Friday, August 31, 2012

The American Bible Challenge With Giveaway!

This is a little bit late for the premier but I had several things already lined up. But for those of you who are interested, there is a giveaway included below so read my review of The American Bible Challenge, and then enter at the bottom! This includes an American Bible Challenge T-Shirt and a Quest Study Bible.

This is basically a game show with Bible based questions and the contestants will be giving their money to a faith based charity organization. I am telling you, I really enjoyed watching this. The questions were fun, the contestants were even funnier and the choir was good. The only thing I

could say that I didn't care for was some of the group titles. To me they were a little bit more humorous than I thought they should be but this was preference. I had to laugh a couple times over some excitement between the teams and they did a great job. I kind of went through and answered the questions myself and boy do they get hard!

Overall this looks like a great game show that pushes people to know their Bible more. Quite a challenge! It was interesting to see the answers, which ones jumped the gun to get their answer in right away and the ones who took their time to think, etc. Exciting and fun to watch with the whole family!! Airs on Thursdays so make sure to watch out for it.



Readers, one of you will be the winner of an American Bible Challenge T-Shirt and a Zondervan Quest Study Bible. Get your entries in below.

This giveaway will end 9/14. Winner will be chosen through Random.org. They will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

CFBA Tour for A Duke's Promise by Jamie Carie!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Duke's Promise
B&H Books (September 1, 2012)
by
Jamie Carie




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled she wrote skits, poems, plays and short stories for school and church.

When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own.



Snow Angel was born on a frosty night in an old farmhouse in Fishers, Indiana, where the cold floor gave plenty of motivation for the snow scene. Jamie loves to write late at night when the house is quiet and the darkness seems alive. Elizabeth and Noah had been playacting in her head for a long time, so the story went fast.

Ten years later Snow Angel was published and won the ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, was a National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and a 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. It was the beginning of her dream career.



Jamie and her husband Tony have been married for twenty-one years and live in Indianapolis with their three sons and a giant of a dog named Leo.



If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”



ABOUT THE BOOK



From the Land of Fire and Ice back to England’s shores, Alexandria Featherstone finds herself the new Duchess of St. Easton. Her husband has promised a wedding trip to take them to the place where her imperiled parents were last seen -- Italy and the marble caves of Carrara -- but a powerful Italian duke plots against Alex and her treasure-hunting parents.



Hoping to save them, Alex and Gabriel travel to Italy by balloon. Fraught with danger on all sides and pressured by Gabriel’s affliction to the breaking point, they must learn to work and fight together. The mysterious key is within their grasp, but they have yet to recognize it. This journey will require steadfast faith in God and each other -- a risk that will win them everything they want or lose them everything they have.



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Duke's Promise, go HERE.

The book has not arrived yet so my review will be up soon:) I know this will be a great one though as I really enjoyed the other books in this series.

Raggedy Ann Review & Giveaway!




How many of you remember Raggedy Ann and Andy? I for sure remember the adorable yet classic doll with curly red hair and the cute dress. Well, this next review and giveaway is one that many of you will love, even if it is a gift for the grandkids! Check out the review and don't forget to enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter form at the bottom. You won't want to miss it!
RAGGEDY ANN & RAGGEDY ANDY CLASSIC Handmade by Aurora - The beloved ragdolls are back! Aurora's soft and huggable dolls are heirloom treasures to be passed along for generations. Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy were created by Johnny Gruelle in 1918 for his daughter, Marcella. Aurora has captured the spirit of the heartwarming originals with ten sweetly nostalgic styles in four sizes - 8", 12", 16" & 25". Beautifully made, with fine facial features in soft brown tones and yarn hair. Has the traditional embroidered "I Love You" heart on his chest. Larger dolls features plastic button eyes, smaller sizes have embroidered eyes. Raggedy Ann is dressed in proprietary vintage-inspired fabrics, and both Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy feature their own unique styling.Each collectable comes with a 4 sided hang tag that highlight Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy's origin and legacy.

Aurora is a company that many of you know. I have featured them many times on my blog before and I love their quality products and super cute toys and stuffed animals. This time around they have come out with the new Raggedy Ann and Andy. These are so adorable and Iknew it was one my readers would like so I jumped at the chance when I was offered to review one of them. I picked out the classic Raggedy Ann for my review but you will have your choice of Raggedy Ann or Andy.

The doll is made very well, no surprise from Aurora, and is really sweet looking. She is in the traditional Raggedy Ann dress and looks just like the older styled dolls. Needless to say, after one look from my little sister, my doll was gone. I was able to get pictures but even my mother was begging to have her:) This is just that type of doll. You instantly fall in love with the style. We haven't had any tears, rips or hair falling out yet. You can laugh, but that is a common occurence with the dolls around our house.

These dolls would make a perfect gift for a child or grandchild. Remember, the holidays aren't that far off. And the set is not expensive at all. There are several different sizes you can choose from.

Readers, one of you will be able to have your choice of Raggedy Ann, Andy or one of the Fancy Pals. Open to US and Canada.

This giveaway will end 9/17. Winner will be chosen through Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
I received product for review. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Free Foreclosures

Have any of you ever had a foreclosure? Or maybe you bought a house that was being foreclosed on? I have never had it done to me but we have purchased a house before that was being foreclosed on. You can sometimes get one for a good price.

While browsing house listings recently, we have been looking at purchasing one, I ran across free foreclosures lists. This website lists houses and real estate that has been foreclosed on. This is totally free!! So whether you are looking at buying a house or maybe wanting to list one, this is the place to go! They literally have thousands of listings that you can search by state. Check it out!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Combat Ant Killer Review + Giveaway


Ever had your picnic lunch ruined by ants? Or maybe that time the ants hoarded your bathroom or kitchen? Well, I have been there, done that and let me tell you, it isn't fun! Today I have a review and giveaway that will help out with that problem. Combat Ant Killer!


We have been having a problem recently with ants in our bathroom. They are small but still annoying when they are running all over no matter how many you kill by hand. So I was really excited to see if this would take care of my problem. I loved the box when it arrived:) Made me think of a picnic outdoors and believe me, you don't have a grill out without ants and insects.


I received one box of the Child Resistant Bait Stations and a box of Fast Killing Formula Gel.

The gel is for right away so I can get rid of the ones I see. And the bait station is for long term use so I don't have any in the future. So I got out the gel syringe and used that first. I was amazed! This took care of them on the spot! I really prefer using this to the ant spray. Mainly because it is right there and concentrated in one spot. The fumes don't go all over like with the spray. That is one thing I worry about with the children and using it indoors. With the bait stations I had to be careful where I put them out because of the cat, but I think I found a place that she can't get to it;)


So, am I happy with Combat? Overall I am. The Gel seems to work pretty well and the bait stations are out. This is not an expensive product and I would definitely purchase it again. Also, Combat is having a Backyard Bash Contest!! This is a great way to Get rid of ants! Check it out

Readers, would you like to win your own Combat Ant Products? Well, one of you will be the winner of a box of Ant Gel!! This giveaway will end 9/13. Winner will be chosen through Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I Am...Gabriel DVD Review + Interview with Mike Norris

Below I have a review for the new film, I Am...Gabriel DVD and an interview with Mike Norris! Check it out and get your copy today!

All things made new.

Promise, Texas is no place to raise a family. There’s no rain, businesses are failing, and the kids can’t wait to grow up and move away. Some folks say the town is cursed. But just when things are at their darkest, a mysterious boy wanders out of the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back and a strange mat tucked under his arm. He has a message for the people of Promise, but they’re slow to listen. They are blind to the similarities between the slow death of the town and their own parched souls. Confronted by their spiritual shortcomings, the town’s indignation turns to outrage. Still, the boy holds true to his message: there is no hope without Christ, and Promise can only be remade through earnest communion with the Father. In the end, with his back against the wall — surrounded by skeptics — the boy is forced to reveal his true identity.

Directed by Mike Norris (Walker Texas Ranger) and starring John Schneider (Smallville) and Dean Cain (Lois & Clark), I am…Gabriel is a lesson in connecting with those that really matter, whether they be on earth – or in Heaven. Also starring: Carey Scott (Birdie & Bogey), Rebekah Kennedy (Memphis Beat), and Elise Baughman (Monk).

Original story and movie treatment by Neal Odom.

MY REVIEW-I was somewhat skeptic about this DVD. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect as far as a child being an angel. Not saying it couldn't happen, but not sure how I would like it. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this film! The plot is very different and for those of you who like something out of the ordinary, this is your type of movie.

The acting was well done by many actors I am familiar with. Dean Cain, John Schneider, and not to mention the director, Mike Norris. This movie will give you chills if you will take it to heart. Makes you really examine how much of a close walk you have with the Lord and if it is personal. I know miracles are not done much now a days but this makes you think. There are some funny parts and some parts that will make you cry. Excellent film by Echolight Studios!!

INTERVIEW WITH MIKE NORRIS-
Could you give us a little bit of the story behind this film, I Am Gabriel?
I went to meet a friend for lunch in Justin Tx. I saw a woman behind the counter who I later found out co-owned the restaurant with her husband. As I was paying the bill I told her I would like to give her a gift. I had a copy of one of our films (Maggie's Pasage) in my car and I gave her the DVD. She looked at it and said, "What is this?" I told her I just wanted to give her a gift. It turns out that they had wanted to make a film for 2 years. Just one of those God things.
For more info on the plot line, here is the synopsis:
Promise, Texas is no place to raise a family. There's no rain, businesses are failing, and the kids can't wait to grow up and move away. Some folks say the town is cursed. But just when things are at their darkest, a mysterious boy wanders out of the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back and a strange mat tucked under his arm. He has a message for the people of Promise, but they're slow to listen. They are blind to the similarities between the slow death of the town and their own parched souls. Confronted by their spiritual shortcomings, the town's indignation turns to outrage. Still, the boy holds true to his message: there is no hope without Christ, and Promise can only be remade through earnest communion with the Father. In the end, with his back against the wall - surrounded by skeptics - the boy is forced to reveal his true identity.Directed by Mike Norris (Walker Texas Ranger) and starring John Schneider (Smallville) and Dean Cain (Lois & Clark), I Am Gabriel is a lesson in connecting with those that really matter, whether they be on earth - or in Heaven.
What is one funny story in all your years of directing and producing films?
There are many, but one memorable story took place when I was directing Walker Texas Ranger. My dad wanted my son who was 8 months at the time to play an abandoned baby. I said we needed twins to play the part. He said no. Well, he was the boss. In one particular scene my son Max was getting his diaper changed by Walker and Max accidently urinated during the scene, hitting Walker. It was funny and made the final cut.
What do you want to come across in this film if the viewers take away only one thing?
Miracles are real.

Thanks so much for allowing me to interview you, Mike!

TRAILER FOR I AM...GABRIEL

Monday, August 27, 2012

Milk Unleashed Giveaway!!

How many of you have heard of shelf safe milk? I had never heard of this before but thanks to Milk Unleashed, I now know all about it! And not only can you find out more about it, but I have a fun giveaway where one of my blog readers will win a Shelf Safe Milk Prize Package! This will include four cartons of milk(white and chocolate) and a cow stress ball!! I will be receiving one of these packs as well and I am really excited to try it out. Might even post a review on here of what I thought:)

Shelf Safe Milk is also known as Shelf Stable Milk and is grade A fluid milk that requires no refrigeration until it has been opened. Really interesting technology here and I found it quite amazing to read about. Check it out at the link I gave above. And don't forget to enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter form. You have to do the first entry and then you get a lot more extra entries! And you don't have to enter through Facebook, you can use just your name and email. Easy entries here!

This giveaway will end 9/10. Winner will be chosen through Random.org and they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 






Saturday, August 25, 2012

Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney


Cate Kincaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many résumés she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

MY REVIEW-I have read several of Lorena McCourtney's previous books so I am no stranger to her style of writing. This was a typical book written in the same style as her other mystery books. Not to say it wasn't a hoot to read:) Definitely a good book and lots of fun characters in this one. All the WhoDunIt women and not to mention Cate herself!! And the sizzle between Cate and Michael makes for a good romance. Can't wait to see what develops further with them.

Some interesting suspense to it and I did not figure out who the killer was until near the end. Then I pretty much figured out what had happened. Don't want to give anything away here:) Loved the quirky people and even a funny cat. Loved this cozy mystery!!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Renting Books and Campus Book Rentals

Okay, I have never heard of doing this before, but did you know you can actually rent books? I am the type of person who reads a lot! Well, I recently found this site and I think for those of you going to college it could be a great benefit. Campus Book Rentals is a cheap way to get your textbooks this year or in the upcoming years.

There are a lot of benefits to this program. One of my favorites is that they contribute to Operation Smile with every textbook rented. So every time you rent a book, they make a donation! Excellent way of doing business and it helps others at the same time. Some of the other benefits include free shipping both ways(gotta love this one!), saving 40-90% off bookstore prices and you can highlight in the textbooks! They are also very flexible on their renting periods. So whether you need it for two weeks or longer, they will work with you.

I looked up one book I had heard a lot about called In Leah's Wake. This is one that I had read some reviews for on other blogs and heard it was good for language so I wanted to check the price for it on this website. Needless to say, they are already out of it!! I guess it is a popular book:) But whether you are looking for books on chemistry, science, etc. they have them available. Check out this site if you are looking at renting textbooks. And make sure to watch the funny FAQ's video below!!



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Auto Repair Story

Auto repair is a necessary evil. With all the traveling our family does, I’m thankful for the times when we’re able to get car maintenance and repair done locally, rather than a side-of-the-road emergency breakdown scenario. However, that’s not always the case, and we’ve had to look for car repair shops in many different towns and cities on our road trips. Whether you’re in a big city, and need Auto repair Miami area, or in some small town you can’t pronounce the name of, finding quality, honest auto repair can be difficult!

About 10 years ago our family took a trip, and wouldn’t you know the car chose to break down in a large city, right on the interstate! A police officer driving by stopped to help, and said that it was literally the most dangerous area to be in, due to high-speed traffic, and a very minimal shoulder. We were very thankful for his assistance, as well as the quick response of a nearby auto repair shop We were blessed that they were able to get our car towed and the problem solved very promptly. It wasn’t long before we set off again on our trip (with our car in good running condition now :) but that is one breakdown we still reminisce about sometimes! Not an experience I’d like to go through again (sitting on the side of a busy interstate with little children) but we’re thankful nonetheless for how the situation turned out.

This is a sponsored post for Japanese Car Care, however, all the points
and views are my own.

Replace My Contacts Contact Lenses Giveaway!!

Hello Giveaway Lady readers! It is a beautiful day here and the weather is finally cooling off a little. Hard to believe that the year is going by so fast. Today I have a giveaway I thought you all might be interested in. I personally wear eyeglasses but I know a lot of people who wear contact lenses. So this giveaway is for you all! If you have been looking at getting a pair of contact lenses, this website has a contact lens education center that gives a lot of info you would find helpful.

Please read the instructions carefully. There are certain rules on winning the giveaway and you have to have everything in order. There is a list of contact lenses you can get so make sure you can use what is on there.


The Rules of the giveaway

  • The winner MUST have a current contact prescription
  • Winner must be in the USA
  • Winner must provide address and contact information



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Business Lawyers

I have never had the need for business lawyers. But I know that every once in a while the situation might come up where you have need for a business lawyer. I found a website recently for a lawyer that specializes in working with businesses. They have a great team and have a lot of good feedback on the website.

You can find out the history of this firm, see past clients, and check out some interesting facts if you are interested. If you are ever in need of a business lawyer, I would seriously check this place out. You never know if they might be able to be of service. Just a thought for the future:)

I have never used this business. All thoughts are 100% mine.

The Face of Heaven by Murray Pura CFBA Tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Face of Heaven
Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)
by
Murray Pura




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:









Murray Pura was born and raised in Manitoba, just north of Minnesota and the Dakotas. He has published several novels and short story collections in Canada, and has been short-listed for a number of awards. His first books to be published in the United States are the inspirational works Rooted and Streams (both by Zondervan in 2010). His first novel to debut in the USA is A Bride’s Flight from Virginia City, Montana (Barbour), which was released January 2012. The second, The Wings of Morning, will be published by Harvest House on February 1. Both of these novels center around the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.











ABOUT THE BOOK





In April 1861, Lyndel Keim discovers two runaway slaves in her family's barn. When the men are captured and returned to their plantation, Lyndel and her young Amish beau, Nathaniel King, find themselves at odds with their pacifist Amish colony



Nathaniel enlists in what will become the famous Iron Brigade of the Union Army. Lyndel enters the fray as a Brigade nurse on the battlefield, sticking close to Nathaniel as they both witness the horrors of war--including the battles at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Despite the pair's heroic sacrifices, the Amish only see that Lyndel and Nathaniel have become part of the war effort, and both are banished.



And a severe battle wound at Gettysburg threatens Nathaniel's life. Lyndel must call upon her faith in God to endure the savage conflict and to face its painful aftermath, not knowing if Nathaniel is alive or dead. Will the momentous battle change her life forever, just as it will change the course of the war and the history of her country?



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Face of Heaven, go HERE.

MY REVIEW-This is an author I have never read before but I am definitely putting the next book on my wishlist! Murray Pura writes a story that enthralls you and pulls you in to the plot. The characters are likeable and the history is a wonderful addition to the story. An interesting twist was Lyndel falling ill and then having memory loss. Nathaniel makes a great preacher and a good hero. Great book, Murray!!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation.

The American Bible Challenge New Review!!

Hey everyone, have you heard about the new American Bible Challenge? This is hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and I have to admit, it was pretty fun to watch:) Check it out!!
This is basically a game show with Bible based questions and the contestants will be giving their money to a faith based charity organization. Now this premiers tomorrow! I am telling you, I really enjoyed watching this. The questions were fun, the contestants were even funnier and the choir was good. The only thing I could say that I didn't care for was some of the group titles. To me they were a little bit more humorous than I thought they should be but this was preference. I had to laugh a couple times over some excitement between the teams and they did a great job. I kind of went through and answered the questions myself and boy do they get hard!

Overall this looks like a great game show that pushes people to know their Bible more. Quite a challenge! Make sure to tune in tomorrow for the premier!

I received a screener copy for my review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Enter to Win a Nook Color from Robert Whitlow and RSVP for 8/28 Facebook Party!



Enter Today - 8/7-8/27!

IF YOU HAVE A WORDPRESS BLOG: USE THIS CODE!

Suggested Title: Enter to Win a Nook Color from Robert Whitlow and RSVP for 8/28 Facebook Party!

Enter Today - 8/7-8/27!

Blog Post:

Suggested Title: Win a Nook Color from Robert Whitlow in The Choice Giveaway. RSVP for 8/28 Facebook Party.

Celebrate with Robert by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!



See what folks are saying about The Choice!







One "choice" winner will receive:


  • A Nook Color with GlowLight

  • A four book Robert Whitlow library (winner's choice)


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 27th. Winner will be announced at the "The Choice" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/28. Meet Robert, get a sneak peek of his next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!



So grab your copy of The Choice and join Robert on the evening of the August 27th for a chance to connect with Robert and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)




Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter



Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

The Choice By Robert Whitlow W/Review!

I have long been a fan of this author right here. Robert Whitlow has written some really great books and this new one, The Choice, was one of my favorites. Check it out and make sure to enter the contest for the Nook Color and read about the Facebook party!! This will be my next post so be sure to read it.

About the Book:
One young woman.
Two very different roads. The choice will change everything. Even as a pregnant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln
wanted to do the right thing. But when an ageless woman approached her in a
convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear. She made the best choice she could . . . and has lived with the consequences. More than thirty

years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy’s long-ago decision has come back to haunt her. The stakes rise quickly, leaving Sandy with split seconds to choose once more. But will her choice decision bring life . . . or death?

Meet Robert:
Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina. For more about Robert and his other books, visit www.robertwhitlow.com.

TO VISIT THE OTHER BLOG TOUR SPOTS, CHECK OUT THE CHOICE BLOG TOUR PAGE.

MY THOUGHTS-Robert Whitlow knows how to write a good book. I mean one that gets you interested and then keeps your interest the whole way through. Have you ever read a book that you just couldn't finish? I know I sure have! Been several that I couldn't get into:) But that is not the case for this book. The Choice covers a very delicate subject or should I say, several touchy subjects. But Mr Whitlow pulls it all off with great finesse! I do have to tell you, you better have tissues handy!!

The book is separated into two parts. One is when Sandy is a young teen and the second part is when she is older. Sandy is the young, scared teenager who finds out that she is pregnant from a high school boy. I really liked how Robert Whitlow handled this. He could have been in detail about what happened and he also could have just had her parents brush everything off and just say that is what happens. Sure they care for her but at the same time, there are consequences. Her mother is very direct about this and how Sandy's life is going to change. At an early part in this section, Sandy is approached at a gas station by an older woman who tells her a very strange thing. I don't want to give anything away about the story so I will leave you guessing about what she says. But believe me, I was wondering what was going on.

The second part delves into the life of Sandy as she is in her later years. She gave birth and then put both children up for adoption. She chose to never find them unless they wanted to as well. Then guess what happens? A young teenager in her class at school finds out she is pregnant. And very scared. What would any good teacher do? She offers to help this Mexican teen and then gets into a whole lot of trouble. Everything spirals out of control at this point and I found myself cheering Sandy on.

This is a great book you will enjoy. Many tearful parts, some very thought-provoking areas and a lot of good discussion points. I put this book on my keeper shelf and then passed it on for others in my family to read. If you enjoy a good book with a lot to it, this is a book you will want to pick up. Excellent novel Mr Whitlow!!

According to FTC Policy, I received a copy of this book for my review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine.

FIRST WildCard Tour for Digital Winter!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!









Today's Wild Card author is:







and the book:





Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)





***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***


MY REVIEW-Okay, I have always known Alton Gansky could get into some strange things. That is one reason I have enjoyed his previous books. They are exciting, interesting and very entertaining. And did I mention thought provoking? Well, they are all of those things listed above. And this one was no different. I wasn't sure quite what to expect but it was nothing like the story-line turned out to be. Loved the plot, the whole cast of characters and the writing, superb! Excellent suspense book with a bit of the strange!!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:





Mark Hitchcock is the author of nearly 20 books related to end-time Bible prophecy, including the bestselling 2012, the Bible, and the End of the World.
He earned a ThM and PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary and is the
senior pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. He has worked
as an adjunct professor at DTS, and he and his wife, Cheryl, have two
sons.













Alton Gansky is the author of 30 books—24 of them novels, including the Angel Award winner Terminal Justice and Christy Award finalist A Ship Possessed.
A frequent speaker at writing conferences, he holds BA and MA degrees
in biblical studies. Alton and his wife reside in Southern California.




www.altongansky.com








SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:







Prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock and novelist Alton
Gansky provide a suspenseful and fast-moving story of life after a
massive cyber attack. Surgeons find themselves operating without
electricity. The military can’t use its computers… This gripping story
of darkness and heroism highlights prophetic themes and the danger of a
cyber attack.








Product Details:

List Price: $14.99

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0736949127

ISBN-13: 978-0736949125






AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
















Stanley Elton





January 20, 2014


Shadow, shadow on my
right,

Shadow, shadow on my left,

Shadow, shadow everywhere,

Shadow has all the might.


Stanley
Elton emerged from the bedroom at
precisely 7:10 a.m., his favorite mug in his hand containing his favorite
African blend of coffee. Truth was, he had seven favorite mugs, one for each
day of the week. He had seven favorite blends of coffee as well, seven favorite
dress shirts, seven chosen suits of varying shades of gray, and seven power
ties.


T he morning sunlight had already
pushed back some of the thick clouds that covered the parts of San Diego
closest to the Pacific. His part of San Diego was called Coronado Island,
although it wasn’t a true island. Situated on a stretch of land called the Strand,
the small community rested on a jut of property that looked from the air like
an arthritic thumb sticking into the blue waters.


Founded in 1860, the city of Coronado
was home to the elite. North Island Naval Air Station took much of the prime
real estate, but there was still plenty of room for retired admirals, CEOs, and
entrepreneurs who made sudden wealth in the digital age. A stroll through the
city streets sometimes allowed tourists a glimpse of a celebrity.


Stanley Elton was no celebrity or entrepreneur;
he wasn’t a retired admiral or a man of old money. He was, however, the CEO of
San Diego’s largest CPA firm, a company whose client list included scores of
the top companies in the country. He was on a first-name basis with people
often mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. For
thirty years he worked for OPM Accounting. Most people assumed OPM stood for
the founders of the firm, people who died a generation ago. It didn’t. Insiders
knew OPM stood for Other People’s Money. A bit tongue in cheek, but it drew
hearty laughs for the few who knew the joke.


“Nice day.” Stanley moved to the open
kitchen and kissed his wife on the top of the ear.


“You know that gives me the shivers.”
Royce Elton pulled away and tried to rub her ear on her shoulder, her hands
busy flipping eggs and turning bacon. A pot next to the frying pan cooked down
some oatmeal. Instant oatmeal wasn’t good enough for her son, Donny. At least
he ate something close to healthy.


“My presence has always made you
shiver.” Elton slurped his coffee.


“Shudder is more like it.” Her tone was
playful.


“Shiver, shudder; potato, patahto.” He
moved from the kitchen and took his usual spot at the floor-to-ceiling window
overlooking the rolling Pacific. T he $3.5 million condo was on the top floor
of one of the fifteen ten-story structures on the Strand. Built in the 1960s,
the luxury buildings caused such a stir that a city ordinance was passed
forbidding similar towering structures in Coronado. Too late and too little.


From the wide living room, Stanley
could look to the left and see the Pacific Ocean or look right and see the calm
waters of Glorietta Bay. “Water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”


“Good thing we have plumbing and
coffee.” Royce dropped two pieces of bacon (well done) and two eggs (over hard)
onto a scalloped-edged green plate. A moment later, she added two pieces of rye
toast.


He stepped to the dining table. “Dining
room” would be inaccurate. T he only real rooms in the open floor plan were the
bathrooms and bedrooms. Royce set the plate on the glass top. She sat next to
him, sipping a chocolate diet shake.


“Eating real food while watching you
suck on that stuff fills me with guilt.” He stuck a piece of bacon in his
mouth.


“You’re a man. You’re supposed to feel
guilty. It goes with the Y chromosome.”


“T his is what I get for marrying a
geneticist.”


“Brains are sexy.”


“Really? I hadn’t heard.”


Royce raised an eyebrow. “You know, I
can poison your breakfast.”


“T hat’s why we have Rosa cook our
other meals. Cuts down on your opportunity to cash in on the life insurance.”
He cut one egg in half and scooped it into his mouth. Stanley didn’t like
wasting time on trivial things like breakfast. “Busy day?”


“Usual classes at the university, and
then I have about four hours in the lab. I’ll be late. I have to grade test
papers after that. Rosa has something planned for you and Donny.”


“She’s as good a cook as she is a
nurse.” Down went the second half of the egg.


“She’s a jewel. We should pay her
more.”


It was Stanley’s turn to raise an
eyebrow. “Really? She makes good money now.”


“I’m not sure it covers all she does.
Dealing with Donny isn’t easy.”


Stanley contemplated the comment while
gnawing on the bacon. “What do you mean? He sits in his room and doesn’t cause
any trouble. He’s as passive as someone with his condition can be.”


Royce frowned. She hated it when
Stanley referred to Donny’s challenges as his
condition
.


“Sorry,” he said. “You know what I
mean. Other people like him can be high maintenance.”


Another frown. “He requires a lot of
care, Stan. You know that.”


“Of course. I do my share.”


She touched his arm. “I know, dear. I
didn’t mean that. You do more than any other father would. You provide an
income that allows us to get all the help we need. My professor’s salary
wouldn’t pay for one room in this place. I’m just saying we should reward Rosa.
She’s been with us since Donny was ten. T hat’s twelve years.”


“She’s a trooper. Did you have
something in mind?”


“I thought of a paid vacation, but I
don’t think she’d leave Donny for more than a few days. She’s so devoted to
him. I know that her car is getting a little long in the tooth. She had to take
it into the shop. Cost her a pretty bundle to get the transmission fixed.”


“You want to pay for the repairs?”


“No, I want to buy her a car.”


Stanley lowered his fork. “You’re
kidding, right?” He could see she wasn’t. “You mean like a Porsche or Ferrari
or—”


“Of course not. I was thinking of a
Prius or some other hybrid. It would save her some gas money.”


Stanley furrowed his brow, narrowed his
eyes, and clinched his jaw, but he couldn’t maintain the pretense. He had never
been angry at his wife and couldn’t imagine starting now. T he forced frown
gave way to the upward pressure of a smile.


“You’re working me, aren’t you?”


“Yep.”


“Okay, but it’s going to cost you
another cup of coffee. I’ll let you make the arrangements. Take the money from
the house account.” He paused. “We are talking just one car, right?”


“For now.” She rose, kissed him on the
forehead, and took his cup to refill it. “Speaking of Rosa, she said something
yesterday that seemed…”


“What?”


“I don’t know what word to use.
Unexpected.” She filled the cup and returned to the table. “She said Donny
spoke.”


“Spoke? You mean more than one word?”


“She meant sentences.”


“You’re kidding. I’ve never heard him
link words together. I thought it was beyond his ability.”


“We don’t know that.” Royce the
geneticist was talking now. “His condition is a mystery. T here are only a
handful of savants in the world. We don’t know what goes on in his brain.”


“What did he say?”


“She told me she couldn’t make out all
the words. He stopped when she entered the room. Something about shadows.”


“Maybe she was hearing something from
one of his computers.”


“Maybe, but she didn’t think so.”


Stanley checked his watch. “Why didn’t
you tell me this last night?”


“Um, because you didn’t come home until
nearly midnight and you were half asleep.”


“Oh, yeah.” He rose. “T hanks for
breakfast. Good as Rosa is, food cooked by my wife always tastes better.”


“I manipulate the alleles in the eggs.”


“T hat’s more science talk, isn’t it?”


“You going to say goodbye to him?”


“Just like every day for twenty-two
years.”


“T hanks.”


Stanley started the most difficult task
of his day. He loved his son, but he would rather face off against a bunch of
IRS attorneys than turn the doorknob to his boy’s bedroom.


As his hand touched the brass knob, he
heard a voice from the other side of the door:


Shadow, shadow on my
right,

Shadow, shadow on my left,

Shadow, shadow everywhere,

Shadow has all the might.


....


Donny Elton sat in his chair as he did
every hour he wasn’t sleeping. T he chair was an expensive, well-padded iBOT
designed by inventor Dean Kamen. It was powered and could raise Donny to the
eye level of any adult not playing in the NBA. A series of gyros and a robust
computer program enabled it to climb stairs without tipping. T he invention had
been a boon to wheelchair-bound consumers.


But Donny wasn’t bound to the
wheelchair. He could walk if he wanted, jump if he desired, and even sprint if
he had a mind to, but he never did. At least that was what the doctors said.
Under heavy sedation, Donny had endured MRIs, CAT scans, X-rays, muscle
conductivity studies, and other medical tests. All came back negative.


“T he problem isn’t with this body,”
the doctors said. “T he problem is in his mind. He doesn’t want to walk.” T hat
had been the end of their assessment. No one could offer any ideas of how to
make a healthy twenty-two-year-old who was monosyllabic on his best day and
mute on his worst and who possessed an IQ above 200 do what he didn’t want to
do. “You simply cannot make a man walk if he doesn’t want to.” T hey had been
united in that assessment.


Stanley, in the few quiet moments he
allowed himself, wondered why his son refused to walk or engage with humanity.
Yes, his savant condition was probably due to autism, but research had yet to
come to a consensus on that.


Stanley stood in the open door with a
bowl of hot oatmeal in one hand and wondered if he had heard what he thought he
heard.


“Hey, buddy. Mom whipped up some
oatmeal for you.” He moved to the long desk that took up all of one wall in the
place they called Stanley’s bedroom. It looked more like a NASA control center
than a place to sleep. A series of four 27-inch monitors lined the table, and
two computer towers sat nearby. T hey were never turned off. More than once,
Stanley had awakened in the night to hear Donny’s fingers tapping on the
keyboard.


“Oatmeal. Food. Oatmeal. Good.”


Stanley set the bowl and spoon on an
unoccupied spot of the table. “Whatcha working on, pal?”


“Oatmeal. Good.”


Stanley was thankful Donny could feed
himself. He needed help dressing and using the bathroom, but at least he could
manage to put a spoon in his mouth or hold a sandwich. Small
blessings.


T he large window of the bedroom
overlooked the Pacific side of the Strand. T he thinning cloud cover allowed
the morning sun to paint sparkles on the gentle swells and surf. A short
distance from the shore, surfers waited for the ocean to offer more waves.
Although Stanley couldn’t see them from this window, he knew that new Navy
SEALs were training there. Such was Coronado: home to the wealthy, a mecca for
sun worshippers, a training ground for the Navy, and a magnet for tourists.


Donny knew none of this. Stanley
doubted his son had ever noticed the beauty outside his window, the kind of
view that made the 1700-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath condo worth $3.5
million. T he only things Donny seemed to notice were on the computer monitors.
Stanley doubted the young man even knew him. T he last thought brought pain, as
it did a dozen times every day.


Line upon line of code filled the
monitors. For a few moments, Stanley considered having a programmer look at it,
but he dismissed the idea. What difference would it make?


“I’m headed to work, son. I’ll be home
late again, but I’ll look in on you. Mom will be here until Rosa arrives.”


“Rosa. Oatmeal. Good.” Donny took a
bite of the pasty meal.


Stanley ran his fingers through his
son’s hair. He loved the boy even if he had never caught a baseball or watched
a football game. “Take it easy, champ.”


“Bye. Later. Oatmeal.”


Stanley turned when something appeared
in the corner of his eye—something dark, indistinct. He snapped his head around
but saw nothing.


Closing the door, Stanley paused and
tried to push back the gloom that draped his mind. T hen he heard Donny’s voice
again.


Shadow, shadow on my
right,

Shadow, shadow on my left,

Shadow, shadow everywhere,

Shadow has all the might.






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