Savvy Mom

Do Hard Things

It's May 15th, time for the Non~FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 15th, we will featuring an author and his/her latest non~fiction book's FIRST chapter!

The feature author is:

Alex and Brett Harris

and their book:

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Multnomah Books (April 15, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHORs:

Alex and Brett Harris founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today at age 19 are the most popular Christian teen writers on the Web. The twins are frequent contributors to Focus on the Family’s Boundless webzine, serve as the main speakers for the Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured in WORLD magazine, Breakaway, The Old Schoolhouse, and the New York Daily News. Sons of homeschool pioneer Gregg Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett live near Portland, Oregon.

CFBA Healing Promises Blog Tour

Healing Promises (Defenders of Hope Series #2) by Amy N. Wallace Read more about this book...

Facing a new threat.
When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.
Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.
As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

When I turned on the laptop this morning I noticed I had 2 reviews of this book to do, which is why it is on both blogs.

How Many Blogs?

I am mostly blogging at beckyperry.us - as far as personally goes. I do love using Savvy Mom though for book reviews and other type of misc. I like to compartmentalize so I like having a blog for my recipes, my crafts, etc. True too, I just like to create blogs! It used to be that I liked creating web pages and writing html for them but now it feels more challenging to try to figure out Wordpress, how to add plugins and things like that. If you are looking for the best buys, go by and check out buy.com!

The Warriors Book Tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Warriors
(Bethany House April 1, 2008)
by
Mark Andrew Olsen


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. His last novel was the supernatural thriller The Watchers.

The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a Professional Writing graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A failed recon mission deep in the tunnels of Afghanistan has provoked a demonic onslaught that had been brewing for centuries. The mission's sole survivor is reformed black ops assassin Dylan Hatfield, and he once again teams up with Abby Sherman, now at the helm of the Watchers, an ancient spiritual force. Uncovering and preventing a secret wave of death whispered across cyberspace and threatening to be unleash against civilization will require another level of spiritual power and expertise--the Warriors.

Journeying across the Alps of Europe through the multilayered history of warfare in the unseen world, Dylan and Abby uncover an age-old stone engraving that rouses the church's Warriors to action, placing them dead center in one of the fiercest spiritual battles of their time!

And once again they are reminded: This is all part of a vast and perpetual war, a war beyond all human conflicts, one that has engulfed heaven and earth since before the dawn of history....

Abby Sherman is headed back to Israel, where a Watcher, the Sentinel of Jerusalem, lies dying. In her last breaths the old woman tells Abby of an ancient document prophesying humanity's full-scale entry into the ongoing conflict between armies of heaven and fallen angels.

Dylan Hatfield has decided to answer a summons from his old boss and join a secret operation, its mission to reconnoiter the Afghani tunnel complex from which Osama bin Laden escaped in 2001. What he discovers sears his very soul and likely will end his life.

Abby learns of the peril facing Dylan, and she sends out a call for intercession on his behalf. Her frantic email message sets in motion a series of harrowing events, propelling the two on a new mission and quest--one where the stakes are the lives of millions!

The Warriors is packed with high-octane action, featuring exotic international locales, with characters in a clash against spiritual "principalities and powers" with eternal consequences, The Warriors is a story that will enthrall, enlighten, and engage its readers.

If that piques your interest, you can read the first chapter HERE

"Olsen, one of the better writers in this subgenre, delivers powerful, action-packed plots that delve into mystical paranormal worlds."
~Library Journal, Feb. 2008

"Olsen delivers an entertaining thriller likely to be enjoyed especially by fans of the spiritual warfare genre."
~PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Blinds

One thing that I can't seem to keep my boys from destroying are my blinds. Sometimes they just play rough and end up brushing up against them and bend them up but sometimes they pull down the sticks that open them and use them for swords!! Again I say:!!!! I guess lucky for us we buy cheapo Walmart blinds at this point. Someday I would really love to have plantation shutters but I think they might look a bit rich for the type of house we have. I really like them though.

Slight Breeze

This morning would have been the perfect time to have wind chimes on the front porch. It was raining with only a slight breeze. I've thought of getting some but wonder if the sound would drive me crazy after awhile - if they are small, the slightest bit of movement will set them off. I can see my boys ringing them as if they were a bong, too! I like finding different things to try and spiffy up the place.

Cycles

Sometimes it feels like all the top diet pills in the world couldn't help me! I am actually doing okay right now, losing a few pounds but the truth is, I know my track record - it could change at any moment. You know what really works? We all do - you burn more calories than you consume. That's it. You gotta work for it and I haven't been working very hard. I say I want it - but my actions would say otherwise. It's an endless cycle.

Sniff

My allergies seem worse these days. I think it might be the high pollen around my area. I don't have an IQAir purifier but I do have on my hubby bought for me at Walmart. I kind of think it's not big enough. I mean, it is big enough for my bedroom but I bet I need one for every room. Well, at $200 a pop, I bet THAT isn't going to happen! In the meantime, I suppose I will just suffer in silence!

FIRST for May

It is May FIRST, time for the FIRST Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!

Finding Hollywood Nobody 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Samson is the author of twenty books, including the Christy Award-winning Songbird. Apples of Gold was her first novel for teens

These days, she's working on Quaker Summer, volunteering at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, raising children and trying to be supportive of a husband in seminary. (Trying . . . some days she's downright awful. It's a good thing he's such a fabulous cook!) She can tell you one thing, it's never dull around there.

Other Novels by Lisa:

Hollywood Nobody, Straight Up, Club Sandwich, Songbird, Tiger Lillie, The Church Ladies, Women's Intuition: A Novel, Songbird, The Living End

Visit her at her website.

The Big Picture Blog Tour

The Big Picture
(NavPress Publishing Group April 15, 2008)
by
Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)

Jenny resides in Arkansas, where, as a teacher, she hangs out with teens on a regular basis.








ABOUT THE BOOK
Sometimes there’s a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.

School is winding down for the summer but Katie Parker is having a bad day. After leaving the drive-in, where her imploding love life was the main attraction, Katie arrives home to a big surprise on the Scott's front porch.

Her mother, Bobbie Ann Parker, a former convict and recovering addict, wants to take Katie away from her family, friends, and church. Now Katie's life will be changed by a series of dramatic choices as she struggles to understand what family and home really means.

Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving behind a family who loves her, a town drive-in to save, and a boyfriend who suddenly can’t take his eyes off his ex. When the life her mother promised begins to sink faster than one of Maxine’s stuffed bras, Katie knows she needs to rely on God to keep it together.

But where is he in all this? Can Katie survive a chaotic life with her mother—and one without the Scotts? And if God is there, will he come through before it’s too late?

Watches

You know what, mens gold watches is something I will probably never buy for my husband.  Not that he wouldn't look sharp with one - but he is a painter and his watches get ruined.  I know, he could have 2 watches - one for all day at work and one for a few hours before bed.  It doesn't work that well.  At one time he even bought 2 inexpensive watches so he could have a work watch and a good watch.  Sometimes he forgets.  So, we go for the Walmart cheap variety.  He cleans it up with mineral spirits as much as possible and when it gets yucky?  It is discarded for a new one!

Blog Tour: Winter Haven

Winter Haven
(Bethany House April 1, 2008)
by
Athol Dickson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Athol Dickson's university-level training in painting, sculpture, and architecture was followed by a long career as an architect then his decision several years ago to devote full time to writing.

Athol Dickson’s writing has been favorably compared to the work of Octavia Butler
(Publisher’s Weekly), Daphne du Maurier (Cindy Crosby, FaithfulReader.com) and FlanneryO’Connor (The New York Times).

His They Shall See God was a Christy Award finalist and his River Rising was a Christy Award winner, selected as one of the Booklist Top Ten Christian Novels of 2006 and a finalist for Christianity Today's Best Novel of 2006.

He and his wife, Sue, live in Southern California. Visit AtholDickson.com for more information.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Boys who never age, giants lost in time, mist that never rises, questions never asked...on the most remote of islands off the coast of Maine, history haunts the present and Vera Gamble wrestles with a past that will not yield. Will she find refuge there, or will her ghosts prevail on...Winter Haven

Eleven years ago, Vera Gamble's brother left their house never to be seen again. Until the day Vera gets a phone call that his body has been found...washed ashore in the tiny island town of Winter Haven, Maine. His only surviving kin, Vera travels north to claim the body...and finds herself tumbling into a tangled mystery. Her brother hasn't aged a day since last she saw him.

Determined to uncover what happened in those lost years, Vera soon discovers there are other secrets lurking in this isolated town. But Winter Haven's murky past now seems bound to come to light as one woman seeks the undeniable and flooding light of truth.

Cash Is King

Our car is about 15 years old - made the same year my hubby and I got married. It probably has a few years left in it but before long there will be talk of a new one, perhaps one with Chevy grilles. Dave Ramsey suggests that you start saving for a car long before you buy it and pay as much cash down as you can (if not all). I don't know how that would work for us but I would sure like to try it. I remember how great it was not having a car payment and then having one. The same with not having a house payment for 13 years and now, this year, we have one. Yep, cash is the way to go.

Sports Fans

Do you keep up with the nfl picks? This is a nifty little site just for that sort of thing! It's a message board where you can talk to sports fans from all over.  Sure, they cover football but that's not all?  You can talk  your fill of football, baseball and more.  Head on over and get yourself a username!

Use The Internet!!

Do you ever look for coupons online? For example, if you were going to buy some printer ink, do you look for Circuit City coupons online before you buy? I say take advantage of the internet! A couple of weeks ago I had a $25 gift certificate to Amazon and bought a book and a couple of lesson planners. That left less that $5 before I got to $25 and I wanted to get to that amount to take advantage of the free shopping. I did a search for Amazon "fillers" and actually found a website that listed some! I bought a couple of packs of pencils and ended up only having to pay about four cents!

Something To Think About

Speaking of insurance, do you have life insurance? We do on my hubby but I wonder sometimes if we need it on me? No one really likes to think about life insurance because, well, it's for when you die! I think it is something that wives should consider having because if something happens to you, your hubby might need some help, especially if you have children - there's day care and other things - maybe even maid service! Something to think about!

Rental cars and insurance

In a couple of weeks, we are planning a road trip for my niece's graduation. It's a 12 hour drive and we have an older car so we are renting one. I know we'll probably need insurance on the car. Do you think that is covered in travel insurance? That is something I need to look into before it's time to rent the car!! I just emailed my insurance agent to ask his opinion. We only have liability on our car so if that meant that only our rental car would have liability, then that is not a good thing!

My Quest

I am constantly having to check faucets around here. My boys turn them off but not all the way. Fortunately the way our plumbing is, you can hear when water is running. It is loud! That especially goes for when they play with the water hose outside - I immediately know about it - they can't hardly get away with anything. And then when they can, they tell on themselves. I think that is a good thing though, don't you? We are enjoying some nice sunny weather today. I have already had my 20 minute sun bath. I am on a quest for a tan - did I mention that?

CFBA Blog Tour

My Soul To Keep
(Multnomah Books - February 5, 2008)
by
Melanie Wells

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of the Texas panhandle and the child of musicians, Melanie Wells attended Southern Methodist University on a music scholarship (she's a fiddle player), and later completed graduate degrees in counseling psychology and Biblical studies at Our Lady of the Lake University and Dallas Theological Seminary.

She has taught at the graduate level at both OLLU and DTS, and has been in private practice as a counselor since 1992. She is the founder and director of LifeWorks counseling associates in Dallas, Texas, a collaborative community of creative therapists.

When the Day of Evil Comes is her first published work of fiction, and the first of a three-book series. The second work, The Soul Hunter was released in May, 2006. Melanie lives and writes in Dallas.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As nasty as I knew Peter Terry to be, I never expected him to start kidnapping kids. Much less a sweet, funny little boy with nothing to protect him but a few knock-kneed women, two rabbits and a staple gun…

It’s psychology professor Dylan Foster’s favorite day of the academic year…graduation day. And her little friend Christine Zocci’s sixth birthday. But the joyful summer afternoon goes south when a little boy is snatched from a neighborhood park, setting off a chain of events that seen to lead nowhere.

The police are baffled, but Christine’s eerie connection with the kidnapped child sends Dylan on a chilling investigation of her own. Is the pasty, elusive stranger Peter Terry to blame? Exploding light bulbs, the deadly buzz of a Texas rattlesnake, and the vivid, disturbing dreams of a little girl are just pieces of a long trail of tantalizing clues leading Dylan in her dogged search for the truth.

Sunshine

I can't believe it is the middle of April and the temps got down to freezing last night. I hope this is the last of it. I have 6 pecan trees that I am hoping to see some pecans from this fall. I can't afford the travel health insurance for all of the pecans that will have to hit the road. Okay, I know that was corny but I was going to try something new like humor. I know, I know - I'm not very funny. Can you blame a girl for trying? I think the temps are going to get back into the mid 70's again this week and I am going to resume my sitting on the deck to get some sun on my legs.