An Interview With Friends~ Autumn {Autumn Bouquet}

Who's ready for another interview? Well, here is the interview for this week with Autumn over Autumn Bouquet. Autumn was one of my first followers and the comments she has left on my blog are all encouraging. She hosted a book giveaway and I won the prize. With the prize, she even included a sweet note. With out further ado, here is the interview.

Can you tell us a little bit about your self? 

Well, I am a fifteen year old country living girl, who loves her Heavenly Father and His Son with all her heart. I readily await all the wonderful things He has in store for me. :) My favorite things include... Scripture, family, reading, baking, photography, horses, painting fingernails, biking, doing 1000 piece puzzles, talking, listening to music, blogging, tea, blue eyes, curly hair, italics, and traveling to name a few. :) 

When did you begin blogging? 

Actually I am coming up on my three year blogging milestone! So excited!! I'm going to let you in on a little secret... :) Be sure to visit my blog in May because there will be a big surprise! :) 

What are the 3 blogs you read most often? 

A Ray of Sunshine, Lucia etc., and Essence of Eve 

What are your 3 favorite books? 

Oh dear! These questions are always so hard! Um, probably "The Home place", "Diary of A Coal Miner's Bride", and "Anne of Green Gables." 

What genre(s) of books do you prefer? 

Inspirational Fiction... :) 

What are your 3 favorite movies? 

Love's Enduring Promise, Pride and Prejudice, and The Anne of Green Gables Series. 

Which Bible character is your favorite? 

Probably Esther... :) 

What's your favorite bible citation? 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." ♥ 

What sparked your interest in photography? 

Seeing other people getting awesome results after just wandering around their house! So I grabbed up our Fine Pix Digital Camera, and started shooting! :) 

Do you have a few of your favorite photographs that you'd like to share with my readers? 

Of course!!

Who do you most admire in your family? 

My parents... They have taught me so much, and I don't know what I would do without them. They are such good role models, and no family is perfect. But for me ours is just right. :) 

Do you have a funny story you'd like to share? 

Yes, but it is not exactly funny in the sense that great pain was involved. :) The other day I went to work at a job site cleaning up all the roofing and wood scraps and other things that the builders had made piles of. My friend Lyssa was with me, and being the good friend that I am... ;) I was cautioning her to watch out for all of the nails sticking up out of the boards (and rusty at that!). Not five seconds later she watched me accidentally step on a nail. Maybe I should practice what I preach? 

What are a few things that no one knows about you? 

Growing up with only brothers, I am more of a tom-boy than a girly-girl, I am pretty much as blind as a bat without my glasses, I would rather stay in my pajamas all day and start and finish a good book than most anything. 

What is your favorite thing to do on rainy mornings? 

Take a nice hot shower, make some tea, and as you may have already guessed, ;) sit down with a book. 

In three words, how would you describe yourself? 

Shy, at times very loud, and always willing to listen. 

What is your dream job? 

To become a wife and mother that lives on a big farm somewhere in the sticks... :) 

How would you describe your fashion style? 

Um, I am not joking when I say "What fashion style?!" But anyways, if I must! Something cute and comfortable... Usually a dark denim skirt and a nice shirt or blouse if I'm going out. But out here in the middle of nowhere, I'll wear loose jeans and a t-shirt.

What is your absolute favorite color? 

Goodness, probably mint or coral. :) 

What are some of your hobbies, or things to do in your spare time? 

Photography, crafting and do it yourselves (DIY), bike riding, letter giving and receiving, gardening, video games (that comes from only having brothers), playing the guitar, singing, and blogging. :) 

What beautiful photographs Autumn has taken! I enjoy reading her blog and her photography! Stay tuned for next Friday's interview, where we will get the inside scoop and get to know another one of my favorite blog authors. Have you missed the previous interview, click here to view them all.

A Peek Into My Passport...

Did you know that my family is Ecuadorian?  I was born in the United States, but my families roots lie embedded in the beautiful South American country of Ecuador.

Here's a bit of background history of my family:

A young woman works at the local factory. A friend of hers introduces her to a young man. The young woman and young man fall in love and later marry. After a few years, the idea of journeying to America fills the young man's thoughts. He begins his voyage to America, leaving his young wife in the care of his parents. This young man sets out in search of the American dream. After many years of toil and hard work, the young man has saved up enough money to send for his wife. Together, husband and wife face many hardships. "Que?" "No entiendo?" Yes, the language was a barrier. Soon, after much effort and determination, the young couple assimilate to city living. Years of hard work allow the couple to move into their own apartment in Manhattan, where they raised three daughters. One of which was my mom, Sydney.

That's pretty much the long story made short!

My extended family lives in small town called Milagro or Miracle in Spanish. 

Here's a little history of Milagro:

"The name Milagro is derived from a legend. The story goes that in 1784, a man called Miguel de Salcedo arrived to the farm that is now Milagro, which in that time was part of Yaguachi. 

His wife got sick and he started to look for a cure, but he couldn't find anything. One day a local Indian came to him and gave him a bunch of leaves and said that they will heal the woman. Miguel de Salcedo, as desperate as he was, gave those leaves to his wife hoping that they work out and they did. Miguel de Salcedo did not think that the leaves saved his wife, instead he thought that San Francisco de Asís had saved his wife. Everybody thought that it was a "miracle" (milagro), and from that day that land started to be called Milagro." via 

I visited Ecuador a few years back and being able to experience the difference in our cultures was life changing.  I am thankful for the opportunity I had to visit the land where it all began.

Here is a look into life in Milagro, Ecuador:

 grandma buying oranges from a fruit cart

 "el centro" or "the center"

the marketplace

 nature

 local daycare center

donkey cart, car and a dog all on the same road...now there's something you don't see everyday:)

mango blossoms

papaya tree from my uncle's backyard

my mother handing out school supplies and sharing the word of God

these children all opened up their hearts and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior

another classroom of children that receive Jesus into their hearts

home that is made of dried out sugar cane

the street signs in Ecuador are similar to those in the United States

airport

this is my great great-grandmother, Luisa. From stories I've heard of her, 

she was a very wealthy woman, hence her fan, elegant dress and 

necklace.

my grandmother (dressed in blue)

I enjoyed walking you through a bit of my family tree.  Since my grandmother has a break from working...we have been enjoying much more precious time with her.  My mom has been chronicling stories from the days of old.  I hope to hold onto her journal and share it with the generations that follow.  But the most precious gift that I can pass on is the saving grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

What is something that you hope to share with those that follow?

I'm A 90 Days Grad!

Do you remember the post I wrote about my plans for 2012? I had this list of goals and aspirations that I desire to work on and complete this year.

Have you noticed that one of my goals has been crossed out? Yes, I purposed in my heart to read the Bible in 90 days and have fulfilled this desire with the help of the Lord.

Would you like to challenge yourself and read the Bible in 90 days? Here is a printable calendar that I used. April 1st is just around the corner. It is a good time to begin to hide God's word in your heart.

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Psalm 40:8

Litfuse Blog Tour: By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

About the Book:

Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change.

Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

My Review: 

May I first begin this review with a round of applause for Tricia Goyer?!? Her writing in this novel has surpassed my highest expectations and then some. I haven't read any of her novels as of yet, but will hopefully be purchasing a few of her stories for my personal library:) I feel as though her story telling capabilities truly shine in this particular tale. Each character captivates the reader from the very beginning. I can honestly say that this read did not disappoint. As I read the novel, I finally realized that the 100th year commemoration of the "unsinkable" ship called Titanic is at hand. I appreciated the timing in which I received this book (being so close to the 100th year anniversary), making my reading experience all the more special.

Her clever intertwining of the lives of each character entices the reader to continue reading and read until they finish. I enjoyed reading of each characters personal struggles and their search for love; whether it be the love of God, a father, a brother of that of a soul mate. I also enjoyed reading their meditations, feeling a connection to the realness of their feelings. Another plus was the spiritual journey Amelia and  Quentin had, both learning to put their faith in God.

The plot is another part of this novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and will rave about. Through Tricia's descriptions, I felt as a passenger of the ship myself. I could almost hear the orchestra and chatting of the other passengers. I thought it was clever how she built up anticipation throughout the read, making it nearly impossible to entirely figure out the ending. What more can a reader ask for? Mystery, drama, appropriate romance, and historical fiction are all included in this book.

As I neared the ending of the novel, I read of a similar situation in the Bible. A prodigal son returns to his father, begging mercy and forgiveness and denounces his old way of life. (Does that sound familiar to one of Jesus' parables?) The prodigal and his forgiving father's words and thoughts were exactly those of the two characters mentioned in the Bible. I feel that if Tricia had written that part any differently the tender moment would not have been the same.

Lastly the cover was beautiful. By looking at it, the reader gets a clear indication that the story they are about to read is as about the Titanic. Often times, when I pick up a novel, I am unsure of what the story is about. With this read, there is not guessing. 

I would rate this novel 5 well-earned stars! It included everything I look for in a read. (and it even made me shed a few tears:)

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.

About the Authoress: 
Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.



More info: Living Inspired and Tricia's website.

Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.

One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)

Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}

Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)

And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)

By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and abook club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon! So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

An Amazing Start To A Beautiful Spring

I can't believe that spring is already upon us. It seems like just yesterday, flip flops and short sleeved tees were being packed away for the long "winter" ahead. That long winter never arrived and now spring is upon us. 

lovely little flowers growing in my "backyard" Ali should get that one:)

 warm spring weather means zoo trips

 a lovely bloom

 sturdy oak and her amazing blooms

 tunnel (left side)

 tunnel (right side)

 the entrance

 me

 grrr!

a seal who likes to show off

A new year and a new spring season means the formation of new memories. What are you most excited about this spring season?

An Interview With Friends~ Emma {Everyday Emma}

I have had the privilege of getting to know Miss Emma over at Everyday Emma. She and I are birds of a feather in that we both are Etsy shop owners. I first came across Emma's blog when she entered my Beauty of Autumn photo challenge. She has been an encouragement to me with her comments. With out further ado... heres the interview I had with the now 13 year old Emma. (It was her birthday a few days ago:)

Can you tell us a little bit about your self?

I am a 13 year old girl who lives in a small town with my Daddy (yes I call him Daddy and always will), Mama, two sisters, two black labs, and 1 very fat calico cat. I love making jewelry and playing with makeup! Reading and Science are my favorite subjects in home school. I have been a Christian for 4 (going on 5 this November) years. I love to bake, and my family loves when I do :) 

When did you begin blogging?

Well I have had other blogs before, but they did not work out. SO I started a blog back in November when we were on vacation. I started commenting on blogs and leaving my blog address and having giveaways and I now have 92 followers (and love everyone of them!)

What are the 3 blogs you read most often?

Hmm... Amazing Love by Trinka, Girlz of God by Talia, and a Pearl of Great Price by Ireland <3

What are your 3 favorite books?

Well I absolutely LOVE the Millie series in A Life Of Faith books. SO GOOD! then there is Narnia and... The Mandie Series.

What genre(s) of books do you prefer?Um, I like mystery and stories, not biographies and such

What are your 3 favorite movies?Night at the Museum 1 and 2, Puss in Boots (have to see it if you have not already!) and Up. (those are just a few of my favorites ;)

I know that you began an etsy shop. what inspired you to open up your own shop?Well my sister told me about etsy, and I thought it sounded SO cool! So I started looking into it. Then Daddy let me get an etsy shop, and I have loved it ever since! 

(If you want to go check out Emma's shop click here)

How would you describe the items in your shop?

Um... Well... a... hm... I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED THIS BEFORE! Fun and it doesn't have good pictures :)

Which Bible character is your favorite?

I think David. I learned about him in school one year and it ended up being my favorite class.

What's your favorite bible citation?

Um I love Romans 8. There are SO many good verses in there! (just go read it for yourself to see ;)

Who do you most admire in your family?

Well my Daddy is a hard worker, and knows a lot about the Bible. Mama is very sweet and has a servants heart. Grace is very consistent with her Bible time, and I love being with her. Beth is always happy. So I guess in a way I admire them all for different reasons.

Do you have a funny story you'd like to share? 

Well once Daddy was being funny and said I would not trust anyone, but if I cannot trust anyone, I can't trust him, and if I can trust everybody, I can't trust anyone. (read this as many times as your need to if you did not get it the first time :)

What are a few things that no one knows about you?

OOH! Lets see... I tangle my hair! It is true! I twist little knots in it :( Now you know! (I have been doing that ever since I was little(er) so... ya...)

What is your favorite thing to do on rainy mornings?
NOT DO SCHOOL! Does that count?

In three words, how would you describe yourself?

Funny, Lazy, Unique.

How would you describe you fashion style?
Plain, Cool, Me

What is your absolute favorite color?PURPLE!

What are some of your hobbies, or things to do in your spare time?

Making things for my etsy <3, reading, blogging, playing.

Well, there you have it, another great interview. Stay tuned for next Friday's interview, where we will get the inside scoop and get to know another one of my favorite blog authors. Have you missed the previous interview, click here to view them all.

Exclusively For you

In the beginning of my blogging journey, I knew nothing about blog design. HTML codes were unfamiliar to me. I began learning to work with HTML codes and by the end of 2011, I had designed my own blog. I felt that I need a new design and created one that I loved. I have also designed a blog for a dear friend of mine, Eva.

I have decided to offer blog designs for any one who'd like one. Blog designing does take time and effort, thus my designs will be available at a price.

Here is the pricing list:

The WHOLE Package: {$10}

*Custom header

*Custom text (font and color included)

*Custom coloring

*Custom background

*Custom signature

*Custom favicon

*Custom blog button {up to 2}

*Arranged font and layout

*Arranged navbar 

*Drop down menus

 

The Package: {$5}

*Custom header

*Custom blog button

*Custom background

*Custom favicon

*Custom signature

*Drop down menus

 

The BASIC Package: {$3}

*Custom header

*Custom blog button

*Custom favicon

MISC.

Blog button {1.00}

Signature {1.00}

Header {3.00}

If you are interested in ordering a blog design, feel free to email me. I'd love to work with you and hopefully create a design that you love.

The legal stuff:

I have the right to decline fulfilment of a blog design if the blog contains inappropriate content.

I will redo a blog design once more if you are not fully satisfied with it.

I have the right to place a small link on your blog indicating that I am the designer.

An Interview With Friends~ Trinka {Amazing Love}

Throughout my blogging experience, I've had the pleasure of getting to know many godly young ladies. Their blogger profiles only give a glimpse into their lives and barely scratch the surface in describing their personalities. What better way to get to know these young ladies than to host an interview. During the next few weeks I will share with you interviews I've had with a few of my favorite blog authors.

Without further ado here is the interview I had with Trinka over at {Amazing Love}

Can you tell us a little bit about your self? 

Well, I'm a girl saved by the grace of God and through faith in His son Jesus Christ. I'm somewhere in my teenage years and I'm home schooled... I love it! ;) I am constantly learning more about my Savior as well as growing to be more like Him. I love my family and the awkward/random moments we have.

I have the privileged of my dad being a youth pastor...he's always teaching my siblings and me! :)

Which Bible character is your favorite? 

{not counting Jesus? :)} OK, well this is always changing, but I'll give you three :) David {an adulterer}, Paul {a murderer}, and Rahab {a prostitute}. They are perfect examples of God's forgiveness, grace, love, and mercy!

What's your favorite bible citation? 

1 John 3:16-18! We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

When did you begin blogging? 

Ah... {and I'm going to my dashboard right now because I don't remember!} End of June, 2011! :)

What are the 3 blogs you read most often? 

{excluding yours, of course!} Everyday Emma, I'm a Jesus Chick, and Scribbles, Scripts, and Such {that was so hard for me to choose, but they are the ones I read most often!}

What are your 3 favorite books? 

Not including the Bible? Ella Enchanted {loved that book when I was younger and still do!} The Lauren Holbrook Series {well, that's three, but...just count it as one!} and Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book

What genre(s) of books do you prefer? 

fiction... clean romance, clean chick-lit, clean {are you seeing a pattern here?} fantasy :)

What are your 3 favorite movies? 

Oh dear, this is really hard to choose! But here goes: The Incredibles, Beauty and the Beast, and Facing the Giants {ftw!}

Who do you most admire in your family? 

My grandma! :) She is a definite prayer warrior, she can cook, bake, decorate cakes, and crochet {that is to say that she can. Not that she does anymore...well, she cooks :) } She is super talented and always encourages me!

Do you have a funny story you'd like to share? 

YES! Okay, so, a couple days before Christmas, my brother and I were shopping at the mall for gifts. We walked past one of those kiosk things {you know, where the person working there comes and talks you into buying whatever contraption they're selling.} And this Israeli guy {and I'm seriously just guessing at his nationality...he could've been Mexican!} came up to us with the usual "Hello! You look like you need what I'm selling..." And that whole spiel. I tried to drag my brother away before we got stuck there for ten minutes. But, my brother {being the big ol' manly man he is, he rarely goes to the mall} didn't know this little bit of wisdom. So, when he stopped his little speech, {he was selling nail care kits.} He tried to "sample" it on my hand, but I wouldn't let him. So, he did my brother's :) When he was done...my brothers thumb nail was all smooth and shiny. He {my brother} was horrified. {hehe} He was like, "So, who should I make this out to? Is this your girlfriend? You're lucky, she's a real catch!" Seriously :) We then set him straight and politely excused ourselves. {oh, but don't worry, we were polite!} Now I kinda want to know him...

So maybe it's not that funny, but I tease my brother about it all the time ;)

What are a few things that no one knows about you? 

In the blogging world: My real name :)

What is your favorite thing to do on rainy mornings? 

When I don't have school, sit and read!

In three words, how would you describe yourself? 

smiley, creative, forgiven

How would you describe your fashion style? Umm...what fashion style? Just kidding... {no I'm not!!!} I usually just wear a nice-ish fitted t-shirt and a pair of jeans...

What is your absolute favorite color? 

Well, it used to be pink, but I'm lovin' dark purple right now :)

What are some of your hobbies, or things to do in your spare time? I like to knit, crochet, read, bake cookies, and I actually like to make dinner for my family ! :)

Trinka's blog is one of my favorites. Be sure to go on over and check it out:)

A great interview in my opinion. I look forward to getting to know the rest of my new blogger "friends".

Silence! Be Still!

via

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”  So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).  But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 

 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 

 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. 

“Even the wind and waves obey him!” 

Mark 4:35-41

Life is quite unpredictable. During our time on earth we are bound to travel life's sea of trials and tribulations, even heartache and pain. When we face life's storms, we need only to call (or shout like the disciples did) on Jesus. 

The disciples asked, "Don't you care that we're going to drown?" At times, we may feel the same way. We may feel as though we are drowning in our problems while God is standing on the sidelines watching us. We are tempted to question God's motives and blame Him for the troubles we are facing. 

 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 

Psalm 46:1

We can rest assured that God is watching us, but not from the sidelines. He is right there next to us, ready to guide us.

When we call out, "God, HELP ME!", He comes to our rescue. We read that Jesus said, "Silence! Be still!" That is exactly what He says to us today. He tells us to be silent, be still and wait in Him because He is sure to help us. He can calm the crashing waves of defeat and bring us safely to His shores of peace.

You do not know what will happen the day of tomorrow, but God does. For that very reason, you must,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in Him. He will calm the storms and bring peace to your life. All you need to do now is be still.

Litfuse Blog Tour: Beauty For Ashes

About The Book:

She’s a beautiful young widow. He’s a Southern gentleman with a thirst for adventure. Both need a place to call home.

After losing her husband in the Civil War, Carrie Daly is scared she will never have the family she longs for. Eligible bachelors are scarce in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, but Carrie has found love. Not the weak-in-the-knees kind, but something practical. Still, she isn't quite ready to set a wedding date with Nate Chastain.

Griff Rutledge is a former member of Charleston society, but has been estranged from his family for years. He’s determined to remain unattached, never settling in one place for too long. But when asked to train a Thoroughbred for an upcoming race in Hickory Ridge, he decides to stay awhile.

Despite objections from the townsfolk, and her fear that true happiness has eluded her, Carrie is drawn to Griff's kindness and charm. It will take a leap of faith for them to open their hearts and claim God's promise to give beauty for ashes.

My Review:

Picture it: A quaint little frontier town buzzing with activity. On the town's old dirt roads a beautiful young woman walks back to her buggy. Suddenly, a wild horse nearly tramples her to death and would have done so had she not been rescued by a mysterious southern gentlemen. Next... 

Dorothy is a phenomenal author in that she immediately portrays a scenario that intrigued me. The happenings and where abouts of a young widow and a mysterious southerner sparked curiosity. She also painted a very vivid image of the town that I immediately felt embedded onto the wooden plank side walks of Hickory ridge.

Most of the characters face trials and respond as people do -- sometimes with great faith, sometimes in their own reasoning, and sometimes wavering between the two. Carrie was confronted with many difficulties and often tested, but faith stepped in at some point to reel her back toward the right choices. I was especially fond of Carrie's flash backs of her wise, proverbial grandmother. 

The plot of the story was superbly written and as you read, you will encounter twists and turns. Throughout the novel, a bond with the characters is created, one that allows you to "feel for them" in their times of trouble and heartache. I enjoyed Dorothy's portrayal of the characters. Her writing style thus far is quite enjoyable and the romance level is appropriate.

Aside from Dorothy's wonderful writings, I felt that Carrie should have left her "husband hunt" to God. She nearly married a man out of sheer pity for herself.

I would rate Beauty For Ashes a 4 out of 5 stars. The characters, the mood and faith based plot were all pluses for me. This book didn't leave me thirsting for the next in the series, but it was a pleasant diversion for a few hours one day. I also enjoyed the hinted aspects of the Civil War.

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.

About The Author:

Before returning to her writing roots in historical fiction, Dorothy Love published twelve novels for young adults. Her work has garnered numerous honors from the American Library Association, the Friends of American Writers, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and many others. The Hickory Ridge Novels mark her Christian fiction debut.

For more about Dorothy visit her website,www.dorothylovebooks.com or friend her onFacebook.com/DorothyLoveBooks.

We're thrilled to announce the fun giveaway Dorothy is hosting! First, she'll be giving away a Kindle Fire (3/1-3/20), then on the evening of the 20th she's inviting everyone to her Facebook Author Page for a fun Author Chat party! Don't miss a minute of the fun ... sigh.


One beautiful winner will receive:

• A Brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
• Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love
• Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/20/12. Winner will be announced at Dorothy's Facebook Author Chat Party on 3/20. Come for an evening of chat, trivia, and a sneak peek at the next book in Dorothy's Hickory Ridge series - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a stunning sapphire ring!

So grab your copy of Beauty for Ashes  and join Dorothy and friends on the evening of March 20th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss Dorothy's delightful giveaway and party. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!