel Ohman

For fans of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent and from the author of the #1 bestselling Meritropolis series comes the NEW dystopian thriller you won’t want to miss…In a world where immersive VR suits distort what is real from what is not, and the AI Personhood Act blurs the lines between body and bot, the choices sixteen-year-old Hattie Martins faces are very personal.How far would you go to undo your greatest regret?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Bodies-Joel-Ohman/dp/1981916849/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1551223577&sr=8-1-spell

Joel Ohman lives in Tampa, FL with his wife Angela and their three kids. His writing companion is Caesar, a slightly overweight Bull Mastiff who loves to eat the tops off of strawberries.

Joel is the author of the #1 bestselling Meritropolis series—“The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist” and the new YA release, Other Bodies.

Join the Joel Ohman Reader's Group for FREE giveaways and VIP access to pre-release books, gift cards, and special announcements. Join now at JoelOhman.com!

My Thoughts...

This is a futuristic book sad thing is, it is almost a present day story.
If you are not pro-life you may not want to read this.
I was glad to see a book of this type written and young girls getting to read it. I think it is for older girls 17 years old and on up.
I will say this is was edited well and the first half of the book was really good the second half  was very preachy to me.
I gave this book 3 stars it was worth the 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.

The Girl He Used To Know By Tracey Garvis Graves

Love doesn't come with an instruction manual. 

 

 

New York Times bestselling author of On the Island, Tracey Garvis Graves, presents the compelling, hopelessly romantic novel of unconditional love.
Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people's behavior confusing, she'd rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.
Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game―and his heart―to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.
Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She's living the life she wanted as a librarian. He's a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.

Pre Order your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-He-Used-Know/dp/1250200350/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3RT2BJ9E7KCT7&keywords=the+girl+he+used+to+know+by+tracey+garvis-graves&qid=1551228902&s=gateway&sprefix=The+girl+he+used+to+know%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into twenty-nine languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author of Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, Cherish, Heart-Shaped Hack, and White-Hot Hack, and The Girl He Used to Know. She is hard at work on her next book.

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tgarvisgraves and Twitter https://twitter.com/tgarvisgraves You may also visit her website at www.traceygarvisgraves.com

My Thoughts...

On my, this book. I love the reference to and all of the Eleanor Roosevelt quotes. I was not sure at first about Annika but I fell in love with her kind, gentle, big heart. I love when old romances rekindle. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. And Oh my the last 25 pages of this book had me on the edge of me seat. This is a 4 star 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.