The Covered Deep by Brandy Vallance

About the Book:
Bianca Marshal is holding out for the perfect husband. Finding a man that meets the requirements of her "must-have" list in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains has proven impossible. Bianca's mama insists that there's no such thing as a perfect true love, and that Bianca's ideal man is pure fiction. On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Bianca discovers a devastating statistic: her chance of marrying is now only eighteen percent. Unwilling to accept spinsterhood, Bianca enters an essay contest that propels her into a whirlwind search for her soulmate. Via the opulence of London and the mysteries of the Holy Land, Bianca's true love will be revealed, but not without a heavy price.






About the Author:
Brandy Vallance fell in love with the Victorian time period at a young age, loving the customs, manners, and especially the intricate rules of love. Since time travel is theoretically impossible, she lives in the nineteenth century vicariously through her novels. Unaccountable amounts of black tea have fueled this ambition. Brandy's love of tea can only be paralleled by her love of Masterpiece Theater Classics, deep conversations, and a good book. Brandy is the 2013 Operation First Novel winner and the 2012 winner of the ACFW Genesis Contest for historical romance. You can connect with Brandy via her website www.brandyvallance.com, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, YouTube, or Twitter @BrandyVallance.



Margie's Comments: Wow! This first novel by Brandy Vallance is amazing! I love an understated romance in the style of Jane Austen. And Brandy Vallance has succeeded in The Covered Deep. Set during the Victorian Era, this book covers a good portion of the world starting in southern Ohio, moving to England, and then on to the Holy Land. I literally had to tear myself away from the story in order to get several other things on my daily to-do lists done. But I couldn't wait to get back to this well-researched, superbly written book. I can highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

About the book: 

The Sea House (St. Martin’s Press, April 2014)

Scotland, 1860.

Reverend Alexander Ferguson, naive and newly-ordained, takes up his new parish, a poor, isolated patch on the Hebridean island of Harris. His time on the island will irrevocably change the course of his life, but the white house on the edge of the dunes keeps its silence long after Alexander departs. It will be more than a century before the Sea House reluctantly gives up its secrets. Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building and begin to turn it into a home for the family they hope to have. Their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a baby are buried beneath the house; the child's fragile legs are fused together --- a mermaid child. Who buried the bones? And why? Ruth needs to solve the mystery of her new home --- but the answers to her questions may lie in her own past.

Based on a real nineteenth-century letter to The Times in which a Scottish clergyman claimed to have seen a mermaid, The Sea House is an epic, sweeping tale of loss and love, hope and redemption, and how we heal ourselves with the stories we tell.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/ZSbs53

About the Author: 

Elisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. She studied French literature and world religions at Leeds University. She is the author of The House of Hope: A Story of God's Love and Provision for the Abandoned Orphans of Chinaand has written articles for The Times and the Independent and has a Diploma in Creative Writing from Oxford OUDCE and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College. She is married with three children. They live in Kingston on Thames but spend as much time as possible in the Hebrides.

Find Elisabeth online: website, Facebook

Margie's Comments: I love stories that span the years, reaching into the history of an area to solve a contemporary puzzle or mystery. So when The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford came up for review, I requested a copy. And the story didn't disappoint. Starting out in today's world, Michael and Ruth are excited about their project to fix up this old, disused house for a family and a business. But when they find the bones of the mermaid child, Ruth can't leave the questions behind. The author's gentle storytelling voice drew me into the story, and I found it very difficult to put it down. Even when it got later and later at night. The author uses a blend of the past and present to tell a tale that is woven into the culture of the islands of Scotland. The masterful plotting, characterization, and storytelling have me looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. NOTE: This book was not written or published for a strictly Christian audience, so be aware that there are some instances of strong language. 

THE SEA HOUSE Kindle Fire Giveaway from Elisabeth Gifford

Don't miss The Sea House, a stunning fiction debut from the UK. Set in a house on the windswept coast of the Outer Hebrides, Elisabeth Gifford's haunting tale effortlessly bridges a gap of more than a century. Adeptly interweaving two tales involving residents of the titular house, Gifford sets up an absorbing mystery revolving around local lore and myths about mermaids, selkies, and sealmen. Stretching seamlessly back and forth through time, layers upon layers of secrets are slowly and effectively peeled away in this evocative debut (Booklist).



Celebrate with Elisabeth by entering her Kindle giveaway!






One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at Elisabeth's Blog.






Watch the trailer:

Verse of the Day

"Rainy days and Mondays" should not happen at the same time, but neither should I allow them to "get me down." Instead:

Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face *continually*. [And the Lord will *continually* guide you and satisfy your desires in scorched places. . . . Is. 58:11] Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth. Psalm 105:1–5   

Verse of the Day

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35–39 not

“Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you (Isa. 30:18). . . .

“When thy God hides His face, say not that He hath forgotten thee. He is but tarrying a little while to make thee love Him better; and when He cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable. Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late.  —C. H. Spurgeon” Streams in the Desert

Verse of the Day

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. for the Lord is good; His lovingkiness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100

The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski

About the book: 

One searcher's honest and fascinating journey to encounter God, love others, and discover his true self through a year of spiritual practices.

Frustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian, motivational speaker Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year dedicated to engaging in spiritual practices, both ancient and modern, in a life-altering process that continues to this day. Whether contemplating an apple for an hour before tasting it (attentiveness), eating on $2.00 a day (simplicity) or writing simple letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new depth through the intentional life.

Stirred on by the guiding voice of Father Solomon, a local monk, Yankoski's life is slowly transformed. Both entertaining and heart-wrenching, Yankoski's story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching --- perhaps for the first time --- for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/BFhp6

About the author: 

Michael Yankoski is a writer, aspiring theologian, and urban homesteader who dreams of becoming a competent woodworker, musician, and sailor. He received his MA in theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a (novitate) Oblate of St. Benedict, and has authored four books. Michael grew up in Colorado, feels at home on the Pacific Coast, and currently resides in Indiana, where he and his wife are pursuing PhDs at the University of Notre Dame.



Margie's Comments: I signed up to do a review on The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski because I, too, have felt the dissatisfaction the author felt before he made the decision to actually experience what living a life of faith truly meant. Many times I have felt like I'm missing something vital, something the fathers (and mothers) of the Christian faith experienced, but that I can't seem to grasp in our modern world without shutting off everything. This isn't a book that will gain a lot of rave reviews. I admire the author's courage to do something about the emptiness and frustration he felt. And I read with interest and even conviction the steps that he took to remedy the lack of intimacy he had experienced so far in his Christian faith. Some things I have implemented in my own faith-walk. Some I will consider for future reference. So do I recommend reading The Sacred Year? Yes. But be prepared to be challenged to step outside your modern "comfort zone," to set aside your preconceived notions about certain faith practices and to get to the "why" of how they were implemented in the first place. I especially enjoyed reading the Q&A with the author at the end of the book. I encourage you to maybe read it before you read the rest of the book. It helped me get past some of the more "difficult" portions of the book; it may help you, too.

The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski #EmbraceTheSacred FREE Book Offer

God is at work everywhere. And every-when. We only need to open our eyes and take the time to notice.



Michael Yankoski became jaded and disillusioned with his life as a Christian motivational speaker, feeling as though he was another act in the “Christian Carnival.” Religion started to become a façade instead of a deep, nourished, lived experience of faith. He knew he needed to stop talking about his faith and begin living and practicing it. In a sort of desperation, Michael dedicated the next year to engaging various spiritual practices, and The Sacred Year is a firsthand account of the downs and ups, the failures and successes of an honest search for answers to the human yearning for life, love, and God.
It’s time to stop talking about your faith and begin living and experiencing it.



Join Michael and #EmbraceTheSacred—seek out God at work in the mundane and attend to what God is doing in your life. Share those moments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and make sure to use the tag #EmbraceTheSacred.






 As a thank-you for ordering The Sacred Year, Michael is giving away a free ebook! Email your proof of purchase of The Sacred Year to TheSacredYear@gmail.com, and you will receive A Straightforward Guide to Three Essential Spiritual Practices ebook for FREE! Learn more here.

 

Verse of the Day

But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

"Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:36)

Verse of the Day

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones. (Psalm 116:15)