You will notice, over the next few days, that my reviews are on older books from NetGalley. I am trying to get all the reviews I was unable to do due to my hospitalizations, surgeries, rehab and recovery this last year and the year before.
Tag: Non-Fiction
Home Sweet Home Page by Carma Spence
About the Book
How to Increase Book Sales, Get More Speaking Gigs and/or Attract More Coaching Clients with your Website
… Without Having to Get a Web Design Degree or Learn Coding
… Even If You’re Terrible at Web Stuff
Don’t Have a Lot of Time and Just Want to Hand this Web Stuff Over to a Virtual Assistant
Is Your Website Undermining Your Business?
Your website’s home page is its most valuable virtual real estate. If it doesn’t grab your visitor’s attention, you may not get a second chance. This book helps authors, speakers, and coaches make sure that this real estate effectively supports their business goals. This second edition expands on what was in the first edition, adding information on online presence in general, SEO tips, and more.
Home Sweet Home Page, by Carma Spence, is set up very succinctly. The pages are easy to read and understand, with items such as checklists included. However, in many cases, instead of expanding on the material, Spence offers links to websites for further input.
Spence did a skillful job of explaining what an online presence is and how to correct the five deadly mistakes she identifies. Her descriptions are concise and helpful.
I enjoy the way Carma Spence played off the word “Home Page”. She explained homepage began as a choice for one or two-word usage at its beginning, and even though now it is one word, she used the two words in her title.
Overall, I appreciated the constructive material. The book is nicely put together and well thought out.
I would have preferred fewer links and more substantive information in some areas. However, I realize there are constraints in authoring a book, and trying to detail HTML, website design and other specifics is prohibitive, especially since this book is focused on helping avoid certain “deadly mistakes.”
I received a copy of this book from AuthorsXP For Readers and Authors. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.
Over 50, Defined: Words just for us that aren’t in the dictionary…YET! By Shel Harrington
Shel Harrington is one of the wittiest authors, word inventors I have ever read. Her book, Over 50, Defined: Words just for us that aren’t in the dictionary…YET! covers words for common things people over 50 often do that leave them scratching their heads. She dubs her invented words “Quinbloits,” apt, descriptive terms you won’t find in the dictionary (YET!).
I laughed so hard reading Over 50 and kept tracking down different family members insisting they listen as I read the definitions.
The illustrations are on target and add to the enjoyment of the book.
Link to buy:
I defy anyone to read Over 50, Defined: Words just for us that aren’t in the dictionary…YET! and not laugh, not to mention recognize yourself in a couple of the definitions. Over 50 is one of the funniest spot-on books, about common occurrences that confuse and amuse you that I have read.
Inspired Artistry by Pamela Poole on Tour with Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: Inspired Artistry
Author: Pamela Poole
Genre: Non-fiction, Devotional
Release Date: March 30, 2020
Spirit-filled creative expression is an outreach for Christians to be ambassadors of the Kingdom.
This insightful devotional explores how the imprint of our Creator on all mankind makes it natural for Christians to embrace their unique gifts. Through Scripture, true stories, prayer, and study questions, readers will explore how every person born has a meaningful gift to contribute joy and beauty in the world. Led by the Holy Spirit, believers can live higher than the corrupting influences that distort Christ’s intent for our personal Inspired Artistry.
The pages of Inspired Artistry contain delightful illustrations and pages for readers who journal to write their own “Inspired Musings.”
Click here to get your copy!
Inspired Artistry, by Pamela Poole, is an inspirational and enlightening devotional. Though not very long, it packs a LOT of information.
I often don’t feel creative at all, nor do a lot of women I know. Inspired Artistry dispels that idea quite nicely. There are many ways one can be artistic without being an artist. Poole quotes a passage in Exodus 35, verses 10-19, to illustrate her point. In one passage, it mentions shepherds-I never thought of shepherds as artists-but just think about it for a moment. It helps to keep me from feeling like a lowly homemaker!
I really appreciated a section on her personal stance against objectionable materials that are encountered by artists of varying types and how to deal with them for ourselves.
As I read her good advice, I very well remembered a situation where I had a real struggle with this issue. I had wanted to join a large, nationally known and heretofore well-respected Christian fiction organization. Before I committed a substantial amount of money, I saw a comment on FB from an author I respected. The comment related there was to be a guest speaker at the convention who had been there before and used some hard-core curse words in their earlier speech, leaving the author to believe it would happen again. I checked into the allegations and found they were true.
I was heartily disappointed because other authors I knew and respected were on the committee. Also disappointing me, there was nothing from any of them to let prospective attendees know of the nature of the speaker’s past speech. Only a tenacious and searching mindset allowed me to make an informed decision. Needless to say, I didn’t join. Christian artistry needs the testimony of Pamela Poole.
I enjoyed Poole’s openness with her own struggles and how she related specific, detailed Bible verses to share her line of reasoning. If you’re facing writer’s block, painter’s block, feelings of inadequacy as a homemaker or a woman, you will like and be grateful for Poole’s perspective.
I received Inspired Artistry from Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
About the Author
Pamela Poole’s love for the South inspires all her books and paintings. She and her husband Mark currently live in Raleigh, NC, but she’s hoping to get back home to the Lowcountry of SC someday.
If making her fictional stories public was a step of faith, writing her first devotional was a leap! Believing all Christians have a sphere of influence, she wanted to be certain that sharing her views was a process grounded in Scripture. Pamela believes nothing is wasted for a child of God. Using examples learned through challenging experiences, she reveals accounts of true events that only her family knew about before. Years of teaching art, teaching Bible Studies, leadership roles, membership in guilds and associations, mentoring, painting, exhibiting, and writing books has provided her with a wealth of hard-won lessons to share.
Pamela lives life loving Jesus and her family as a wife, mother, and Gigi, and she is blessed with true friends. She is a member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society and PaintNC. Readers and art enthusiasts alike can enjoy her Youtube channel for painting demos, art history lessons and projects, and peeks into an author’s life. Her blog can be found on her art and publishing websites. Her illustrations for FREE coloring pages are her contribution to a cause she cares about, the healing that happens through art, and they can be downloaded on her websites. To enjoy the latest content, sign up for her newsletters and follow Pamela Poole, Artist and Author and Southern Sky Publishing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
More from Pamela
“I don’t have a talented bone in my body.”
“I can’t even make stick people.”
“I’ve never taken art classes.”
As an artist, teacher, author, and craft lover, I’ve heard statements like these all my life. My favorite is when my art students came to the first class saying, “I can’t even draw a straight line!” Flashing them my most engaging smile, I would respond brightly, “Me, either! I always use a ruler.”
Every person on the planet has a special gift of creativity. It is the stamp of our Maker, in whose image we are made. From the opening verses of the Bible, creativity is the first attribute that God reveals about Himself to mankind.
Christians have talents, but they do not think of them as creativity or as having any value in their faith or outreach to the world. Inspired Creativity—Embracing the Creative Calling is my first devotional, written to encourage my sisters and brothers in Christ to discover and develop their unique gifts. I base the book on the authority of Scripture, and I use personal stories to apply the Biblical principles to real situations.
Many people shy away from their talents because of the rejection and ridicule they could face from those whose tastes run differently. I understand this well and have the scars to prove it after decades of participating in professional organizations, art exhibitions, classes, art galleries, and the online book market. Readers can look at any author’s reviews and see they will range from mean and scathing to helpful and glowing. By publishing this devotional, I have set myself up for criticism by sharing what I’ve learned and how it all fits into a biblical Christian worldview. Knowing how vulnerable creative Christians feel, I point out in this book that if we are abiding in Christ and following His lead, our work is inspired as both a healing, spiritual growth activity for our souls and something He may call us to share. We must get past our dread and remember we work to please Jesus, not mankind. Since when did Christ’s enemy not attack those who talk about Him or reach out in His name?
When writing Inspired Artistry, I faced a few scary moments when relating experiences in my creative life that only my husband and son knew had happened. But nothing is wasted when believers walk with Christ, and I obeyed the tug on my heart and the spiritual certainty that I traveled those roads for such a time as this. It is my prayer that readers will discover and embrace their creative gifts for their role as ambassadors of the Kingdom to come!
Note to readers who color and journal: the print version of this devotional has coloring and journaling pages.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 23
For Him and My Family, July 24
Texas Book-aholic, July 25
Bizwings Blog, July 26
Holly Jo Morris, July 26
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 27
Inklings and notions, July 28
Emily Yager, July 29
Godly Book Reviews, July 30
deb’s Book Review, July 31
Splashes of Joy, August 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 2
Captive Dreams Window, August 3
Mary Hake, August 3
Artistic Nobody, August 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Pamela is giving away the grand prize package of Inspired Proverbs Coloring Journal, Tin of Colored Pencils, and a print copy of Inspired Artistry – Embracing the Creative Calling!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/fe30/inspired-artistry-celebration-tour-giveaway
Promo Blast for God Hears Her – on Tour with Celebrate Lit February 1st-14th
About the Book
Book: God Hears Her
Author: Our Daily Bread
Genre: Non-fiction / Christian / Devotional
Release Date: September 2017
Tour Dates: February 1 – 14
When you’re having one of those days, you just want to know that someone is on your side. You have more than just someone . . . you have your Heavenly Father! He is with 
you. He is for you. He hears your heart’s cry. And He will reassure you of this through the beautifully designed, hardcover devotional collection, God Hears Her. The personal stories, Scripture passages, and inspirational quotes pulled from Our Daily Bread devotionals will lift you up and remind you that God is bigger than the trials you face.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Our Daily Bread Publishing – Our Daily Bread Publishing is a division of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Founded in 1938, the ministry has grown from a small group of dedicated radio listeners to millions of people around the world who use our Bible-based resources, including the beloved Our Daily Bread devotional. Our Daily Bread Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit organization with staff and volunteers in over 37 offices working together to distribute more than 60 million resources in 150 countries. Regardless of whether it’s a radio or television broadcast, DVD, podcast, book, mobile app, or website, we provide materials to help people grow in their relationship with God.
More from Our Daily Bread
‘Feels Like Home’ Winter Recipes
As the weather turns colder, it becomes the time to pull out those tried and true winter-time recipes. You know, the ones that make us (or even keep us) warm on the inside. This is the time for the food that just feels like home.
Kirsten Holmberg and Elisa Morgan from the God Hears Her blog have shared some of their families personal recipes. These are the ones that are good for everyone. Feel free to try them yourself, bookmark them for later, or share them with a friend.
Kirsten Holmberg
In the winter, I’m partial to any slow-cooker soup or stew because I love coming home to it in the evening. My favorite is a Vegetarian Chili with some Italian influences:
2 bell peppers, diced
2 stalks of celery, sliced
2 lb zucchini halved and sliced
1 lb fresh mushrooms, halved
1 large onion, diced
3 cans diced tomatoes (fire-roasted or herbed for the most flavor)
1 can tomato sauce
1 small can black olives, sliced (or fresh in any amount desired)
1 can cannellini beans
2.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
½ cup water
Toss it all in a slow cooker for a few hours on high, or all day on low. Or, put it on the stove instead and simmer until the veggies are cooked through and the flavors blended (about 45 minutes). Parmesan cheese on top for an extra zing.
Elisa Morgan
A Cranberry Nut Bread recipe handed down by my mom, Paige Lee
2 cup flour
½ tsp salt
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
½ scant tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
Sift above ingredients together twice. To the juice and grated rind of 1 large orange, add 2 tbs of melted shortening and enough boiling water to make ¾ cup. Mix with dry ingredients and add…
1 beaten egg
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup halved fresh cranberries
Bake in greased loaf pan for 75 minutes at 350 degrees.
If you double the recipe, bake a little less time and use 3 loaf pans. It also makes good muffins and can be frozen.
Blog Stops
The Avid Reader, February 1
deb’s Book Review, February 1
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 2
Texas Book-aholic, February 3
Mary Hake, February 3
God is Love, February 4
Emily Yager, February 4
Genesis 5020, February 5
A Diva’s Heart, February 5
Girls in White Dresses, February 5
Lighthouse Academy, February 6
amandainpa, February 6
For Him and My Family, February 7
For The Love of Books, February 7
Inklings and notions, February 8
Andrea Christenson, February 8
Blossoms and Blessings, February 9
CarpeDiem, February 9
Older & Smarter?, February 10
She Lives to Read, February 10
For the Love of Literature, February 11
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 12
Godly Book Reviews, February 12
Artistic Nobody, February 13
Back Porch Reads, February 13
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, February 14
Kat’s Corner Books, February 14
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, Our Daily Bread is giving away the grand prize package of a God Hears Her hardcover, God Hears Her leather-like, God Hears Her journal, God Hears Her CD, God Hears Her pen, and God Hears Her Scripture & Encouragement cards!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f540/god-hears-her-celebration-tour-giveaway
Flashback Friday-The Difference You Make by Pat Williams
The Difference You Make by Pat Williams With Jim Denney
Publisher’s Summary
Every one of us has influence, whether we realize it or not. In everything we say and do, we are influencing those around us. What if we became more aware, more intentional, and more strategic about our own influence? Well, we might just change the world.
True influence, says Pat Williams, isn’t about getting what you want–it’s about serving others. Using personal stories from his own life and the lives of others, Williams shows readers the difference between influence and manipulation, how to influence others through both words and deeds, and ultimately how to change the world for the better, one relationship at a time.
This book will inspire readers to build a positive legacy in the lives of others and take the role of influencer to heart. Each chapter includes questions and ideas for personal reflection and practical application, and can be used to guide group discussions as well. Includes a foreword by Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees.
My Review
Pat Williams has hit it out of the ballpark and slam-dunked it with his book, The Difference You Make. What an eye-opening and provocative book. Pat reflects over his life and the people who have influenced him, along with the ones he has influenced.
The entire book is about the impact of influence. Pat touches on how his struggles with multi-myeloma cancer have helped open his eyes to the influences each person has, influences for good or bad, whether the person realizes their influence or not.
As a Dad, Pat had a significant impact on the lives of his nineteen children. In addition, he has influenced as a coach for minor league baseball teams and influences as GM for a major league basketball team.
The book illustrates how we never know how we will influence people, even ourselves sometimes, like this example on page 131 richly demonstrates:
Each chapter of the book ends with a series of questions for group discussion or individual reflection, enabling a deeper understanding of the chapter.
He helps us learn and inspires us step-by-step, in how to become more strategic and intentional within our spheres of influence. He also helps us to use our lives as a mission to impact as many people as is possible with a lasting and positive influence.
Pat ends his book with the sentence:
The difference you make tomorrow begins with the decisions you make today.
The book really brought home how important and significant our lives are as people, Christians, parents, bosses, co-workers -or whatever our walk in life may happen to be. We never know how what we say or do will influence someone else.
Even though the book has a sports slant, it carries a compelling and thought-provoking message for everyone, male or female, sports nut or not.
This book was provided to me by Revell through The Book Club Network. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
Be the Miracle by Delores Liesner
About the Book
Book Title: Be the Miracle
Author: Delores Liesner
Genre: Non-fiction, Christian living, devotional
Release date: June 1, 2018
Whether we title these unexplainable happenings miracles, God-sightings, or some other name, people love to hear of such occurrences. Why? They increase our faith by providing evidence of the miraculous in our everyday lives and heighten awareness of God’s desire to minister personally to us and through us.
Delores Liesner is a prayer warrior with a track record of seeing Christ work in her life and the lives of others. Her articles, devotions, and columns reflect the excitement of seeing miracles transpire, and now her book chronicles many of these amazing experiences. You’ll enjoy it.—Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, author, Jesus in the 9 to 5
My time with God in the morning is the most precious part of my day. Be The Miracle is a devotional filled with wonderful personal stories that will build your faith and stir your heart to receive fresh grace from God and be on the lookout for new ways to serve Him each day.—Dan Walsh, bestselling author, The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas, and The Dance
Miracles happen all around us, every single day if we’ll only be sensitive enough to recognize them and thank God for His divine intervention. Author Delores Liesner shows us that whether a miracle comes as the smallest kiss from heaven or a life-changing act of God, our Heavenly Father is still in the prayer answering business, and as the Word says: ‘We have not because we ask not.’ I love this book! It makes me want to shout about all of the times God has come through for me. It will encourage you, too! It’s a must read! —Michelle Medlock Adams, award-winning, best-selling author of more than 80 books including her latest Get Your Spirit On! Devotions for Cheerleaders and Love & Care For the One and Only You
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Delores is a storyteller. Her passion, whether writing or speaking about activating faith is to be the miracle for others.
Over a thousand of those stories, devotionals, and teaching articles are published in print and online, including a compilation of 31 stories and life-changing challenges in her devotional, Be the Miracle! (Elk Lake Publishing). Delores is often spotted reading (3-5 books at a time), trying new recipes, or munching dark chocolate and orange peel. Her personal ministry is to benefit children with life-threatening illness via Fullness of Life Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ
My Review
Each devotional in Be the Miracle is impactful, some are tear-inducing, but all showcase the promises of God. The book is divided into 31 chapters. At the end of the individual chapters, there is a section which I see as a call to action-a way to deepen our relationship and experiences with God, along with several pages to journal. Because there are 31 chapters, you could use one a day for a monthly devotional. Be prepared, however, to want to re-read it, or read it more slowly, in order to really absorb its message.
Be the Miracle would make a fantastic Bible Study book, and in fact has guidelines at the end to do that if you wish. I would have preferred a different Bible translation because the verses from The Message are paraphrases and make them read like a story. The original King James is my personal favorite. This is a minor complaint and a personal preference and doesn’t really detract from the devotions at all.
I received this book from CelebrateLit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
Guest Post from the Delores
Would you believe a cow turned me into a miracle-believing lady? Though I’d always known about Jesus dying on the cross, and the Bible being God’s words, it took a couple of amazing and unexplainable events for me to understand miracles could happen to me!
We didn’t realize we were risk taking when we hopped in the car and headed for Colorado. Youthful and ignorant˜ in the ways of the world, we were excited to learn that the organization who produced the memory verse cards and Bible studies our friend had given us were having a conference that began the next day, we packed up and went! A startled young man answered our phone call, made when we were already half-way across the country and got to thinking maybe we should have told them we were coming!
The conference was full, but separate rooms across campus were found for us. Consequently, we only sat by each other during meetings and some meals, so we didn’t compare notes until on the way home. That was when we both started sharing the same message from God – to give a certain amount to a missionary for 6 months. We did not have the money and the only amount in our budget that matched was groceries. Would God ask us to give up groceries for 6 months? We felt He would, so that He could surprise us with the provisions in a most unexpected way – like sending a cow!
That is a bit of a teaser for Surprise Us for Dinner, God, the first story in my upcoming 31-day personal challenge devotional, Be The Miracle! You see, when God did that miracle-series at the beginning of our Christian life, we knew He was real, and that He dealt with people on a personal level. If God could do this, we figured, He could do anything, and we have many amazing stories that prove it!
Each of the stories is a true incident of God leading me to bless someone else (often a stranger, but sometimes someone we knew), or someone bringing us an unexpected answer to prayer.
When I began sharing stories like You’re the One, The Wrong Store?, Stranger No More, and Impossible Dreams, there were two main responses. Some women were excited to relate to stories of miracles in their own lives, and some women wondered if God would do miracles through them too.
I always share that I do not believe God is a giant get your prayers answered here vending machine, serving us just to make us ‘happy.’ The joy in these stories, and their life challenges, is that God wants all of his followers to be His hands and feet (and less often his voice) in the world. Just as we can represent our spouses with our children, and our supervisors with the public or with other employees because we know them so well, and understand how they would respond to a situation, we can know God in such a personal way that we can represent Him to others too.
That takes time. And that is why each story is followed with a verse, its teaching and a challenge you can follow to recognize and activate God’s command and gift to be “the miracle” – the messenger delivering an answer to prayer.
Blog Stops
Just the Write Escape, September 13
Mary Hake, September 14
Because I said so – adventures in parenting , September 15
proud to be an autism mom, September 16
Real World Bible Study, September 17
Bigreadersite, September 18
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 19
Captive Dreams Window, September 19
Texas Book-aholic, September 20
Bibliophile Reviews, September 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 22
Janices book reviews, September 23
Carpe Diem, September 24
A Baker’s Perspective, September 25
A Diva’s Heart, September 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Delores is giving away
Grand Prize: Vertical Be the Miracle plaque, miracle magnet, Be the Miracle stamped cuff bracelet, an eternity circle necklace and Ebook or paperback copy of Be the Miracle
First: Gold miracle plaque, choice of Ebook or paperback of Be the Miracle, and shoe bracelet (be hands and feet of Jesus)
Second: Pink miracle plaque, choice of Ebook or paperback of Be the Miracle, and cross ribbon bookmark
Third: Blue background – Bee the Miracle canvas and Bee pin – choice of Ebook or paperback of Be the Miracle!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d436/be-the-miracle-celebration-tour-giveaway
The Struggle is Real-Spotlight- Now on tour with CelebrateLit
About the Book
Title: The Struggle is Real
Author: Nicole Unice
Genre: Non-fiction, Christian life, Spiritual Growth
Release date: August 21, 2018
“It just shouldn’t be this hard!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank.
The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious.
Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do?
Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Nicole Unice is a Bible teacher, author, and passionate communicator who delights in bringing God’s Word to life in a personal and relevant way. Her training as a counselor informs her work, as she emphasizes the importance of facing our own reality and embracing the transforming power of God’s grace.
Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director, leading discipleship and Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. In addition, Nicole co-hosts Hope Cast, a podcast on spiritual formation, leadership, and relationships.
Nicole’s invitations to speak have taken her across the world, and her books come to life through her popular video curriculum series found on RightNow Media. Her first book, She’s Got Issues, released in May 2012 and speaks to a fundamental question of faith: Is being a Christian supposed to change me? Also available is a companion curriculum, She’s Got Issues DVD Group Experience, a six-session journey that includes interviews, questions, and teaching expanding on the book. Her subsequent titles—Brave Enough and The Struggle Is Real—help people distill the complicated stuff of life into a simple and clear path to Jesus.
Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She loves creating a space for ministry and spiritual formation in the everyday rhythms of life with three children, two pups, one husband, and a whole community of twentysomethings who regularly raid her fridge.
Nicole is known for making friends in all corners of the world, especially via social media. Connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, or at nicoleuncie.com —and hopefully face-to-face at one of her upcoming events.
Guest Post from Nicole Unice
There’s a question we throw around that I bet means a whole lot more than we would expect. How many times a week—or a day!–are you asked:
“How are you?”
I don’t know about you, but the answer I hear and give the most is something like …. ”fine”, or —“busy but good!”? It’s kind of the socially acceptable answer, right?
A friend asked me this question just this week as I walked into work. I was multitasking as usual while knee-deep into a cell phone conversation about yet another problem. I didn’t answer her, because if I did—if I really stopped and answered—I might have started crying, right there on the spot. My lips formed the word “fine” when in reality, I was anything but—at least not in that moment. And life doesn’t always stop long enough to give a real answer….
But isn’t “fine” the socially accepted answer because it works….or does it?
The reality is, we are all struggling, to different degrees and complexity levels, each and every day. The Struggle IS Real, and when you add up both the little and big daily struggles, it’s easy to understand why this hashtag social media rockstar exists—over 3 million deep at #thestruggleisreal.
But if we dig a little deeper into this common complaint, we might discover a much more sinister root—and real help toward freedom and wisdom in Christ.
In my newest book, The Struggle is Real, that’s what I’ve done. I address issues like:
- Life is much harder than I thought it would be, and I feel bad saying it.
- There are some things about myself that I can’t change…it’s just how I am, and it frustrates me.
- I really don’t know if God is interested in my life, and even if He is, I don’t know how to hear from Him.
(and if you are wondering how real your struggle is, I’ve included a Good Life Inventory on p. 14!)
I wrote this book because I know how real the struggle truly is—and I want us to discover the true source of the answer to these age-old problems. My hope is to take my readers through a journey into this gap between our “just fine” lives and the truly good lives we are seeking and are hungry for. To offer hope that we can live the best life we can, this side of heaven.
Yep, the struggle is definitely real. But the struggle can also start the story. It can motivate us to rewrite our lives into a new story. The struggles can lead us to a new source of hope and freedom, and somehow, even the worst of life can become a place of strength and growth. The struggle is real. And the struggle can be good.
Blog Stops
A Baker’s Perspective, August 25
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 26
Reading Is My SuperPower, August 27
Texas Book-aholic, August 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 29
Girls in White Dresses, August 29
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, August 29
Carpe Diem, August 30
Multifarious, August 31
Janices book reviews, September 1
Inklings and Notions, September 2
Book by Book, September 3
Mary Hake, September 3
proud to be an autism mom, September 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4
Margaret Kazmierczak, September 5
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 6
Godly Book Reviews, September 7
Bigreadersite, September 7
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Nicole is giving away a grand prize of a “The Struggle is Real” T-Shirt!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/d19c/the-struggle-is-real-celebration-tour-giveaway
Sneak Peek #4 of Upcoming Books!
A Year of God’s Promises
Compiled by Barbour Staff
Barbour Publishing, Inc
Releases September 1
Book Spolight: Pockets of Joy
About the Book:
Name of book: Pockets of Joy
Author: Roxane Battle
Genre: Non-fiction, inspirational
Roxane Battle was on television for much of her adult life. As a news reporter and anchor, she traveled the world and met notable people from Jay Leno to Mariah Carey to Prince. But shortly after landing her dream job in her hometown of Minneapolis, Roxane’s marriage fell apart. Every day was a battle to keep it together on camera while piecing her life back together at home as the single mom of eleven-month-old Jarod. At one point, broke and alone, dinner was a single chicken McNugget. With wit, dignity, and gripping detail, Roxane shares her story of intentionally looking for joy during this challenging chapter of her life. Her faith was the guiding force as she searched for moments of gratitude and found a lifetime of grace. She also includes secrets to spiritual, professional, and personal wholeness for today’s woman, with chapters on authenticity, service, generosity, gratitude, self-care, yielding, forgiveness, and more.
click to purchase your copy
About the Author:
Author Roxane Battle is veteran TV news journalist well known in the Minneapolis region for her work as an anchor, reporter, and former co-host of the KARE 11-NBC Today show. She currently produces award-winning videos for corporate and non-profit clients through her company, Roxane Battle, M. A., LLC. Named an “Architect of Change,” Roxane is a contributor to mariashriver.com and has been featured in Working Mother, Ebony magazines, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press. An entertaining and inspiring speaker, she is regularly called upon to address civic, business, and philanthropic groups. She’s recently been a keynote speaker at events hosted by the Girl Scouts, TeamWomen Minnesota, and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.
For more on Roxane Battle: www.roxanebattle.com
Guest post from Roxane Battle
What this book is about is the season in my life when I was on my own and overwhelmed with trying to put my life back together while I learned how to raise a child and navigate a demanding television career. A working, divorced single mom. That was me. For years.
There were many days when I smiled in front of the camera and cried alone at night. During those years, my time in the wilderness, I learned a lot about myself.
I am now at a point when I am able, willing, and desire to share the very personal and intimate stories of how I found peace in the midst of my struggles. I discovered what I call pockets. Pockets of joy. The kind of joy that causes your eyes to mist and wash over the hurt. The kind of joy that catches you by surprise and for a moment makes you forget, if ever so briefly, that you ever felt pain. The kind of joy that, in some ways, cannot even be described.
It is my hope and prayer my story will enable others to grasp a piece of the kind of joy I’m talking about and allow it to stir the kind of hope within that can renew and transform.
Blog Stops
Reading Is My SuperPower, October 26
Carpe Diem, October 26
autism mom, October 27
Avid Reader Book Reviews, October 28
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 29
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 30
Reflections From My Bookshelves, October 31
Moments Dipped in Ink, November 1
The Fizzy Pop Collection, November 2
A Greater Yes, November 3
A Reader’s Brain, November 4
Splashes of Joy, November 5
Mary Hake, November 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7
His Grace is Sufficient, November 8
Giveaway
In honor of her tour, Roxanne is giving away
Grand Prize Package: Pockets of Joy, hardcover edition, in Pockets of Joy tote bag with Abba Jerusalem Frankincense pillar candle, and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book.
1st Place Package: Pockets of Joy, hardcover edition, “You Are An Amazing Woman” (Abbey Press) mug, and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book.
2nd Place Package: Pockets of Joy, hardcover edition, and commemorative Whitaker House/Anchor Distributors coloring book!
Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c16e
Captive Dreams Window 