Sunday, December 19, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - The Thin Space Author: Dann Stouten On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: The Thin Space

Author: Dann Stouten

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Release date: May 28, 2021

When Psychologist Rocky Devos lost his wife to cancer, he also lost his faith in the fairness of God. For over a year, he lived in the thin space between his love for God and his hatred for what he believed God did. Each night, he banged on heaven’s gate demanding an explanation.

“Why Rachel, Lord? Why would you let her suffer like that? Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you give us a miracle?”

The longer his prayers went unanswered the more frustrated he became. Eventually, he meets God’s silence with a silence of his own. But then, a year and four months later, the answer arrives disguised as a homeless vagabond who claims to be the apostle Paul. Clearly, Rocky believes he was delusional. But in their court-appointed sessions, he finds a kindred spirit. As Paul unpacks the pain of losing his wife in childbirth the two men connect. Rocky believes he’s there to help Paul. Paul believes the opposite.

The book explores the thin space between faith and doubt. Rocky’s questions are our questions. At some point we will all lose someone we love. When we do, we will find comfort in the company of those who have walked the path of suffering before us. Rocky invites us to join him on his journey of redemption. His conversations with Paul will not only change the way he thinks about God, they may do the same for you as well.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

DANN STOUTEN (DMin, Western Theological Seminary) is the pastor of Leadership and Teaching at Christ Memorial Church in Holland, Michigan. Dann has always been a lover of stories. He believes if we write about hope, it’s because we have found hope. If we write about tragedy, it’s because we have experienced tragedy. If we write about love, it’s because we have been loved well or want to be. If we write about faith, it’s because we have wrestled with our doubts and come out on the other side. Doubt is the enemy of faith and nothing stirs up doubt like death.

When we lose someone we love, our faith is either strengthened or strangled. That death will drive us closer to God or drive us farther away. We find ourselves in The Thin Space between wanting to believe and wondering if we do. For a time, faith and doubt play tug-o-war with our souls. In the end, whether we chose to believe or not is often decided by the stories we’re told. My prayer is that my words might bring people comfort and bring them closer to God.

More from Dann

There is a thin space between faith and doubt, and when we lose someone we love, the lines can sometimes get blurred. Unanswered prayers hang heavy on our hearts, and grief can even cause us to question God. In those moments of uncertainty, we often find comfort in the company of those who’ve walked the path of suffering before us. Their story and our stories intertwine. The Thin Space invites us to walk alongside of Rocky DeVos as he tries to navigate life’s most challenging moments. It is honest, comforting, and dares ask the questions we so often are afraid to explore. It will challenge the way you think about God and is a must read for anyone who’s lost someone they love.

My Thoughts

The Thin Space is a Speculative Fiction book that is written by Dann Stouten. This is the first book that I have read by this author. This was an interesting read. Rocky Devos has not only lost his wife, but has lost his faith in God. He spends a lot of time being angry. One day, through his work he meets a homeless man who claims to be the apostle Paul. At first, Rocky thinks that that the man is delusional. However when he gets to know him he realizes that God is trying to send him a message.

This book focuses on grief and the many stages that one may go to. This book also touches on losing a loved one to cancer. The author has handled it gracefully. The author writes a beautiful story of a lost man finding his way back.

I hope to read more from this author. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, December 8

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 12 (Spotlight)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 14

Beauty in the Binding, December 15 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, December 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 16

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 17

For Him and My Family, December 18

Splashes of Joy, December 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 20

Spoken from the Heart, December 21 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Dann 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/1482a/the-thin-space-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Review and Giveaway - The Next Fithian Author: Rick Barry On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: The Next Fithian

Author: Rick Barry

Genre: YA Christian Science Fiction

Release date: September 14, 2021

Was this a new life — or a death sentence?

When Rankin Johnson boards a flight to Israel, he expects an adventure in archeology. But the airplane comes under attack and explodes in midair. Rankin shouts, “God, I’m yours!” Instantly, he’s in some other place. An angel informs Rankin the Lord is pleased to accept his offer. He dubs Rankin “the next Fithian” — a messenger from God, not to Earth, but to planet Zemna in the alternate dimension. What happened to the previous Fithian? “He was killed,” the angel says before vanishing.

On Zemna, Rankin finds a perplexing, violent world. Futuristic technology mingles with primitive ways. Also, a bizarre symbol—the Intersection of All Things—has appeared on his left palm. It’s a tool to aid his mission, but how? Rankin is supposed to share God’s message with this planet. Instead, he becomes a slave. What he really wants is a trip back to Earth.

With the aid of Prahv and Theena, a brother and sister who become his best friends, Rankin escapes. He hopes to fulfill his mission and return home as fast as possible. But now there’s a price on Rankin’s head. More than one Zemnan would rather kill him for the reward than hear what he has to say.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rick Barry has climbed mountains, jumped from perfectly good airplanes, toured World War 2 battlefields, and visited Eastern Europe over 50 times in Christian ministry. He has a degree in teaching foreign languages and speaks Russian. His fiction and non-fiction have been published by Kregel Books, Focus on the Family, JourneyForth Books, Answers in Genesis, and others. His previous novels are Kiriath’s Quest, Gunner’s Run, The Methuselah Project, and Methuselah Project S.O.S.

More from Rick

Years ago, I received an unexpected phone call. Michael Ross, then-editor of Focus on the Family’s Breakaway magazine, asked me to brainstorm a big, bold adventure for teens: “Maybe fantasy. Maybe science fiction. Maybe both mixed together. I don’t know. Just make it big!”

Such an intriguing challenge! I accepted the assignment and developed a 3-part Christian sci-fi story, The Next Fithian. Those three installments reaped enthusiastic reactions from readers. However, after Part 3, that assignment was done. I moved on.

As years passed, my Fithian characters refused to let me forget them. They kept coming to mind, urging me to create an exhilarating, novel-length adventure for them. At first, I refused. I was giving priority to my novels about World War II airmen.

However, whenever I attended homeschool conferences to sign books for shoppers, teens visited my table to talk. What were those teen guys and girls wearing? T-shirts portraying the Avengers, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk … It was obvious what kinds of adventures captivated these young adults. I wondered—what kind of uplifting novel could I pen for Christian fans of the Marvel universe?

In reply, my thoughts jumped back to The Next Fithian, a story brimming with action, adventure, danger, faith—plus a positive role model. This time, I yielded and began brainstorming ways to extend the original 5,400 words into an 80,000-word sci-fi novel with a Christian worldview. I didn’t want simply to create a gripping adventure. I wanted to give readers something unique. I wanted to touch their emotions, to make them laugh, to make them cry, to inspire them, and make them ponder things they had never considered before. I also wanted to transport them to another world where they might see better how to live in our own real world.

Responses from volunteer readers give me hope that The Next Fithian: An Ordinary Teen on a Strange, New World will appeal to diverse readers, both teens and adults. One teen, Kaden E. wrote, “WOW! I just finished the book, and boy was it fantastic!” Another teen, Victoria S. declared, “Rankin is exactly the kind of protagonist we need—he’s mentally, emotionally, and spiritually mature; intelligent; and compassionate.” Adult test reader Marali S. emailed, “I enjoyed this! You must write more!” Another, Jude U., wrote, “I pronounce excellence! The ‘romance’ was sweet and just enough.”

A mix of other test readers gave similar encouragement. So, even though my target audience is young adults, I hope adults will also enjoy it, just as adults enjoyed 17-year-old Katniss Everdeen of Hunger Games fame.

Christian sci-fi might not be your style, but pause and think—maybe you know a young adult who might benefit from such a story?

My Thoughts

The Next Fithian is a Sci-Fi book that is written by Rick Barry. I read this with my 10 year old son - who has really enjoyed reading and reviewing fantasy and Sci-Fi books lately. This is the second book that I have read by this author. This book sparked some good conversation with my son and I regarding allowing God to use us.

Our main character is Rankin Johnson. Who is on a flight to Isreal in hopes of a future in archeology. HOwever the plane he is on is attacked and explodes in mid-air. Rankin yells “God, I’m yours!” and is transported from the plane to a whole different place. He finds that God has chosen him to be a messenger, however on the planet Zemna.

The planet Zemna is an interesting place. Rankin finds himself on a mission and a price on his head. Can he accomplish his mission and get back to normal? The author has done a great job with the alternative universe. We were able to follow along without any issues.My son and I discussed that God will use us when we ask.

The characters are well written, the storyline engaging. This was a great young adult sci-fi book to read. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 13

Texas Book-aholic, December 14

Inklings and notions, December 15

For Him and My Family, December 16

deb’s Book Review, December 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 18

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 21

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 21 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 22

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 23

Simple Harvest Reads, December 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 25

Beauty in the Binding, December 26 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Rick is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and signed 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/14834/the-next-fithian-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tour Reminders

Book Review - Jack and the Fantastical Circus By Ariel and Michael Tyson

(GASTONIA, N.C.) June 2021 – Good & True Media is proud to announce the November release of Jack and the Fantastical Circus, the first picture book written by Ariel and Michael Tyson, the couple behind the Instagram page @arielctyson. A desire to promote virtue and sparked by their own experience of raising a family, led the pair to create this story to entertain children while teaching them valuable life lessons

Over 600,000 people on Instagram and over 1 million on TikTok follow the Tyson family as they share the joys and realities of raising 6 (soon to be 7) kids. The pair is passionate about guiding children and helping them become the person they are meant to be. That is the inspiration behind Jack and the Fantastical Circus (November 16, 2021; ISBN 9781737079668), which emphasizes these lessons in a fun, whimsical light.

In this dreamscape picture book, Jack and the Fantastical Circus centers around a young boy named Jack who finds himself on a Circus Train. As he makes his way through the train cars, he is introduced to new circus performers. Each performer shares with Jack their own lesson in virtue. Thus, showing children that virtue takes practice and dedication to grow.

Co-author Ariel explains, “Discovering virtue is so worth it and can be guided by mentors in our lives.” Author Michael shares, “It’s like a muscle. You have to keep practicing to help it grow strong. We want to teach kids this by showing them the distinct characters of the book and how they relate to areas where they may want to grow in their own lives.”

Jack and the Fantastical Circus will encourage children to explore their imaginations, learn critical lessons, and strive to grow in virtue. It will also hopefully inspire meaningful conversations between parents and children to discuss the importance of virtue.

Publication Date: November 23, 2021

Author/Illustrator: Ariel and Michael Tyson / Mary Manning

Imprint: Good & True Media

ISBN: 9781737079668

Price: $24.95

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 32

Ages: 6-10

About Ariel and Michael Tyson

Ariel and Michael Tyson have been married for 13 years. United by a shared passion for helping others, they have been serving their community since 2005. Along this journey, they have gained over 600,000 followers on their Instagram page @arielctyson, and 1 million followers on their TikTok @arielctyson and have a YouTube channel named The Tysons. Ariel has a B.S. degree from Liberty University with an M.A. degree from there as well. She is a social media content creator, college counseling professor, and homeschooler. Michael is a graduate of Liberty University, and has attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor and entrepreneur for 15 years. The role that Ariel and Michael are the most proud of; however, is their role as parents to their 7 children, who they are passionate about raising to be confident world changers! Michael and Ariel enjoy writing, exploring the outdoors with their family, and spending time in the gym. They currently live in Tennessee with their growing family. Jack and the Fantastical Circus is their first children’s book.

About Illustrator

Mary Manning is an illustrator with over 16 years of experience. She has a knack for bringing the imaginary world to life and a particular interest and talent in character development. Her talents have led her to work on many children’s books throughout her career as an illustrator, including Jack and the Fantastical Circus. Mary currently lives in Oklahoma with her beloved dog, Cowboy.

About Good & True Media

Good & True Media is a children’s book imprint of Good Will Publishers, Inc. Good & True publishes a boutique list of books, all of which are told upon a Christian foundation and aim to inspire children's imaginations through works that promote classical virtues and wholesome examples of the moral life. For more information, visit www.goodandtruemedia.com.

MY THOUGHTS

Jack and the Fantastical Circus is written by husband and wife Ariel and Michael Tyson. This is a children's picture book that is geared toward children ages 6-10. I read this with my 8 and 10 year old sons. This book features a good lesson in learning what virtue was. I loved the way that the authors presented it.

Jack is on the way to see his grandfather - his father is telling him all about virtue. Jack falls asleep! He falls into a deep dream. Suddenly he wakes up and he is on a circus train. What an adventure! Soon there are so many lessons being presented to him in every character that he meets. My boys really soaked in the message being presented. They loved Reno, the circus master.

Well written and beautifully illustrated. Lots of great lessons for children to learn. This is a great book to add to your children's library.

I received a copy of this book through the author, publisher and Good and True Media. All thoughts are my own.

Book Review and Giveaway - Of Fire and Ash - Author: Gillian Bronte Adams On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Of Fire and Ash

Author: Gillian Bronte Adams

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

Release date: December 7, 2021

She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction. Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds—soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth, and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life—or death—for her people. But when invaders spill onto Soldonia’s shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her. With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander- loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own. She loves to connect with readers online at www.gillianbronteadams.com.

More from Gillian

I still vividly remember the moment, years ago, that the idea for this book came to me. It was the end of July, sometime between ten and eleven at night, and the insects outside were buzzing so loudly you could hear them through the window of the back room of the camp office where I sat. Slumped exhaustedly in a chair, shivering in the air conditioning in my sweat-soaked jeans and a t-shirt, I was waiting for the other summer staff to arrive so we could start and finish our planning meeting and stumble off to our cabins to sleep.

Even then, writing felt like breathing to me, so to pass the time and keep myself awake, I drew a ragged notebook out of my backpack and started scribbling sparks and specks of story ideas, barely noticing how my arm left smears of dirt on the page. It was my third or fourth summer as Head Wrangler, which meant I spent my days either on horseback or jogging alongside kids who were learning to ride. Dirt was just a part of life.

So many details of that night remain fresh in my mind, it’s odd that I can’t remember exactly what sparked the idea itself—the wide-eyed grin of a boy on his very first ride, the budding confidence in a girl as she raced around the barrels, or the cumulation of all the hours I’d spent atop my own wild thing, clearing wooded trails with a machete, leaping across creeks because he refused to simply wade, and performing amateur stunts for the occasional skit.

Whatever lit the fuse, as soon as I scribbled the first set of words on that crumpled notebook page, I knew I had struck gold. I felt it in my bated breath and leaping heartbeat. “Super-powered horses.” Or better yet, “Magical steeds.” Some that could breathe fire, some with hides like stone that could quake the earth with their hooves, some that rode upon the waves of the sea, and still others that could step into shadow and disappear without a trace.

Seven in all, they quickly cluttered the page, and I couldn’t wait for the chance to write the epic tale that could contain creatures like these. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a story yet. Just a page full of fanciful beasts and a head full of wild dreams. No characters. No plot. No premise. Or so I thought.

The meeting started then and I had to tuck my notebook away, but I couldn’t banish the magical horses now roaming in my head. Over the weeks and months that followed, I took them out and let them dance across the page every now and then, gradually fleshing out details, uncovering their secrets, and imagining their world. Yet the story itself remained elusive, until I finally, reluctantly, set them aside and turned my attention to other things. Months before that summer night, I had, in a fit of wild inspiration, outlined a new three book series starring a female warrior who longed to rule like her father before her. It was a bit daring and a lot daunting, but while I liked the characters and the concept, the world itself was lacking that flare of uniqueness, that touch of magic, that allows a fantasy realm to sprawl beyond the confines of the page and take root in the imagination of a reader.

Reading the outline afresh, I lamented that it was the sort of lusterless story doomed to die on a novelist’s hard drive, and perhaps my incredible magical horses with it, for though they were lustrous enough, without a story, they could never truly live. Without a story …

What if my aspiring queen lived in their world? What if she rode a fire-breathing steed? How might those beautiful magical creatures enhance and ultimately, shape her and her story?

Combining any two concepts can be dangerous, as you never know how they will interact until you try it. The resulting explosion shattered my outline and blasted apart my carefully formed plans, but when the dust settled and the heart of the new story emerged, I knew that this finally was an epic tale worthy of my magical steeds, and a world deep and dangerous enough to have forged my aspiring queen. It was, at last, Of Fire and Ash, the first book of The Fireborn Epic.

My Thoughts

Of Fire and Ash is a YA Epic Fantasy book that is written by Gillian Bronte Adams. This is book one in the Fireborn Epic Series. This is also the first book that I have read by this author. I review the YA books with my son, who is 10. One of the things that my son and I discovered this year with the many books that we have reviewed is that he really enjoys reading fantasy books. He said that it always feeds his imagination.

The author put a lot of work into creating the characters. She also put a lot of work into the plot. She has created a world and story and has put in three point of views to tell it. At first I thought it was going to be confusing. However, the author wove it all together seamlessly. Ceridwen has been banished to death by her own father, the King. However then her father is married and she steps into being the Queen to save her nation.

This is a perfect YA Fantasy book. My son reads at a high middle school level and had no problems following along. This is story of battles against evil. There are magical creatures and quests. The author did great job with descriptions - you actually feel like you are there.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 11

Rebecca Tews, December 11

Worthy2Read, December 12

Texas Book-aholic, December 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 14

For Him and My Family, December 15

Inklings and notions, December 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

deb’s Book Review, December 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 19

Where Faith and Books Meet, December 20

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 20

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 21

April Hayman, Author, December 22

Blogging With Carol, December 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 23 (Spotlight)

Through the fire blogs, December 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Gillian is giving away the grand prize of a $40 Amazon gift card!!

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/14831/of-fire-and-ash-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway- The Traveler Author: E.B. Dawson On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: The Traveler

Author: E.B. Dawson

Genre: Crossworlds Fantasy

Release date: September, 2017

The Traveler new ebook cover WHAT IF YOU COULD TRAVEL TO ANOTHER WORLD IN YOUR DREAMS?

In the modern nation-state of Riyen, few people dream anymore, and those who do are prescribed medication. But when Anissa Robson begins to dream of a strange jungle after the death of her mother, she neglects to report it. Feeling lost and alone in the waking world, she embraces her new dream world, until reality begins to cross over.

When Anissa stumbles upon evidence that her own government has known about Angapo for years, she uncovers a conspiracy that will change her life forever.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

E.B. Dawson Headshot E.B. Dawson was born out of time. Raised in the remote regions of a developing nation, traveling to America was as good as traveling thirty years into the future. Now she writes science fiction and fantasy to make sense of her unusual perspectives on life. Her stories acknowledge darkness, but empower and encourage people to keep on fighting, no matter how difficult their circumstances may be. She currently lives in Idaho with her family and her cat Maximus.

More from E.B. Dawson

G.K. Chesterton once wrote that “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” I rather suspect that Aslan would have agreed. In fact, he says something very similar when he explains to the Pevensies why he brought them to Narnia in the first place. It is also why I wrote The Traveler. The vivid, broken, beautiful, dangerous world of this book is completely of my own creation, and yet you will pick up the clear echoes of the world you know, and my hope is that it will allow you to see it with new eyes.

Born in a developing nation to expatriate parents, I traveled a lot as a kid. There really is no way to describe what it is like to grow up between two vastly different countries and multiple cultures. By the time I was seven I was more familiar with the concepts and consequences of political coups, religious persecution, colonization, regional famine, and ethnic discrimination than I was with Sesame Street or Winnie the Pooh.

I grew up surrounded by dozens of Non-Governmental Organizations like humanitarian groups and mission organizations, and military troops from multiple nations. This is probably why almost all my books have a political element that examines the relationships between parties with opposing interests. But my chief interest is and always will be exploring the impact an individual can have when surrounded by (and sometimes at the mercy of) forces beyond their control.

In The Traveler (and its two sequels) I invite you on a journey to examine the relationships between nations, individuals, and cultures. This series is truly about adventure and the spirit and wonder of traveling to new lands and how it can impact your perspectives and priorities. Sprinkle in some fantasy and advanced technology and you have the recipe for a transportive, emotionally rich, thought provoking story unlike any you’ve read before. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. And I hope it makes you look at the world around you with fresh perspective.

My Thoughts

The Traveler is written by E.B. Dawson. This is the first book in the Lost Empire series. This is the first book that I have read by this author. This is a fantasy book. This book was originally released in 2017. It got a new updated cover which draws you in.

In this story, we see Anissa. She lives in a state where you’re not allowed to dream. If you do they will give you medicine for it. After her mother passes she starts to dream of a jungle. Which at first is very odd to her. She travels between modern day world and a world that makes her think. Anissa is a strong character and does not like to listen to others. However she has to be careful of who to trust. Especially when she finds out that the government has been hiding things for years.

This is a great middle age fantasy book. I’ll be passing it down to my 10 year old who enjoys the time travel stories. The characters are well written and the storyline is engaging.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program. All thoughts are my own.