Blog Tour- God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson

Book: God Makes Lemonade: True Stories that Sweeten and Inspire

Author: Don Jacobson

About the Author:

A Living Lemonade Story
Hi, I’m Don Jacobson, and I’m a walking, talking lemonade story.
Back in 1980, I was a happily married twenty-four-year-old who enjoyed a physically demanding job in commercial construction. I knew my future was bright, and I knew what it would take to get there: hard work, planning, and dedication.
Then, one winter night, a shooting accident changed everything.
I nearly died as I lay for hours in a freezing field. I spent nine agonizing days in critical condition, and nearly a month in the hospital. When I left, things looked bleak, and I could no longer physically provide for my family.
It took a while for that lemon to become lemonade, but in the end it was wonderfully sweet. I began to work in publishing, and the shape of my life changed forever. Now, twenty-five years later, I see that not being able to work with my hands forced me to work with my head and heart, and both my family and my career became better than I could ever have imagined.
My wife, Brenda, and I know that the hardships of life have molded our characters and turned us into people we would never have been apart from the pain. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the hardest times of my life for anything, because they led me toward something better.
When I share my lemonade story with friends, two amazing things happen. My story inspires others and gives them hope. Then, almost without fail, my friends excitedly tell me their lemonade story, and I’m filled with inspiration and hope in return.
Recently it hit me: we all have lemonade stories—so what would happen if we could share them with the people around the world who need them most?
That’s the dream of the God Makes Lemonade series. Thank you for being a part of this community of storytellers. Lemonade stories can help heal hearts and transform lives.
What’s your story?

My thoughts: When I received the book, I really didn't know what to expect. The title alone caught my attention. As I started reading I knew my life would never be the same again. This is a wonderful book of real life stories from people like you and me. I am sure you can relate to one story or another. I found myself reflecting on my own experiences and how God was there for my throughout many circumstances and situations. I cried while reading, I laughed, and I began to hope again. I was truly inspired because of the personal testimonies told in this book. Instead of short stories, I call them a testify session. I literally felt like I was right there with every story. Let the healing begin, that is what I began to feel as I read this book. I am sure you will enjoy reading God Makes Lemonade as much as I did.

Please visit Don Jacobson's website http://godmakeslemonade.com/home


You can purchase God Makes Lemonade at your local bookseller or online from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or Christianbook.com. The e-book versions for the Kindle and for the Nook are also available at the introductory price of $2.99. Sign up for more information about God Makes
Lemonade by clicking here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of GlassRoads Pr in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way. Any thoughts and or opinions expressed were solely my own.

Book: Diary Of A Teenage Girl - Becoming Me

Author: Melody Carlson


Becoming Me
(Caitlin # 1)

Sixteen-year-old Caitlin O'Conner reveals the inner workings of a girl caught between childhood and womanhood ... an empty life without Christ and a meaningful one with Him. Through Caitlin's candid journal entries we see her grapple with such universal teen issues as peer pressure, loyalty, conflict with parents, the longing for a boyfriend, and her own spirituality. Readers will laugh and cry with Caitlin as she struggles toward self-discovery and understanding God's plan for her life. And they'll be deeply moved by her surprising commitment regarding dating.

 

 

My Thoughts: When I opened the book and started reading, I thought wow this is going to be chore trying to read all of these diary entries. Once I started reading I totally forgot that I was reading from a diary. I was totally engrossed in the story that I had to turn back the pages to find out what day I was on. As the story unfolded I reflected back to my own teenage years and the events that occured in my adolescence. I could totally relate to Caitlin as she tried to find her way and who she was and changed who she was trying to fit in with the popular kids.

 

 

As Caitlin discoveres who she is as a person along the way she dismisses the childhood friendship of her best friend Beanie in order to fit it with the popular group. She befriends Jenny only the most prettiest, popular, cheerleader in the whole school.

 

 

She discovers she has a crush on Josh Miller, only the cutest and most popular boy in the whole school, but there is one problem he is the boyfriend of her new cool friend Jenny. What a dilemma this will be. How can she hide the feelings she has for him while maintaining her friendship with Jenny and not letting her find out.

 

 

Join the journey with Caitlin O'Conner as she struggles to fit in, tries to reconnect her broken relationship with her childhood friend, endures heartache and pain in her own family, battles with forgiveness, and discovers love. Even though she encounters a number of problems, it is during this time she finds a relationship with God and uncovers things about herself she didn't know existed before.

 

 

I loved this book and I know you will enjoy reading it. For more information about the book or to order your copy today, please visit http://www.melodycarlson.com/diary.shtml

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review courtesy of Glass Roads Pr in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way. Any and all thoughts expressed were solely my own.

Blog Tour: River's Song by Melody Carlson

Book: River's Song

Author: Melody Carlson


Book Synopsis: Following her mother's funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents' belongings, as well as her own turbulent life. Her relationship with her daughter is in shambles, and the tension between Anna and her vicious mother-in-law escalates daily.
Anna's unique family home sits on a picturesque coastal tributary and is filled with years of memories. For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage and river roots. But Anna soon learns that more than just her past resides along the banks of the Siuslaw River. By transforming her old family home into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing-a place where guests experience peace, grace, and new beginnings.

About the Author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books, including Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon, Limelight, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Melody is also the author of Homeward, which won a Rita Award. Melody and her husband live in central Oregon.


My thoughts: I really loved this book, I could not put it down. I had to get to the end to find out what would happen to the character Anna. I loved the vivid detail and descriptions, they seemed surreal that I thought I was right there in the story. In the book Anna revisits the place of her past in the hopes of reconnecting with herself, her family and her daughter. In this visit at the river, she meets some very interesting people both new and old (but you'll have to read it to find out more).  I was so engrossed in the book, I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to see what happens next. If you haven't read any of Melody Carlson's books, you are in for a treat. Her books are very well written and you are immediately drawn into the story. I am sure you will enjoy reading this book like I did.

Visit Melody's website here: MelodyCarlson
For more information or to order the book, please visit River's Song

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of GlassRoadsPr for review in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts or opinions expressed were solely my own. I did not receive any compensation for this review.

Help, My GFC followers are missing!

I guess I didn't notice it before, but my followers are missing from my blog. I read about this happening to other people's blogs, but now it is happening to me. I don't have thousands of followers yet, but I would still like to have the ones I do have be reflected on my blog.  Does anyone know how to retrieve them? It still shows how many in my dashboard but the box and the faces are missing. I am so considering moving to WordPress. Any suggestions?

Book Review: A Short Life Well Lived

Book: A Short Life Well Lived

Author: Tom Sullivan

Brian O'Connor is a successful lawyer, loving husband, and devoted father. He also happens to be blind. Driven his entire life to be independent, Brian has achieved much, but he has been so busy proving his triumph over blindness that he hasn't stopped to consider how his carefully crafted life can all come crashing down in an instant. When his young son is diagnosed with cancer, the long ensuing battle brings Brian to his knees as he comes to terms with his own limitations and his need for faith.

About the Author: Tom Sullivan, known to many as an actor, singer, entertainer, author, and producer, lives and works by “Sullivan’s Rules.” Born prematurely in 1947, Tom was given too much oxygen while in an incubator. Though it saved his life, it cost him his eyesight. The “inconvenience” of being blind has never kept Tom Sullivan from competing in a world where he realized that to be equal, for him, meant that he must be better. Over the years he's made a number of guest-starring appearances in shows such as Designing Women, Highway to Heaven, Fame, M.A.S.H, Mork & Mindy, and WKRP in Cincinnati. But to create the characters and fulfill the role of a blind man on prime time, he also helped write and develop many of these stories. He gained popularity on daytime TV as a regular on Search For Tomorrow and was awarded the 1984 Governors Committee Award for his role. Tom has also been nominated twice for Emmy Awards. As a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, Tom has become a regular morning fixture in millions of American homes. His touching and insightful reports give many that “you can do it” bit of inspiration to start their day. Whether it was snow skiing with his son in Colorado, or interviewing the legendary Jack Nicklaus over a few holes of golf, his reporting is memorable. He is now writing and producing for television and film. He is a bestselling author of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books.

My Thoughts: This is a heartwarming story of a close knit family who is facing a tremendous obstacle concerning their son's health. I liked how the book was written in the viewpoint of the father. When reading the words you get a glimpse of the emotions and thoughts of a father who is blind trying to cope in a sight dependent world. Brian must put aside his own self reliance as he questions his own faith and belief in God. The book is masterfully written with vivid sensory detail. You will laugh, you will cry but you will not want to put the book down.

It was amazing for me to read how the father who was blind since birth mastered using his other senses to function nearly independently and overcame so many obstacles in his life.  I really enjoyed reading this book and I know you will too.

For more information or to order a copy, visit A Short Life Well Lived.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book courtesy of GlassRoadsPr in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review. Any and all thoughts expressed were solely my own.

Sand to Pearls - Book Review

Book: Sand to Pearls

Author: Heidi McLaughlin

Publisher: Deep River Books 

Illusions of success and instant pleasure can seduce us into making poor choices. We long for fulfillment but are haggard from life’s trials and overwhelmed by what the future holds. Broken, we feel unworthy to ask God to intervene in our lives. Blinded by it all, we often overlook that God has the potential to use everything in our lives--whether good or bad.

It's time to S.T.O.P. and let God help us make bold choices to enrich our lives with freedom, fulfillment and incredible beauty!

International speaker and author of Beauty Unleashed, Heidi McLaughlin shares from her personal discoveries how God heals and restores all failures and pain. If God can take a tiny grain of sand and turn it into a gorgeous pearl, then He certainly can turn our worst decisions and biggest mistakes into a magnificent new beginning!

Book Synopsis: Heidi uncovers some of the illusions, fallacies and overwhelming obligations we place upon ourselves and shows us how we can turn around every situation by allowing God to change those sandy unfulfilled areas in our lives into beautiful pearls.  The Book - Sand to Pearls is a God-send, real talk, everyday practical biblical wisdom, encouragement, transparent and non-judgemental, like having a heart to heart with your closest friend. Some of the topics covered are:

Self Sabotage

Nurturing

Resentment

Broken or Blended

Fear or Fortitude

Contentment

Shamed or Radiant

Panic or Prayer

At the end of each chapter, each section ends with Choices That Enrich Your Life, Steps to overcome every situation discussed and Stop and Ask God to help you Change Sand to Pearls. S.T.O.P. stands for S Scripture, T Thanksgiving, O Observation, and P Prayer.

My Thoughts: As I was reading Sand to Pearls I began to realize that I have some areas that still need some additional work. The Chapter Fear or Fortitude - Spoke volumes to me.

"What choice will you make in the presence of fear? Will you cower and run or will you face it head on. Discovering the God given purpose for your life can be exciting and rewarding. The enemy or fear if we allow it, can rob us of our joy, sense of fulfillment and paralyze us from moving forward."

"Fear gives us disguised opportunities to discover gifts and joys that God wants to give us."

I loved the way Heidi breaks down each topic and shares her personal story and how she allowed God to change those areas in her life that needed mending and repair. She also talks about nurturing yourself so you can nurture others. Praying everyday with your spouse and for your family, building and intimate relationship with God first and how He helps to heal all the broken places in our lives.

I enjoyed reading this book and I will continue to use it as a reference tool along with my daily devotional as I allow God to help me continue to grow spiritually. This is a wonderful, well written book full of insight, with personal examples and Godly solutions to help you grow and mature in your spiritual walk with the Lord. This is not just for the new believer, but for anyone who wants to see change and personal spiritual growth in their lives. Enjoy a few laughs, but also personal insight from someone who has been there personally and allowed her story be told to help someone else.

To purchase the book Sand to Pearls, or for more information visit www.deepriverbooks.com

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review courtesy of BringitonCommunications in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way, all thoughts and opinions expressed were solely my own.

Book Review: Morning Manna

Book: Morning Manna

Author: R. Chris Hanks

Publisher: Deep River Books

Being kind, thoughtful, giving and encouraging comes easy for most Christians. But ask them what area needs the most improvement and they will most likely answer, “I'd like to spend more time in God's Word and praying.” As the clock ticks, and the years go by, there sits our Bible; used seldom, but thought of often.

Morning Manna will give your Bible that worn and tattered look you've always wanted. One that says, “I've been read, and I was good!” Taking you through the Bible in one year and camping on scriptures, (some of which are overlooked), Pastor Chris Hanks brings new devotions to chew on each day from the Word. Morning Manna--it's food for the soul!

Book Synopsis:

Morning Manna is a daily devotional reading covering the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. The reader will have studied the Bible in depth from cover to cover. Morning Manna is a great resource for prayer time, devotion, research and studying the scriptures. Great resource for Bible Study topics, Sermons, Sunday School lessons or general knowledge of the Scriptures.

My Thoughts:

First, I like the design of the book and the colors. I love the look and feel of the book, which is really smooth unlike other books I've read.

If your desire is to learn more about the scriptures from the Bible or to start a morning devotion and prayer time then this is the book for you. Just as some people need to start the day with a cup of coffee or they can't function, we as Christians should begin our day with devotion and prayer time.

Our hearts desire should be to study the scriptures and meditate on God's Word on a daily basis. The day should not start until we have had prayer and quiet time. Each lesson includes a Daily Bible Reading, Today's Verse, Brief overview of the scriptures and Topics for specific word devotion.

I must admit I don't always get to have my prayer and quiet time like I should everyday with my very early risers. However, Morning Manna is one of the many devotional tools and resources that I have available to me to continue to grow, mature and meditate on the Word of God. I have found from my own personal experience that when I do study God's Word I have a renewed sense of peace and I can endure and function a lot better than not having read or studied. I know you will enjoy this great devotional as I have.

For more information about Morning Manna or to purchase the book, visit www.deepriverbooks.com

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review courtesy of Bring it On Communications in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed were solely my own.