The Torch Keepers - Cover Reveal

Today, I am helping promote the official cover of Hosanna Emily's book, The Torch Keepers! This book is an allegorical fantasy novel. The release date is September 1, 2019. 

fascinating cover, isn't it?!

Synopsis

The King's blue flame quivers as a new fire arises, and Kadira must hold fast to the torch. It's destiny; she's a torch keeper.

A fiery revolution sweeps across the kingdom of Erkeos, and each person must choose a side. Kadira, a girl set apart to serve the King, finds her city engulfed in emerald flames. Her blue eyes mark her as the enemy, and she flees from death. It stalks her anyway. When she meets Rekem, the Liberation warrior sent to kill her, she rebels against the King's ways. Two armies collide; indecision isn't an option. As hearts and lives hang in the balance, Kadira and Rekem could bring destruction or liberation to the entire kingdom. 

Author Bio

Hosanna Emily is an ordinary girl following an extraordinary God. She's a seeker of beauty in the midst of life, whether through creating emotion through ink on paper, dancing under the stars, using sign language in songs, or offering a hug. As a writer, Hosanna wants to showcase the glory of God to the world while reaching out to love others. She published a novella at age thirteen and continues to write stories and share her heart on her blog, Having a Heart Like His. She lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere with her family of 12. 

Giveaway!

Enter here to win a signed copy of The Torch Keepers! 

Past Darkness by Laurel Woiwode

Synopsis

Gabrielle Larson is a fifteen-year-old living in Chicago with reasonable plans for her life: to follow in her parents' footsteps as a Christian musician. But when tragedy strikes, Gabrielle finds herself forced to relocate to North Dakota, where she must learn to live with the difficult reality of her past in a strange and unfamiliar place.

Years pass as Gabrielle not only fights to accept the aftermath of what's happened, but also to survive on a farm full of horses, cows, Uncle Will, and Aunt Bea. Enduring nature's windstorms and the loneliness of grief, she struggles to heal, and even finds herself face-to-face with the possibility of love in the most unexpected place. But the darkness is real and her heartache is profound-will she ever emerge from the noisy past to catch the redemptive tune of the present?

Review

This is a story of hope, forgiveness, the power of music, and of God's grace. Gabrielle struggled with being cold, calloused, and of holding onto unforgiveness. Past Darkness follows her life from age fifteen to late twenties. The reason Gabrielle broke free from her past was through music. Watching her break free was so beautiful. Music can have a powerful impact on people. The horses in the book were awesome, too! ;)

Past Darkness is a story of forgiveness. It is a story of letting go of the past. It's about seeing people for who they are- not for what they look like or for what has happened to them in the past. If you enjoy a story about redemption, horses, music, and of God's love, this book is an excellent choice. :)

Family Forever Month ~ Sophie

Hello! Today you're in for a special treat! One of my younger sisters, Sophie, is joining me today for Family Forever Month, started by a blogging friend, Brooklyne, from Showers of Blessings.

Questions are in bold, Sophie is in blue, and I am in regular font. :)

Welcome to my blog, Sophie! :) Thanks so much for joining me! Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A little about myself... I love sewing!!! I usually sew for a few hours each day. I have been sewing anything from toys to baby clothes and dresses, for little children and babies on a Native American reservation in SD, and around the world. :)
I also sew preemie outfits and gather store bought things to donate to little ones in need like the Native American reservation and NICUs. I also love doing "Operation Christmas Child" boxes. :)
I play the piano too. :)
I love all the sewing you do! It's so special, and so precious! <3 Aww, thanks! :)

Below are a few photos of some of the things she has made in the past! :)

Doll with dress, headband, blanket, and matching hat for a little girl and her doll! <3

Dresses for little girls in need! <3

Operation Christmas Child box for a 2-4 year-old girl! <3

Baby in carrier for Native American reservation in SD! <3

Fourth of July stuff for preemies! <3

What is your favorite color? 
My favorite color is yellow; I like lighter yellows and bright yellows; I don't really like dark yellows as much but I do still like dark yellows. 
Yellow is a pretty color; you've loved it ever since you were little! :)

What is your favorite book? (Or series...)
Well, I don't have a favorite book but here are some of my favorite series. :) "When Calls The Heart", "Canadian West", "A Prairie Legacy" and "Love Comes Softly". All by Janette Oke. 
My favorite book when I was really little was "Dick and Jane"- I mainly learned how to read it myself. 
I've read all of those too! I really enjoyed them! I don't know if I read "Dick and Jane", though. :)

A book you want to read/looking forward to reading?
A book I am looking forward to reading is more of the "Heartland" series, I am only on book 9 of 20.
"Heartland" is a great series!

What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Sewing, crocheting preemie and newborn holiday hats for a NICU, dancing with my sisters. :)
Aww, I love dancing with you girls too! :)

What is your favorite Bible verse?
My favorite Bible verse is Song of Songs 2:14 - "Oh, my dove let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely."
Great verse, Sister! <3

What is your favorite book of the Bible?
Hmm... I don't think I have an official favorite but I do really like the books Psalms, Esther, and 1&2 Corinthians. 
Awesome choices!

Favorite food?
My favorite food would be pancakes, but I also really like the dessert pizza our younger sister makes, and Challah bread.
Challah bread and dessert pizza are among my favorites too! (I guess we're related...) ;) Yep, we must be related. ;)

Dessert pizza

Favorite animal?
My favorite animal is the Giant Panda. 
They are gorgeous and fascinating creatures, aren't they?! Yes, they are gorgeous creatures! I especially love how the Momma pandas hold the baby pandas in their arms. :) So cute!

Favorite holiday/feast?
My favorite holiday is Purim but I also really like Sukkot too. :)
*grins* I was wondering if you were going to say one of those! They are among my favorites too!!! I had a hard time picking my favorite! :)

Favorite season?
My favorite season is spring! :)
Spring is beautiful- everything seems new in the spring!

Favorite movies/shows?
My favorites would be... "Anne of Green Gables" (1-3), "Love Comes Softly" series, and "Heartland". (I am watching season 11 of "Heartland", and it is my favorite so far). :)
Some of my favorites too! I guess we also have some similar tastes in some movies! :)

Favorite outfit?
Everyday I like to wear a shirt that has ruffles or a shirt that has some lace and jeans. I also like wearing a flower clip in my hair. :) I don't hardly ever wear t-shirts!!!!! ;)
We are so totally not alike in outfit styles. Give me a pair of boots, jeans, and a t-shirt any day! ;) Yes, we are opposites in outfit styles! ;)

Favorite song? 
I don't think I could ever pick just one! :) Here are some of my favorites right now: "Spirit Lead Me" by Influence Music, "I Will Lift My Eyes" by Bebo Norman, "Yes I Will" by Vertical Worship, and "The New Jerusalem" and "Vow" by Melody Joy. I also like all of the songs on Melody Joy's two albums- called "Awakening" and "The Beginnning". :)
Wonderful song choices! I really like some of those too, and Melody Joy's albums are so good!!

Favorite flower?
My favorite flower is a sunflower. So bright and cheerful! :)

A few random things about yourself:
Can't there be 50? Haha, just kidding! Well, I suppose if you want to... :)
1. I love baking Challah bread with you nearly every Shabbat! :) Aww, I love doing it with you too!
2. I love little children and babies, and someday I would like to adopt children and have a few of my own too. :) I've known it since you were little! :) <3
3. There is not usually a day when I go without wearing earrings. Preferably dangley. :) Yep. That fits your style! :)
4. I love watching sunsets and sunrises and have taken many, many photos of sunsets and sunrises. Many, many, many photos! They are beautiful, though! :)
5. A few years back I was in a "Little House on the Prairie" contest for the character, "Nellie" and won for Nellie. My friend and my younger sister and I used to play "Little House on the Prairie" a lot! And I almost always acted out the character Nellie. Well, can't forget my other siblings joined in at times. ;) You were all so cute acting it out! ;) 
6. I don't like eating out much! Especially to Culvers!!! :) 100% agree, no eating out!
7. I love swimming! Not my favorite pass time. ;) Yeah, I guess it's me and our younger siblings who love swimming the most. ;) Yep, us older siblings don't like swimming too much. :)
8. I like sunny days over rainy days. Me too!

Sunset photos are taken by Sophie. :)

Thank you so much for joining me, Sophie!!!! :) <3
I loved doing this with you!!! :) <3 It was so much fun getting featured on your blog! :)
Bye all!!!
Thanks for reading this post! :)

~~~

By the way, I am going to be changing my blog design soon. Just to give you all a heads-up! :)

Dandelion Dust by Faith Potts

Synopsis

Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day...

Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married. 

The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute.  And then comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of a hospital bed. As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?

Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment....for one day, the flower will be gone. 

Review 

This book was so sweet! I loved the characters, and the theme- to treasure those you love. While there were a few comments in the book that I didn't fully agree with, the book was still really, really good! The writing style was engaging and interesting. This book was a story of hope, faith, family, and God.

The Traven family was awesome! I really enjoyed their family dynamics. The way they supported each other and stuck together was incredible. For characters, I really liked Hannah, Drew, and Ryder. Ryder was hilarious! Ryder and Charity were so adorable! Also, Katydid was such a special dog! ;)

On a side note, I would suggest reading Dandelion Dust before reading one of Faith's other books, Behold, because if you read Behold first, you will know what happens in Dandelion Dust. ;)

The main focus of this book was to cherish life. Cherish the gifts God has given you. Life flies by, and you want to treasure the time you have.

A favorite quote: "For these moments we live, these breaths we breathe, these people that we love are only mere specks of dandelion dust. Cherish them while you can, because all to soon they'll be gone."