Tangerine Morning by Rita Garcia

 Tangerine Morning is Book 2 in the Serenity Cove Series by Rita Garcia, here we find Jezzica at odds with God. Her husband was killed just a few years prior, and she is still dealing with the struggle of moving on. When a new detective comes to town she immediately has mixed feelings. She has a distrust of police because of their lack of being able to find her husband's killers.

Zach is determined to reach her. He wants to be friends and wants to help her uncover the truth. Along the way the feelings on both sides increases. The question is, will Jezzica allow herself to move on and trust another man. Can she take that step to moving beyond the feeling of being unfaithful to her husband?

Jezzica's sister, Catylen, has her own struggles that we learn about. The difference is that she is trusting God. She has the relationship with God where she knows the love regardless of circumstances. When Jezzica watches how her sister deals with her own personal agony, will that allow Jezzica to find a way back to God?

I really enjoyed this book. I feel it did a great job of teaching about putting our trust in God regardless of what we might be going through. Each character had his or her own difficulties they had to deal with, and gave a lot of variety in situations. I feel this was a smart way to provide the knowledge that everyone has different struggles, and God can help you through any situation.

This book would be great for young adult along with women in general who love a good story. It also would be a good way to help someone in need, maybe someone who doesn't fully have God in their hearts and is in need of that.

You can find the book for yourself HERE

Rita Garcia lives in California with her husband. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. You can find out more about her at http://www.ritagarcia.com/

Disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. I am a part of CWA review crew

CasePics I Phone cases

CasePics is a family run business offering new and creative ways to dress up your IPhone case.  By allowing you to choose the picture you want on your case, it gives not only individuals a way to show off a hobby or their family, but also businesses a way to advertise.  When ordering your case, their website is easy to follow and works great. There are no hard steps to figure out. It's easy to manage.   Each phone image is put onto a white metal plate with high quality heat transfer inks. The picture appears in a very clear and shiny picture. I was amazed how well it looked. From what I experienced, the customer service is courteous and friendly. The product arrived in a quick manner and in good condition. The only thing I would say is I wish it had come with more padding. I would hate to think there was any chance of scratching the picture.

My son is the one who has the IPhone, and he is thrilled with it. He picked the picture for his phone. He loves the Rockin Rollercoaster at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios. He thought it would be a great way to show his favorite ride to everyone. He said that it was tight getting it on to his phone, but after it's on the tight fit is perfect. He said it was great because unlike some cases, all the buttons on the phone are accessible with no plastic covering them with "fake"buttons.

I am very happy with www.CasePics.com and will definitely use them in the future for any new cases we might get. The company works will all IPhone Cases 5/4S/4, IPad 2 and 3 mini cases, and Samsung galaxy S3 cases.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Time and Again by Deborah Heal

I was excited to have the opportunity to read and review this book. Just from the basic information I had about it, I knew it would make an interesting story.

Abby is doing tutoring for her college class, and is spending the summer helping Pat by teaching her daughter Merrideth in order to get her caught up for the next year. Abby is determined this will be an easy task, but is in for a surprise when she meets Merrideth.

Merrideth is 11 years old and has retreated into herself due to her parents divorce and her mom's lack of interest and time. Pat always seems to have a work related situation which takes her away from her daughter even when she is really needed. When Abby arrives, Merrideth tries her best to make the situation as difficult as it can be. She has no desire to do studies. She prefers TV, computer and eating.

One day while looking out the window they see a boy on the train tracks and a train coming quickly. They rush out to get him, and from then on the summer takes an interesting turn. Although it isn't the end of Merrideth's stubbornness, she does begin to listen to Abby and they begin to form a friendship.

Weird things are going on at the house. When they explore the attic in search of some excitement, they find a map of the town the way it was 100 years ago. They find themselves walking and talking to someone who knows some of the history.  When Merrideth finds a beautiful homes site on her computer, they discover the house they are in. Upon further looking, it appears that somehow the screen is a way to look into the past. Abby and Merrideth call it "time-surfing".

They find themselves in Charlotte's life in the year 1854. Of course Charlotte can't see them, but they can see through her eyes and feel her joy and pain.  They follow her life, sometimes in fast forward, and learn that she lived in Merrideth's current home, and that Abraham Lincoln had stayed in the home.
They see the ups and down's of history through Charlotte's eyes. They learn about the underground railroad and circumstances that led to that point.

By watching history before their eyes and experiencing it, Abby is able to teach Merrideth some important truths. She teaches her about God's love and how God has a plan for everyone. He can make good out of any situation. Merrideth learns that God loves her and has a purpose for her life.


This was an amazing story. There are some history truth's to learn and it provides a unique way to show God's purpose and love for people. I enjoyed how the story was put together. I had a hard time pulling myself away! I read the entire story in 2 days. If I didn't have other things to do, I probably would have read it in one sitting!  I loved the relationship between Abby and Merrideth. You can really see the friendship that grows and how Merrideth finds a way to trust Abby and rely on her the way she wishes she could rely on her mom. I think this was an important aspect of the story.

I can't wait to read Deborah Heal's other books. They are on my to read list for sure!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Secret Keeper by Beverly Lewis

The Secret Keeper is Book 4 in the Home to Hickory Hollow series. Although it's Book 4, you can read it independently of the other books. I have read the entire series from the beginning and recommend them all.

Jenny is an Englisher, but in her heart she has always seen herself as Plain. She has never felt like she belonged in her world and thanks to an Amish friend, finds herself being mentored in her "proving period" by Rebecca and Samuel Lapp.  Although things are more difficult then they appeared at first, Jenny is determined to fit in and prove she has what it takes to become a baptized member of the Amish church. People in the community have a variety of thoughts of this worldly person wanting to join the Amish church, especially at the same time many of the youth are seeking to leave the community.

As Jenny strives to learn the correct ways to conduct herself and learn how to be a true Amishwoman, she also finds herself struggling with her interest in Andrew. Jenny is not supposed to court until she is a member of the church, but she finds herself drawing closer to him and his trust in her.

When a secret threatens to destroy her chances of finishing her proving time, she decides she will never be Amish and leaves to go home. What she finds is that although she is back in the English world, her heart is with the Amish.

What I love about this story is that it brings in a theme that is common to people no matter where they are or who they are. The struggle to find where you fit in. Following your heart may not be the accepted choice or the most popular, but how important it is to follow your heart and God's leading.

The families and individual characters in the story draw you in. They feel like family.  If you have read any of the Heritage of Lancaster County books, you will love hearing more about Katie Lapp and her journey outside the Amish faith, and learn about the struggles and changes occuring in that family.

I love reading Amish fiction. Although the lifestyle is strict and difficult, the idea of living simple without all the stress of "keeping up" with everyone makes reading about it very enjoyable.
Beverly Lewis never disappoints with her books. I highly recommend finding this book fast! You can find it HERE.


Disclosure: I received a print copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

Stranded by Dani Pettrey

Stranded is Book 3 in the Alaskan Courage series. I had not previously read either Book 1 or 2, so I wondered if I would be missing key details or would feel I was coming in at the middle of situations. While I'm sure starting at the series beginning is the most common choice, and normally how I like to do things, I don't however feel like it affected my enjoyment of this book or the ability to understand what was going on. I will however definitely be going back and reading the other books!

In this adventure, we find Darcy on board a cruise ship as an adventure journalist but in fact she is really on board with a undercover reporting job to help her friend Abby with a case. Although Darcy left the undercover life 3 years prior, she would do anything to help Abby. Darcy uses her knowledge and cover job to gain access to areas and questioning that she otherwise couldn't do.


When Abby goes missing, things begin to become dangerous quickly.  Nobody seems to be able to give any information, and nobody seems at all concerned. When Darcy realizes her adventure will have her working closely with an old friend, Gabe, she is determined to stay professional and not let on her real feelings.

Gabe knows her true story. He has never been encouraging about Darcy doing undercover work because of the time she gave to it, and the danger she allowed herself to get in the middle of.
Will they now be able to work together to find out the truth of what happened to Abby? They need to for the sake of the situation. The people they learn are involved and the seriousness of the disappearances will lead them into the unknown. Will the danger of the situation draw Gabe to the eternal love of Christ which Darcy desperately desires for him?

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I had a hard time putting it down. I love books which take you on a suspenseful journey without the risk of actually being afraid to go to sleep:)
The storyline was thought-provoking, and very well written. The characters were described so well they were easy to picture as real people. They each had a deep history which made them relatable.
The mystery surrounding Abby's disappearance was not expected and very exciting. There was also a great message surrounding the effects of her situation. The ending was thrilling and kept you wondering what really occurred, and who was really involved, right till the very end.
I highly recommend this amazing story of adventure, love and sacrifice. You can find it for yourself  at amazon.com   I'd love to know what you think!

Disclosure: I received a free print copy of the book from Bethany house in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing Night of Joy at Disney!

                         NIGHT OF JOY!


I had the great privilege of attending the 2013 Night of Joy at Walt Disney World.  It was my first time to experience it, and I'm so glad I did.

We went with friends early to the park hoping to get some rides in before the shows. What we didn't count on was that the skies opened up and by the time we went from the car to the monorail, we were soaked! I take it back, my friend and I were soaked...the kids all ran when it started to sprinkle, and managed to get there almost completely dry! The things we do for our kids!

So, in the midst of pouring rain we had a great time hanging out, getting limited rides in due to the storms closing most of them. But no matter the weather, we were having a great time!

The night proved to be a wonderful experience of fun with friends, and a night full of worship!
It was impossible to see everyone due to the shows being on 3 stages, but we had great picks.

We saw Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Audio Adrenaline, MercyMe, Skillet and For King and Country.

What was nice, was seeing everyone singing from all the groups. We caught ourselves showing our age when we heard Steven C. Chapman and Michael W. Smith and realized we were still in high school and college when some of the songs they played came out, and now the kids knew the songs. It's hard to pick favorite groups, they were all wonderful! I know from my son his favorites were Skillet and MercyMe.

Because of all the rain, and the MANY umbrellas in the way, I wasn't able to take many pictures. Here is a picture of Skillet. This was the youths favorite group by far. By staying farther back, we actually had a better view.

Here are a couple youtube videos of favorite songs of the night! Enjoy!

Night of Joy is a great night to just let go and worship Christ. It's a safe place for the youth to enjoy some wonderful music, bond with friends and ride some favorite rides. Although we came home soaked, tired and sore, it's a night of memories not to be forgotten! If you ever have the chance to make it to one of the nights, I highly recommend it. It is worth every penny of the admission fee!


Disclosure: Videos directly from www.youtube.com. You can find music from all the groups there.
I did not receive any compensation for this review. My review is just an honest review to share from my experience.

Summer Saltz Package Giveaway!

Enter to #Win the Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood - Premier Package! $27.90 value

What a great book and package! This would make a special Christmas gift for someone! Be sure to share this giveaway with your friends and family and check out your chance to pick up this book and other fun merchandise related to the story at a great discount! Read the FULL REVIEW by Rebecca at Love2EncourageYou. Every little girl I've met seems to adore the concept of getting dressed up in fancy clothes and having their chance to make a grand entrance in front of an audience to show off their "cool" new look. The main character in the book Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood by author, Connie Sewell, will remind you of that little girl in all of us who so desperately wants to have their moment in the spotlight - but in Summer's case, a series of events makes her dream come crashing down. The book's entire theme and story is so easy to relate to as life happens to all of us. It's not only a fun and meaningful message for little girls, but is great for most parents to relate to who have had to comfort a child after their special day or big event turns into a disaster. When it comes to children's books, may it never be said that a book is boring - and this book certainly is NOT! With all its charms and personality shining through the pages, Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood even manages to include one key element that I always look for in a good children's story - and that's humor. There is a sweet pinch of humor spread throughout the book, but I gotta say...there is one particular page in this book that when my daughter and I read it, she just burst out into hysterical laughter! She had the most infectious giggle from then on whenever she re-read the book. Definitely a winner in my opinion. :) Special Limited Time Discount! If you click on this banner ad below, you can purchase Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood books, combo packs or even t-shirts at 25% Off for a Limited Time! Everything in their store is on sale 25% Off!  

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

Prize: "Hollywood" Premier Package - This is the one with all the glitz and glam! Package includes the Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood book, accessory package, and sunglasses. (Please note that the accessory package and sunglasses ship separate from the book but should arrive around the same time.) Date: 9/5/2013 - 9/19/2013 at midnight Eastern time. Age: 18 yrs or older to enter. Location: Open to USA residents. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. You need to complete the mandatory entry and then it will unlock additional entries you can enter to increase your chances of winning. Good luck to all! a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Giveaway disclosure: Open to USA residents only. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. All entries will be verified so please make sure you are completing them before clicking on the green enter button. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Love2EncourageYou and the other bloggers sharing about this giveaway are not responsible for sponsor prize fulfillment. Lost Island of Book Reviews did not receive compensation for this post except for a free link on the giveaway form.