Kathy over at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer is sponsoring something a bit different.  She didn’t get it all set up ahead of time, but she wanted to have a giveaway for Midsummer’s Eve.  Therefore, here’s what you need to do to join.

Hop Rules

1. Create a giveaway post specifically for this hop and give something away on your blog.

2. Please include the Hop image.

3. Include the linky or link to this post.

4. Add a direct link to your post to the linky.

5. Family Friendly of course!

Don’t add yourself to the linky until you have a direct link to your post.

And what is my giveaway?  I’m going to make it easy.  Any book $15 or under.  This is open to anywhere that Amazon, Book Depository, or Fishpond ships.  That means just about anywhere..  Just enter the rafflecopter below by 9 P.M. on June 30, and then hop on for more chances to win awesome prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Spontaneous Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop – Join Now!! (Ends 6/30) WW appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

Ahoy Mate! It’s official. Summer is here and it’s time to celebrate by making a splash with this pirate table from little tikes!

The Kids Did It, The Mommy Island, Mom of One and Having Fun, and Love From Elle along with some fun loving bloggers are happy to bring our readers this fun way to kick off Summer! This event will have you saying, “ARRRGGGHHH” but in a good way. Entry is so easy and we won’t even make you walk the plank!

I wish I had owned this when my daughter was little.  She would probably try to play with it now, but she is ten years old!  You have a long summer ahead, and I’m sure you will looking for the ideal thing to keep your child from saying that age-old two-word sentence every mother cringes when she hears:  “I’m bored!”  Read the review for more information.

This giveaway is open to the U.S., and it ends on July 8.  Be sure to come back and do all the entries, including the daily ones in the rafflecopter form below.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: My Devotional Thoughts and the hosting blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment”

The post It’s Summer! Time to Make a Splash Anchors Away Pirate Table Giveaway (ends 7/8) U.S. appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

I was never a massive fan, but I am quite familiar with the Three Stooges.  On this date in 1897, Moe Howard, leader of the Three Stooges, was born.  Moses Harry Horwitz was his given name, and his signature hairstyle came as a result of his cutting his curls without his mom’s permission.  He was of Lithuanian Jewish descent, and he had an unbelievable memory.  In fact, he memorized all the books he read and plays he saw (while skipping school).  There is much that could be said about their success, and I didn’t realize both his brothers were involved with their successful Three Stooges act.  I was quite impressed to discover that he married the cousin of Houdini, and they were married nearly 50 years (only ended due to his death).  He even tried to give up show business to placate his wife, but it didn’t work.  He was the only “Stooge” who was good as managing money, and he died a very wealthy man.  He was heavily involved in charities, an amazing husband and father, and he even found time to participate in hobbies such as stamp-collecting, coin-collecting, ceramics, and midget auto-racing.  He died on May 4, 1975 from lung cancer.

For more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_Howard

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002935/

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=512

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/moe-howard.html

The post This Day in History June 19, 1897 appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

The Amazon or PayPal Giveaway is a Mommy May We? event. It runs from July 5th through July 19th. This free blogger event accepting sign ups now is a group giveaway or creative presentation, meaning several blogs team up to promote it. You will receive a single Twitter or Pinterest link at no charge as a thank you for participation and promotion, including a published announcement post.

For more information and to sign up, click here.  If you are one of my readers, be sure to come back and enter!

The post Blogger Opportunity: Amazon or Paypal Giveaway–Sign Up Now! appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

Tour Schedule

Living Your Covenants Every Day

The little things we do on a daily basis don’t just matter—they can make all the difference. Intentional daily acts focused on covenant-keeping will bind us to the Savior as we are deliber- ate and determined to follow Him in small and simple ways. Drawing upon the teachings and lives of ancient and modern prophets, author Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt identifies patterns of truth that encourage increased commitment to covenant relationships while diminishing the binding grip of the adversary. Included are chapters on the need to be consistent in covenant- keeping, on recognizing Satan’s tactics and lies, on undoing self-destructive routines, on the role of the Spirit to help us both feel and follow promptings, and on the power of daily scripture study and prayer in establishing habits that reinforce and sup- port our commitment to the Savior.

Amazon * Deseret Book

Author Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt

Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt is currently an assistant visiting faculty member at Brigham Young University and a recent addition to Deseret Book’s Time Out for Women events. A former seminary and institute instructor, she earned a PhD from Arizona State University in lifespan developmental psychology, focusing on women and social issues. She is married to Jed Platt, and the couple lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Website * Facebook

 Excerpt:

 As you are deliberate in performing your daily tasks, what you do comes to mean so much more. Eliminating distractions and those things that take us away from what matters most becomes easier. There is value in doing things with the intent of more effectively keeping our covenants and remembering Christ. (PAGE: 37)

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/27/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post “Living Your Covenants Every Day” by Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt Book Tour/Giveaway (ends 6/27) WW appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw’s daughter who wants to change his mind.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can’t believe it when he’s forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man’s daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He’s determined to escape–which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

Purchase a copy here.

Learn more at Karen’s website.

 
Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the first few pages of this fast-paced historical romance, I was drawn in. I though I knew  of what the story would be, and was I ever wrong! The characters are absolutely delightful–I love Crockett and Jo as well as Silas (I don’t think you can find better names than these!). The story has its ups, downs, twists, and turns, but the charm of the story is never lost.

I absolutely adore historical fiction, but I often grow weary of “Christian historical romances” where boy and girl meet, go through “minor struggles,” and then live happily ever after. How relieved I am that this book does not follow that pattern! There is a genuine depth and pathos to this story that truly gripped my heart. I found myself smiling at the antics of the people in the book, but then at times, the reality nearly brought tears to my eyes.

The thing that truly resonated with me was redeeming Silas. What an amazing reminder to me that one moment can change a life for eternity. Someone who is so set against the Lord is not beyond the reach of the cross. The salvation message was presented in such a real way, and it was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story.

For lovers of history, romance, and inspirational fiction, this is the perfect story. Even though it is about a preacher, it never comes across as preachy. I honestly believe there is something for everyone in this heart-warming tale. What a glorious respite from eternity this book is!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

Two-time RITA finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and ACFW Carol Award, CBA bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance because she believes that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.

Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Follow the entire tour.

The post Litfuse Group: “Stealing the Preacher” by Karen Witemeyer Book Review appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

You have the power! Control the moving GIFs and power the action in the movie with a swipe of your mouse! The Giant Soundboard lets you compose your own mashup of sounds fromJack The Giant Slayer, which your kids will enjoy for hours! Test your bravery and take the How Brave Are You? QUIZ to see if you are as brave as our hero Jack.

• Control the Action! - Move your mouse across the GIFS and take control of action-packed scenes from Jack the Giant Slayer. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE ACTION!
• How Brave Are You? QUIZ – Are you brave like Jack? Do beanstalks and “giant” challenges make you afraid or courageous? Take the quiz to find out!
• Giant Soundboard - Jack the Giant Slayer is filled with epic giant stomps, sword slashes and thunderous sounds! Play with official sound effects from the movie and compose your own “giant hit song”!

One of my U.S./Canada readers will win:

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom and its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend… and gets the chance to become a legend himself! Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns)

Starring: Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!), and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).

The prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.
Please note that all prizes will be sent out by Warner Bros. who is providing the prize in exchange for this blog post.

All you need to do is enter the rafflecopter below by 9 P.M. Pacific time on July 10.  Be sure to complete the mandatory entry to make reporting to the company easy for me.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) Giveaway (Ends 7/10) U.S./Canada appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

At least I know I wasn’t around to remember this one!  On this date in 1318, Eleanor of Guelders (Eleanor of Woodstock) was born.  She was an English princess and a countess consort of Guelders by marriage.   Her birthplace was Woodstock palace in Oxfordshire.   She was named after her paternal grandmother, Eleanor of Castile.  The most unusual part of her story was the issue of leprosy.  She was married to reigning Count of Guelders, Reinoud II “the black.”  She had a very unhappy childhood, and she was eager to please her husband.  In 1338, her husband got tired of her and sent her away with accusations that she had leprosy.  He tried to annul the marriage, and she turned up to contest this situation.  She stripped down, thus proving she did not have leprosy.  He was forced to take her back, and he died from a fall in October 1343 (serves him right!).  She became regent for her 9-year-old son, but there were issues, and her lands were taken.  On April 22, 1355, she died at a convent in poverty.  She was 36, and she had refused to ask her brother for help.  She was buried without pomp and circumstance.

For more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Woodstock

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26570136

http://www.geni.com/people/Eleanor-of-Woodstock/6000000001057847146

The post This Day in History June 18, 1318 appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

A Life Built on a Legacy – A Legacy Built on Lies

Sarah Sanders was always the reasonable sort, until she kissed a cowboy against her better judgment. Feeling strangely drawn to this mysterious ranch hand with a dark past, she finds herself swept up in an adventure that will force her to question everything she believes.

Jim Anderson’s cowboy gig is going pretty well. Except for one thing – he thinks he’s going insane. Night terrors, hallucinations, and now a girl he has no business falling for. It’s better to keep his distance. But when Sarah is nearly killed, he will risk it all to save her.
A Legacy of Lies by Stephenia McGee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the beginning, I did not like the book. I know that seems strange in light of my rating, but keep reading so that you may comprehend my reasoning. This book was extremely hard for me to follow. I had to keep reading so I could understand which portions were flashbacks and which parts of the book were happening now. I also struggled to keep the characters straight, but in time, it all made sense.

On the positive side, I am highly pleased that there is no profanity and no sex scenes. In addition to this, the Christian message is there (even though there are some rather ambiguous passages), and the tenets of the gospel are delineated more than once. For these reasons alone, I could certainly recommend this book. The filth of the world is definitely there, but the redemptive work of Christ is seen throughout.

Until I was within twenty pages of finishing the book, I have to admit that I did not care for the story. I did not connect with the characters, and was beginning to look at the page numbers rather than the content. However, the author jarred my senses when facts began to leak out concerning the more unusual facets of the story. I wish she had put more of this “girt” in the story earlier, and maybe in her next book she will. She has the makings of an amazing author, and I would certainly want to read another of her books. This book is short enough for me to recommend to those of you who like Christian books and/or mysteries.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

When tragedy brings him back to the home he tried to escape, Jim will have to face the truth behind his strange circumstances and hope that Sarah will believe him. Digging up the answers to questions long buried, does he have the strength to face the dark family secrets that threaten to destroy them both?

Excerpt:

It was cold.

Too cold.

The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.

Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He didn’t remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered around cautiously. Where was his horse?

A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.

Nothing.

No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest movement or shape. Something. Anything.

Silence.

He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.

Get a hold of yourself, man.

Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered.

Where was that horse?

“Ciervo!” His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was completely hoarse.

Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward.

He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.

The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods.  Deliberate. Stalking. Jim’s mouth went dry.

Mountain lion.

His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn’t wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly. Calculating. He couldn’t tell in what direction he moved.

His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim’s hand brushed at his hip. It wasn’t there.

He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.

Jim’s eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.

A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.

“Ciervo?”

Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?

Hoof beats. Thank goodness.

They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about thirty feet in front of him.

It wasn’t his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.

The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.

The monster’s eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a ghostly beacon.

The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him.

Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.

Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.

Another sound. Different. It wasn’t rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn’t the horse’s wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.

He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he couldn’t make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code, the word became clear.

“James!”

Again. Louder this time. “James… James…” The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its eerie sound slithered into his ears.

“Hello?” His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood holding his breath, listening.

Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to move. The voice came again.

“You must help. Soon it will be too late–”

An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim’s face. He struggled backward. He couldn’t quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to side.

It growled.

Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately trying to get away.

The creature came crashing toward him.

The post BTS Tours: “Legacy of Lies” by Stephania McGee Book Tour/Review appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.

Dilly Dally’s FIRST blog tour is here and it’s for author Hazel Statham and her book The Portrait! (Which is amazing may I add!) There are a variety of posts and blogs which you can hop to each day and enter the fabulous giveaway the author offering as well by just following the rules in the post

About the book:

Purchase a copy of the novel at the following links below:

 

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

 About the author: 

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontes, and Sabatini but when Hazel turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work. Hazel lives with her husband, Terry, and a beautiful Labrador named Mollie. 

Stay up to date with the author via her:

Website
Twitter
Goodreads

Giveaway:

For your chance to win an  H/B copy of Consequence or a small item of jewellery. (e.g. pearl earrings), please leave a comment below with your email address.  ANY comment you make during the tour on ANY post counts as an entry into the giveaway! The giveaway ends 30 June and a random commenter will be picked, emailed and announced on the Dilly Dally PR site. GOOD-LUCK!

Follow the entire tour.

The post Dilly Dally PR: “The Portrait” by Hazel Statham Book Tour (Ends 6/20) U.S. appeared first on My Devotional Thoughts.