Monday, June 20, 2016

Summer Reads: The Berenstain Bears: School Time Blessings


Zonderkidz; 22 pages; $3.99; Amazon
While today is the first day of summer on the calendar, the stores will begin stocking the aisles with school supplies next month. While some kids dread going back to school (I know I always did!), others enjoy going back.

Now available in bookstores tomorrow from Zonderkidz is The Berenstain Bears: School Time Blessings by Mike Berenstain.

The 22-page picture book centers on Brother and Sister Bear getting ready to go back to school, while their little sister Honey is getting ready to start nursery school. Both Brother and Sister are excited about seeing their classmates. Brother can't wait to learn more about history and Sister is looking forward to showing off her math skills.

Sadly, Brother and Sister aren't very good at some subjects, so Brother helps Sister with her history lessons and Sister helps Brother with his math.

Meanwhile, Honey is extremely nervous about going to school and she fears she will miss her parents as soon as they drop her off.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Eddie The Eagle


PG-13; 105 minutes; $39.99; Amazon
Now available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Twentieth Fox Home Entertainment is the feel-good movie Eddie The Eagle. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, the film stars Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Hugh Jackman (The Wolverine).

Based upon the real 1988 British Olympic skier Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, Taron Egerton stars in the title role, a young man who has always dreamed of winning an Olympic gold metal ever since he was a ten-year-old! While at first his goal was to find a sport that he was good at to participate in a future Summer Games, he quickly finds out that he isn't good at anything. However, that doesn't stop him as he sets a new goal to participate as a skier in a future Winter Games, but first he will have to learn how to ski.

As an adult, Eddie is now a great skier, but he is rejected by British Olympic officials. Most people would give up by now, but Eddie is determined to go to Olympics no matter what. He comes up with the idea to be a ski jumpier, but he will have to teach himself how to jump. Against his father's wishes, he heads off to the training facility in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Sadly, Eddie slowly learns that jumping from a high distance isn't as easy as it looks. After several failed attempts at jumping the 40-meter (130 ft) hill, Eddie enlists Bronson Peary (played by Hugh Jackman), a former skier turned drunken snow groomer, to train him. Due to a loophole in the British Olympic rules, Eddie qualifies for the Winter Games by jumping 61 meters (200 ft).

Special Features includes:
  • Let The Games Begin: Soaring With Eddie The Eagle
  • All Or Nothing: The Hero's Heart
  • An Unlikely Friendship: Eddie Peary
  • Attitude Is Altitude: Filming The Ski Jumps
  • Gallery

Varina Denman’s ‘Jilted’ $50 Sweet Summertime Giveaway

Can all things really work together for good, and can the joy of living be found once again? Don't miss one woman's story in book three, Jilted, of Varina Denman's Mended Hearts series. Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Celebrate the release of Varina's Jilted by entering to win a $50 gift card.

jilted-400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of Jilted to kick off a summer of reading
  • A $50 Kohl's gift card to make your summertime sweet
The giveaway ends on July 1st. The winner will be announced July 5th on Varina's website.

Review - Jilted


David C. Cook; 384 pages; $14.99; Buy Link; Blog Tour
Now available to purchase in bookstores from David C. Cook is the third novel in the Mended Heart series by Varina Denman, titled Jilted. Set in the small town of Trapp, Texas, where gossip and rumors spread quickly among the townsfolk.

Jilted centers on Lynda Turner, a woman who has suffered from depression ever since her husband left her, as well as their daughter (Ruthie - aka, the main character from the first novel), over fifteen years ago. Lynda has had a lifetime of troubles - the death of parents, her high school boyfriend cheated on her, her husband left her and she was kicked out of her church.

Finding love again was the last thing Lynda had on her mind when an ex-con, Clyde, takes an interests in her. Her self-esteem is low; believing that all she is a waitress at a diner and nothing else. Why would any man (even an ex-con) be interested in her?

Lynda must find a way to forget her past, forgive her own mistake and restrengthen her faith in the Lord before she can see any sort of future with Clyde.

Jilted Varina Denman

Friday, June 17, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: June 17th - 23rd


Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

Do you have your photo in your profile?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

 I don't currently have a selfie on my Google + profile, but I do have a picture of me covering half of my face with a book under the "About Me" page on here.


Linky List:

Review - Jaded & Justified by Varina Denman


David C. Cook; 432 pages; $14.99; Amazon
Last month, when I signed up to review Justified by Varina Denman, David C. Cook publishing nicely sent me the first two books in the Mended Heart series (Jaded & Justified) to read first. Instead of writing two separate posts, I decided to feature my reviews for the two titles in a single one.

Set in small Texas town, Jaded centers on a young woman named Ruthie, who had lost all faith in the Lord when she was shunned from her church at a a young age. (No, she's not an Amish.) Though she is now an adult and working two jobs, she still gets funny looks when she runs across the church members on the street.

Everything changes for Ruthie when a single pastor moves to town. What starts out as a friendship between the two, quickly changes to romances. However, Ruthie's past might spoil any chance for a "happily ever" ending.

David C. Cook; 416 pages; $14.99; Amazon
The sequel, Justified, is set in the same small town called Trapp, Texas, where the gossip always spreads quickly. It picks up the events of the previous novel where the side-character Fawn Blaylock informs her rich parents that she is pregnant. Now cut off from her family, Fawn must deal all the gossip that the townsfolk are saying behind her back. Not for sure if she should be in a relationship with the baby's father, Fawn questions her life.

The only friends Fawn can turn to is Ruthie (aka, the main character from the first book) and JohnScott (Ruthie's cousin) as she struggles with her future and her faith.


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Summer Reads: Medical Judgement




Abingdon Press; 320 pages; $14.99; Buy Link; Blog Tour
It's not a secret that I love to read a good mystery now and then. From a Sherlock Holmes classic to a James Patterson crime novel, pretty much all mysteries appeal to me.

Now available to own in paperback is the medical suspense novel Medical Judgement by Richard L. Mabry, M.D., the author of the Prescription for Trouble Series.

Medical Judgment centers on Dr. Sarah Gordon, a woman who is still grieving the deaths of her husband, Harry, and their two-year-old daughter, Jenny. It's been over eight months since the accident occurred that destroyed her life, and now another tragic event happens - her house catches on fire.

Well, to be more precise, somebody sets her garage on fire. Why who would somebody want to kill Sarah?

This is where Bill Larson comes into the picture. He is a recovering alcoholic, and he's also the detective assigned to investigate the arson case. It doesn't take him long to realizes that someone is targeting Sarah. With the help of attorney Kyle Anderson (who was also the best friend of Sarah's husband), they try to unravel the mystery.

Medical Judgment Richard Mabry

Richard Mabry’s ‘Medical Judgment’ e-Reader Giveaway

Just what the doctor ordered: heart-thumping suspense and intrigue, courtesy of Richard Mabry’s new medical drama, Medical Judgment. Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea what will come next. As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?

Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!

medical judgment - 400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of Medical Judgment
  • A Kindle Fire HD 6
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.

medical judgment - enterbanner