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Leaf Fun

June 23, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 2 Comments

When the leaves fell off the peach trees in May, the three youngest had great fun raking them up and playing in them. I remember loving maple trees when I was young, because of the wonderful leaf piles! This isn’t as good, but as close as our children are likely to get to that. While they were playing with the leaves, they got the idea of making a movie about it. I’m not sure what the plot was supposed to be, if any, but I put together the clips they got. You might want to turn it off when it starts getting crazy–when all three are tumbling together in the pile.

Filed Under: Activities at Home Tagged With: Ahaura, Children, Video, West Coast

Book Review–The Sisters of Corinth

June 19, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 3 Comments

About the Book:

Book: The Sisters of Corinth (The Emissaries: Book 2)

Author: Angela Hunt

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: May 21, 2024

“Angela Hunt takes her craft to new heights–and depths–as she fully immerses us in the lives and struggles of first-century followers of Yeshua.”–Tamera Alexander, bestselling author on The Woman from Lydia

When the new provincial governor arrives in Corinth, the esteemed Chief Magistrate Narkis Ligus, father to Mariana and Prima, is delighted. He sees a golden opportunity to propel himself to greater power and fortune by uniting his and the governor’s households through the marriage of one of his beautiful unwed daughters to the governor’s firstborn son.

Yet complications quickly arise in Narkis’s own family. Mariana, his stepdaughter, holds steadfast faith in Yeshua, rendering her hesitant to marry a man devoted to the Roman gods, despite Narkis’s urging. On the other hand, Prima, his daughter by birth, yearns for a life of wealth and status and is willing to go to great lengths to secure a marriage that fulfills her desires–even if it means betraying Mariana to do so.

My Thoughts:

I have enjoyed a number of Angela Hunt’s books, especially the Biblical Fiction series she did about various women who were in Jesus’ life. So when she began a new series, called The Emissaries, about people who had contact with the apostle Paul, I was eager to read these books, as well. I liked a lot of what I read in The Sisters From Corinth, the second book in the series, but I did come away with mixed feelings.

I can’t say very much about this book without giving spoilers. The plot has so many complications that I was drawn in and kept interested all the way through! I really liked Mariana. She lived by her convictions, and, while she did compromise to a certain extent, in the beginning of the book, she declared her faith firmly later, when she could do so without endangering her mother. I really appreciated a discussion two people had at one point in the book about grieving the loss of children, and where unborn babies’ souls end up.

There were two basic themes that I was somewhat uncomfortable with. One was that a character prostituted herself multiple times throughout the book in order to further her selfish goals. This was handled very discreetly, but it was there. What I did like about that was the clear picture of how our actions determine our destiny. The other thing that I questioned was whether Christian women would have spent so much time putting on make up and jewelry in order to appear beautiful at banquets. In the situation in which Mariana and her mother found themselves, though, they may well have, and possibly Paul’s teachings about women adorning themselves with God works rather than gold and pearls (1 Tim 2:9) had not reached Corinth at this time. I liked the ending of The Sisters From Corinth—and it leaves me dangling. Now I need to read the next book so I know what happened to them now!

WARNING: Chapter 15: Several cats die. Chapter 17: Man assaults woman. Chapter 19: Sentence about temple prostitution. Chapter 20: Married couple in bed together. Chapter 21: Man killed by gladiator in arena; woman prostitutes herself to a man (happens repeatedly through the rest of the book). Chapter 22: Aftermath of first prostitution. Chapter 24: More thoughts about committing “acts that would shame my father.” Chapter 25: Baby dies. Several more references to unwed pregnancy; worship of Aphrodite throughout the book.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Angela Hunt is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 160 books, with nearly 6 million copies sold worldwide. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for the RWA RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion. Four of her novels have received ForeWord Magazine‘s Book of the Year Award, and Angela is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Romantic Times Book Club and ACFW. Angela holds doctorates in biblical studies and theology. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs and chickens.

More from Angela:

Hello!

Thank you for helping me kick off the book tour for THE SISTERS OF CORINTH. This book is the second in my Emissaries series, but don’t worry—it reads like a stand alone.

The series features Gentiles who became believers in Christ through the ministry of Paul. The first book was about the woman called Lydia who lived in Philippi, and this book is about two step-sisters who lived in Corinth, the “Vegas” of the Roman Empire. What happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth, if you get my meaning, and there was a LOT going on in that pagan city.

I couldn’t help but think of Cinderella’s story as I wrote the opening of this book. The novel begins when the two sisters hear about the new governor coming to Corinth. He has a handsome and eligible son, and Narkis, the head of their family, is determined that one of his daughters should marry him. Prima is like her father, power-hungry and pretentious, while quiet Mariana is a believer in Yeshua. There’s a great deal of primping and preparing, scheming and scowling as the banquet draws near, and you’ll never guess which daughter the young man chooses—or maybe you will.

I hope you enjoy THE SISTERS OF CORINTH and thank you so much for taking part in this book tour. I am so grateful!

Always,

Angela Hunt

To purchase your copy, click here.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Book Review–From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone

June 18, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 2 Comments

About the Book:

Book: From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone: How Jesus Urges Us to Take Leaps of Faith for His Kingdom

Author: Cecil Taylor

Genre: Christian Living

Release date: March 6, 2024

The innate human longing for comfort is undeniable. However, Jesus challenges us to step beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones and venture into the profound realm of faith, aptly described as trust zones by Cecil Taylor. These are the spaces where we dare to take risks in service of Christ’s Kingdom. In this enlightening exploration of the Bible, Cecil Taylor delves into 12 narratives of Jesus encouraging individuals to forsake their comfort zones in favor of trust zones. Through insightful interpretation, he unveils the valuable lessons these stories impart for contemporary followers of Jesus.

My Thoughts:

I rarely ever request a theological-type book to review. I guess I’m probably lazy, but I much prefer stories that don’t take as much effort to read. However, more reviewers were needed for From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone, so I decided to sign up. I found it very worthwhile and fairly easy to read.

Cecil Taylor (I didn’t even have to look up his name to remember it here because he refers to Cecil Taylor Ministries frequently throughout this book!) has taken 12 fairly well-known stories from the New Testament and used them to illustrate comfort zones that we like to be in, then going from there to show to describe trust zones that we need to be willing to step into. The one that really struck me was the chapter titled “Relinquishing Certainty, Embracing Uncertainty.” In this chapter, the author quoted the story of the rich fool who tore down his barns and built bigger ones. His point was that we can make anything that makes us feel secure into our comfort zone, and rely on that instead of relying on Jesus. We need to put our trust completely in Jesus. If you want to be challenged in your walk with God, pick up a copy of From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone. You won’t regret it.

WARNING: One chapter, “Trading Governments and Empires for Jesus’ Kingdom” makes the statement that Christians should be involved in government. Romans 13, however, seems to say otherwise.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

With more than 30 years’ experience as an adult Sunday School teacher and as many in youth ministry, Cecil Taylor has impacted lives in local churches throughout his adult life. He founded Cecil Taylor Ministries to broaden that impact, teaching Christians to live a 7-day practical faith through books, video studies, and speaking engagements. His ministry is cross-denominational, focused on the common struggle Christians face in putting their faith into practice and applying scripture and faith principles to life situations.

From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone has won the 2024 Living Water Award (nonfiction, third place) from the Blue Lake Christian Writer’s Conference. This is the fourth award that Cecil has been presented across his three books.

More from Cecil:

Comfort zones can be positive. Not only do we feel good about ourselves, but we also can be effective and efficient. We can find a groove. We may even be able to mentor others and cause a ripple effect of good.

But comfort zones can fool us. Our comfort zones can become invisible. They can limit us and tell us not to take risks. Comfort zones can keep us from going all-in on what Jesus has to offer us.

As I read the Gospels, I see how Jesus frequently pushed people out of comfort zones and into his trust zones, where they would take leaps of faith for the sake of his kingdom. Similarly, Jesus calls us out of comfort zones today, inviting us to take risks while deepening our faith.

A woman who read From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone said one of the most gripping moments in the book is when I shared my own story of going all-in for Jesus. I had grown up in the church as a preacher’s kid. Throughout decades of my adult life, I was a leader in my church, a highly committed volunteer, someone others might think was all-in for Christ.

But I wasn’t all-in, though I fooled myself into thinking I was. In a time when I asked for more comfort zone, Jesus gave me a trust zone: to forget about volunteering so much and to focus on giving my heart to God. I was busted, as I foolishly thought I had hidden from God that I wasn’t fully yielding control of my life. I didn’t know what Jesus would ask of me, so I held him at arm’s length. My prayers zeroed in on what was comfortable for me rather than what the Holy Spirit was beckoning me to do.

Since that moment, my life has changed. I believe your life needs to change, too, if you’re feeling comfortable. It’s time to get uncomfortable, to overcome your desire for certainty, and to inspect the ways in which you have limited the Spirit’s power to work through you. I invite you on a journey to identify subtle comfort zones that you never knew you had and to uncover trust zones that will take your faith to new levels while mightily serving Christ. I invite you to the experience that is From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone: How Jesus Urges Us to Take Leaps of Faith for His Kingdom.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Toilet Remodel

June 16, 2024 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

When we moved into this house over six years ago, the walls in the toilet looked fairly good. I didn’t like that they were wallpapered and impossible to really clean, but the room was all right. However, a year or two ago someone accidentally broke through the wall down near the floor, and gradually the walls became mildewy and the ceiling looked awful. Then, a few weeks ago, someone figured out what the noise was that we had been hearing for a few days… a leaky water pipe inside the wall. Our resident builder, James, tore a hole in the wall, found the leak, and got it stopped, and formed a plan of action. A few days later, Gayle and I went to town and bought plywood and paint, and that weekend James finished gutting the lower half of the room. He replaced the old gib board (wallboard) with plywood and put a piece of trim around the room at the join with the old wall. Esther requested that he build a box in the wall to hold rolls of toilet paper up above floor level so they’ll be accessible, clean and dry, so he did that, too, and created new corner trim for just outside the door. He had to replace the door jamb, too, because that was rotten because of a water leak sometime in the past before we came here. Compare the before and after pictures, and you’ll know why I am so happy that the job was forced on us!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

April 2024 Photos

June 9, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

Here are the rest of April’s photos! A few days after Easter, our new cow, Maple, finally calved–three weeks after we thought she would, based on what the previous owner told us. I had started to wonder if something was wrong! No, just a late calf. Elijah took this picture when he went down to take care of the chickens and discovered a new calf, which another boy had overlooked when he went down an hour or so earlier. The calf is a bull, a Jersey/Dexter cross. These first two pictures are from the first evening; the third picture was a week or two later, after we started bottle-feeding him and he decided that people were all right. His name is Clifford, as in Clifford the Big Red…Calf!

Remember how much fun we had earlier this year hatching chicks? Well, we ended up with a lot of them. The roosters from the first two batches have moved into the freezer by now, and we sold the pullets. These are some of the pictures we took to advertise them.

We went to Reefton for church one Sunday, and before coming home, drove around to check out the project that has been ongoing for several years: rebuilding the hydroelectric plant. Reefton was the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to be lit with electric lights, but the electric plant fell into disrepair a long time ago. They got a grant recently to rebuild it as a museum. This is the water race, looking toward the building that will house the turbine.

What happens when a four-year-old hurts her foot? She gets to sit on the couch with her blankie, a big stack of books, and the recordings that Grandma made of those books! She spent a couple of hours listening to those stories after cutting her foot badly.

I don’t normally take my phone with me when I go down to milk the cows in the morning, but one day I did. On the way up the hill, I looked up the valley to the east, and saw this breathtaking sight.

Here were our record-breaking vegetables in April–a potato and a tomato. The weights are in grams.

I was surprised one day when the children showed up with a pukeko chick. I had them take it right back down the hill and try to give it back to the parents–hope it survived!

Filed Under: Activities at Home Tagged With: Ahaura, Cow, Garden, Random Photos, West Coast

Book Review–Trust Fall

June 5, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 4 Comments

About the Book:

Book: Trust Fall

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: April 30, 2024

Protecting her without her knowledge might get them both killed.

Grief has held Eve “Kensi” Kensington captive long enough. Determined to move on after the death of her fiancé six years ago, Kensi moves to St. Alyn to help Ezra with the new boat book business. That there’s a great therapist on the island is just a bonus.

When the West Coast Agency learns that the former fiancée of a deceased informant is under the radar, Simon Garver is tasked to protect her—without her knowledge, if possible. Great. Listening in on her therapy sessions might be the worst thing he’s ever had to do as an agent.

Nope… scrap that. Falling for his client takes the cake.

When Kensi learns Simon has been keeping secrets from her, she’s done. Too bad the arrival of a guy sent to “take care of her” means she needs him. She’ll cooperate until she’s safe, toss the trust exercises her therapist has insisted on in the trash, and get back to her job on Ezra’s boat.

If only her heart would listen to the plan…

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

My Thoughts:

I signed up for a review copy of Trust Fall because of the author. I love Chautona Havig’s writing, so I read every book by her that I possibly can. This one was especially fun because it is part of two series at once. Not only is it part of the Suamalie Island series, featuring Ezra, who we met and loved in Under the Hibiscus and The Title Wave, it also features The Agency from another series that I enjoyed.

I would consider Trust Fall to be one of Chautona’s “fluffier” stories. While I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down, I didn’t feel like it was as meaty as well as some of hers have been. As with the other Agency Files books, there was more of a focus on keeping the threatened person safe than on personal growth. There was also a fairly strong romantic focus in the story. So, while I enjoyed it, it was not one of my favorite books by Chautona. However, if you love light romantic suspense, this would be the perfect book to pick up.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona:

Sometimes life doesn’t go as you’d planned.  Like at all. You think you’re going to have a great wedding, an idyllic honeymoon, followed by the perfect, picket-fence existence with the love of your life.

Then some crazy author comes along and rips it all away. Fiancé? Dead. Honeymoon?  Not hardly.  And by the time she’s done, that fence feels like someone rammed those pickets into her heart.  All in a day’s work, and all before the first word of the story.

It’s a wonder that characters don’t revolt or something.

Look, here’s the deal. I just thought it would be cool to bring my Agency Files to Suamalie.  And for that, we needed a tough background, because The Agency doesn’t get involved in disputes over spa appointments or boat rental rescues (most of the time).

So, after many hours of plotting and planning, I finally figured out how to torture my Kensi—I mean, give her an interesting backstory—while not tormenting readers.  Too much.  It’s been a couple of years (okay, it’s been six!), she’s having trouble coping, and…. Then what?  How does The Agency fit in?

That started off as a conundrum that got really cool the more I thought about it.  I mean, here’s the thing. The Agency is a protective entity. They swoop in and protect people from imminent danger while law enforcement does their job to remove that threat.  Sometimes, as in Justified Means, this involves “involuntary” protection where they extract someone from his or her life until it’s safe to return—whether that person wants to be extracted or not.

I didn’t want that this time, but I also didn’t want Kensi to know she was in danger.  So, off she goes to visit her friend Ezra in the Suamalie Islands and there she meets Ezra’s therapist fiancé.  This much was easy to figure out.

And then it hit me.  What if the agent was secretly protecting her?  She doesn’t know it… but it’s happening.

Now I feel like Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove.  “Oh, yeah. It’s all coming together.”

Sometimes, I feel like Trust Fall is more romcom suspense than straight-up romantic suspense, but that’s okay, right?

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit, Chautona Havig

Ahaura River/Lake Ahaura

June 2, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

One Sunday afternoon in April, our boys organized a kayak trip with friends from church down the Ahaura River. I got roped into driving the vehicle back after they unloaded the boats, which meant that I got to enjoy a scenic part of the river that I don’t normally get to see.

Another Sunday afternoon, they decided to go on a four wheel drive trip. They ended up at Lake Ahaura, up near the farm on which Simon lives. Elijah shared these pictures with me; the one of the mushroom was taken especially to share with his grandma. There were actually at least a dozen people on each of these trips, but because a lot of them are not our family, I didn’t want to post their pictures.

Filed Under: Away From Home Tagged With: Ahaura, Ahaura River, West Coast

Book Review–Knowing Obadiah

May 29, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 3 Comments

About the Book:

Book: Knowing Obadiah

Author: April W Gardner

Genre: Bible Commentary for Women

Release Date: November, 2023

A Christian Women’s Bible Commentary

Experience the excitement of Biblical prophecy with this down-to-earth and captivating exploration of Obadiah.

Walk with author April W Gardner as she steps into the past and brings to life the often-overlooked prophecy of Obadiah. With her typical attention to historical detail, April journeys through Scripture in a down-to-earth and engaging manner. From Jacob and Esau to the terrifying Babylonian siege of Jerusalem and the blazing destruction of Edom, she learns alongside her readers how these 21 verses affirm God’s sovereignty while pointing to a steadfast hope in Zion.

My Thoughts:

I found this study very informative and encouraging. I have just read through Knowing Obadiah for the second time and am even more impressed with it than the first time I went through it. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of Edom and their relationship with Israel. I liked the way April Gardner related these ancient stories to us and our lives today. I also really appreciated the way she pointed to Jesus and showed that no matter what a person or group of people has done, if they repent, Jesus is more than ready to forgive and wipe out the past. The study is for anyone who wants to know more about this shortest of the minor prophets, or the history of God‘s chosen people, or simply wants to get a better grasp of how God keeps his promises and carries out His plan. I highly recommend using But in Mount Zion, a companion workbook, alongside Knowing Obadiah. Watch for my review of that book in late July!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

APRIL W GARDNER is an indie author whose great passion is historical romance with themes of Native American and Southeastern U.S. culture. Copyeditor, mother of two grown children, and non-trad college student, April lives in South Texas with her husband and two German Shepherds. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.

More from April:

–Hello, friend! So, I’ve written this Bible commentary for women on the book of Obadiah. You know the one, right? The little one? Like, really little. So little if you blink while flipping pages, you’ll miss it. But don’t let its size fool you. It packs a serious punch. Interested? It covers—

–Wait. April, did you say commentary?

–Sure did.

–For women?

–Yep.

–Oh, uh… Thanks. Sounds great, but I’m not in ministry.

-Hey, me neither! I grew up in church and on the mission field. There was Bible college in there before I got my Mrs. degree, but as you see, I’m just the next girl on the church pew. One who has a curious mind, a love of learning, and a long-standing devotion to Christ.

Because of that, I approached writing Knowing Obadiah from the seat beside yours at home, as if we had our Bibles open on our laps, coffee mugs in hand, and were chatting about the things we’re discovering while we read.

Before we’re done reading, you’ll understand how and why Edom is the object of God’s wrath. You’ll see how Obadiah, like every other biblical prophecy, contains a message of warning, judgment, and hope, and how (unlike the rest of the prophets) the first two (warning and judgment) are for a pagan nation while the last (hope) is for Judah.

The most minor of minor prophets is absolutely packed with treasure waiting to be unburied. Toss in its background and its implications for the future, and you’ve got yourself a fascinating study.

Speaking of study, Knowing Obadiah doesn’t have any set topic related to theology or spiritual growth. Instead, I take an approach that digs for original meaning, versus applying modern interpretation. This commentary will force you out of your comfy chair and into Obadiah’s history and culture. As best we can, we’ll be taking on the author’s perspective of the world, looking at the text’s setting and purpose (and so much more!) through his lens.

What say you? Are you in? Let’s do this, girl.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

Timaru Trip

May 26, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

Every year, we love to go to the Easter Conference in Timaru. There are more young people there every year, it seems like, and this year was no exception. There were around 25-30 people younger than 40 when one of the speakers asked them to go up front for a photo! On Saturday morning, a group of the teens and early 20s walked to the lighthouse, and Elijah took this picture. Can you see the lighthouse glowing on the point of land?

A lot of them also went to the Sunrise Service the next morning, and he took this picture then.

On our way home, we took a shortcut through a high basin in the mountains, which avoided the heavy traffic and roadworks that would have slowed us down if we took the main routes, and also cut down on the distance we had to drive. It was gorgeous! The other times I went through there, it was either cloudy, or I was so sick with a migraine that I couldn’t look out at the scenery.

Filed Under: Away From Home Tagged With: Canterbury, Timaru

Book Review–No Tomorrows

May 21, 2024 by NZ Filbruns 6 Comments

About the Book:

Book: No Tomorrows-A Novel for Today

Author: Deb Gorman

Genre: Women’s Contemporary Fiction

Release Date: September 23, 2023

Tour Dates: May 18 – May 31

By the time Thursday is over, Annie Lee is convinced God is telling her it’s her last day on earth.

Annie and her husband live in a small rural town in central Washington state—a place where almost nothing scary happens . . . until today. Hang on to her coattails as she navigates her tragic past, her frightening present, and her unknown future all in the space of twenty-four hours.

And ask yourself the same question posed to Annie: “What would I do today if I knew I’d die tomorrow?” Will your answer be the same one Annie discovers?

My Thoughts:

I have several criteria that I use to decide whether I want to request a review copy of a book. If the book appears to be centered around romance, I generally turn it down. If it is strictly theology, I generally pass it up. No Tomorrows attracted my attention because I could tell it was neither of those genres, and when I read the preview on Amazon, I was hooked. I wanted to read this book!

No Tomorrows is a unique book. I sure didn’t know what I was in for when I picked it up, but what a ride. I really struggled to put this one down, more than with most books. Several times I found myself picking it up when I had one or two minutes—and realizing soon that ten minutes were gone! I was a little annoyed at Annie for allowing herself to be so controlled by fear, but at the same time I could relate to her to a certain extent. Several years ago, our oldest son died suddenly, I learned that I was pregnant but that the baby had already died, and we experienced a massive earthquake—all within less than six weeks’ time. For awhile during that time, I constantly had to battle fear. So, as I learned to know Annie, her character and the tragic events that shaped her young life, I could understand her fear and her drive to control everyone and everything around her. Of course, I also know that is impossible, so I had to keep turning pages to find out how she worked through her fears.

I’m not sure about the theology of some parts of this book. Several times, Annie found herself transported to earlier parts of her life, where she experienced again times that had shaped her. She also met a person who seemed to know everything about her and gave her something that mysteriously appeared, disappeared, and reappeared. I don’t believe God does these kind of things in real life, but they were a very effective way of telling the story that needed to be told here.

I have come away from No Tomorrows with a renewed vision to spend time with my children, to love them, and to have fun with them. The theme of this book, as can be gathered from the title alone, is that we never know when our last day will be. If tomorrow was my last day, how should I spend it? That is the question Annie had to come to grips with—and all the rest of us do, too.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Deb Gorman, owner of Debo Publishing, was born and raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She still lives in her hometown of Yakima, Washington, with her husband, Alan, and their very smart German Shepherd, Hoka. Deb is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, cleverly disguised as a wife, mom, grandmom, and author. Her purpose is to connect with God’s most beautiful and clever creation, the human family, using the literary talent and imagination God gave her. Her prayer is that as she journeys with you, together you will discover encouragement and redemption in your most important relationships.

More from Deb:

No Tomorrows-A Novel for Today came about because of a question I heard.

“What would you do today if you knew without a doubt you would die tomorrow?”

It’s an old question that’s been kicked around for decades, but when I seriously put my shoes into its footprints, I found I could not answer it with anything other than cliches. Those cliches, like “Eat chocolate all day”, or “Do that last thing on your bucket list” didn’t sit well with me. I wanted a real answer, one I could hang my hat on—as one character in the book says. I suspected that my readers want a real answer for themselves, too.

Annie Lee, a typical suburban mother of four, is confronted with that question, and spends a harrowing twenty-four hours navigating the answer for herself. In the uncertainty of our times, this question is particularly important for us to consider. Perhaps we’ll agree with Annie Lee’s answer.

Along with a book and a $50.00 Amazon card, the lucky winner will receive a custom-made No Tomorrows pen, created by my author friend, Steve Hooley, at https://SteveHooleyWriter.com, from Big Leaf Maple wood grown and harvested in the Pacific Northwest.

To purchase your copy, click here.

To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.

To enter a fun giveaway, click here.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, CelebrateLit

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The Family:


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Girl #1, Esther, my right hand

Boy #1, Seth (Mr. Handyman)

Boy #2, Simon (Mr. Inventor)

Boy #3, Mr. Intellectual

Boy #4, Mr. Diligence

Boy #5, Mr. Sweetie

Boy #6, Mr. Imagination

Girl #2, Little Miss

Girl #3, Miss Joy

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