Belonging

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

HATCHER, ROBIN LEE
BELONGING

Can two bitter pasts make one sweet future?

In the high desert town of Frenchman’s Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community’s new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But there are those who never wanted her there to begin with.

Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm’s inexperience doesn’t sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity’s heart will be broken once again.

A woman who hasn’t known love. A man who lost the love he had.

In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life’s bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

My Review:
 
This one is pure love story -- rhe kind of book where romance takes center stage all the way through. There's no bank robbers to catch, no kidnapping to foil, no villains to outsmart...and it makes for a refreshing change!  Hatcher has perfected her craft and spins an unforgettable tale about overcoming the past in favour of accepting the promises of the future. It's a tough road for both hero and heroine, both memorable characters who resonated with me.

Colin had my sympathies from the start -- both because of his past and because of his unwilling attraction to the new school teacher. It was fun to watch him fight that -- to struggle to keep his distance and his gruff demeanor. Hatcher didn't let him get away with it for long though and I loved the way the romance developed.

Felicia is spunky and funny and so terribly determined to find a place that she can call home. She has such high hopes for her first teaching position and is thrilled at the welcome she receives from most of the community. However Mrs. Summerville is a negative force to be reckoned with -- the kind of character you love to hate and want to smack upside the head a time or two! LOL. Thankfully Felicia and Colin prevail against her in the end but not without some angst.

Belonging is a lovely historical romance that will tug at your heart and stay there long after you've read the last page.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to put the title in your subject line. The draw will be held and winner announced on Sundary October 2. Open internationally.

A Heart Revealed

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY!!!!

LESSMAN, JULIE

A HEART REVEALED

Her heart is tied to a youthful vow...but can true love set it free?

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston, running for her life. Her emotional wounds have finally faded, and her life is now full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?

Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold you in its grip until the very last page.

My Review:

Clear your calendar before you begin this book. Put the dog in a kennel, send the kids to their grandparents and make sure you have a lot of frozen dinners on hand. You don't want anything distracting you from reading! College student? No worries, attending every class is over-rated. Besides it's weeks before final exams. So put those textbooks down and keep them closed until you finish A Heart Revealed.  Have to work for a living? It's flu season, call in sick. You'll definitely be feeling feverish once you start reading anyway and your blood pressure will be rising and falling at an alarming rate. Good enough reasons to call in sick, don't you think?

As it turns out I actually do have the flu and I did stay home from church yesterday and work today so I had a non-stop reading fest...well, in between falling into feverish swoons and dozing stupors :-) Thank you, Julie Lessman for providing the best medicine for what ails me! A Heart Revealed has the best bedside manners around!

If you haven't guessed by now -- I LOVED this book!!! Lessman delivered just what I expected...and so much more. Her writer's voice gets more polished and fluent with every book. She has mastered the balance of description, dialogue and action -- each builds on the others to create vivid images that immersed this reader into another era.

I was thrilled with all the catching up I got to do with one of my favourite literary families because this book isn't just about Emma and Sean -- all the O'Connors make multiple appearances as Lessman expertly twines their stories with our hero and heroine's. In fact, I'd say that A Heart Revealed  is as much Charity and Katie's stories as it is Emma's.

Lessman created continuity between these three distinct threads by anchoring them with a common bond -- women who are grappling with issues from their past that still affect their present and threaten their future. When it comes right down to it, Emma, Charity and Katie are still bound by childhood perceptions that plague their feelings of value and self-worth. And no, it isn't evident in their every day life, but when stressors build and change is imminent, all three are propelled (in varying degrees) by misconceptions from their youth. It's an unconscious knee-jerk reaction in all of them and very realistically written by Lessman. Even as I groaned and moaned and chided these women's actions I understood where they were coming from. Talk about an anxiety-riddled read!

But though A Heart Revealed takes more than one twisty turn down the road of despair, the wonderful inspirational insights light the way towards hope. This is an area Lessman really excels in. Heartfelt conversations about faith between characters that are as natural as they are hard-hitting. And they in no way come off preachy. This book made me think and squirm and was, frankly, a God-send at this time in my life. God bless authors who listen to the Spirit when they write!

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Julie Lessman's A Heart Revealed, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Draw will be held and announced on Sunday October 2. Open internationally. Good luck!

September Giveaway -- Week Four

Ooops -- I just got my hands on Julie Lessman's latest and couldn't tear myself away from the O'Connor clan so I'm late getting this Giveaway blog up! Sorry!!!!



The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
won by KarenK



Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
won by Na



I'll email the winners today but if you don't hear from me by Monday evening please contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your snail mail address.

Looking ahead to next week's giveaways:

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher -- a great purely romantical historical! Loved it!
A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman -- It finally came in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have my nose buried in it right now.

Wings of Promise

LEON, BONNIE
WINGS OF PROMISE

Her spunk has always gotten her through tough times. But does she have what it takes to go the distance?

Kate Evans may be a woman in a man's profession, but as Alaskan bush pilots go, she's one of the best. If only her personal life wasn't so complicated. Torn between her affection for fellow pilot Mike Conlin and doctor Paul Anderson, Kate longs for clarity in her heart. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, her mind may be made up for her.

Full of high-flying adventure and tender personal moments, Wings of Promise will sweep you away to the Alaskan skies.

My Review:

Kate Evans is back in this captivating sequel to Touching the Clouds. No worries if you haven't read the first one though. Wings of Promise  makes a great standalone read as well.  Leon excels at creating memorable characters -- and not only the hero and heroine. She knows how to create a community of memorable characters and I enjoyed getting reacquainted with them.

Kate is still feisty and brave and driven. She's grown through the struggles of her past and is in the perfect place at the perfect time for her life to really come together. At least, that's what she thinks at the beginning of the book. Oh, there's still a thread of insecurity plaguing her and Leon describes her burgeoning relationship with Paul with great insight and emotion. But rural Alaska in the 1930's has become a testing ground of sorts for Kate and her future.

Wings of a Promise was hard to put down at times and just as hard to pick up at others because Leon played with my emotions. I swear I hyperventilated once or twice! LOL. I love immersing myself in a book, even when I'm emotionally wrung out by the end!

High praise for Bonnie Leon. If you haven't tried one of her books -- you're missing out on something good.

The Doctor's Lady

GIVEAWAY!!!

HEDLUND, JODY
THE DOCTOR'S LADY

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

My Review:

Rich in historical detail, The Doctor's Lady is based upon the real life adventures of the first two women to make the treacherous journey West. Both were lady missionaries. That fact alone made me sit up and take notice but Hedlund's story-telling abilities held me spellbound.

This has the flavour of Laura Frantz with a dash of Little House on the Prairie thrown in. The breadth of the story is riveting, especially since I had the feeling that I was experiencing history first hand -- and with it an abundance of emotions. There were times when my blood just boiled -- especially over supposed Christians who funded missions to the 'heathen' nations, glorifying their conversion at the hands of the missionaries even as they rejected these new Christians as unfit to associate with because of the colour of their skin!

Eli and Priscilla's relationship is complicated and exasperating and heart-palpitating and even tender at times. Their emotional journeys -- both individually and as a couple -- are at the heart of The Doctor's Lady. He is a tad jaded, hardened by life experiences. She is wide-eyed with wonder and fervor and definitely unprepared for the seamier side of the western trek. Both grow and change during the course of their journey -- Eli softens, Priscilla toughens up and they find a new strength when they unite together.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of The Doctor's Lady please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.  Please put the book title in the subject line. This Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will be announced on Sunday September 25. Good luck!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Torrent

GIVEAWAY!!!

BERGREN, LISA T.
TORRENT

“Hold tight,” I said. “No matter what happens, do not let us go.”

“We won’t,” my dad said.

“Never,” Mom added.

And with a look at Lia, we laid our hands upon the prints.

Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they’ve lived in castles they’ve seen as crumbling ruins, become swept up in historic battles, and fallen in love with handsome knights willing to do anything to keep them alive.

 They’ve returned to the present to save their father, just short of his tragic death, and now all four return to the place that holds the girls’ hearts, medieval Italy. But remaining there means facing great risk as the battle for territory wages on and the coming Black Plague looms. Can they convince their parents to stay and leave behind everything they’ve worked so hard to accomplish? And will the girls sacrifice their futures in an uncertain past? Or in facing death head-on, will they discover life as it was always meant to be lived?

My Review:

Stunning conclusion to The River of Time series. I was almost afraid to read Torrent because I just couldn't imagine how Bergren could possibly end the series to my satisfaction...but she more than succeeded. I'm not sure that I can find enough adequate words to express the immense pleasure and excitement --- the sheer exhilaration -- this read brought to me. It's like Bergren fine-tuned every ounce of her writer's craft and poured it all into this novel.

Torrent has it all -- drama, romance, comedy, action, suspense -- in a dizzying, page-turning extravaganza that I just couldn't put down. It's hard to write a review without giving anything away. Let's just say that there's more than one swoonworthy hero within these pages -- and the romance...Be. Still. My. Heart. Ooooohhhhh so romantical...beyond my expectations and unlike anything I've read in a long time. How's that for a bit of vague praise?

As larger-than-life heroines, Gabi and Lia continue to enthrall me, as they did everyone else in Sienna. And Bergren puts them through their paces as they face diabolical plots and imminent danger at every turn. The pacing in this novel is incredible -- a steady rush of action and adventure combined with tender and even comedic moments. This is an all round not-to-be-missed-very-good-read.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of Torrent please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. The draw is open internationally and the winner will be announced on Sunday September 25. Good luck!

September Giveaway - Week Three

Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper
won by Marjorie

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer
won by Tammi

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid
won by Charity

Congratulations ladies. I'll email you to get your snail mail addys, but if you don't hear from me by Monday evening could you please email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Thanks so much.

Good news -- my computer should be good to go early next week so we'll go back to announcing the Giveaways on Sunday again. And speaking of Giveaways --

Looking ahead to next week's Giveaways:

Torrent by Lisa T. Bergeren -- Be. Still. My. Romantical. Heart. I know this is the third in a series but it is soooooooooo incredibly good I have to add it to my Giveaway list.

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund -- I'm half way through it and loving every delicious word. Quite an epic!

The Promise of an Angel

GIVEAWAY!

REID, RUTH
THE PROMISE OF AN ANGEL

All Judith Fischer ever wanted is to marry within her community and raise a family. She longs for the day when her parents will allow Levi Plank to officially court her.

But on the day Judith suspects Levi will ask her parent's permission, her younger brother Samuel has an accident under her charge. Rushing to Samuel's aid, Judith spies a strange man helping him; a man she later believes was an angel.

When she shares her conviction with her family and close friends, she is shocked to find that no one believes her, including Levi. In the days following the accident, the angel visits Judith with information that may guide her down the path of faith, should she choose to follow.

As her community slowly distances themselves, only one person is willing to stand up for her -- the bishop's son, Andrew Lapp. But can he convince the settlement to listen to her? With a show of faith that flies in the face of her conservative upbringing, can Judith hold strong to the promise that there are even greater things in store for those who believe in God's miracles?

My Review:

Startling different in some aspects, The Promise of an Angel stands out from other Amish novels. I was hooked after a couple of pages by Reid's graceful writing style and captivating characters. In short order I loved Judith, wanted to wring Levi's neck and felt a special connection with Andrew. And don't get me started on Martha!!!! This book definitely catapulted me out of my humdrum existence and into something much more riveting.

For readers who might be wary of the angel angle -- don't be. It's marvelously woven into an inspiring story of faith. In fact, I'd almost call it an allegory about the importance of standing firm in your beliefs and trusting God above all else.

Add in romance, drama, some gentle humour and this is a winning read that packs an inspirational punch.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Promise of an Angel leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please include the book title in the subject line of your email. Draw will be held on Saturday September 17, 2011. (I'm having computer problems at home so I won't be able to post the winners on Sunday like I usually do. I'll do the announcement from work on Saturday instead.) Good luck!

Wings of a Dream

GIVEAWAY!

MATEER, ANNE
WINGS OF A DREAM

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry.

While she waits for the end of the Great War and Arthur's return, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, sure that her glamorous and exciting life is about to start.

But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's sickness, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah discovers she must choose between her desire to escape and the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

My Review:

This is a wonderful coming-of-age story. Hemmed in by the monotony of farm-life and a domineering mother, Rebekah is aching to test her wings. She's so young in the first chapter. So naive and starry-eyed and self-centered. But Mateer takes Rebekah on a surprising journey that doesn't just change her, it transforms her. 

There's tons I'd love to say about the romance, but am afraid of giving something away. Suffice to say that I found it spell-binding and confusing and a tad discombobulating. (Do I have you intrigued?) It would make a great discussion for a book club. I'm dying to talk to someone who has read the book because...well, just because it begs to be talked about. :-)

With its rich characterization and vivid descriptions that evoke an era long past,  Wings of a Dream will take your imagination on a flight of fancy that will hold you enthralled until the very last page.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Wings of A Dream leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please include the book title in the subject line of your email. Draw will be held on Saturday September 17, 2011. (I'm having computer problems at home so I won't be able to post the winners on Sunday like I usually do. I'll do the announcement from work on Saturday instead.) Good luck!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

Shadows on the Sand

GIVEAWAY!!!

ROPER, GAYLE
SHADOWS ON THE SAND

She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning...but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter's small cafe in Seaside New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals...although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He's recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children -- and from the year he tried to drink his reality away.  While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her.

When Carrie's a dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries...and into her life. But when Carrie's own painful past becomes all too present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she's building with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

My Review:

I completely and utterly adored this book! I mean how can you resist a heroine who describes her heart doing a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of the hero? And when things heat up she declares, "No way could Snoopy move his feet fast enough to keep up with my tap-dancing heart." (pg 186) I could totally relate to Carrie on that point alone. But of course there is much more to this complex character, including a gnarly past that she hasn't quite left behind.

Greg has his own issues too but he finds himself surprised by his sudden desire to enter the land of the living again. Carrie has a lot to do with his change of heart and that scares him. His emotional struggle is a strong thread in the story -- achingly touching and I had a real wow factor once I'd finished the book and read the author's note at the end.

The mystery/suspense is incredibly well developed -- the kind where the reader is handed the clues at the same time as the hero and heroine. We try to solve the mystery together and it totally surprised me...multiple times. A really riveting read, which is what you want in a suspense.

Roper's writing style is unique in that she mixes POV. Carrie's is in first person, but all the other characters are written in third person. You'd think it would make for a disjointed read, but somehow Roper makes it work. The story flows into the page-turning kind that you want to devour in one sitting. Highly recommended for lovers of mystery/suspense.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Shadows on the Sand leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please include the book title in the subject line of your email. Draw will be held on Saturday September 17, 2011. (I'm having computer problems at home so I won't be able to post the winners on Sunday like I usually do. I'll do the announcement from work on Saturday instead.) Good luck!

September Giveaway Winners - Week Two

THE GIVEAWAY RESULTS ARE IN THANKS TO RANDOM.ORG!



The Shadow of Evil by Robin Carroll
won by Anna

 

To Have and To Hold by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
won by Sylvia M.



Congratulations! I'll contact the winners by email today BUT if you don't hear from me by tomorrow evening (sometimes my emails disappear into cyberspace) please email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.

Looking forward to next week's Giveaways:

Wings of A Dream by Anne Mateer -- An amazing historical debut novel!
Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roger -- Wow!!!! That's all I'm gonna say for now
The Promise of An Angel by by Ruth Reid -- My Amish fix for the week. Have my nose buried in it right now.

To Have and To Hold

Giveaway!!!

PETERSON, TRACIE
MILLER, JUDITH
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Take a trip back in time to beautiful Bridal Veil Island.

When Audrey Cunningham moved with her father to his ancestral home on Bridal Veil Island, Georgia, she hoped the beauty and remoteness of the place would keep him sober and close to God. But now wealthy investors are buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island -- and they want the Cunningham's property.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why Boyd Cunningham would ask him to look after Audrey. Marshall has no desire to be saddled with caring for the fiery young woman who seems to think the worst of him. But when someone appears to be sabotaging the construction work at the resort and Audrey's life is endangered, Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he thought and he'll do anything to keep her safe.

Amid a time of growth and change for Bridal Veil, can Marshall and Audrey find a foundation on which to build a love to last forever?

My Review:

Exquisite! This is the kind of story you just want to sink into and never come out of! Love the setting, the descriptions, the whole ambiance of the read! Miller and Peterson have done their research and it's such a unique time and place in history which made it all the more fascinating.

Engaging characters took hold of my heart right from the start. Aunt Thora is a hoot and soon became a favourite. She supplied levity and surprising insights throughout the book. Audrey is a remarkable mixture of genteel backbone and Marshall has his hands full trying to change her misguided opinion of him. Audrey makes snap judgements; Marshall opinions are based on slow and steady reflection. What a contrast! It's no wonder fireworks ensue!

Add in the sinister element and a dose of suspense and you'll find yourself lost in an excellent read.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of To Have and To Hold by Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson please leave a comment below. Remember to leave your email address using 'at' and 'dot'. Or you can email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please put To Have and to Hold in the subject line. Draw will be held on Sunday September 11. Winner will be announced the same day. Good luck!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

In the Shadow of Evil



Giveaway!

CARROLL, ROBIN
IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL

Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy plus devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil casts the modern day story of a building rebound scam exposed. It begins when the body of a property inspector is found among the ashes of a burnt out Homes of Hope house. Wrapped up in this mounting case of unethical practices, supply shortages, and murder, top Louisiana homicide detective Maddox Bishop is losing his heart to a charitable contractor, Layla Taylor, whose own sister is under suspicion. He's also about to discover a deep secret about his tragic past.

My Review:

In a word -- riveting. I LOVE romantic suspense and I've just found a new-to-me author! The suspense is solid, believable and cleverly plotted out. Caroll plants clues that eventually give the reader a slight edge over Maddox and Layla which totally revs up the angst! I was screaming "Nooooooooo!!!!!" just a few pages before the characters caught up with me. LOL. Of course they didn't listen and that led to a few more tense pages before I could breathe a whooshing sigh of relief...or could I? Carroll adds a surprising twist at the very end of the book which left me reeling.

In the Shadow of Evil is a great example of how a romance can be developed in a suspense novel. From the very beginning Maddox and Layla dance around each other -- both suspicious and reluctant to acknowledge that frisson of awareness that won't go away. The romantic development was as much of a suspense as the mystery! In fact, it enhanced it. Brilliantly written by Caroll.

In short, if you love romantic suspense, In the Shadow of Evil is definitely a book that belongs on your TBR pile -- preferably teetering on the top!

Giveaway Opportunity:


If you would like a chance to win a copy of In the Shadow of Evil, leave a comment below, including your email address. (Using AT and DOT to save you from your inbox being inundated with spam.) Or you can email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please put the book title in the subject line. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 11. Open internationally. Good luck!

September Giveaway Winners -- Week One

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!



A Confident Heart by Renee Swope
won by Merry

 

A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris
won by Pam

 

Love Finds You in Lancaster County by Annalisa Daughety
won by Christy

  Congratulations! I'll contact the winners via email to get your snail mail addresses. If you don't hear from me by Monday evening please email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.

Looking Ahead to Next Week's Giveaways:

In the Shadow of Evil by Robyn Carroll -- Wow -- taut, suspenseful, page-turning read!
To Have and to Hold by Tracie Peterson and Judith Millier -- Just starting this one and loving it already!

A Confident Heart : How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises

GIVEAWAY!!!!

SWOPE, RENEE
A CONFIDENT HEART : HOW TO STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF & LIVE IN THE SECURITY OF GOD'S PROMISES

Step out of the shadows of self-doubt to live with a confident heart

Ever feel like you're not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough? Renee Swope understands. Even with a great family, a successful career, and a thriving ministry, she still struggled with self-doubt. Sharing her own personal story, Renee shows you how to rely on the power of God's promises to find the security you need and the confidence you long for!

• exchange fear-filled thinking with faith-filled believing
• fail forward when life or sin sets you back
• embrace your God-given purpose, passion, and personality
• see beyond who you are to who you are becoming in Christ

Powerful scripture-based prayers are at the end of each chapter, along with Bible study questions and a chart with thirty-one promises to replace our most common self-doubts.

My Review:

This is such an amazing resource however you want to approach it. A great, inspiring read cover to cover, it's also valuable to zero in on one chapter that you feel will can touch your life right now.  I love how Swope describes doubt as distorting shadows that mask truth. The imagery of a flock of shadows dogging my heels has really helped me gain perspective.

Swope has an easy, empathic writing style and is generous with scripture references, stories and uplifting quotes. And what she says makes sense. Encouragement rings out from every chapter and one of my favourite resources is a wonderful 'doubt' chart she added in at the end of the book. It lists common 'doubt talk', counters each one with God's truth and then backs it up with Powerful Promises in the form of scriptures. A great at-a-glance pick me up any time of day or night!

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of A Confident Heart, please leave a comment below (including your email using AT and DOT instead of @ and . ) Or you can email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.  Please put A Confident Heart in the subject line. The draw will be held tomorrow, so if you would like a chance to win this book speak up now! Open internationally.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".