Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore

The story of Bob Inama, The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore, debuts on September 7 (tomorrow). It is an incredible story of one man's experience as a prisoner of the Germans during World War II.

Back of Book:

Based on a true story. Inspired by real events.

A riveting and emotionally-gripping novel of an American soldier working as a spy in Soviet-occupied East Germany and a West German woman secretly helping her countrymen escape from behind the Berlin Wall. 

In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Luisa Voigt lives in West Berlin, but her grandmother lives across the border and is now trapped inside the newly- isolated communist country of East Germany. Desperate to rescue her grandmother and aware of the many others whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help bring others through a makeshift, underground tunnel to West Germany. Their work is dangerous and not everyone will successfully escape or live to see freedom. 

Bob Inama was an outstanding university student, with plans to attend law school when he is drafted into the US Army. Stationed in West Germany, he is glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he does not get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob's special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany. His undercover job will give him access to government sites to map out strategic military targets. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and eventually Bob is caught and sent to a brutal East German prison. Interrogated and tortured daily, Bob clings to any hope he can find from the sunlight that marches across the wall of his prison to the one guard who secretly treats him with kindness to the thought of one day seeing Luisa again.

Author Heather B. Moore masterfully alternates the stories of Bob and Luisa, capturing the human drama unique to Cold War Germany as well as the courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

What others are saying:

Editor's Pick
Historical Novel Society

This outstanding novel is a harrowing account based aroun actual events in Bob Inama's life ... A timely and cautionary tale. My highest recommendation!

--Thomas J. Howley

And this:

My take: 

Wow! I can't wait to read this. Also Heather B. Moore will be in my town this week doing a signing and I will be there! Hooray!

BONUSES:

**Swag bundle

**Ebook only $5.99 this week! 

The publisher, Shadow Mountain has all the deets.

What books have influenced your view of the world?

Two Fun Children's Books by Valerie Ipson

Sweet Dreams, Princess

by Valerie Ipson

Back of the Book: 

How can Marcy go to sleep when there is nothing to dream about? 

Don’t worry, Mom has some ideas. (If only Marcy will listen to them.)

My Take: 

The graphics are so fun and full of emotions! I mean, who hasn't gone to be with that pouty face when we wanted to stay up? I think this is a great addition to night-time reading (or anytime, really, because it's full of imagination!).  

Next up is After Bedtime.

Back of the Book: 

Why do we have to go to bed and Mom and Dad get to stay up?

Jump into your jammies, find your favorite blankie and stuffed sleeping buddy, and join in the fun, or the indignation really, as brother and sister imagine everything they're missing because they have to go to bed. Will Mom and Dad eat all the brownies and ice cream? Do they play with all their toys?

My take: 

More great graphics by illustrator Kevin Mura. What a fun story about all the things kids think they're missing. A definite case of FOMO for these two.

Pick up these fun paperbacks at Amazon and snuggle up for a good read. 

Don't forget to follow author Valerie Ipson:

Amazon Author Page, Goodreads, and Facebook, and check out her website: http://valerieipson.com

Spiritual Resilience

I just finished reading Spiritual Resilience by Sharla Goettl. If you know me, you know that finishing ANY non-fiction book is a tremendous accomplishment. I'm fair at starting them, but somewhere around chapter four I ditch the book and move on.

I read this book in three days. Yeah, three days. I know, wow! Just wow. But this book took me on a journey. It was incredibly insightful (which I keep saying in all my reviews, but, truth darling!) and I feel I am changed by those insights. 

One thing she says, "The Lord truly makes sure that whatever information, knowledge, tools, or resources we need to accomplish his commandments will cross our path at the opportune moment." Is it not true? I have been preparing to teach a class to the women at church and so many times during my reading, I found things or inspirations that were applicable.

This is geared for adults helping youth, but it is definitely applicable to all generations. I highly recommend this book. 

*I received an ARC. My opinions are my own. And my opinion is you should get this book!

I Hated You First by Rachel John

 

I've dived into summer reading a little more enthusiastically than usual. I have started and not finished a few, but here are a couple I've really enjoyed:

I Hated You First by Rachel John

Back Cover:

Clay… My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It’s unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad’s the boss? Yeah, she’s so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts.

Lauren… I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It’s going on the list of things I’ve outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn’t matter that I’ve caught Clay looking at me like he’s a jewel thief and I’m a precious gem encased in glass. He’d never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad’s asked for Clay’s help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way. 

My Goodreads/Amazon review:

Seriously fun book. Quick, easy read. Loved the characters and their growth. Recommend and would read again.

*I received a reader copy. My review opinions are my own.

Second First Kiss by Jennifer Griffith

Back Cover:

A torching kiss on a long-ago high school dare just might flare up again.

Back in high school, Jasher Hotchkiss and Sage Everton shared one perfect kiss at a kissing booth. 

Now, they've both returned to their hometown of Mendon. Bachelor Jasher is there against his will as the reluctant new general surgeon. Widowed Sage is the hospital’s underappreciated nurse anesthetist. 

They see each other daily.

Neither has forgotten that mind-blowing kiss.

However, if Jasher is universally loathed by the town's citizens and Sage carries a potentially lethal dating curse, is there any chance at a second first kiss?

My Goodreads/Amazon review: I love books by Griffith. Fun, fluffy, and easy to read. This one was no different. Lots of swooney smooching and I liked the resolutions at the end. Recommend and would read again.

Baited by Roxanne McNeil

First, isn't this cover beautiful and intriguing? 

Second, my thoughts on the book:
Wow. It did take me a few chapters to get into this book, but then every time I had to put it down, I kept thinking about the characters and what they were going to do, how they were going to resolve things, and how things would play out in the end. I was not disappointed. I loved the bit of secrecy and why it was necessary and the challenges it brought because in the end, it really mattered. I loved Reylen's development and that she knew all things fishing--which I, personally, would probably take a pass on the cleaning part haha. 

Recommend!

**I received an ARC. The review is my own opinion. 

A Looking-back Survival Guide

Warning: Post contains religious thoughts. 

I think for most of us 2020 was full of the unexpected. From pandemic restrictions to home-schooling, from cancelled travel plans to working from home, it kind of rocked my world.

But we made it through. We did it! And we can take those lessons we learned and jump right in to 2021.

I'm curious what you learned. What did you discover about your life or yourself? What coping skills or mechanisms did you lean on?

My experiences confirmed that God is aware of all of us and we need to be aware of Him. He loves each of us. Each of us! No matter our circumstances or our heritage. We need to love our brothers and sisters in that godly way, no matter their circumstances or heritage.

I found peace in His word. Particularly the Book of Mormon. If you don't have a copy, you can get a free one here. Listening to it almost daily on my walks or as I ate breakfast was a game changer for me. If I was feeling troubled, I knew I'd missed a day or two. When I read or listened to it, it brought such a calm and peace to my heart. And, there is so much we can learn from it. I love Jesus Christ and I love learning about Him.

Leaning on and staying connected to family was a big deal too. More time with my immediate family meant lots of practice of patience and some letting go of the little things. It also helped me appreciate my ability to work from home, but that was also a little complicated since I was trying to wear so many hats at the same time. I think it works much better to wear only one or two at a time. 

Let us love God and each other for that is the only way.

Again, I would love to know what worked for you, so please leave a comment!

Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Educational

You know I love unicorns, but I also love small and local business offerings. 

Russet Road Kids has all three! Whether you're into fairytales or sports or love animals, Russet Road Kids has something for you (they even have a tractor!). Their name puzzles help children learn letters and their name. Their educational toys encourage fun learning from number and alphabet puzzles to wooden or acrylic tracing boards. So much about this that I love!

And right now they have some Black Friday specials so head on over before they're gone.

This is what they have to say:

"We promote positive, educational playtime from our family to yours! We've created several educational wooden toys you and your little one will love."

They are a family-owned and operated small business and make everything right here in Arizona. 

You can visit their website or follow them on Instagram at RussetRoadKids.