Terri Blackstock Give A Way

I received an email from Terri Blackstock regarding her newest book - Intervention. It is on my hold list at our local public library and I'm looking forward to reading it since I used to work at a Christian counseling center in both counseling and crisis response before having children. Enter the "It's Time for Intervention" Contest—Terri Blackstock is Giving Away Five iPod Shuffles!

Below are Book Details Listed at Terri's website:

It was her last hope—and the beginning of a new nightmare.


Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.


Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.


The panic level rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

My Library Card

"When I got [my] library card, that was when my life began."

~ Rita Mae Brown

This is also true for my children. On their fifth birthdays we make quite the deal of getting their own library card. My children own our library (at least they think they do).

Through the Fire by Shawn Grady

I was browsing in our public library's new books section and came across a book by an author I hadn't heard of yet - Shawn Grady. As I perused his book, I saw favorable comments from two authors I appreciate - James Scott Bell and Kathryn Cushman, so I decided to give this new author a chance. I'm so glad I did. Through The Fire gives an insider's view of fire fighting in addition to giving the reader an excellent story with well-developed and interesting characters.

Back of the Book says:

Even Smoke Runs From the Fire.

Firefighting burns in Aidan O’Neill’s blood, but his innate gift for reading flames has made him overconfident and sometimes puts lives in danger. When one call goes horribly wrong and a rookie is hurt, Aidan ends up suspended and finds himself questioning everything.
It couldn’t have happened at a worse time.


An arsonist is targeting Reno, leaving a scorched path of destruction. The department calls Aidan back, but his return is troubled. The gift he relied on for so long has gone silent and it’s as though the fires are coming for him, hunting him down. Teaming with a beguiling fire investigator who may know more than she’s saying, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the flames burn ever closer.


To learn more check out the author's web page.

Chapter 1 Excerpt

Bethany House
2009

Wonderful thing about a book...

A wonderful thing about a book, in contrast to a computer screen, is that you can take it to bed with you.

~ Daniel J. Boorstin

The failure to read good books...

"The failure to read good books both enfeebles the visionand strengthens our most fatal tendency--the belief that the here and now is all there is."

~ Allan Bloom

Offworld by Robin Parrish

I enjoy reading books that aren't a repeat of everything else and Robin's fourth book, Offworld was definitely different and interesting. I thought he did a good job developing the characters and the plot. Its great to find an author who knows how to weave a story in such a way to keep me reading. I'm looking forward to reading the next book Robin Parrish writes.

Back of Books Says:

“EVERY PERSON ON THIS PLANET HAS DISAPPEARED.”

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity’s greatest explorers. They’ve finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home.

But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth.

EVERYONE…EVERYWHERE…IS GONE.

It’s not a dream. It’s not a trick.

Now Burke and his team have one mission: find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.


Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0606-1

Books had the power...

"Books, I found, had the power to make time stand still, retreat or fly into the future."

~ Jim Bishop

When we read...

"When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls. What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story. And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own."

~ John Berger

Human Nature

"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Taste, Swallow, Chew, Digest...

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."

~ Francis Bacon

23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese

I borrowed this book from a friend at church (thanks Roz) and let me tell you it packs a powerful punch. The author tells of his personal experience and backs everything with Scripture. From what I've read in the Bible his description of hell sounds accurate. It is definitely a place I want to avoid.

Romans 5:8 tells us that Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners. His sacrifice makes it possible for us to live eternally with HIM and to leave hell for those it was created for the devil and his fallen angels.

Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are all saved by grace and not one of us can boast that our merits or works saved us.

Back of Books Says:

"My sincere hope is that THIS BOOK IS THE CLOSEST YOU WILL EVER COME TO EXPERIENCING HELL FOR YOURSELF."

Bill Wiese saw the searing flames of hell, felt total isolation, and experienced the putrid and rotting stench, deafening screams of agony, terrorizing demons, and finally, the strong hand of God lifting him out of the pit.

Wiese's visit to the devil's lair lasted just twenty-three minutes, but he returned with vivid details etched in his memory. Since this life-changing ordeal, he has spent the last seven years studying the Scriptures to find answers and has listed more than 150 Bible verses referencing hell.

Everyone is curious about the aferlife, and now Wiese shares his insights to commonly asked questions such as:

* Is Hell a literal burning place?

* Where is Hell?

* Do you have a body in Hell?

* Are there degrees of punishment in Hell?

* Are there children in Hell?

* Can demons torment people in Hell?

* Can "good" people go to Hell?

"Even if you don't believe my story, I hope you will believe the Scriptures and avoid hell just the same."

Check your local library or bookstore for this book that could change what you think about hell and guide you along the path to alter your eternal destiny.

ISBN: 1-59185-882-8

Charisma House

2006

I've been where...

"I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no-one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks,
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books."

~ Anonymous

If you can read...

"If you can read this, thank a teacher."

~ Anonymous Teacher

Save Gas...

"Save Gas. Stay Local. Travel by Book."

~ Sign in front of the Red Hook Public Library
Red Hook, New York

Randy Alcorn's August Giveaway

This month Randy Alcorn is giving three winners a “Share Heaven” pack that includes Randy’s books Heaven and TouchPoints: Heaven, along with a Heaven booklet and a packet of 25 Heaven tracks. In the Heaven tract, Randy explains that Heaven isn't our "default destination" and that specific preparation must be made if we are to safely arrive in Heaven.

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment on Randy's post by Sunday, August 30. Three randomly drawn winners will be announced in a blog post on Monday, August 31, so be sure to check back and see if you won.

To check out Randy’s other Heaven titles, visit the EPM website. All Heaven-related books are on sale from EPM during the month of August at a 40% discount. (Sale excludes the Heaven Study Guide, Heaven Bible Study Workbook, Heaven Group Discussion Guide, Heaven booklets and Heaven tracts.)