Mailbox Monday

Many thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday every week!

It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.

Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)

Better late than never. Just as I was getting ready to get my Mailbox Monday post ready for this week, we had to make a run to the emergency room for our son, who is 2 1/2 and was having a LOT of trouble breathing. Turns out it was a good thing we went - he has a really bad case of Croup that came on so quickly it left our heads spinning! So. . . after a very long night, I'm up and ready to catch up on my mailbox! :)

Here are the books that came into my house last week:

Angels: A Pop-Up Book by Chuck Fischer ~ Arts & Photography ~ Review copy received courtesy of Little Brown Publishing

Whether you consider angels to be divine messengers, spiritual guides, or the stuff of legend, you will find something to marvel at in Chuck Fischer's beautifully illustrated Angels: A Pop-Up Book. Fischer's original art, inspired by classic images from art history, is crafted into astoundingly intricate three-dimensional pop-ups with fold-outs and moveable parts. Angels brings to life the most captivating stories of these celestial beings, from the angels of the zodiac to Biblical angels to angels in the arts and popular culture. Much like its subject, Angels: A Pop-Up Book inspires awe and wonder and is a unique gift book for all ages.

Fit to be Tied (The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book 2) by Robin Lee Hatcher ~ Fiction / Historical / Christian ~ Review copy received from the publisher (Zondervan) for an upcoming CFBA tour Nov. 9th-11th

From the publisher: It’s 1916, and Idaho rancher Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. So when charged with transforming English aristocrat Sherwood Statham from playboy into cowboy, she’s totally disconcerted. So is Statham, who’s never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.” Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.

I Run to the Hills: Reflections on the Christian Journey by C. Maggie Woychik ~ Non-Fiction / Christian Inspiration ~ Review copy received courtesy of the author for an upcoming FIRST WildCard Tour on Dec. 9th

From the publisher: I Run to the Hills: Reflections on the Christian Journey, by C. Maggie Woychik, is a collection of 39 thought-provoking musings aimed at enhancing your relationship with God.

Through essay, poem, and allegory, Woychik leads the reader one ridge higher, closer home, where mountain climbers will meet the Mountain Maker face to face, in rest and goodness.

This book is both a journey and a resting place, a collection of faith-musings loosely draped in traveling garb.

Leah's Choice ARC (Pleasant Valley, Book 1) by Marta Perry ~ Fiction / Inspirational / Amish Themed ~ Won a signed ARC from the author while attending the Facebook launch party for her new book Amish Peace (the party was really great!)

The first of three Amish-set novels in which a woman's faith must guide her through challenging times.

All of Pleasant Valley seems to think the newcomer from Lancaster County is the perfect match for Teacher Leah. After all, so few new families come to their separate Amish community, and fewer still unmarried men. Daniel Glick is a widower with three young children to look after-clearly he's in need of a wife.

Daniel's past haunts him. Though he cannot miss the beauty in Leah's bright eyes and patient ways, he also sees a reminder of his pain-filled marriage. Leah, too, has a burden to bear. Years ago, she was engaged to Johnny Kile, and she was heartbroken when he decided to leave the Amish community. Since then she has immersed herself in teaching, forgetting any hopes of having her own family. When Johnny returns, seeking reconciliation, Leah must decide between two pathways, either of which will completely change her life.

Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera by Ron Schick ~ Non-Fiction / Arts & Photography ~ Review copy received courtesy of Little Brown Publishing

Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera is the first book to explore the meticulously composed and richly detailed photographs that Norman Rockwell used to create his famous artworks. Working alongside skilled photographers, Rockwell acted as director, carefully orchestrating models, selecting props, and choosing locations for the photographs--works of art in their own right--that served as the basis of his iconic images. Readers will be surprised to find that many of his most memorable characters-the girl at the mirror, the young couple on prom night, the family on vacation-were friends and neighbors who served as his amateur models. In this groundbreaking book, author and historian Ron Schick delves into the archive of nearly 20,000 photographs housed at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Featuring reproductions of Rockwell's black-and-white photographs and related full-color artworks, along with an incisive narrative and quotes from Rockwell models and family members, this book will intrigue anyone interested in photography, art, and Americana.

A Novel Idea: Best Advice on Writing Inspirational Fiction by ChiLibris ~ Non-Fiction / Reference / Writing Skills ~ Review copy received courtesy of Tyndale House Publishing for an upcoming FIRST WildCard Tour Nov. 25th

From the publisher: Best-selling Christian fiction writers have teamed together to contribute articles on the craft of writing. A Novel Idea contains tips on brainstorming ideas and crafting and marketing a novel. It explains what makes a Christian novel “Christian” and offers tips on how to approach tough topics. Contributors include Jerry B. Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, and many other beloved authors. All proceeds will benefit MAI, an organization that teaches writing internationally to help provide literature that is culturally relevant.

Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites: More Great Recipes That Save You Time and Money from the Inventors of the Ultimate Do-Ahead Dinnertime Method by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg ~ Non-Fiction / Cooking ~ Signed Review and Giveaway copies received courtesy of Mary Beth Lagerborg

From the back cover: Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg are back with a brand new book that features their Once-A-Month Cooking ™ technique guaranteed to save time and money. Filled with all-new cycles - two one-month cycles, two two-week cycles, and three specialty cycles: gourmet, summer, and gluten-free – their trademark method remains the same: You shop for an entire cycle all at once, buying in bulk and saving money. You do all the food prep for the cycle the next day, freezing and refrigerating what needs to be kept cold, stocking the pantry when appropriate. Then, as the family assembles for mealtime, you do some quick finishing and it’s ready - fast and delicious! Once-a-Month Cooking™ Family Favorites has something for every kind of eater and includes such soon-to-be favorites as:

-Adobe Chicken
-Baked Mediterranean Cod
-Chicken Wild Rice Soup
-County-Style Ribs
-Texas-Style Lasagna

With the perfect plan in hand and bulk shopping at economically-friendly prices, the Once-A-Month Cooking ™ technique is a surefire way to get a delicious dinner on the table fast so that you can spend more time with your family!

Over the Holidays: It's all Relatives... A Novel by Sandra Harper ~ Fiction ~ Review copy received courtesy of Simon and Schuster Publishing for a book tour on Oct. 23rd

The best holiday traditions are meant to be broken.

It's only December 1, and Vanessa Clayton has been dreading Christmas since she spotted tinseled trees at her local mall in September. Thankfully, she and her husband, JT, can't afford to drag their twin boys across the country to New England for the annual celebration at her stuffy sister-in-law Patience's home. Not that Vanessa has prepared a proper Christmas for her family in years, and she has less time than ever since she agreed to consult on the script of a local play. Her older sister, Thea, is no help -- she'd rather make art and flirt with surfers than babysit her nine-year-old nephews. Then Patience drops a holiday stress bomb: Her family will come to California instead.

In between "baking" cinnamon rolls for the school potluck and overbearing Patience testing her patience, Vanessa can't stop thinking about the difficult but charming playwright at work. Meanwhile, Patience's teenage daughter, Libby, obsesses over a college boy she has met by the pool, and Thea searches desperately for the meaning of Christmas -- for her latest installation, of course. As their holiday plans go comically awry, these four women discover the true spirit of the season is hidden in every festive surprise.

What was in your mailbox last week??

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