Archive for May 2022

Finding God in Anime, Vol. 2 [Blog Tour + Review]

With her indie published Metcalfes series, Ronie Kendig exposes a small glimpse into the horrors of human trafficking and the brave heroes who combat it.

Title: Willow [The Metcalfes #2]
Author: Ronie Kendig
Published: 2022 by Task Force Press

About the Book:

"To save her, he must become the evil he fights.

Aftercare specialist Willow Metcalfe joined Mission: Liberate Everyone to help trafficking survivors navigate the healing process. When MiLE’s Obiora Compound is attacked by the Nigerian mafia, she’s taken hostage. Against nightmarish odds, she and the victims attempt an escape—and are thwarted.
A decade after leaving his beloved homeland, Chijioke “Chiji” Okorie returns to find his sister and fight for his own country. Believing a global trafficking ring behind her abduction and a string of kidnappings across Nigeria, he goes undercover to find the head of the serpent and his sister. Chiji is stunned to discover among the hostages a familiar face—a friend’s sister, Willow. The woman he vowed years ago to marry.

The man who has interfered with her escape attempts seems … familiar, kind—but Willow knows better. He reeks of the warrior ethos that has devoured many a good man. Engaged in an impossible battle and losing at every turn, Chiji is determined to complete his missions—all of them. Even if it kills him."

The Artist Librarian Review:
For over a decade, Ronie Kendig has been one of the leading Romantic Suspense authors in Christian Fiction and especially well known for her portrayal of multi-dimensional military protagonists. With her indie published Metcalfes series, she exposes a small glimpse into the horrors of human trafficking and the brave heroes who combat it.

While Willow is what I would consider "edgy Christian fiction" compared to what is generally seen in the mainstream Christian fiction market, I felt that Willow balances treating the human trafficking thread with the respect and gravitas it deserves without being gratuitously graphic. However, not to say that this book isn't intense. Definitely take note of the author note at the beginning of this novel, which reveals Kendig's heart and inspiration in tackling this heavy subject. While I reviewed an eARC, I hope that future editions may consider trigger/content warnings for some of the more heavier content like murder, rape, attempted sexual assault, etc. I would carefully consider who I recommended this novel to because some exclusively Christian fiction readers may be taken aback with the intensity, though I feel that readers need that to begin to understand a bit of this sobering situation that similarly occurs far to often in our world.

While I didn't really connect with the titular female lead at first, I could understand her stubbornness and tenacity. Chiji on the other hand, I was always a big fan of, and am interested to see how their stories continue in future installments. Though ideally read in order, I read Willow as a stand alone since I hadn't gotten to Stone, book one, and was able to follow along fine. I look forward to catching up with and following along with future installments of The Metcalfes. Fans of Kendig's previous series like The Tox Files and Discarded Heroes Series will also enjoy seeing familiar characters reappear.

About the Author:
Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share--sometimes--with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Visit Ronie online at www.roniekendig.com

[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes via JustRead Tours.]

Willow by Ronie Kendig [Review]

In the book and workbook combo, Your Finances God's Way, author and pastor Scott LaPierre shares a Biblically-based plan on handling your money. Learn more about the advice he has for Christians who want to be responsible with their finances in my author interview below and also enter for a chance to win a copy of both books and a $100 Amazon gift card!

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for the Your Finances God's Way book and workbook by Scott LaPierre, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book cover title reads "Your Finances God's Way" and has an image of six stacks of coins with either a graduation cap, shopping cart, house, airplane, piggy bank, and wedding rings on top

Title: Your Finances God's Way
Author: Scott LaPierre
Published: 2022 by Harvest House

About the Book:

"Experience the Peace that Comes with Wise Stewardship

Financial insecurity can be one of the greatest threats to your well-being—but the good news is that even if you’re on a tight income, you can eliminate many of your monetary worries when you create and abide by a biblical plan for your spending.

In Your Finance’s God’s Way, you’ll identify the negative money management habits you need to break and the positive habits that should take their place. Implementing the teaching laid out in the Bible, this book gives you advice and practical steps backed by proven principles, helping you
• get the most out of your money by paying off debt and building up savings
• make wise spending decisions that enable you to avoid anxiety, regret, and conflict
• find a healthy balance between being financially frivolous and frugal to a fault

Even when you have less to spend, you can use what God has provided to thrive. Whether you’re young or old, married or single, working or staying at home, Your Finances God’s Way will give you everything you need to be a careful steward of the resources you’ve received from the Lord."

Author Interview

Thank you for visiting my blog today, Pastor LaPierre! To start off, can you please tell us about the inspiration behind your book, Your Finances God's Way? Why would a pastor write about finances? Some may say that's beyond your area of expertise ...

Good questions! To put it simply, I would write about finances, because the Bible talks so much about finances, and my responsibility as a pastor is to “Equip the saints for the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Maybe someone would say a pastor should write about finances, because it doesn’t seem very spiritual. But I would say that God’s Word determines what is and isn’t spiritual, and if something occurs frequently in Scripture, then it is spiritual.

Regarding finances being beyond my area of expertise I will be the first to say that I’m not an expert on many topics. This is one reason I am so committed to telling people what God’s Word says versus sharing my opinion. God is the expert in all things, and so when we tell people what He has said then we are doing people a great service and no earthly expert would have more to offer.

Well said, Pastor LaPierre. As a Millennial, I see many of my peers around me worried about things like student loans, being able to afford a house, and how to provide for a family as they contemplate marriage. What advice would you give people in the twenties and thirties regarding finances?

Whenever I speak to young people I try to stress the same point to them, that they must take advantage of the time value of money. Time, versus money itself, is the greatest tool they have to increase the value of money. The sooner they start, the greater their return. This also means that procrastinating is one of the greatest threats to making money. The longer you put off investing, the more money you lose.

Contrast Peter and Paul and consider these examples:

Peter is 30 years old and he invests $200 per month at 7 percent interest. When he turns 60, he will have $244,000.
Paul is 20 years old and he invests $200 per month at 7 percent interest. When he turns 60, he will have $525,000.
Starting 10 years earlier results in more than twice as much money—a difference of $281,000.

Dave Ramsey said, “The current average annual return from 1926, the year of the S&P’s inception, through 2011 is 11.69%.” Assuming the stock market continues the same pattern it has shown historically, consider these examples:

Paul invests $2,000 per year starting at 19 years old. When he turns 26, he does not invest another penny, which means he invested $16,000 over 7 years. When he turns 65, he will have $2,288,996.
Peter invests $2,000 per year starting at 27, the year after Paul stopped investing, and continues until he’s 65, which means he invested $78,000 over 38 years. When he turns 65, he will have $1,532,166.
Although Peter invested almost five times as much as Paul over five times longer than Paul, he has over 30 percent less money.

Wow, that's a huge difference! Investing is definitely something I'll need to look into. As I started to read your book I was struck by the emphasis of living frugal, modest lives. How do we get into that mindset, especially when it seems so counter to the influencer, consumer-culture world we often see around us?

Good question! If you’re like me, you probably read verses about riches and covetousness and think they apply to others, but not you. Yet if you live in America, measured by the living standards of the rest of the world, and especially those throughout history, you live in the wealthiest nation that has ever existed. America enjoys staggering material prosperity. Take, for instance, the average household wealth, which is the money available to invest, save, or spend after income taxes. This is less than $17,000 per household in Russia, $60,000 in France, $83,000 in the United Kingdom, and $86,000 in Canada. The nation in second place is Switzerland with $128,000. The United States is first with $176,000, or 40 percent more than the second-place finisher. Now, many of us don’t see nearly that amount of money in our household, but on average, you can see where we stand globally with our wealth.

The US poverty threshold for a family of five is $30,500, which means if a family makes less than this, they’re considered living in poverty. The official poverty rate in the United States is 12.3 percent (approximately 39.7 million people). The average global income for a family of five is about $10,500, which means Americans in poverty still make about three times more than the average for the rest of the world.

I share all this, because it is going to make modesty and frugality difficult for most of us. I believe the solution is to have our minds renewed by God’s Word. As we are sanctified, which is to say we become more like Christ, we will become more content and self-controlled. It will be easier for us to deny ourselves and recognize the purchases we should avoid.

Very true, the Christian life is often counterculture to how the rest of the world lives ... Besides the Bible, are there any other books, authors, podcasters, or other online resources about finances that you recommend people check out after reading Your Finances God's Way?

I appreciated The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. God used this book in my wife’s life on our honeymoon. She had been quite the spender, but after reading this book she was committed to seeing us pay off all of our debt.

I attended a Dave Ramsey financial class after I graduated and it was a great way to create a financial plan as I entered the workforce for the first time! Lastly, I was an art major, so I have to ask: Can you talk about the book cover design process from your point of view as an author? How much input did you have in the final design (if any)?

Harvest House is the only publisher I have worked with, so I can’t tell you what others do. But I can tell you I enjoyed their approach. They sent me five sample covers to choose from, and they told me which one was the marketing team’s favorite. That’s the one I ended up choosing. After that cover was chosen we were able to go back and forth with any small changes I wanted to make. I was happy with the finished product.

Sounds like a great method to get a book cover that both the graphic artist and the author can be proud of! Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about? What's next for you?

Thank you for asking! Living God’s Way is my brand. I am looking forward to publishing another “God’s way” book. I am thinking about the topic of contentment. I believe it flows well from the discussion of marriage and finances in my previous two books and workbooks.

Thank you so much for your time, Pastor LaPierre! I look forward to seeing your future projects.

What about you all? What are some books, authors, podcasters, or other online resources about finances that you recommend?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott LaPierre is a senior pastor, author, and popular conference speaker. He holds an MA in biblical studies from Liberty University. Scott and his wife, Katie, live in Washington State, and God has blessed them with nine children. Learn more about Pastor Scott at his website, www.scottlapierre.org, and connect with him on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

One (1) winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and a signed print copy of the Your Finances God's Way book and workbook!

Giveaway begins at midnight May 9, 2022 and ends on 11:59 PM EST on May 16, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Print books to US addresses only, Amazon gift card where available. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Your Finances God's Way [Author Interview + GIVEAWAY]

Crystal Z. Lee again combines a positive story with real world locations, this time focusing on the country of Taiwan and butterfly migration.

Book cover depicts anthropomorphized animals dancing among Taiwanese buildings

Title: Kai the Dancing Butterfly

Author: Crystal Z. Lee

Illustrator: Allie Su

Published: 2022 by Balestier Press

About the Book:

"Kai and Ami are dancing butterflies from Taiwan! They have a performance coming up at the Winter Festival dance show in the southern part of the island. They are currently in northern Taiwan, so they need to hurry and start flying south. That's far for a butterfly! Kai is worried about the long journey, and about the big show too. Can Kai step up to the challenge?

Kai the Dancing Butterfly celebrates Taiwan's natural scenic wonders, amazing animal species, and incredible Indigenous cultures. This children's book is a marvelous read for all those who love Taiwan, or for those who'd like to learn more about Taiwanese culture. This elaborately illustrated picture book makes an ideal gift:

*Real locations in Taiwan make for an inspiring geography, history and cultural lesson
*Storyline sparks dialogue around empathy, kindness, courage, faith, perseverance, friendship, and the support between siblings
*Exquisite illustrations of Taiwan's majestic animals and endangered species fosters learning around ecological conservation and habitat protection
*This is the first English-language children's fiction featuring Taiwan's fascinating Purple Crow Butterfly migration. This natural phenomenon is one of the planet's only mass butterfly seasonal migration.
*The author Crystal Z. Lee, and the illustrator Allie Su, both grew up in Taiwan. This book is an homage to their beautiful home."

The Artist Librarian Review:

Crystal Z. Lee again combines a positive story with real world locations, this time focusing on the country of Taiwan and butterfly migration. In Kai the Dancing Butterfly, readers follow the Purple Crow Butterfly migration from northern to southern Taiwan, fictionalized through anthropomorphized butterfly siblings Kai and Ami, who are traveling to perform at the Winter Festival dance. While Lee's debut picture book, A Unicorn Named Rin, highlighted teamwork and friendship, Kai the Dancing Butterfly focuses on the bond between siblings, courage, and perseverance. Big sister Ami is Kai's cheerleader and support, giving her the confidence she needs to "spread her wings" when she is thrust into an unexpected role.

Lee partners with fellow Taiwanese artist Allie Su and their love for the country shines through not just the text, but illustrations as well. Whimsical and colorful art include details such as traditional clothing of nine different indigenous Taiwanese tribes (worn by the butterflies) or the 30 different real life places and locations depicted in the story. Finally, the end of the book contains a short glossary about the real life places in Taiwan mentioned in the story, which could be a great starting off point for an extension activity for kids to research or explore further.

While I found the story itself a bit too long for my personal storytime style at the library, it may work for other librarians and I think this book would great for individual read-alouds for families or young independent readers. Homeschool families and teachers should definitely look into the unique locations and animals depicted and supplement with photos and videos easily found in other print and online resources.

Do you enjoy picture books with educational elements? What are some of your favorites?

About the Author:

"Crystal Z. Lee was raised in a bilingual household in Taiwan and in California. Her great-grandparents and grandparents are originally from Taichung, Hualien, and Jinguashi area in Taipei. Crystal grew up in Taipei, and later returned to live there in her adult years. Some of her favorite memories in Taiwan include lighting lanterns with her family in Pingxi, attending a school field trip in Yehliu, boating at Sun Moon Lake, dining at grand banquets with relatives, hiking at Yangming mountain with her parents, sampling every boba tea possible with her sister, taking wedding photographs in Tamsui, and even giving birth to her child in Taipei! Her young children love dancing and adore butterflies, and have been learning how to grow plants that are beneficial for butterflies. Crystal is also the author of the children's book A Unicorn Named Rin, and the novel, Love and Other Moods."

About the Illustrator:

"Allie Su was born and raised in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She attended Nanhua University in Chiayi city, majoring in Visual Arts. She is a professional illustrator, specializing in oil painting and ink painting. Allie adores vegetarian food and hot coffee. She believes in bringing joy to people worldwide through art."

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes.]

Finding God in Anime, Vol. 2 [Blog Tour + Review]