Book Review - Heaven Meets Earth by Josh Nadeau

My Review

Heaven Meets Earth: A 40 Day Journey of Transformation Through the Nicene Creed is a unique devotional book.  It begins with the text of the Nicene Creed.  There are several short chapters about the history of this book, the Nicene Creed, and the role of art in devotional reading.  The author emphasizes the Lectio Divina and Visio Divina.  

There are 40 days of devotions in this book.  Each has a beautiful illustration inspired by the Nicene Creed, a short devotional message, and a Reflect and Meditate section.

I especially love the illustrations - which are exceptionally lovely! - and the Reflect and Meditate messages in this book.  For instance:

"Reflection upon how this confession unites you with brothers and sisters across time, how we might be a living echo of God's unity" (p. 03).

and

"Consider His joy, and ponder what it might take to become as a child and enjoy His beauty" (p. 11).

This is such a thoughtful, substantive devotional book.  I find it truly exceptional and unique!  I recommend it highly to other readers who are looking for a beautiful, thought provoking contemplative journey for 40 days.

Book Synopsis

Discover deeper faith as you explore the richness of Christian belief and tradition with a visually inspired journey through the Nicene Creed.

“We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth….”

And so the Nicene Creed begins with these powerful words of declaration and belief, words handed down through history for Christians across the centuries to affirm and to hold, to repeat and to remind. The Creed has bolstered the faith of many and still speaks to us today. When our footing fails or our faith needs a refresh, these ancient words can tether us to foundational truths.

In Heaven Meets Earth, philosopher-artist Josh Nadeau, creator of Sword and Pencil, invites you to explore the Nicene Creed in this 40-day devotional journey of transformation for everyday saints. With his iconographic-style art and his insightful words, Josh brings the traditional to the present day in this visually inspired exploration of the faith.

Each daily entry of this spiritual journey includes:

• A short phrase from the Creed to meditate on
• Thoughtful reflections on what the words still mean today
• A beautiful piece of full-color art inspired by the Creed
• A dedicated prayer to bring your thoughts to God

Whether during the Lent season or any time of the year, step into an ancient, living faith with Heaven Meets Earth, and embrace the beauty of belief with Josh’s stunning visual art alongside this historic Christian confession of faith. Prepare your heart and your mind for transformation as you follow in the footsteps of the faithful multitude who have gone before.

Author Bio

Josh Nadeau is an artist and author from the West Coast of Canada. Beauty is his apologetic and his work seeks to translate ancient ideas of embodying the Transcendent for a modern time. His art and writing are invitations to reimagine the holy ordinary of every day life under the Beauty of Jesus.

He has appeared on numerous podcasts, written articles for magazines and websites, and has created art for Jordan Peterson’s History of Western Civilization, as well as churches, musicians, and other organizations, like The Chosen, Searock, Vuvivo, and the Daily Wire.

He has his Undergrad in Physics, a Master’s in Theological Studies, and a doctorate from the School of Hard Knocks. He is a husband to Aislinn and a father to Ransom. He spends his days reading, writing, bouldering, and trying to enjoy every good and perfect Gift. Josh is the founder of Sword and Pencil and Every Day Saints.

Book Review and Giveaway - Just Desserts and Murder: A Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery (Little Bakery Cozy Mystery Series) by Lucinda Race

My Review

Just Desserts and Murder is the start of a new cozy series set in the small town of Oak Hollow. Temperance Matthews is a former FBI profiler turned bakery owner.  When her bakery burns - with a body found inside - Temperance works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read Just Desserts because I love cozy mysteries, love baking, and especially love dachshunds.  This book features Temperance's' cute miniature dachshund, Hank.  The author definitely has the dachshund personality down perfectly!

This is a wonderful start for a new series.  I like the fact that Temperance has a strong detecting background (FBI) and has chosen to work as a baker.  Those two worlds blend perfectly in this mystery.  

The book is well paced, with several mystery surprises - as well as likable characters and dialogue that moves the story along well.

I recommend Just Desserts and Murder for other fans of cozy mysteries.  I look forward to reading upcoming books in this new series!

Book Synopsis

In Oak Hollow, every recipe comes with a dash of mystery…

Temperance Matthews thought opening her dream bakery in Oak Hollow—with her mini dachshund, Hank, at her heels—would be a sweet start to her new life. Instead, her shop goes up in flames, and a body is found among the ashes.

When her quiet assistant Louise shows up bruised, with twigs in her hair, and missing a shoe, Temperance’s data-analysis skills from her FBI days suddenly feel like the only hope of untangling the mystery. But the plot thickens: Jonah, the bakery’s former owner, is stabbed while trying to reach Temperance. The frosting on the cake? Louise’s boyfriend is the victim of the fire. Surveillance footage shows him entering through a locked back door—yet only three keys exist, and Louise doesn’t have one.

With threats mounting and the police closing in on a suspect, Temperance must follow a trail of half-baked clues before the real culprit turns her cozy little town into a crime scene… and who becomes the next target.

Just Desserts and Murder is Book 1 in the exciting new Little Bakery Cozy Mystery Series featuring Temperance Matthews. Each book can be read as a standalone.

Author Bio

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction who fell in love with cozy mysteries and romance novels as a young girl.

Though her writing journey began with nonfiction, her passion for storytelling never wavered. She returned to her true calling—creating the beloved McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.

Lucinda lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s wandering in her garden or curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.

Author Links

Facebook Page Link – https://facebook.com/LucindaRaceAuthor/

Instagram Link – https:// www.instagram.com/lucindaraceauthor/

Twitter Link – https:// twitter.com/LucindaRace

TikTok Link – https:// www.tiktok.com/@lucindarace

Pinterest Link – https:// www.pinterest.com/lucindaraceauthor/

YouTube Link – https:// www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lucinda+race+author

Amazon Author Profile Link – https:// www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Race/e/B00Q0MMNUM

Barnes and Noble Profile Link – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Lucinda%20Race%22?Ntk

Google Play Profile Link – https:// play.google.com/store/info/name/Lucinda_Race?id=11c1npx6xq

Kobo Profile Link – https:// www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=lucinda+race

Purchase Links
Amazon     Kobo     Apple    Barnes & Noble     Google Play     Smashwords

Giveaway 

Book Review - Uncomplicate It by Hosanna Wong

My Review

Uncomplicate It is a book about breaking down barriers that keep believers from growing close to God.  I love the line in the book synopsis:  "A real relationship with God is not one-size-fits-all."  Yes!  That is a perfect tagline for this book.

I wanted to read this book because it sounded so inspiring.  I had never read Hosanna Wong before and was interested in her writing.

Uncomplicate It is divided into four parts:

1. This Is Your Permission Slip
2. Roadblocks
3. Shortcuts
4. The Great Uncomplicating

I love how down to earth Hosanna Wong's writing is, with stories and examples involving real people.  For example:

"I had no idea how important beauty could be to some people's walks with God until I heard from one specific group of friends - painters, writers, photographers - all bonded by their love for art. ... My new friend who is a watercolor artist talked about the beauty of a specific flower.  A friend who is a graphic designer talked about the beauty of certain paintings he'd seen that week.  And a jewelry maker shared some of the most poetic prose about a small pond surrounded by flowers that she's passed - how it reminded her of certain scriptures and pointed her toward God" (p. 138).

This is a great book to read, to re-read, and to share.  I intend to recommend it to several friends!

Book Synopsis

What if enjoying life with God is simpler than you’ve heard? What if your personality, the way you learn, the things you enjoy, your season of life, and your many roles aren’t roadblocks to overcome but instead shortcuts to real connection with your Creator? International speaker Hosanna Wong offers you a permission slip to uncomplicate your relationship with God and enjoy Him in your own unique way.

She will help you:

• break free from unrealistic expectations that do not come from God;
• overcome 6 roadblocks that keep you from enjoying your life and relationship with God;
• unlock 6 shortcuts to enjoying God in your current season;
• learn from interviews with over one thousand believers about their unique ways of encountering God; and
• drop the guilt, shame, and comparison that comes from the lie that your relationship with Jesus must look one certain way, or else.

A real relationship with God is not one-size-fits all. Your relationship with God does not have to look like anyone else’s. And it doesn’t have to look the same way it did years ago. You can uncomplicate it. This is your permission slip to embrace the unique way God has made you, in this specific stage of life you’re in, so that you can fully receive all the good that God has for you right now.

Author Bio

Hosanna Wong is an international speaker, bestselling author, and spoken-word artist helping everyday people experience God for real. Widely known for her spoken word piece, “I Have a New Name,” Hosanna shares in churches, conferences, prisons, and other events around the world, reaching across various denominations, backgrounds, and cultures.

Born and raised in an urban ministry on the streets of San Francisco, Hosanna later packed her life into suitcases and traveled to churches and other ministries throughout the United States to share about Jesus through spoken-word poetry. During those years without a permanent home, she began speaking and creating resources to serve the local and global church.

Hosanna currently travels and speaks year-round and serves on teaching teams at churches throughout the United States. She and her husband, Guy, serve together in various ministries equipping people to experience and share God’s love in their real lives.

Hosanna is the bestselling author of How (Not) to Save the World and You Are More Than You’ve Been Told.

Book Review and Giveaway - Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner

My Review

Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs features Jules Keene as the owner of a glamping campground with vintage trailers, tiny houses, and traditional campsites.  Her little town in the Blue Ridge Mountains is buzzing with excitement about a Teddy Bear and Toy Extravaganza, with a street fair and many vintage booths.  The campground is booked, including a group of paranormal investigators.  When Jules and Jake go out with the group to an abandoned (and supposedly haunted) motel, they find a body.  

I wanted to read this book because of the vintage campers and glamping aspect of the story.  It turned out to be even more suited to me than anticipated:  vintage campers, tiny houses, glamping themes involving classic children's books, mentions of vintage toys (including Steiff bears and even a mention of Dawn Dolls!), and a lovable Jack Russell Terrier named Bijou.  Seriously, I am the target audience for this book!

The mystery aspect of this story worked well, with just the right amount of twists.  I really like Jules as an amateur detective too.

I would recommend Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs for cozy mystery readers who have an interesting in glamping.  It's a really fun read!

Book Synopsis

The town of Fern Valley, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has overdosed on cuteness for its first teddy bear and toy festival. Adorable bears have taken over every inch of the town, and Jules Keene can barely keep up with all the guest check-ins at her glamping resort. To add to the fun, a team of paranormal investigators set their sights on her vintage trailers and the new treehouse as they investigate the local haunts.

It quickly becomes evident that things aren’t all sweet and cuddly when someone absconds with collectible toys. Then, to make matters worse, Jules and her friends trip over something not so other-worldly at an abandoned motel during a paranormal investigation. The very real corpse is the prickly vendor who raised a ruckus about his stolen merchandise and the weird things that were afoot in the cozy, one-stop light town.

Jules has to calm frayed nerves and solve the mystery before there are any other thefts or grisly murders.

Author Bio

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, and Crime in the Old Dominion, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Mini Aussie Shepherd named Cooper.

Author Links

• Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heather_mystery_writer
• BlueSky: Heather Weidner (@heatherweidner.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner
• Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-weidner-0064b233?trk=hp-identity-name
• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBjyB0zz-M1DaM-rU1bXGA?view_as=subscriber
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1
• Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org  

Giveaway 

Book Review and Giveaway - Critters and Crimes: Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club by Elizabeth Pantley

My Review

Paige Erickson lives at the Snapdragon Inn in Colorado with her cat Frank.  They belong to a mystery book club, and the club is a magical one that can travel into a cozy mystery together ... but can't return until they solve the book's mystery.

I had not read the earlier books in this series but quickly caught up with characters.  Critters and Crimes makes a good standalone mystery.

I wanted to read this book because the animals featured in the cover and description were appealing - and I liked the magical element.  It was such a fun and utterly unique read!  I loved the importance of animals in the story (Frank, of course, being my favorite).

I recommend Critters and Crimes for other cozy mystery fans - especially for animal lovers and for anyone who enjoys a light magical story.

Book Synopsis

A quaint riverside town holds many secrets … and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the critters.

This book club dives (literally!) into the pages of a cozy mystery. The quirky group must solve the mystery to get out of the book. It’s so much fun – you’ll wish you had a book club like this!

In this journey, they choose a book set in a lovely riverside town. They land in a charming neighborhood and find they are part of a local book club. They are having a great time – and then a dead body shows up. (Of course it does!)

The clues to what happened come to them in a unique way – via the critters in the house.

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they solve the mystery – one critter at a time.

Author Bio

Elizabeth writes well-loved cozy mysteries in two series: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona, two very different places. Both are rich, gorgeous, natural places, and inspire the settings in many of her  books.

Author Links

Website – https://elizabethpantleyauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DestinyFallsMysteryandMagic

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/destinyfallsmystery/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/series/345907-magical-mystery-book-club

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-pantley

Purchase Link: Amazon

Giveaway