Category: iRead tour

August 7, 2017

A Spoonful of Grace Spotlight Tour

Just 2 minutes each day can change your family meal time for a lifetime.

About A Spoonful of Grace

A Spoonful of Grace is a collection of 366 evening meal graces taken from all 66 books of the Bible and designed to provide meaningful exposure to prayer and the Bible at a most opportune time: the family evening meal.

The Scripture/grace devotions are inviting, can be grasped at several levels, and are brief enough (about two minutes) to hold the attention of hungry kids. Here’s why:

Each day has an application section called Grace Notes: ideas and quotes to further illustrate the message and stimulate conversation.
Sundays are for Story Graces. These 52 devotions are a bit longer to afford the suspenseful, engrossing reading of stories such as David and Goliath, Daniel in the lions’ den, and Jonah and the big fish.
Special Graces are celebrations such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays.
Each grace:
- Supports discussions of God’s attributes and of faith-based values, offering moral examples like forgiveness, friendship, honesty, trust, even table manners.
- Creates curiosity about the Bible and ways in which Scripture can be applied to today’s issues.
- Demonstrates how the act of praying together lifts one’s own spirit; fosters praise; and increases mutual feelings of appreciation, gratefulness, and accountability.
- Teaches without overt instruction, similar to hiding extra veggies in the spaghetti sauce.
- Remind us that our food, as well as God’s countless other daily blessings, is a gift.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Christian Book and Barnes & Noble.

Book Trailer

About the Author

Annette Hubbell earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing from San Diego State University, her M.B.A. from Cal State University in San Marcos, and a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. She has been featured in over 160 performances, and starred in the DVD, “Witness to Gettysburg” edited by 33-time Emmy Award winner, Robert Gardner. She was awarded Presenter of the Year twice at the Civil War Round Table of San Diego, and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Hubbell lives in San Diego, California with her husband of 33 years, Monte. They have a daughter, Amy. She and her husband Scott live in Los Angeles, California. For more information

Connect with Annette on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

July 15, 2017

Appointment with Yesterday Book Review

Appointment with Yesterday is, ultimately, the story of hardships overcome and a determined boy’s journey toward finding his destiny.

About Appointment with Yesterday

A poignant and compelling first novel, Appointment with Yesterday tells the story of Yanni, a cheeky and delightful Greek boy growing up in a small town on an island in the eastern Aegean.

Left in the care of his loving grandparents, Yanni endures the deprivation and terror of the German occupation during World War II and finally leaves his beloved homeland and family to rejoin the parents who had left him behind to make a better life for themselves in America.

Filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of love, devotion, disenchantment, and dashed dreams, Appointment with Yesterday is, ultimately, the story of hardships overcome and a determined boy’s journey toward finding his destiny.

My Thoughts

Appointment with Yesterday is a beautiful story that follows the life of Yanni from his youth growing up in Greece to his teenage and adult years in America.

His story is one that I am sure so many older adults and their children can relate to. His parents left him in the care of his grandparents just before the war erupted in Europe. They left him in order to find their way in America and make money. A struggle that so many people found themselves in, leaving their old country to come to the new country to make their fortune. What they find instead is a bit shocking, it is not the life that they expected and they struggled with this new life and leaving their son.

When it is time for Yanni to join his family, he faces his own struggles – he is leaving everything he has ever known in his young life to be with parents he does not know in a culture that is so very unlike his own. We watch him struggle to get used to the culture, the people and their way of life. Throughout the story you feel so connected with Yanni and his journey. You want him to succeed but at the same time to never lose his roots and where he came from.

I fell in love with this special book and have re-read it several times already. I cried (and I was reading this book at the soccer field when this happened!), I laughed and my heart went out to Yanni and his family. You feel as though you are a part of him and his family. You are with him as he struggles and you can fully appreciate every step, every happy moment and every moment of pain.

Appointment with Yesterday is a beautiful story of a young man who comes into his own in a new country and in a new way of life. It is full of hope, perseverance, strength and faith. It is a definite must read for young adults and adults alike.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository and Books a Million.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Christopher Stratakis was born and raised in Greece. After moving to America, he graduated from Drexel University in 1951 and New York University School of Law in 1955. Shortly after joining the law firm of Poles, Tublin & Patestides in 1960, he became a partner, specializing in admiralty and corporate law.

He has written and published several articles, lectured on professional and historical subjects, served as Legal Advisor to several non-profits (pro bono), and was an arbitrator in maritime disputes. He is the author of Mnimes “Memories” (2010), a book of essays, short stories, and poems that he wrote as a teenager. In 2015, he co-edited Chains on Parallel Roads, a book published by Panchiaki “Korais” Society of New York. In recognition of his extensive community involvement, he has been the recipient of several awards from religious, governmental, and educational institutions.

Mr. Stratakis lives with his wife in New York City. He is the proud father of three and grandfather of three. This is his first novel.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

July 10, 2017

Three Days to Forever

In Three Days to Forever, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined to stop everything…forever!

About Three Days to Forever

With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is being touted as the social event of the year.

But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and Gnarly running for their lives.

With time running out before the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined to stop everything…forever!

My Thoughts

Three Days to Forever is another heart pounding, suspenseful mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat to the last-minute!

In this novel, we have our two main characters Archie and Mac Faraday about to tie the knot but what could possibly go wrong for this much talked about social event of the year? We find out a lot could go wrong! Every step closer to the altar brings disaster for the very much in love couple. And not the typical ordinary normal pre-wedding problems (even though they do have those!) – we are talking murder, shoot outs and more! Someone wants to put an end Mac Faraday’s marriage before it even starts.

Three Days to Forever is the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, murder and humour (yes humour!). Lauren develops characters that are realistic and individuals that you want to know. You want them to solve the mystery and you pray for their safe keeping throughout the novel. She has an amazing talent of drawing in characters from her other novels in a way that is fresh, unique and always has a tie to an old or new plot (I think this is my favourite part – I am not sure how she keeps track of all the connections!). You don’t have to worry if you have not read her previous novels, she includes a list of characters and their connections at the beginning of each book. You will fall in love with Lauren’s writing and attention to detail. Three Days to Forever is a definite must read for all mystery lovers!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Audible.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband and three dogs (including the real Gnarly’s klutzy nephew Sterling) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 28, 2017

Dead on Ice Book Review

Lauren Carr’s Audiobook-a-palooza Blog Tour continues with Dead on Ice! To celebrate the release of Lauren Carr’s mysteries in audiobook format, we have 14 books from her three series on tour!

About Dead on Ice

Spunky Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover, Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin’s basement. It doesn’t take long for their investigation to reveal that the risqué star’s roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She should have kept her hometown off her road map, too – because when this starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal homecoming.

My Thoughts

Dead on Ice is another fantastic and well spun novel of mystery, suspense and murder by Lauren Carr!

This series focuses on the very unique, loving and witty Cameron Gates. She has faced her own tragedies in her past with the loss of her first husband and this has changed the way she views the world and even her relationship with Joshua Thornton. Joshua Thornton is the prosecuting attorney in their small town and is also connected to this murder mystery.

At the heart of this case we have Cherry who had left their small town to become famous in adult films. Her body is found in the basement of Joshua’s cousin home after the community helps gather to clean out the home after his cousin’s death. The discovery of the body (after a small explosion!) rocks the community and as the case evolves, we find ties to an unsolved case from many years ago.

I loved the many, many layers to this novel. It is not just your simple murder mystery, instead it has ties to another cold case, direct and indirect ties to several notable citizens in their community, the mob and many more. You are left guessing constantly throughout the novel and the ending was not what I expected at all – in fact it left me a bit shocked! Dead on Ice is well written, with great character development and an even better plot. You will love the story from start to finish – I could not put the book down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Audible.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 19, 2017

Suspense, Action and the Mob in Joe Giordano’s Newest Release!

From the Italian Mafia to the Russian mob to art theft and to ISIL, Joe Giordano brings it all to the table with his new book!

About Appointment with ISIL

This time, Anthony’s libido threatens his life. He flirts with Russian mob boss, Gorgon Malakhov’s mistress. The Russian deals in death. ISIL, the Islamic State in the Levant, wants the product. Russian Intelligence supplies the means, and an art theft funds the scheme. ISIL’s targets are chilling. The chase across the Mediterranean is on. Can Anthony thwart ISIL? Will he survive?

My Thoughts

Appointment with ISIL is a fast paced, exciting thriller that takes you around the world in a scheme that will blow your mind. Joe Giordano has written a book that has so many layers, that keeps you guessing and unwilling to put his book down. You have to keep reading to find out what happens next!

Anthony is a fantastic main character – he is tough but not over the top tough, likeable and wants to do what is right. Anthony goes from one bad situation into an even worse situation. He manages to get himself involved in not only the Italian mafia but the Russians which in turn ties him to art theft and the sale of dirty bombs and submarines. Joe has an amazing way of writing that reveals just enough at each stage of the book – enough to keep you guessing and enough to unwind a new thread in this story. I never really knew what was coming next and I loved this. You kept hoping for the best for Anthony but were on edge at all times during the novel.

This is an awesome, action packed thriller that you will not be able to put down. Joe weaves an amazing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading long into the night!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. He and his wife, Jane, have lived in Greece, Brazil, Belgium and the Netherlands. They now live in Texas.

Joe’s stories have appeared in more than ninety magazines including The Monarch Review, The Saturday Evening Post, decomP, The Summerset Review, and Shenandoah. His novel, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, was published by Harvard Square Editions October 2015. His second novel, Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller will be published by HSE in June 2017.

You can connect with Joe on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.