Gabby, God’s Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

I fell in love with reading as a child. Recently, I’ve chosen a few children’s books so that I can highlight them for you. I love the thought of children getting hooked on reading at a young age. And even more, I love the thought of children being introduced to God at a young age! So . . . I will be showcasing more children’s books on the site as I receive galleys.

Gabby, God’s Little Angel by Sheila Walsh is the first in a new series for children about a somewhat clumsy guardian angel. The book is absolutely precious! The illustrations are adorable – very colorful and cutesy! The best part of the book, though, is the message that God protects and watches over us! The story told of God’s very personal interaction in our lives, rather than a distant, far-off God. I also loved how Gabby’s purpose was to show that God cares for us. This is a very sweet story that will show God’s love and care for us to young readers.

I received a free galley of this book from Thomas Nelson and Net Galley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Book
This first book in a delightful new series offers a comforting message for young readers—God loves you very much and is always watching over you!

What little girl wouldn’t love her very own guardian angel? Parents and children alike will be won over by this humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God’s little ones. Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels: “He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 ICB).

About the Author
Sheila Walsh is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women  by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.

Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.

Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.



Follow Sheila on her website,  Twitter and Facebook.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by MizB on her blog Should Be Reading.

It's easy! Just pick up your current read (or one of them!), open to a random page, and choose a couple of sentences on the page to post as a teaser. No spoilers please! Make sure to tell which book you pulled the quote from so others can check it out if they're interested.

I'm reading The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz so here's a little snippet.

Passing him the journal, she took a long, unhindered look at him as he contemplated the offering. Hands in her lap, she stifled the urge to reach out and ease the tense lines of his brow, smooth away his every worry. The heady scent of bergamot mingled with the sharp but subtle tang of lye and sent her senses swimming. She could no longer remember what Ambrose looked like, or smelled like, or was like. All she knew was Cassius Clayton McLinn. All she wanted began and ended with him. (pg. 127)

Don't forget about the giveaway going on this week as well! As for me . . . I'm going back to my book!

Random Question: Jamie Carie

Arrrrgh, matey! In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, I'm featuring Jamie Carie in today's Random Question interview! Her most recent release (out this month!) is Pirate of My Heart. I absolutely loved it and I hope you will check it out too! Take a peek at my review and a sample chapter. Oh . . . and keep reading all the way to the end for a surprise!


What was the inspiration behind Pirate of My Heart?
After writing a couple of pretty intense books (Angel’s Den and Love’s First Light) I wanted to try something lighter and more fun. As the story developed the sparks really started to fly between Lady Kendra Townsend and American sea captain, Dorian Colburn. I love it when my characters become so real they take over the story and that’s how this book felt from the start. I just let them tell me what will happen next, discovering with them their adventure and how they will fall in love.

What were some of your favorite books as a child?
I was a true bookworm so I love this question! Around third grade my dad (I’m a PK) decided to throw out the television. My brother and I weren’t too happy about that, I can tell you! But in the next two years I discovered books. I read Heidi, the Little House on the Prairie series, Little Women and anything by Louisa May Alcott, and by fourteen I was reading historical romances. I also have a fond memory of a set of red hardcover books that came with our encyclopedias that were full of fables, short stories and classic fairy tales. To this day, I love fairy tales!

What kind of snacks do you have in your pantry right now?
Right now I have a huge box of those Carr’s crackers as we are having our annual neighborhood party this weekend and I’m bringing dip and crackers (I have to confess I got into them last night!). I’m sure there are some chips, fish crackers, granola bars and cookies in there as well!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I went through several stages: Olympic gymnast, ballerina, singer-songwriter, secretary, teacher, cosmetologist, advertising executive, business woman (my years as a teenager working at McDonalds made me think it would be fun to own a food franchise one day). Notice author isn’t on the list? I don’t know why but I never thought of it until I was in my late twenties and started writing in earnest.

If you could visit any place in the United States, where would you go?
Hawaii or Alaska. Opposites, I know! Since two of my books (Snow Angel and The Snowflake) are set in Alaska I’ve always wanted to visit there, but the beach sounds so wonderful right now. I would have to flip a coin. :)

What verse or passage of Scripture would you consider to be your “life verse”?
I don’t know that I have a “life verse” but Isaiah 61:1 (and the whole chapter) has always meant a lot to me. Kind of like a life’s mission statement. I hope my books and my life reflect this.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
Isaiah 61:1, NIV

What are you working on now?
I am so excited to be working on book three, A Duke’s Promise, in my first series! It’s called the Forgotten Castles series and is a story about a young woman who has been told that her treasure hunting parents are dead and that the powerful Duke of St. Easton is now her guardian. (Book one is The Guardian Duke – out February 2012, book two is The Forgiven Duke – out July 2012 and book three is A Duke’s Promise – out September 2012, so you won’t have to wait long in between books!). Lady Alexandria Featherstone doesn’t believe her parents are so ill-fated and takes off on a three-book journey over Ireland, Iceland and Italy to rescue them. Adventure, romance, some comical side characters that my son Seth (19) helped me dream up and God’s loving redemption! It’s my best work to date, I think!

Want to hang out with Jamie a bit more?!
Make sure to check out Jamie's blog for a couple of really fun quizzes (what's your pirate name?!) and some pirate booty too! You can also keep up with her on Facebook and Twitter.

And now . . . a fun surprise!
Because Jamie is awesome and super-generous, she is giving away a copy of Pirate of My Heart to one lucky reader! Isn't she great?!

Mandatory entry:
- Leave a comment for Jamie on this post.
- Make sure to include your email address disguised like this: iblog4books at gmail dot com

Extra entries:
- Follow this blog (+1)
- Like i blog 4 books on Facebook (+1)
- Follow @iblog4books on Twitter
- Let others know about this really fun giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, or any other means of social media (+2)

U.S. residents only. Winner will be randomly selected. Once announced the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their address. Otherwise, I will have to choose another winner. Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Monday, September 26. 

*** Update: The winner has been announced! ***

Shutterfly Photo Books!

I don’t know about you but I’m always at a loss about what to DO with all the bajillions of pictures I take. I have shoeboxes full of pictures taken back in the days of film cameras. I have a giant box of photo albums of the ones I took time to place into albums. And once I moved into the digital camera age, I now have CDs, DVDs, flash drives, and folders on my laptop full of pictures that I’ve taken. Sadly, none of them are really out and available for me to enjoy daily or even just in a nostalgic moment.

After our incredible vacation this past spring, Hubs and I decided that we would compile some of the *best* photos into a photo book, have it printed, and then display it. What a great “souvenir!”

I promptly sat down and uploaded our favorite pictures to Shutterfly and set about designing a really fun photo book to commemorate our trip. It’s super-easy. You can choose to have a fairly “automated” layout, or you can choose from tons of layouts, backgrounds, and “scrapbooking” accessories. You can spend as much or as little time as you want getting the look you’re going for. And the prices are fairly reasonable . . . starting at around $15 per book.

This offer has reminded me to dive back in and finish it up, and I look forward to displaying it on our coffee table for a while . . . at least until our next trip!

Want a free photo book from Shutterfly? Check out the details here . . . but hurry, the offer ends today!

Since Christmas is right around the corner, don’t forget about Shutterfly for your Christmas cards and thank you cards!

I received a free photo book from Shutterfly in exchange for my post.

Attracted by Fire by DiAnn Mills

I'm not going to lie. While I was interested in reading Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills because it's a suspense / romance and I'd heard great things about DiAnn Mills' novels, I chose it because of the cover. I know, I know. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover . . . but you know you do it too! Anyway. The girl on the front reminds me so much of Dr. Brennan on the TV show Bones (which I love!), so I had to pick it up. :)

I started reading one night with the thought of reading "just a few pages." Six chapters later, I was still going strong. (Who needs sleep?!) I was sucked in from the first page and read furiously to the end. Attracted to Fire is incredibly fast-paced. The characters are dynamite. The writing is fantastic. I actually got giddy as the relationship between Ash and Meghan developed! In many ways the book read like a movie . . . I can easily see this playing out on the big screen!

My only (very small) complaint is that there were a couple of times when things seemed a bit rushed. Not overly . . . but just skipped a few tiny steps.

I loved how DiAnn wrote faith into Meghan and Ash's stories. Sometimes it comes off as cheesy, but DiAnn did a great job writing in realistic, faith-based conversations that could potentially draw readers to Christ. Which . . . isn't that the goal?!

All in all, this is my favorite type of novel. Action. Romance. Faith. I can't wait to read other books by DiAnn Mills!

I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Attracted to Fire will be available in October 2011.]


From the back cover . . . 
Only one assignment stands between Special Agent Meghan Connors and her dream of protecting the president.

After threats are made against the vice president's rebellious daughter, Meghan is added to her protective detail on a secluded Texas ranch, far from the media and any would-be assassins. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as challenging as safeguarding Lindsay Hall. He has a reputation for being critical and exacting, but behind his tough exterior, Meghan finds Ash is equally dedicated to upholding their oath.

When Vice President Hall is sworn in as president, threats on his daughter escalate and security on the ranch is breached. But who is the real target, and who can be trusted? As Ash and Meghan investigate, they uncover a deadly conspiracy that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined . . . and only they can put the pieces together before it's too late.

About the Author
DiAnn Mills is the Christy Award-winning, bestselling author of more than fifteen novels - including the Call of Duty series - with over one and a half million copies in print. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband. Visit her website at www.diannmills.com.

Verse 18!

Woot! Woot! We're on verse 18 for the year!

A co-worker shared this verse at our staff meeting yesterday morning. I thought it was such a great picture of the Lord covering us and us resting in Him.

Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety.The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders."

Deuteronomy 33:12, ESV

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond is an impressive debut novel. Set in the wilds of North Dakota, Susannah must learn to love her new husband, how to survive in a new place, and - more importantly - how to trust God.

Richmond's writing style is fantastic. I was gripped from the very beginning and stayed completely engrossed to the very end. Jesse and Susannah were delightful characters. They felt like friends by the end of the novel! While most of the book was written from the perspective of Susannah, I loved how some chapters were written from Jesse's point of view and each chapter started with a thought from Jesse . . . usually in the form of a prayer. The strength of Jesse's relationship with the Lord was refreshing. I loved how friends and the community were influential in caring for Susannah when she needed help the most.

I cannot wait to see what Catherine Richmond writes next!

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Net Galley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Book

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory.

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her—and his faith in God's perfect plan—slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.
She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.

About the Author
Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist until a special song planted a story idea in her mind. That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel. She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelists critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.