Saturday, May 18, 2024

Raising kids to Follow Christ by Lee Ann Mancini

About the Book

Book: Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God

Author: Lee Ann Mancini

Genre: Nonfiction, Family and Relationships, Parenting

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God endeavors to remedy the statistically high rate at which children turn away from Christianity. Raising Kids to Follow Christ (February 2024 from Whitaker House) offers today’s families the resources they need to nurture children in faith. This expert guide offers developmentally appropriate and scripturally centered methods based upon top research and expert insights from the brightest minds in childhood spiritual development. Author and Raising Christian Kids CEO Lee Ann Mancini
emphasizes truth wrapped in love and joy in a parenting approach designed to prevent children from abandoning their faith.

Raising Kids to Follow Christ releases in February 2024 from Whitaker House.

George Barna, Raising Spiritual Champions, Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind and Soul, (Arizona Christian University Press 2023), 27-28, 39, 41, 118, 184.

Raising Kids to Follow Christ (releasing February, 2024 from Whitaker House) serves as a rich parenting resource focused on the salvation of our children and the preservation of Christianity.

Comprehensive, biblically-based, parenting guide
Sourced from today’s brightest Christian minds in children’s spirituality
Filled with strategies & techniques found throughout God’s word
Steeped in biblical directives, including Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and more
Explained through the lens of parenthood
13 chapters equipping parents & caregivers with tools to raise the next generation of faith-filled leaders
Personal stories embedded with parenting principles and Scripture references
Shared real-life examples of parenting “dos” and “don’ts”
How to practice what you preach – modeling biblical truth
Steps to upgrade from discipline to discipleship
Easy-to-understand apologetics for children & adults
Fun ways to connect your child’s heart to Christ

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given

Are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

1.What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you and why? I had so much information, so organizing it in a logical flow was harder than I imagined. Also, I’m a teacher and not a storyteller, so I needed to learn not to write to didactic.

2. What did your research process look like for this book? I am old-schooled, so I printed a ton of information (my notes, my research), and I had files for each topic of discussion. I wrote and rewrote the manuscript until I felt the Lord giving me peace.

3. What was something new you learned while writing this book? God’s word gives us many directives on raising our children, and Proverb 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go is not a promise.” And it’s never too early to teach solid biblical wisdom to children.

4.What audience did you have in mind when writing this book? Anyone raising the next generation.

5.What message do you hope readers take away from your book? Don’t be distracted or freighted by the world; keep focused on the word of God, live out his principles, and organically, day by day, help connect your child’s heart and mind to Jesus. It’s not overwhelming; raising children to follow Christ is done in love, consistently living the Word, and understanding it’s never too early and never too late!

About the Author

Author Lee Ann Mancini is the award-winning author and executive producer of the Sea Kids series, which can be viewed on Answers.TV, Pure Flix, Right Now Media, and SeaKidsTV. Lee Ann earned a master’s degree in theological studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Trinity International University), as well as two master’s degrees — one in Christian and Classic Studies and one in Biblical and Theological Studies — from Knox Theological Seminary. She serves as an adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary and hosts the award-winning podcast, Raising Christian Kids.

More from Lee Ann

Recent statistics show our youth abandoning faith at an alarming rate. 90% of 13–14-year-olds believe there is no absolute moral truth, and 75% of parents agree.[1] In the cultural war against Christ-centered values, vulnerable young souls are our greatest casualties. It’s time to raise up a faith-armored generation and equip them to change the world. With the right resources, we can equip our kids with enduring faith.

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God endeavors to remedy the statistically high rate at which children turn away from Christianity. Raising Kids to Follow Christ (February 2024 from Whitaker House) offers today’s families the resources they need to nurture children in faith. This expert guide offers developmentally appropriate and scripturally centered methods based upon top research and expert insights from the brightest minds in childhood spiritual development. Author and Raising Christian Kids CEO Lee Ann Mancini emphasizes truth wrapped in love and joy in a parenting approach designed to prevent children from abandoning their faith. Her reason for writing this book is to help readers eagerly search the Bible, looking for fresh truth they can find in each word of scripture — “for the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12, niv) — to build a strong foundation of Christ in their children that will last a lifetime.

Valentine’s Day Bible craft for your family:

Memory Verse: John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV).

Supplies

Markers/pens
Scissors
Sheets of paper (1-2 per person)
Small jars/clear containers (1 per person)

Setup

Gather items and have them ready to use.
An adult can draw seven hearts on each sheet of paper. Make one sheet per person.
Optional: If children are older, allow them to draw hearts on their sheets of paper.

Say

Our memory verse, John 13:34-35, tells us that God wants us to love others in the same way He loves us. That’s how other people will know that we are His disciples.
God wants us to love everyone. A great way to start practicing loving others is to love the people you are closest to first.
I want you to think of seven people who you spend the most time with. We are going to start practicing showing God’s love to them this week.
Each of us will fill up a jar/container with hearts with those seven people’s names written on each heart.
We will pull out one heart each day this week and come up with ways to show that person God’s love all day.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

She Lives to Read, May 10

Artistic Nobody, May 11 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 12

Guild Master, May 13 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, May 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 14 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, May 15

Inspired by fiction, May 16

Blossoms and Blessings, May 17 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

A Reader’s Brain , May 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

Beauty in the Binding, May 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lee Ann is giving away the grand prize package of a Scripture Bear, all seven Sea Kids Picture Books, and all the DVDs with the corresponding curriculum!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2b58e/raising-kids-to-follow-christ-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, May 12, 2024

A Storm of Doubts by JPC Allen

About the Book

Book: A Storm of Doubts

Author: JPC Allen

Genre: YA cozy mystery

Release date: March 1, 2024

Her dad said nothing could hurt their relationship. But what if he isn’t her dad?

Summer gets off to a rocky start for twenty-year-old Rae Riley when the ex-wife of family friend Jason Carlisle claims their youngest child isn’t his and Rae’s con man uncle Troy returns to Marlin County, Ohio. Rae is already at odds with her father, Sheriff Walter “Mal” Malinowski, over her desire to help people in trouble. When she extends that help to Troy and Jason’s ex-wife, Ashley, she and Mal clash even more.

Then Ashley disappears, and Jason and his brother Rick are the main suspects. As Rae and her aunt Carrie, a private investigator hired to protect Jason’s kids, work to discover what really happened to Ashley, Rae wrestles with Troy’s insinuations that she may be calling the wrong Malinowski “Dad.”

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all

Opinions given are my own and not an endorsement

Of all author’s opinions.

About the Author

JPC Allen started her writing career in second grade with an homage to Scooby Doo. She’s been tracking down mysteries ever since. Her Christmas mystery “A Rose from the Ashes” was the first Rae Riley mystery and a Selah-finalist at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2020. Her first Rae Riley novel, A Shadow on the Snow, released in 2021. Online, she offer tips and prompts to ignite the creative spark in every kind of writer. She also leads workshops for tweens, teens and adults, encouraging them to discover the adventure of writing. Coming from a long line of Mountaineers, she’s a life-long Buckeye.

Author Interview

1. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?

Although I'll have a theme in mind when I start a story, I don't weld myself to it. The longer I write, the more I realize, I have to let the theme rise from the story as I put words on paper. In this novel, the theme of trust seemed to occur again and again. Can Rae trust her newly found dad? What will happen to a toddler if her father discovers proof that she's the daughter of his ex-wife and another man? Can Rae trust what God says about Himself? I pray about the theme and examine it to see if it is firmly rooted in God's word. Then I start shaping it.

2. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?

Rae. She has a lot of my characteristics--artistic, shy, wanting to get along with people. But I put a bit of myself in most of my characters--Rae's aunt and oldest brother are writers, her dad's a worrier, her grandmother loves to bake. I even put myself in the villains' shoes, imaging that if I was presented with the same circumstances as the bad guy, and decided to act selfishly, what would be the most believable way to act?

3. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?

That would be so awesome! I think we would swap family stories. Although the characters would probably freak out that this stranger knew so much about their personal lives.

4. What did your research process look like for this book?

I had to understand divorce law in Ohio. So I sent questions specific to my plot to a retired judge, who specialized in divorces. I also had some questions about identifying bodies and police procedure. Because I'd taken a free course at my local sheriff's department, their PR person recommended people I could contact. So I sent questions to a lieutenant in the department and an official in the coroner's office. All three men were so helpful in answering my questions.

5. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?

I've lived my whole life in Ohio, first growing up in a small town and now living out in the country. I know rural life and wanted to set mysteries in that familiar territory. So I created my own county in Ohio. The advantage of a mystery set in a rural location is there are still part of the country where phones won't work or won't their wits. I can realistically knock out communications, forcing my heroes to survive by wits.

More form JPC

Readers Deserve a Reward

I may be unusual, or just plain weird, but thinking of my ending first is the common way I approach a new story. It seems to help me to know my destination before I set out on the adventure of writing a story. I can take any number of routes to reach my destination and wandering around and exploring detours is a lot of the fun of writing. But by keeping my destination in mind, I don’t get lost. Or at least, not easily.

The other thing I keep in mind about my ending is that it’s a reward for the reader. I’m relatively new to publishing and not well known. So when readers take a chance on one of my stories, I believe it’s my job to reward their risk with an atypical, satisfying ending. Now I do work hard to make the whole story satisfying with things like an attention-grabbing opening and tension-building scenes. But endings, I think, are special to readers. This is the part that lingers in their minds when they close the book–whether it’s a sense of satisfaction, like the pleased feeling you have after a delicious meal, or anger or exasperation because the ending let them down.

I work to make all parts of the ending satisfying–the climax, denouement or wrap-up, and the last lines. For the climax, readers of my mysteries deserve more thant just the good guys solving the puzzle and catching the bad guy. I plan an action-packed, suspenseful climax that has readers living the final confrontation with the main character and it resolves itself in a way that, I hope, surprises readers.

Denouements are so critical to mysteries, when the detective explains how he solved the case. But they can also be deadly dull because the explanation needs to be thorough to meet the expectations of mystery fans. So in A Storm of Doubts, I split up the explanation–a lot of it is revealed during the climax, so I don’t bore readers by piling up a discussion of the solution in one chapter.

The final scene and last lines are areas I spend a good deal of thought on. Even if this scene was my inspiration for the entire story, how it plays in my head and how it plays on the page are two very different things. I also think the last scene and lines have a certain rhythm to them, like the final bars of a song. My job is make the scene round off the story without staying too long in it.

So when you read A Storm of Doubts, I’d love to know what you think of the ending. Because you do deserve a reward.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, May 4 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 5

Artistic Nobody, May 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 7

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 8 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, May 8

Beauty in the Binding, May 9 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 10

Guild Master, May 11 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 12

A Reader’s Brain , May 13 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 13

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

For the Love of Literature, May 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 16

Vicky Sluiter, May 17 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, JPC is giving away the grand prize package of all four books in the Rae Riley mystery series, a $25 Amazon gift card, and an Ohio tumbler with lid filled with buckeye candies!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2b587/a-storm-of-doubts-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, April 20, 2024

The New Neighbors by Tamara G. Cooper

About the Book

Book: The New Neighbors

Author: Tamara G. Cooper

Genre: Cozy Suspense

Release date: September 6, 2023

Something isn’t right

Just when Sophie thinks life is returning to normal again, new neighbors move in next door. Right from the start, she senses that something’s off, something isn’t right…

Strange things begin to happen. Murders. Drones stalking her. Her home ransacked. Someone chasing her, hunting her. What is going on?

Burke Maguire, an old boyfriend who recently returned to their hometown as a police officer, isn’t as available to her as he was with their first case. He knows she’s in trouble, so why isn’t he helping her? Something isn’t right…

As she freefalls deeper and deeper into danger, she must outsmart the people after her, but will she figure out the who and why in time to stop their nefarious plans? And, for heaven’s sake, where is Burke when she needs him?

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

1. Why did you want to become an author?

My mother read some of my work and said, “You need to be published,” so I did. She always read my books first and was so encouraging!

2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?

The very-convoluted romance was the most challenging to write. The timeline, loving after being hurt, trusting after being hurt. So many details about it that were difficult.

3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?

I love the theme of re-discovering love after a long period of time has gone by, especially if hurt and trust issues are involved. Sophie’s love story has elements that are very difficult to overcome, and writing her story drew out of me some of my hurts of the past and my journey to learning to trust again.

4. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?

People have told me that Sophie and I are so much alike. Someone that I have known for many years said, after reading this book, “It was like hearing you talk and watching you go through these things!”

5. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?

Sophie and I would laugh and have adventures with Terri. That would be so much fun!

6. What did your research process look like for this book?

I did a lot of research on the military and talked to police officers in my town and learned about Confederate land ownerswho buried their treasures underground.

7. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?

I’m from East Texas (all Texans are proud of our state!), so the setting was easy. The time period is present day. I like reading historicals every once in a while but I haven’t had a storyline come up yet that would induce me to write historical romantic suspense.

8. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how?

I always step out of my comfort zone in my books. I think writing is therapeutic for most authors. In The New Neighbors, I dwelt on forgiveness in one storyline because I had had to deal with it with someone in my past. Yes, it was therapeutic for me, too!

9. How did you celebrate when you completed your book?

I made some calls and sent texts to let people know I’d completed my next book. The first person I told was my editor. And then I treated myself to dinner out with my husband!

10. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing?

Not really, but I do have a special pair of slippers that make my feet feel wonderful!

11. What message do you hope readers take away from your book?

As Christians, faith is who we are, but it’s a faith that is woven into our lives. In my books, I don’t stop and preach a sermon or lead a Bible study. I just tell the story and intrinsically weave in the faith element. My message is: live your lives inside your faith, and others will see Him and want to know Him better.

Thank you, Katie, for having me on your blog! I enjoyed it!

About the Author

Tamara G. Cooper lives in Texas with her husband, one son, and four dogs. She enjoys the simple things of life: picnics, hiking, swimming, church, friends. She loves writing suspense with a touch of romance.

More from Tamara

Who can you trust? Looking into your best friend’s eyes, have you ever wondered if you really know her? Is who she’s presenting to the world—to you—really her?

How would you know if it is or isn’t?

Sophie O’Brion is a bestselling author in The New Neighbors. She’s a little quirky, funny, curious to a fault, daring, and loves writing murder mysteries that answer these very questions.

But what if these questions pop up in her life? An old boyfriend that she hasn’t seen in years comes back to Forman Falls and wants to be friends with her again. Should she trust him? Then, new neighbors move in next door, and she suspects something isn’t right. Strange things begin to happen. Murders. Drones stalking her. Her home ransacked. Someone chasing her, hunting her.

What is going on?

Who can she trust? Anyone?

I hope you read The New Neighbors, Book 2 of the Sophie O’Brion Mysteries series. I would suggest you first read The Vacant House, Book 1. Enjoy!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 14

Stories By Gina, April 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 15

Texas Book-aholic, April 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 18 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, April 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20

A Reader’s Brain, April 21 (Author Interview)

Lights in a Dark World, April 21

For Him and My Family, April 22

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 23

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 24

Artistic Nobody, April 25 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, April 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2afe1/the-new-neighbors-celebration-tour-giveaway

Rip Tide by Lisa T. Bergren

About the Book

Book: Rip Tide

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Release Date: March 20, 2024

The trap is set and time is slipping away.

After narrowly escaping arrest, Luciana Betarrini hurtles back to medieval Italy. Once there, she and her brother, Domenico, must decide how far they’ll go to be part of the family, and if they’re willing to risk their lives to hunt down an assassin.

Meanwhile, Lady Tiliani Forelli’s family has disappeared in enemy territory. Fearing for their lives—and secretly hoping to cross paths with the Fiorentini she loves—Tiliani goes to Firenze intent on either rescue or seeing justice done. Yet a trap is closing around them all.

Together, the Grecos and Betarrinis must find the Forellis’ nemesis and force him to confess to his role in the murders. They assume he has slipped into the serpentine streets of Firenze to evade them. But will they find him in time to save the Forellis?

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

About the Author

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over sixty books spanning a variety of genres, from children’s picture books to women’s historical fiction to supernatural suspense and time travel. She lives with her husband and three gradually-flying-from-the-nest young adult children

More from Lisa

Part of what makes RIP TIDE unique is that one of the heroines (and her love interest) both have a passion for hunting for medicinal plants in the woods…which made for a sweet setting for some swoony scenes! A sweet friend sent me Brother Cadfael’s Herb Garden: An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses by Talbot and Whiteman, and it was an invaluable resource!

Here are a few herbs that were utilized in the Middle Ages—and you might find in one of my Oceans of Time novels:

#1: Betony: “Medieval herbalists highly valued the healing properties of betony, considering it a cure-all for all disorders, including migraine, indigestion and nervous complaints. The herb was also used for staunching bleeding and healing wounds, sores, ulcers and boils.” (P68, Brother Cadfael’s Herb Garden)

#2: Bryony: “Although poisonous, bryony has been valued medicinally since ancient times. Internally, in small doses, the root was taken as a purgative, and for rheumatism, sciatica and chest complaints. Externally, it was used to treat leprosy, old sores, gangrene and other skin ailments.” (P79, Brother Cadfael’s Herb Garden)