Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ A Blogging for Books Review

About Book

Sometimes a secret must be kept for the truth to be revealed. 
 

When a suspicious accident occurs at the famous Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event and how the factory treats its youngest employees—the child workers. Caroline’s fervent faith, her difficult childhood, and compassionate heart drove her to her job as an investigator for the Labor Commission and she is compelled to see children freed from such heavy adult responsibilities, to allow them to pursue an education.   

Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father. Caroline and Oliver become fast friends, but tension mounts when the two find themselves at odds about the roles of child workers. Hiding their identities becomes even more difficult when fate brings them together over three children in desperate need. When all is revealed, will the truth destroy the love starting to grow between them?

About Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling, award-winning author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print. She lives in central Kansas where she and her retired military husband, Don, enjoy spoiling their ten granddarlings. 

• Author's Website
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• Author Bio

My Thoughts

Caroline Lang is a private investigator assigned to investigate suspicions of murder and illegal child labor among other crimes at chocolate factory. In order do so she goes undercover as a worker.   Unbeknownst to her Ollie Moore the janitor at the factory is also doing some undercover on his own. He is actually Oliver Dinsmore the son and heir of the factory.  As things start coming to light they decide to combine their efforts to uncover the deceit and illegal goings on in the factory.

Caroline had never given much thought to having a husband much less children until she met Ollie Moore and felt she could trust him with her life and her heart. 

The author has written a who done it mystery that will have your skin crawling and have you  watching over your shoulder while you read this book.  It may not be hard to guess who the villian is in the story,  it was getting the proof to convict the guilty party. 

I found it surprising anyone could find romance under such circumstances. The author shows us how God works miracles with the gift of love. This book will be a keeper for my personal library. 

I highly recommend this book. 

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah/Blogging for Books for an honest review.

EVENTIDE, The Days of Redemption, #3 by SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY ~ Litfuse Publicity Group Tour

Excerpt From Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray by WilliamMorrowBooks

About Book: 

A young Amish woman harbors a difficult secret. Does she dare share the truth with the man she hopes to marry?

Elsie Keim doesn’t want to be left behind. Her twin sister, Viola, and her older brother, Roman, have both found love and are building lives of their own. But Elsie? She’s still stuck at home, being treated like a child. No one seems to consider her a capable woman—all they see are the thick lenses of her glasses, constant reminders that Elsie suffers from keratoconus and is slowly going blind.

Elsie knows there’s much more to her than her disease. That’s why when a new neighbor, Landon Troyer, shows some interest in her, she doesn’t want anything to scare him away . . . even if it means keeping her condition a secret.

Landon is ready to start a new life and feels like Elsie may just be the right woman to start it with. But when Roman steps in and shares the truth about Elsie’s illness, Landon is floored. His job is demanding and takes him away from home, sometimes for days at a time. How could he keep up with his responsibilities and take care of Elsie?

Purchase a copy here.

Learn more at Shelley’s website.

Meet Shelley:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Shelley Shepard Gray is celebrating the release of the final book in The Days of Redemption series, Eventide, by giving away FIVE sets of the series. 

Five winners will receive:

• Daybreak, Ray of Light and Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 21st. All winners will be announced September 23rd at Shelley's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Shelley's blog on the 23rd to see if you won one of the book sets!

My Thoughts

At first glance you would never know, other than the thick glass she wears, that Elie Keim was near blind. She desires to be as independent as her twin sister and her brother.  They both have found their soul mates but if her family has anything to do with it she will become the blind alt madeal that will be forever dependent on her family.  What the family isn't aware of is Elsie prays for a life with her own home, husband and children.  She dares not discuss this with anyone.  Until Landon Troyer, a new neighbor, starts helping out around the family farm and making a point to seek out Elsie to strike up a conversation with her causing her family to become even more protective of Elsie.  She fears if Landon finds out about her eye disease he will turn his attention away from her,even if he was a kind and considerate man.

The author writes about a sensitive subject that most do not want to think about and that is a disability.  She also points out through the character of Elsie that a disability does not have to weight you down thinking you are a oddity or not normal.  What is not normal to someone may be normal for someone else.  God has made us in his image and our soul is what shines through to others.  Don't we all have some form of disability? I have to wear glasses and I suffer from migraines.  I could go on and on.   So look past ones disabilities and find out who the person really is don't be caught up with labels.it blinds ones judgement.  

I say kudos to Shelley for writing this beautiful character into this series!

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishers and Litfuse Pulicity Group Tour for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.

  

Whispers in the Wind - Wild West Wind Series #2 by Lauraine Snelling

Whispers in the Wind

About Book

She's Come This Far.... Must She Turn Back Now?

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But younger son Lucas decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

Whispers in the Wind  Series: Wild West Wind 2 by Lauraine Snelling ISBN: 978-0-7642-0416-6 Format: Paperback Publication date: Aug. 2012 | Division: Bethany House Where to buy: Amazon, Christianbook.com, BarnesandNoble.com.

About Lauraine

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has seventy books published.

Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story.

 Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn't call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

Learn more about Lauraine on her website here.

My Thoughts

Cassie Lockwood's journey is over. She has found the ranch her father had told her so much about.  He had bought the ranch in partnership with his best friend Ivar Engstrom.  Adam's widow Mavis welcomed her with open arms but her grown sons have reservations about the partnership of their father and Cassie's father.  Mavis and Ivar had never mentioned anything about owning only half of the ranch and their children.

Ransom has his concerns with the fact that this important piece of information was never mentioned until the day Cassie and her friends show up to claim her inheritance which was half of the Bar E Ranch.  Mavis had not only withheld the fact that Adam was a partner in the ranch but that she had also been in love with Adam Lockwood before she married their father. She has not revealed the later to anyone.

Has Cassie come all this way just leave in order to preserve the peace within the Engstrom family? They are the true definition of family and love and she does not want to cause them problems.

Book two was so much better than book one.  I felt more connected with the characters and story. The character Chief has become Cassie's shadow and protector even more so since the death of Adam Lockwood. Micah is the animal handler that came along with them in hopes of finding a place to plant his feet.  Then there is Runs Like A Deer the Indian woman they found injured on their journey and she has made them her family.  All of these people have become a family unit. Oh, let's not forget Wind Dancer the beautiful and talented Pinto and George the buffalo.

Mavis Engstrom is the glue that holds them all together including the addition of Cassie's little family. Her young daughter Gretchen is a mini Mavis in the making. Mavis's son Lucas gets ahead of himself most of the time though it is usually with the best of intentions.  Her son Ransom is very protective of his family and the ranch. He is a hard nut to crack. But once he cracks it is all good.  Her son Jess is off at college and Mavis is not sure how he will react to news that half the ranch belongs to someone else.

The author told a heartwarming tale of coming home and uniting a group of people that God had meant to be together for the better of all of them.  It is all there love, family, unity, determination and trust in God and their fellow man.

I wanted the story of these beautiful people to continue. Looking forward to reading more.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Giveaway/ Review - Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

About the Book

Proving the Simple Life Isn't So Simple After All

Over committed and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife--but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It's just the break Julie needs.

But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it's cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications... and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

Where to buy: Amazon,Christianbook.com,BarnesandNoble.com 

Almost Amish

About Kathryn

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of five novels, including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. She is also the co-author of Angel Song with Sheila Walsh. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, California. 

Visit her Web site atwww.kathryncushman.com  



Q&A with Kathryn Cushman

1. Tell us about your new book, Almost Amish. 

Almost Amish is the story of Julie Charlton, an overwhelmed wife and mother who is exhausted 

and burned out. When her high-achieving sister-in-law lands a spot on a reality TV show about 

simple living called “Going Almost Amish,” she invites Julie and kids to join her. Julie hopes this 

is her chance to slow down long enough to reconnect with her kids and to remember her reason 

for doing what she does.

2. What was the inspiration for this story?

I think most women today are completely overwhelmed by the demands on their time and 

energy. We keep getting all these great “time saving” appliances, yet I think most women agree 

that their lives are far more hurried and stressed than their mothers’ lives were. The questions 

of “what happened to all that time we saved?” and “are we really doing this to ourselves?” gave 

me the idea for the book. My friend Kristyn was the human inspiration—she is a stay-at-home 

mother who runs herself ragged helping other people and getting very little credit for it. 

3. What is the theme at the core of this book?

Discovering what God has called us to do and doing it with all our hearts. That can also mean 

NOT doing something, even if that something is a very good thing, if it is outside of what we are 

called to do. Even if other people are very adamant that we should be doing that something. 

4. Do you envy the Amish way of life? 

I grew up near an Amish community (the one depicted in this book), so I saw that life in all its 

hardships. I never could understand why women would be drawn to Amish fiction until I read 

one of Beverly Lewis’ books. Then I thought, “Wow, that does sound nice.” In reality, I think the 

Amish lifestyle is very difficult. I’m thankful for the freedom and comforts I have as a modern 

Protestant.

5. Did you do any special research for this book?

I did lots of reading and talking to the people who are close to the Amish in Tennessee. For 

personal research, I did a “Shoo-fly Pie” experiment so that one scene in the book would be 

accurate. A friend of mine who actually knows what Amish shoo-fly pie is supposed to taste like 

was my taste-tester. Pie-tasting night was interesting, to say the least. 

I also have a friend of a friend who works in reality TV (she has worked on shows like “Big 

Brother”). She taught me so much and helped me work through some of the technical details.

6. Why do you think life is so stressful for modern women?

Truly, I think a large part of that answer falls squarely on our own shoulders. We spend way too 

much time looking at everyone else and trying to keep up with them, instead of putting our 

heads down and doing what it is that we do best. Not everyone is a gourmet cook, not everyone 

is a terrific businesswoman, not everyone is fabulous and patient with a group of preschoolers. 

We need to celebrate what we do well, we need to celebrate what other people do well, and we 

need to cut ourselves and each other slack for not doing everything well.
  

My Thoughts

Have you heard the old saying, "I meet myself coming and going"? Well this is the life of Julie Charlton dedicated and exhausted wife and mother.  She realizes her family needs to slow down but just can't seem to figure out how.

Until...! Her sister-in-law Susan is offered a Reality T.V. series called Almost Amish and she wants Julie and her two kids to be part of the reality show with her and her daughter.  This seems like the answer to all Julie's problems and for opportunity for her family to slow down and enjoy the simple life of the Amish.

Boy was she ever wrong! From the minute they arrived Susan was so hyped up about making everything perfect in their new reality show home away from home.  They all ended up spending most their days cleaning and working on one project after another. Susan had even made up a chore chart.

Things were not as Julie and the kids had hoped. The producer of the the reality show was determined to make things as difficult for them as possible.  Making things even worse the woman had broken just about every promise she had made to them and the Amish community. 

What had happened to slowing down and enjoying the simple life of the Amish.  Julie and all three of the kids were determined to slow things down.  They had a game plan! Which does not set well with her workaholic sister-in-law and the crazy reality show producer.


The author wrote a great story about how life is not simple even in an Amish Community.  We have to work and pray for what we have. God will provide. I loved Julie and totally sympathized with her.  Susan seemed to be a little to wrapped up in herself and so did the producer. the author also emphasizes how God has a plan for everyone and that it does not always work out the way we had envisioned it.


I recommend this book.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!

BETHANY HOUSE is providing A COPY OF 

ALMOST AMISH for this GIVEAWAY.

1+. All you need to do is leave a comment

 and be sure to leave your email address 

in the comment so I can contact you if you win.

Example of your email for your protection:  johndoe(at)gmail(dot)com

The winner will be announced on SEPTEMBER 3RD.

GOOD LUCK!

The Fiddler (Home to Hickory Hollow, #1) by Beverly Lewis

About Beverly

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Beverly to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with The Shunning, which has sold more than one million copies and was recently made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. In 2007 The Brethren was honored with a Christy Award. She has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Beverly lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

Visit her Web site at www.beverlylewis.com for more information.

The Fiddler Q & A

1. You recently reached the #2 spot on The New York Times bestseller list, your highest position ever. How do you feel about your expanding popularity? 
I am continually amazed and truly grateful for God’s hand of blessing on my work, and for the opportunity to share His love through story. So many thousands of readers write to say my books speak directly to them, that they believe my intimate writing style is for their hearts and eyes alone, like an open letter from a friend. I also think the fascination with the Amish tradition has taken on a life of its own due to a general longing for peace and a less hectic lifestyle.

2. Your new series, Home to Hickory Hollow, returns to the fictional Lancaster County setting that graced your inaugural Amish series, tHe Heritage of lancaster county. (The first milestone in what eventually became the current “bonnet fiction” craze!) What led you to make that decision? So many readers continue to express their fondness for idyllic Hickory Hollow, which I created back in 1997 with The Shunning, the first book in The Heritage of Lancaster County. The longtime interest in that place has grown tremendously in recent years, in part because of the recent Hallmark movie adaptation of The Shunning, as well as the enormously popular musical, The Confession Musical. I took a poll on my Facebook fan page and discovered that readers were just “a-hankerin’” to come back to this beloved setting where it all began. Truly, Hickory Hollow is as real to me as it is to my readers, and fans will be in for some fun surprises! Although this new series offers peeks into the lives of some of the most memorable characters from The Shunning and its sequels, the primary characters in The Fiddler are brand-new, with compelling stories of their own.

3. In what way is this series different from your previous ones? 
Home to Hickory Hollow is really a collection of books rather than a continuing saga. Each novel will be a related stand-alone that can be read in any order the reader chooses. I wanted to write a series where readers can pick up any book and know they will find a satisfying and complete story.

4. Amelia Devries, the main character from The Fiddler, isn’t your typical leading lady. What inspired her? 
In this book, my passion for music, as well as the Plain community of Lancaster County, where I grew up, come together like a patchwork quilt. Like my protagonist, Amelia Devries, I studied violin, although I was never as proficient a fiddler as she! The story begins with Amelia at a crossroads: A classically trained musician, she’s been moonlighting on the fiddle circuit and is about to be found out. She subsequently takes a wrong turn in a rainstorm…which leads her to Michael Hostetler, an Amishman from Hickory Hollow with a dilemma of his own. The juxtaposition of an “English” girl with an Amish love interest really appeals to me, and I know my readers will love it, too. Readers can get an early peek at The Fiddler via the wonderful book trailer my publisher has posted on YouTube, as well as on my website and official Facebook fan page.

5. What are some story questions that run throughout The Fiddler? Is it possible to balance the expectations of our families and communities with our own hopes? How do we find our purpose in life? What can happen when our hearts are open to others? Virtuoso or not, everyone has talents and gifts that can make a difference in this world!

6. Fans have been ecstatic about the film and stage adaptations of your books. Are more in the works? It’s been an absolute joy to see my stories fleshed out for the screen or in live theatre, with fabulous music. The filming schedule is about to be released for the movie sequel, Beverly Lewis’ The Confession, the continuation of Katie Lapp’s saga from my Heritage of Lancaster County series. I’m delighted that Michael Landon, Jr., will once again be at the helm as director and co-producer, just as he was for Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning, available now on DVD. Also, due to its enormous popularity, The Confession Musical is expanding to more locations—opening on June 7 in Sugarcreek, Ohio at the Carlisle Inn, as well as opening for its third run in Shipshewana, Indiana at the Blue Gate Theatre, and its second run in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Stage. My website and Facebook fan page offer more information.

7. What are you working on next? Presently I’m writing The Bridesmaid, the second novel in my new series, Home to Hickory Hollow. That will appear on shelves September 11, 2012.Facebook fan page offer more information.

8. How can readers keep up with your work? To sign up for my free newsletter, they can visit www.beverlylewis.com or my Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/officialbeverlylewis. My website also features my monthly blog, book excerpts, delicious Amish recipes, and news about my upcoming book tour, which kicks off April 10 at Barnes and Noble in the Har Mar Mall in Roseville, Minnesota. I will be visiting bookstores and libraries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.Facebook fan page offer more information.

The Fiddler


About Book

Series: Home to Hickory Hollow, Book 1
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0977-2
ISBN-10: 0-7642-0977-9
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: Apr. 2012
Formats: Paperback | Hardcover | Large print

Amelia "Amy" DeVries, a 24-year-old violinist, is disillusioned with life and love after the collapse of her long-running romance. Weary of endless rehearsals and performances, Amy sets out on a road trip through the Pennsylvania mountains. She leaves her cell phone behind so life's demands can't intrude on her solitude. She doesn't know, nor care, where she will end up.

When her car breaks down deep in the mountains, Amy realizes the flaw in her "no cell phone" plan. She abandons her car and walks the winding roads, searching for help. Following the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of music, she finds a rustic log cabin. There she meets a young Amishman--and through him a community--that will change her life forever.

Where to buy:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christianbook.com

 

My Thoughts

Englisher Amelia Devries is performing the opening act for a Tim McGraw concert in Philadelphia. Amelia is a champion fiddler going by the stage name of Amy Lee. But this is her secret life. In her real life she is famous concert violinist. As she is leaving the concert her agent and family friend has found out her secret and has come to confront her. He feels this is below her and that her ailing father would be very disappointed if he every found out. She agrees to call him once she gets home to discuss a tour overseas. This is not something she wants to do in fact she is considering taking a hiatus from performing with her violin. She feels more alive around the people at the country concerts.

As she heads home it comes a downpour or as we say around here a gully washer. She can't she where she is going and makes a wrong turn. She looses control of her car and blows a tire. As she tries to get her bearings she has no idea where she is all she see is fields. When the rain slacks up a bit she sees a faint light and realizes it is a small cabin. She makes a run for the cabin fearing what or who she was fixing to face. A handsome young amishman opens the door and without hesitation invites her out of the rain  and into his cabin. He introduces himself as Michael Hosteler. From the looks of the things sitting around the room, like a laptop and an iPod, she wonders what kind of Amish has this kind of technology.

The rain does not let up and from the sounds of the storm it would be tomorrow before the flat tire could be changed. So against better judgement she decides to wait it out. They end up sharing each others life story, to an extent, they decide to play chess. As it gets late they knew they should try to get some sleep. With the privacy of a curtain between the two sleeping areas it was difficult to not be aware of the stranger on the other side of the curtain.

The next morning after they had breakfast Michael's invites Amelia to visit his Amish community and friends. She agrees to go and makes new friends then decides to stay the weekend with her new Amish friend Joanna. It is such a peaceful place and she goes out into a field and plays her fiddle, but not the country music. She plays and practices the music she plays on her solo violinist tours.

What is going through her mind? Does she plan on staying with the Amish permanently? How does the community feel about her music especially since they don't allow such instrument as the fiddle?

Are Amelia and Michael becoming more than friends? Is Michael planning on leaving the Amish since he is so hesitant to join the church? He wants to further his education and enjoys his car and his new found electronics.

The author has given us two young people pondering and drifting from the lives there families expected and raised them to live. Confused as to what God's will is for their future.

This is a lovely coming of age story. The parents are so concerned and fearful for their children's future. I read something in "River's Call by Melody Carlson" that said, to "Sometimes we have to give up the oars and let them row the boat by themselves". But that is not so easy do when we want to protect them from themselves.

I hope I left you wanting to know more about God's will for Amelia's and Michael's  future.  So go get the book you will not regret reading THE FIDDLER by BEVERLY LEWIS.

I highly recommend this book!

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.

MAMAW'S SUNDAY DEVOTIONAL - Fresh-Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson

This months book selection is ...

Fresh-Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson


Taking Your First Sip
By Nicole Johnson

Would you like coffee this morning?


There is rarely a morning out when this offer fails to bring joy to my heart. At home the first thing I do in the morning is put on the coffee. Just the sound of the brewing perks me up. Often my soul does a little dance when the aroma of freshly ground beans starts to fill the kitchen.


Coffee brings warmth and comfort to my life. Part ritual, part relationship, part hope, having a cup in my hand feels as natural as holding a pencil. It stirs up memories and gratitude inside me . . .


But my favorite characteristic of coffee is the deep metaphor it holds for life. The process of making a cup of fresh-brewed coffee has given me words and insight as to what has made a fresh-brewed life for me, and what can make a fresh-brewed life for anyone. The coffee part is fairly simple: a whole coffee bean goes into the fire, emerges richer and darker, is ground up into tiny pieces, and when hot water pours over those grinds, a magical aroma and flavor are released, and a remarkable drink is created.


Because the life part is not quite as simple as the coffee part, we’ll spend the rest of the book exploring how our lives can become fresh-brewed. You’re invited to begin stirring your soul to wake up the slumbering parts and throw out the two-day-old, stale stuff in the bottom of the glass carafe. This is not freeze-dried life, like the Sanka your grandmother drank. We’re after the real McCoy—authentic, energizing, stimulating, robust life.


Fresh-Brewed Life is a journey of awakenings:


To God, as we learn to respond to his compelling love for us
To ourselves, as we recognize our true identity and it illuminates us from the inside out
To others, as we relate in new and healthy ways that bring joy and peace


Coffee is far more than a beverage… it is an invitation to life. Yours.


We only live once, and if we do it well, once is enough. This book holds ten cups of fresh-brewed life. Remember, with coffee we have to sit awhile, so don’t rush; just take it one cup at a time. See if you find the Creator of all coffee finding you and drawing you out of hiding, welcoming you, issuing the same invitation: Wake up to a richer, fuller, more flavorful life than you ever imagined.


Excerpted from Fresh-Brewed Life Copyright © 1999, 2011 Nicole Johnson. Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas Nelson. Used with permission. All rights reserved.