Tuesday, June 25, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Young Chefs w/ Christina Dymock

About the Author
Christina Dymock graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Public Relations.
She has been published in Woman’s World Magazine and several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and she is the author of 101 Things to do With Popcorn. She resides in Central Utah with her husband and four children. You can follow their cooking adventures at teachingyoungchefs.blogspot.com.

About the Book
Kids in the kitchen don’t have to make a mess—as long as they know what they’re doing! Teaching your children how to cook can be daunting, especially when you don’t know where to start. Wipe away your worries with this cookbook made specifically for kids.

Inside you’ll find tips for a variety of cooking techniques, a glossary for common cooking terms, and a book boiling over with recipes written for children such as Peanut Butter Morning Cake, Bobby’s Pork Chops, Pirate Eggs, and Banana Tacos. Along with interesting trivia and a section for needed tools, each recipe outlines which stages require adult help, and each process is broken down into simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Author of 101 Things to Do with Popcorn, Christina Dymock knows the adventures kids can find in the kitchen. Spending cooking time together can only help family relationships. So teach your children the skills found in Young Chefs, and be amazed that your new favorite meals came from the smallest hands.


Look for the Literary Wonders! and The Author's Hideaway review of this fun filled cookbook for children, tomorrow on Review Wednesday!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

REVIEW: Beulah's Jewels by Charlene Tate

Date:               6/3/13
Title:                Beulah’s Jewels            
Author:            Charlene Tate
ISBN:                978-0615763613
Pages:              381   
Publisher:        Charlene Tate
Cover:              Paperback     
Rating:             3 Stars


Beulah’s Jewels, by Charlene Tate, is a spicy true to life biography type Novel that dates back to
1899. The book documents the life of the authors mother Beulah along with a few other relevant family characters.

Reading this reminded me of some of my family members back in the day and a time where children knew they had better leave the room when grown folks were talking. This story at the very least and is chock full of humor. It is also free flowing with its fair share of profanity, which I understand is needed to get the full feel of Beulah and the other characters.

However being an editor, I found it hard to take my editors cap off. Normally editing errors in a review are not mentioned unless they interrupt the flow of the story line. There were several instances where the story line didn’t seem to flow. In other instances, paragraphs were nearly page long, as well as improper transitions between chapters. A few chapters transitioned without titles. There were also times that I could not figure out if the author was referring to Juanita or Beulah.


The book is a good story but I just couldn't get past the editing or lack of. I certainly do anticipate the author’s next story,

REVIEW: Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Date:               6/18/13
Title:               Cherished         
Author:           Kim Cash Tate
ISBN:               1595548556
Pages:             320   
Publisher:       Thomas Nelson          
Cover:             Paperback     
Rating:            5 Stars


Kelli has a passion for music. When she was younger, she carried a pad around to write down the
lyrics that spontaneously came to her. This was her gift from God. After making a difficult decision, she no longer heard and lyrics and felt God was upset with her.

Heather was caught having an affair with a church member's husband. The scandal was hard on her so she left the church altogether.

Kelli and Heather have something's in common. They will soon meet. Will their meeting be beneficial?


This was my first read by Kim Cash Tate and I loved it. The characters and their situations are so real. Tate does a phenomenal job of showing how difficult forgiveness can be. It's a powerful tool, which is easier said than done, that has to be learned. I highly recommend. You walk away wondering "am I capable of really forgiving?"

REVIEW: Holy Mayhem by Pat G'Orge-Walker

Date:               6/17/13
Title:               Holy Mayhem  
Author:           Pat G’Orge-Walker    
ISBN 13:          978-0758259684
Pages:             320   
Publisher:       Dafina
Cover:             Paperback     
Rating:           4 Stars



Joy Karry and Patience Kash are cousins with a dream of being detectives. They settled for jobs in
the police department due to being unable to pass the physicals. After ten years, they were laid off. They attended a commercial taping where they received confirmation to be detectives. Will the ladies follow through with their "gift"?

It has been a while since my last Pat G'Orge-Walker read. She excels at Christian comedy. Her characters always bring you to your knees with their antics. I commend her for making them relatable. Holy Mayhem gives you a lesson with a little humor. If you want a good laugh, this is the book for you.

REVIEW: For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

Date:               6/4/13
Title:                For Women Only         
Author:            Shaunti Feldhahn      
ISBN 13:           978-1601424440
Pages:              224   
Publisher:        Multnomah Book       
Cover:              Hardcover     
Rating:              4 Stars


In a time where long lasting successful marriages seem to be distinct, I'm all for books and tools
that help us with the union we call marriage. For women is an excellent book for women to add to their nonfiction collection. And, not only is this a good tool for married women it is also a good tool for single women who seek marriage.

Men often say that women are hard to understand women, but women also find it hard to understand men. Although these tools are never a one size fits all, they certainly help. The book is small, short and easy to read.


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Living in the In-Between Times with Dr. Ralph West

About The Book
The man in between the times, Samuel, walks off these pages and into your life. You will discover how God speaks to you, how you can respond, and the significance of decisive commitment to the will of God regardless. From 3,000 years ago Samuel speaks across the ages and cultures in a voice that echoes from yesterday but sounds like today.

About The Author
Dr. Ralph Douglas West serves as founder and senior pastor of The Church Without Walls (Brookhollow Baptist Church, Houston, Texas). He first preached as a sixteen year old in his native Houston. The church began with 32 members and now embraces 24,000+ families meeting in three locations and conducting six services each Sunday. Dr. West is affectionately known as PAS.

From the pulpit to the lectern, Dr. West is highly sought for his preaching gift. Pas is a leader beyond his own church and serves on boards, agencies, trusteeships and committees at local, state and national levels.

Dr.  West completed degrees at Bishop College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Beeson Divinity School, where he received the Doctor of Ministry Degree.  He serves as Adju
nct Professor of Preaching at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University. He has an abiding commitment to the church and the academy, relating with equal ease to both venues and using his influence to mentor ministers in both locations. He speaks perennially at colleges, universities and seminaries across America as well as at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

Book Excerpt 
WE HAVE ALL KNOWN SOMEONE WHOSE NAME does not match who they really are. A “Slim” who is anything but. A “Shorty” who is taller than six feet. A “Jim” whose actual name is not “James.” And of course, a “Doc” who has never seen the inside of a college, much less a medical school. Such is the ironic nature of names.

     Many biblical names hold up to closer examination. That may be true with our man in the middle, Samuel. Two translations of his Hebrew name carry weight. Some believe his name refers to his experience as a little boy who heard the voice of God (1 Samuel 1:29). For them his name should be translated, “God hears.” Others consider that the Hebrew name bears the very name of God Himself, “Name of God.” Either understanding gives you a clue not only to the name, but also to the nature of the person of God. He carried in his very name the mission of his life. You could not hear his name without thinking of the God he heard and served.

Now, most of us have a common name that does not have theological significance. Yet we can live in such a way that the very thought of us reminds people of the God we serve. Your name may be Tyrone, Ralph, Lateisha, Harry or something else. You too can live in such a way that the very calling of your name reminds people of the Lord you serve. The very thought of your identity could point people to the Living One. What is the first thing that comes into someone’s mind when they think of your identity?

Samuel is the man in the middle because he stands between one kind of charismatic leader called “judge” and the next type of anointed godly servant called “prophet.” Zoom out on the story of God’s people with me and get the big picture. About 4,000 years ago God called a man in what is today Iraq to leave everything he had and walk into the desert with Him. That man was Abram, and his wife was Sarah. Genesis 12 and following tells the story of that man and his family:  Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. When the Book of Exodus opens, the descendants of Abraham (his new name after God breathed on him) are living in slavery under the super power of times, Egypt. God appointed Moses to lead the Hebrews out of slavery, and then He delivered them with signs of His power. Because of their disobedience and doubt, they walked around in circles in the desert for 40 years.

When Moses died, his associate Joshua took over as CEO of Exodus, Inc. and led the people into the land that God promised. Joshua was a warrior as well as governor. The Hebrews conquered much of the land, occupied the Vermont-sized conquest in tribal areas, and started a new life as a loose confederation of twelve tribes.

When you zoom out on holy history, you may be reminded that all of have a history with God. Indeed, some of us have a long family history with Him; generations of our people called on Him. Others of us only have our own history with God, but we do have a history.

Connect with the Author

Email Address:
admin@nonfictionbookreport.com
Website
www.ralphdouglaswest.org
Twitter link
twitter.com/ralphdwest

Order a copy

Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tour: http://wnlbooktours.com/dr-ralph-d-west-sr/


Thursday, June 6, 2013

FEATURE: Author Lisa Hein

Lisa Hein was raised in a middle class family where her diligent father worked three jobs to support them. Sundays, church and family time were deeply cherished.

In her teenage years, Lisa embarked on her own until after the birth of her son Blaine.
That life changing experience, as a single mom, motivated her to recommit to learning and practicing the teachings around what it meant to manifest God’s love in her life, and now in her child’s.
Although Lisa felt in control as a single mom of a toddler, three years later God blessed her with an amazing man. After Don married her, he adopted Blaine as his own. A family was born.Through their journey together she evidenced God’s love within their family, in spite of unexpected challenges.
Lisa became very ill and decided to move to the warmth of Florida , away from the environment and family she knew and loved.
Finding a church home in a new place proved to be stressful and challenging. She and Don ran into personal conflicts with teachings at some of the churches they visited.

Their hearts desire was to learn how to better manifest God’s love, but the frustration grew so great that they stopped going to church altogether.

Over the years their family unit began to deteriorate as hardship and bitterness grew between herself and the two most important men in her life; Don and her son Blaine. Anger and discontent replaced love in their now divided home. Frustrated, Lisa began to journal, to help her process what she was experiencing while asking God for insight.

A couple of years later she remembers feeling a presence. “It was as though the Lord was standing at my side asking if I was still mad at Him for allowing my family to have fallen apart the way it did,” she says. “The message I received was that He brought my son home every night. Instantly at that moment I fell to my knees and asked for forgiveness. He had never abandoned me, I left Him. He just had to remind me of His fatherly love towards me.

This led her to take her journal and turn it into a book to encourage other struggling parents, titling it THE BOOK, “I’m Doing The Best I Can!” (They won’t always be cute and adorable).

Lisa has been featured on many TV and radio networks, booked as a motivational speaker, and recently retired as the host of her own radio show Everyday Parenting.

She was also asked to share her expertise as a coauthor in the book Ready, Aim Excel among fifty-one other recognized motivational speakers and authors. She says, “I am honored to be included alongside these incredibly intelligent and inspiring people who come from all over the world.”

Lisa is thrilled to present her newest book, Manifesting God’s Love in the Family, sharing, “In my last book I was angry at God and in this one I give Him all the glory.”
Manifesting God's Love in Your Family: Growing Together in Faith
Parenting isn't easy no matter what. If we want to make it to the finish life with some sort
of sanity, we must take a stand, morally and ethically, that will empower our children to embrace life without fear of being pulled into the negativity this world has to offer.

Being a great mentor takes strength and equipping ourselves with the Word of God on a daily basis. Having knowledge allows us to know why He chose to give us these amazing gifts. 

To learn more about Lisa and to order her book, please visit: http://www.lisarhein.com. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Minus One: The Drew Smith Series with Norwood Holland


About the Book
Minus One:  The Drew Smith Series

Minus One the Drew Smith Series prequel takes us back when the attorney launches his legal career.  Before the ink is dry on his license to practice law Drew Smith finds himself at the center of a murder mystery.  The recent law school graduate works as a hotel concierge and befriends two bellmen an Arab and a Latino, Medhat and Julio.  Like the three musketeers they bond in a fraternal friendship put to the test when Medhat is kidnapped after running up a drug tab he can't pay.  Rescued by Drew and Julio, Medhat then becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders.  Driven by their romantic entanglements the attorney is captivated with a pretty Latina whose father objects to her dating a Black man. Julio and his Filipina love find themselves expecting, and Medhat’s passion for blondes gets him snared in a femme fatale's net. Minus One captures Drew Smith's evolution from youthful indiscretion to a professional burdened with seriousness of purpose.

About The Author
Norwood Holland is a freelance writer, lawyer, and author of the Drew Smith legal thriller series based on the capers of an urban trial attorney.  He is a graduate of Howard University School of Law with a bachelor’s degree in English from Fisk University where he studied under the
renowned Harlem Renaissance author Arna Bontemps.  Holland favors D.C.'s local color in his fiction and currently writes the blog editorialindependence.com devoted to promoting independent authors among other things. 

He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and a number of Washington’s top national law firms.  In the mid 90s Holland began freelancing for the local media.  Some of his credits include The Writer Magazine, the Examiner, and Black Literature Magazine.  Minus One follows up on the success of Sleepless Nights, the first in the Drew Smith Series,
Connect with the Author