Review: The Returning by Rachelle Dekker

The Returning by Rachelle Dekker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twenty years have passed since Carrington and Remko Brant's baby, Elise, was kidnapped and they were forced to leave her captive in the Authority City. Though they fled with the Seers far from Authority reach, they've never given up hope of rescuing their daughter from the man who betrayed them. Now Authority President, he's ushered the city into a new era of "peace"--one where the Scientist Roth Reynard's Genesis Serum has eradicated all memory of emotion or rebellion.But the mysterious Aaron and his Seers are once again on the move, threatening the illusion the Authority has worked so hard to build. As the Seers send seven chosen warriors to rescue Elise and bring restoration to the Authority City, the lines are drawn for a final battle between light and darkness. The key to ultimate victory may rest within the strangely powerful girl who has felt forgotten but was never abandoned--a truth she'll need to wage war against the powerful forces of evil.

Review: All Is Bright: A Devotional Journey to Color Your Way to Christmas

All Is Bright: A Devotional Journey to Color Your Way to Christmas 
by Nancy Guthrie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The perfect gift for the creatives and coloring-book lovers in your life! Includes bonus activities and kid-friendly coloring pages for the whole family!

This Christmas season, celebrate the birth of our Savior through beautiful design and devotion. Grab your colored pencils, cozy up with your favorite blanket and a cup of tea, and settle in for a night of peace and wonder with All Is Bright. For lovers of the Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest coloring books, All Is Bright is the perfect way to transform the Advent and Christmas seasons for your whole family, re-centering the holidays on the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Combining 31 days of rich content by the beloved and inspirational Nancy Guthrie with intricate designs that will reconnect you with the heart of Christ, this coloring book devotional journey reminds us all of what the season really calls us to: worship.

Tyndale’s Inspire Creativity board on Pinterest has downloadable samplers and shareable coloring pages from their coloring and Bible journaling line, the Living Expressions Collection!

Check out www.livingexpressionscollection.com for the latest news and information on their coloring and journaling products.

Review: Catching Heat by Janice Cantore

Catching Heat by Janice Cantore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Twenty-seven years after the deaths of Detective Abby Hart's parents, she's desperate to find the proof that will put the mastermind--the governor's wife--behind bars. When she joins a newly formed task force and teams up with PI Luke Murphy, Abby is sent to San Luis Obispo to work the cold case of a murdered college student. Realizing their investigation will bring them near the town where Alyssa Rollins grew up, Abby decides to do a little digging of her own into the Triple Seven fire.

Luke is eager to help Abby close the books on a case they both have personal stakes in. But as she uncovers long-held secrets, Abby stumbles into an explosive situation, and Luke fears that her obsession may prove deadly.

Review: Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal 

by Tyndale House Publishers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book from Tyndale's Living Expressions collection helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns such as health, overcoming stress, personal relationships, and more. Gratitude gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers, Gratitude helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart!

Tyndale’s Inspire Creativity board on Pinterest has downloadable samplers and shareable coloring pages from their coloring and Bible journaling line, the Living Expressions Collection!

Check out www.livingexpressionscollection.com for the latest news and information on their coloring and journaling products.

This is a beautiful prayer and praise coloring journal. The embossed design with the font and colors on the cover make it very visually appealing. The pages inside are also colorfully laid out with some page spreads fully colored, some partially colored, and some completely black & white. Each page spread has a space to either journal or illustrate and most have a prayer printed on them with a scripture reference. It's a very pretty book.

It's a little different then I expected. It's on the small side (6 by 8) and it has a thick hardback cover. Despite the binding, the book opens fairly flat to allow for the journaling and coloring. At first I was a little put off by the fact that you couldn't really color on some of the pages. But I love colorful and pretty books and these pages are definitely appealing so I got over that quickly. :) The pages are pretty thick and will hold up well to most of your bleed free markers and pens.

All in all, I think it's a beautiful, well made coloring journal with encouraging and uplifting pictures and prayers.

*Thanks to Tyndale Blog Network for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*

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Review & Giveaway: The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee

~Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY below!~

The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Would you like to be happier? No matter who you are or how you feel, chances are you would answer yes. And Jennifer Dukes Lee was no different. For years, she wrestled with a constant nagging sense that she wasn't as happy as she could be. At the same time, she felt guilty for wanting something so "shallow.” After all, doesn't God only care that we find joy in our circumstances? Or is it possible that God really does want us to be happy? Determined to get answers, Jennifer embarked on a quest to find out whether our happiness matters to God and, if so, how to pursue it in a way that pleases him. In The Happiness Dare, you'll learn what she discovered, including how to:

• Understand the five happiness styles and maximize yours

• Overcome the four biggest obstacles that stand in the way of your happiness

• Find your happiness sweet spot—the place, relationship, or activity that gives you the greatest sense of well-being

• Discover what you can do in just five minutes a day to be happier

Will you take the dare? Join Jennifer in the pursuit of your truest, most satisfied, and most faith-filled self

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I enjoyed this well written and engaging book that encourages and even "dares" you to be happy.  With an easy to read, simple style, the author does a good job of guiding you to understanding what your happiness style is, what obstacles might stand in your way, what gives you the greatest sense of well-being,  and what you can do each day to be happier.   The author also does a good job at keeping your attention with her thoughts and research into the subject as well as interesting stories to illustrate her points.  It's an encouraging and up-lifting read.

Pages from The Happiness Dare

I really liked the way the book was set up.   I enjoyed the look of it - some whimsical fonts and full page graphics throughout the book.  Each chapter starts with an inspirational quote and ends with a section called "Digging Deeper".  Also, the happiness style assessment is at the back of the book (you can also access it online).

*Thanks to Tyndale Publishers House for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*

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Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of Love Idol, is a storyteller and a grace dweller. She is a popular blogger, an (in)courage writer, and a frequent speaker who can't get over God's amazing grace. Her writing has appeared at Women of Faith, Today's Christian Woman, Relevant, and the blogs of Ann Voskamp, Holley Gerth, TheBetterMom.com, and many others.

Jennifer is a former award-winning news reporter who covered crime, politics, and natural disasters for several Midwestern metropolitan daily newspapers. Now she uses her reporting skills to chase after the biggest story ever: the redemptive story of Christ.

She clings to the hope of the Cross and is passionate about sharing the Good News through story. She believes in miracles; she is one. She marvels at God's unrelenting grace for people who mess up—stumbling sinners like her, who have been made whole through Christ.

Jennifer and her husband live on the Lee family farm with their two daughters. She attends a small country church, and some Sundays, you can find her in the back of the sanctuary, spinning tunes as the church deejay. She loves air guitar, dark chocolate, emoji, messy people, and Jesus—not in that order. Visit Jennifer online at www.JenniferDukesLee.com, on Twitter as @dukeslee and on Facebook at /JenniferDukesLee

1 copy of The Happiness Dare to 2 winners!

Ends 8/08/2016

AND THE WINNERS ARE:  MELISSA H & BECKY S - I have emailed each of you.  CONGRATULATIONS! :)

Enter below for your chance to win a copy of The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee.   There will be TWO winners (1 copy to each winner) chosen randomly by Rafflecopter.  Since I will be mailing these myself, I am only accepting US entries.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at smilingbookreviews@gmail.com.

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Rachel from Smiling Book Reviews and sponsored by the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Blog Tour Review: The Calling by Rachelle Dekker

The Calling by Rachelle Dekker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels—he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp—and the CityWatch soldiers closing in—Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

A riveting sequel to The Choosing.   While The Choosing focuses mostly on Carrington, The Calling focuses more on Remko.  Remko is going through the fire for sure!  He is now a husband, a father (awww), and the tactical leader of the Seers.   With all of this added responsibility and so much at risk, Remko lives in a state of constant fear.  He struggles to let his fear go and live free of this burden that is overwhelming him.   His love for and faith in Carrington has brought him this far but he will have to learn to surrender and find faith in the God of Aaron before he can be at peace.

There is lots of action, twists and turns, and nail-biting close calls as well as calming, peaceful moments of spiritual refreshment (the field scenes).  The descriptive words of this author will draw you in and make you feel every moment with the characters.

At the end of the first book they are escaping toward freedom and hope for a better life outside the city.   In this second book, they are struggling to stay free and constantly in danger.   You'll rejoice with each successful rescue and you'll cry with each death and capture.  You'll gasp as things appear to be falling apart and then you'll wonder at the apparent miracles that will lead you to an ending you won't want to miss.   I'm now on pins and needles waiting for the third book!

*Thanks to Tyndale for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*

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Q&A with Rachelle Dekker

Remko struggles with his anger often throughout the book. Is this expression of anger connected to his fears? If so, how?

Anger is just a natural reaction to the circumstances Remko faces. Sometimes being afraid can stir up anger because it makes us feel weak or out of control. This is definitely true for Remko in The Calling.

Carrington struggles with the pain that comes from watching Remko miss the Truth that was so clear to her. What encouragement would you give to others that have loved ones who do not yet share their faith?

Everyone needs to take the journey. For some, truth comes more easily, and others have to struggle to see it. It can be incredibly hard to watch someone you love miss the truth right in front of them, but don’t forget that the Father is still God, and He holds them in His hand. So love those that struggle restlessly and trust that the Father is ever-present, even in the darkness.

What do you hope readers will take away from the story?

I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace.

What can readers expect in the final book of the series?

Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well.

Full interview here: The Calling Q&A with Rachelle Dekker

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair. Visit her online at:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ Instagram

Tyndale "The Calling" media page ~ Tyndale Blog Tour Schedule

Review: The Sea Keeper's Daughters

The Sea Keeper's Daughters by Lisa Wingate

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From modern-day Roanoke Island to the sweeping backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Roosevelt’s WPA folklore writers, past and present intertwine to create an unexpected destiny.

Restaurant owner Whitney Monroe is desperate to save her business from a hostile takeover. The inheritance of a decaying Gilded Age hotel on North Carolina’s Outer Banks may provide just the ray of hope she needs. But things at the Excelsior are more complicated than they seem. Whitney’s estranged stepfather is entrenched on the third floor, and the downstairs tenants are determined to save the historic building. Searching through years of stored family heirlooms may be Whitney’s only hope of quick cash, but will the discovery of an old necklace and a Depression-era love story change everything?

I just could not get into this book for some reason. Maybe my mood was all wrong... I don't know. I was really disappointed in myself because I usually really like her books! I was having a hard time relating to Whitney and all the angst she goes through in this book. I felt like there were a lot of loose threads in the book and not all of them are resolved. However, unlike the last Lisa Wingate book I read, this one does have some romance and I liked the ending better. You find out in the last chapter what happens with Whitney and Mark; what happens to the Excelsior; what happens with Whitney's two restaurants; and also what happened to the people in the secondary story. And there is a surprise twist that I really liked. :)

*Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions stated are my own.*

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Press Photo (photo credit Amber Zimmerman)

Lisa Wingate Official Bio (short)

Selected among Booklist’s Top 10 for two consecutive years, Lisa Wingate skillfully weaves lyrical writing and unforgettable settings with elements of traditional Southern storytelling, history, and mystery to create novels that Publisher's Weekly calls "Masterful" and Library Journal refers to as "A good option for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Mary Alice Monroe."
Lisa is a journalist, an inspirational speaker, and the author of twenty-five novels. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol Award nominee, a multiple Christy Award nominee, a twotime
Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RT Booklovers Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner for mystery/suspense. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a
kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. Booklist summed up her work by saying, “Lisa Wingate is, quite simply, a master storyteller.” More information about her novels can be found at www.lisawingate.com.

Review: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

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New author Rachelle Dekker has written a YA dystopian novel that will grip your interest and keep you riveted to the end. Carrington Hale's Choosing Ceremony Day - a moment she'd spent a lifetime preparing for - ends in disaster when she is not chosen and is ripped from her family. She is sent to the edge of the city to spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. Through her haze of disbelief, horror, shame, and hurt, she knows it's her duty to follow the true way of the Authority and determines to accept her fate. As the days go by though, Carrington makes some friends whose ideas begin to rattle her beliefs. Though their ideas and beliefs contradict everything she's been told, they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, yet she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

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There was much to like about this debut novel from Rachelle Dekker.  The story grabbed my attention in the first chapter and kept me involved the whole way through.  I felt for Carrington and her brother as she is forced to leave him and her parents behind.  I cringed at the disappointment portrayed by her mother that she was not one of the chosen.  I felt her discomfort at the stark plainness of her new living quarters and the stiffness of her roomates.  I could almost smell the stench that made her queasy at her new job.   There is no doubt that this author has no problem writing a story.

The romance was gentle and sweet. The suspense was there from the beginning as you start reading pretty quickly about the person murdering the Lints. The supporting characters were well fleshed out. The ending will leave you wanting more.  All in all, this was a great debut for a new series!

*Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions stated are my own.*

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Rachelle Dekker The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair. Visit her online at www.rachelledekker.com.

Review: Chance of Loving You by Terri Blackstock, Susan May Warren, & Candace Calvert

Chance of Loving You by Terri Blackstock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Chance of Loving You is an anthology by three bestselling romance authors including Terri Blackstock, Susan May Warren, & Candace Calvert.

In the first novella, For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock, Blake Adcock's dreams have collapsed and all he's got to show for his dedicated hard work is a sweepstakes ticket. He has sat at the restaurant table for three hours, ordering things he doesn't want, because there is no place else he wants to go. Julie Sheffield, the struggling clothes designer who is waitressing on the side, is drawn to the man with the kind eyes... until he stiffs her on the tip by leaving her half of a sweepstakes ticket and no money.

In the second novella, The Recipe by Candace Calvert, Aimee Curran is a hospital dietary assistant who is determined to win the Vegan Valentine Bake-off to prove that she's finally found her calling. CSI photographer, Lucas Marchal, religiously visits his elderly grandmother in the hospital trying to encourage her to eat and drink to get her well. While caring for Lucas' grandmother, Aimee and Lucas get to know each other and Aimee begins to question where she belongs.

In the third novella, Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren, grad student Abigail Cushman is happy with her life as an Assistant Professor of Greek and Hebrew. Ross Springer is trying to prove his worth by raising money for the college group he mentors and leads. When Abigail and Ross end up competing in the annual Deep Haven fishing contest, they might just have a chance to put the past behind them and find the love they once had.

Out of all three of these novellas, I liked The Recipe by Candace Calvert the best. Lucas and Aimee are drawn to one another and as they fall in love they end up helping the other at critical moments in the story. In For Love of Money, Blake's actions leave much to be desired, in my opinion. If he's so broke why is he sitting in an expensive restaurant ordering food he can't pay for? I like Julie's character a whole lot better. She stands by her beliefs and manages to change Blake's life for the better. In Hook, Line & Sinker, Abigail and Ross have known each other practically all their lives. You definitely get more depth to their relationship because of this. I like that they work on their differences and come to peace with the tragedy in their past.

*Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions stated are my own.*



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Author Terri Blackstock
Terri Blackstock's books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published in 2007, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Known for her "Up All Night Fiction," Terri has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Visit Terri Blackstock on her website www.terriblackstock.com.

Author Candace Calvert
Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse and author of the Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series. Her medical dramas offer readers a chance to "scrub in" on the exciting world of emergency medicine. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, Candace makes her home in northern California. Please visit her Web site at www.candacecalvert.com.

Author Susan May Warren
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, Christy and RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.