Book Tour ~" Sunrise on the Battery"

by Beth Webb Hart


Publisher's Summary:  
Beth Webb Hart explores what happens when we leave our inhibitions behind.

What would it look like if we really loved each other—if we had no inhibitions about sharing our faith and our very lives with a hurting world? How would we really spend our time and our money? And what impact would this have on our own families, especially our children? What impact would it have on our communities, our country and the world? These are the questions that first inspired Beth Webb Hart to write her newest novel, Sunrise on the Battery.

Hart always begins her writing with a question, and she was inspired with these questions after reading David Platt’s book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. His book uncovered blind spots in her own life and helped her fully imagine just where her characters’ uninhibited faith might take them.

Mary Lynn Scoville has everything anyone could desire—a handsome husband, three beautiful daughters and a ticket into the social elite of Charleston, S.C. But after a miraculous answer to a prayer on her behalf, Mary Lynn decides to pray that her husband will discover the faith she loves. But when her prayers are answered, she finds her world turned upside down and is forced to deal with the idols she has created in her own life.

Jackson Scoville is a man on a mission. Growing up deprived of the finer things in life, he wants more for his children. His mission is to give his girls the best—a top-rate education, exposure and immersion in the fine arts and frequent opportunities to see the big wide world. “Not just education, baby—cultivation,” he is known to say. But when he discovers the truth of Scripture, his focus takes a quick turn—a turn his family may not like.

While writing about the lives of Mary Lynn, Jackson and their daughters, Hart shows her readers how God can change a life and inspire a family. She draws her readers into the story, especially with her intricate details of the social culture of Charleston. Her characters will shine a reflection on her readers’ own struggles and fears, and they will be inspired to examine their own lives and discover what really matters.

My Thoughts: Jackson and Mary Lynn Scoville are on their way up in Charleston society. They are accomplishing all they set out to do in their family goals and are one step away from the very top. But at what price? Every once in a while the desire for a family dedicated to God surfaces in Mary Lynn's heart and silences the social drive. When she finally asks for prayer at the church she attends occasionally, she is unprepared for the radical change that is about to come upon her family. 


 I loved this story.  One can't help but be drawn to the characters, because as a mom, who doesn't want the best for their children and to give their children better than what they had?  I may not go to the extent of wanting the social prestige that the couple in the book did or go to their extremes to get there but their desire is still relatable.  Each character was portrayed so well and you could understand the feelings and reactions of each one, which I find a real accomplishment for a writer.  Jackson's drive to better his and his family's lives by being a driven, self made man who pushes that drive onto his family, Mary Lynn's desire to have the very best that a place in society can give her girls but still desiring her family to be a family that loves God.  The girls reactions to being pushed to always being better and feeling they never measure up.  And then Mary Lynn's shock to a very radical change in her husband she didn't expect when he finally becomes a Christian and her whole world, that they have worked so hard for, is turned upside down.  These were all aspects of the story and characters that no matter what station in life a person is can be related to.  This was, in my opinion a great contemporary read and will make the reader question what such a radical change from what they put their reliance on in this world to a faith that "walks the walk" would do in their own life and family.

Thanks to the B&B Media Group and Thomas Nelson for presenting me with a free copy of this book for my review.  All the opinions expressed are my own.

You can purchase "Sunrise on the Battery" here and here.

Friday's Fave Five #163

Hi everyone, welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  Take time to reflect over your week and find those things that lifted your heart, made you smile or made you keep on keeping on.  If you need details, you can take a quick trip here and then come on back.  I'm feeling crummy tonight (Thursday) so as you can see my list is missing.  I'll try to join in some time on Friday and then get around to visiting everyone.  Meanwhile, have fun making your posts and visiting around, maybe making a new blogging friend or two.




Whew, made it here!  Thanks for everyone's well wishes.  Nothing major just a silly cold that won't go away for two weeks now, but it's the kind that wipes you out and in the evening it seems my ears, throat and nose just close up.  Aargh.  Breathing and hearing are a good thing,  so in the evening I've had to take some cold meds and it knocks. me. out.  Anyway, there is blessings to look for and share, which I'm sure you'd so rather hear about.

1.  Fall leaves to play in.    I love the fall when all my trees drop their leaves and there is a mountain of leaves for the dayhome kids to run through, jump in and throw in the air.  Their laughter and literally hours of play in it are one of my favorite things to watch.  I really wanted to post a picture of their fun but privacy and all that.

2.  Well written, uplifting novels.  Especially on the heels of a story that left me feeling very sad and unsettled.  I don't necessarily always like my reads to be tied up with a pretty bow at the end of the story but it is nice sometimes.

3.  A Movie night with my sis.  A cheesy old black and white move from 1947, a bag of chips and a glass of ice cold coke.  It's fun to poke fun at the horrible sound, the dramatic acting and blood curdling screams of old films.  Especially with the company of my sister.

4.  Comfort foods of fall.  Chili's, stews and soups are some of my favorite comfort foods.   Last week with the chilly weather coming upon us,  I made a big pot of  delicious turkey soup (from the Thanksgiving turkey carcass).  I can't wait to get to all sorts of crock pot recipes, too.

5.  Homemade salsa.  I made this recipe from the Mennonite Girls and I have decided that I have now become a homemade salsa snob.  The store bought just doesn't compare.  I am so going to be making homemade salsa every fall.

Well, have a great weekend everyone!  I'm planning on lots of reading time with pots of hot, lemony tea,  for sure!

October Moments in Time 2

We've been busy as bees around here at the Living To Tell Household.  

Fall is definitely setting in.  

The buckeye is wearing her glorious fall dress.

And she's starting to shed it, leaf by leaf.

And there are a lot of leaves on her branches.

So that means lots of raking.

It is dark when I get up now.

Very dark.

Which means my duvet feels extra cozy.

And I don't want to get up.

But I have to.

Fall means cleaning out the flower beds and getting them ready to rest over the winter.

They look so empty after their bright, colorful filled heyday of spring and summer.

This is just the beginning of the bags of yard clean up.

There will be many more joining them in the next week or so as the 16 towering aspens start to shed their leaves.

The last of the homegrown tomatoes that I was blessed with have turned red.

And have been turned into more spaghetti sauce and salsa.

The t-shirts and shorts have been packed away.

And out have come the cozy sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets of cooler weather.

Evenings are time to cozy up with a soft fuzzy blanket, a good book and a hot drink.

What has been filling your fall days?

Friday's Fave Five #162

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  It's Friday so that makes it time to look back over our week and look for those things we are grateful for.  It may be big or it may be small and you have to dig for it, but there are always things we can be thankful for.  Please join us as we share our favorite five.  If you need the guidelines they are here.


Here's is mine in no particular order:

1.  Coming home to a clean kitchen courtesy of my 16 year old girl.  On the night I had our bible study, I came home to find the kitchen beautifully spotless, including a washed floor thanks to my girl.  What a blessing that was!


2.  Smooth day with the dayhome during carpet installation day.  It's interesting working at home, especially when it involves 6 pre-schoolers and a day of carpet installation.  Though we were forced downstairs for the whole day, they were good as gold and the day went very smoothly, all things considered.

3.  A second coat of paint finally on the my living room walls.  With the furniture all out of the way I took the  opportunity to get that second coat of paint on the walls that were waiting oh, for about a year.

4.  Comfy duvets and duvet covers.  With the nights get colder, some of which have dropped below freezing, that big comfy duvet and it's covers are always one of my favorite simple things in the fall.

5.  Shared information.  One of my favorite things about blogging is things that we learn from each other.  Tips, recipes, and sometimes important information like this post by 4everMom.  If you or your children have a smartphone, please take a moment to read her post and watch the short video clip.   Some really important info and a really good tip at the end.  I have a smart phone and I had no idea.  Until now.  An informed consumer is a smart and safe consumer.

What have been your faves this week?  Please link up if you've shared in a post.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Moments in Time

The days have been melting into each other around here for the last couple of weeks.  Before I know it one day has ended and another begun.  And I realize I haven't posted.  Yet again.  What is keeping me so darn busy?  Just the to day stuff around here, I guess.  So I thought maybe I should just start keeping record of that.  Maybe I'm nuts but it sure would help me with knowing where my days are hiding.

Last Friday, new rug was installed in the living room and hallway.  I Loooove it.  We had been deliberating on the next major money purchase.   Our rugs desperately needed replacing, our kitchen lino needs replacing, our van has a dent in the side from me running into the garage door a few winters ago that needs fixing.   Just to mention a few.  Unexpectedly a good deal came up on carpet I loved so that helped make that decision.

So out with the stained, worn, snagged, well trampled by many, many  little feet, berber.

In with the new dirt hiding, lovely feeling carpet.

And then my 15 year old washer started slowly giving up the ghost. It never rains but it pours.   It's been a faithful servant, working almost daily for that 15+ years.  But now it's getting tired, not being able to spin out the water quite good enough on most cycles so I'm having to respin.   I had to go looking last weekend.  May I just say washer and dryer shopping is a major headache?!  Yikes too many choices, too many features, way  too expensive.  It's exhausting.  All demanding some research at home.  If I'm laying down that kind of moolah, I want to make sure I get the right one.

My son who's studying to be a paramedic has practiced his first IV.  The students practice on each other.  Which makes me weak in the knees to think about.  The rule is for as many practice jabs you make on the others you have to suffer through graciously allow others to make on you.  Ouch.

My duties at church have just stepped up, oh about, 20 notches.  This is my busy time there too.  But being in charge of these boxes is always a joy!

What's kept you guys busy?

Friday's Fave Five #161

Yikes, I can't believe it's Friday already.  Where on earth did that week go?  Between Thanksgiving here in Canada, being sick, still working and finding out our carpet is being installed this week and the work of clearing the room that goes with that, the days have just disappeared.  But there is always time to take just a moment of look for special blessing from the week.  Join in with us as we share 5 things we are thankful for from this past week.

1.  Thanksgiving weekend.  I love this holiday.   It brings the family together to share a beautiful meal, fellowship and thankfulness for the blessings in our lives.  The turkey turned out perfect, we shared lots of time and laughter with loved ones, the weather was a gorgeous sunny but crisp day, my oldest arrived here and went back to her city safe and sound.  It couldn't have been better.

2.  Home grown tomatoes that became homemade spaghetti sauce and homemade salsa.  I was blessed with 2 huge boxes of tomatoes.  I made a huge pot of spaghetti sauce that will make 3 yummy meals and enough salsa to fill 6 containers for the freezer.  And I still have half a box left.  The Youngest has requested more homemade spaghetti sauce and I think I will roast some of them like Kathy did.

3.  Hot mint tea to soothe the throat, clear the nose and make me relax.  So nice when I'm not feeling well.

4.  Lots of turkey left overs.  I see turkey soup, turkey pot pie and hot turkey sandwiches coming up.

5.  Care and concern.  Hubby asking each morning how I felt and how the cold was doing.  A small thing but it made me feel his care and lifted me up.

What are your blessings from the past week?  What uplifted you?   Share in a post and sign on up on the Linky.  If you need the guidelines they are here.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Now how did that happen?

Sent this text the Sunday morning I was making Thanksgiving dinner:

"Did you at some point make yourself a peanut butter and honey sandwich or toast and dip the same knife into both?  There is peanut butter in the honey so the whole container is contaminated for Auntie Liz and now I can't make Honey Buttered Carrots for Thanksgiving dinner and she won't be able to have tea."

(A little background:  My sis is extremely allergic to peanuts and my kids have grown up knowing to not use a knife or spoon that has first gone into the peanut butter in another product.  So it was a little shocking to find smudges of peanut butter in the honey).

The text was sent to my son.

He got it.

So did my daughter's violin instructor.

Oops.

Now how did that happen?

Sent this text the Sunday morning I was making Thanksgiving dinner:

"Did you at some point make yourself a peanut butter and honey sandwich or toast and dip the same knife into both?  There is peanut butter in the honey so the whole container is contaminated for Auntie Liz and now I can't make Honey Buttered Carrots for Thanksgiving dinner and she won't be able to have tea."

(A little background:  My sis is extremely allergic to peanuts and my kids have grown up knowing to not use a knife or spoon that has first gone into the peanut butter in another product.  So it was a little shocking to find smudges of peanut butter in the honey).

The text was sent to my son.

He got it.

So did my daughter's violin instructor.

Oops.

Friday's Fave Five #160

Hello everyone.  Welcome to a very cold and wet Friday.  A perfect day to curl up with a hot drink and a throw blanket and look for five blessings from the week.  Whether it be an easy task or something very difficult, I encourage you to look for the good things of your days.  It doesn't have to be big, it could be the simplest of things, yet it was what gave you a smile, gave you hope, or lifted you even if for just a moment.

I think because of the weather and it suddenly feeling like fall instead of Indian Summer, my favorites are all about those things that seem to make me feel cozy.  

1.  Winter quilts. Finally it's on my bed, my big puffy quilt, a simple thing yet it makes me smile when I get into bed.  So comfy and so warm.  The nice thing about the weather getting colder is that quilt coming out of hiding and onto the bed.

2.  A surprise candle from hubby.  Hubby came home bearing a gift of my favorite brand of candle.  I love a nice Wood Wick candle and he brought me home a Triology scent.  I'm usually not a berry scented candle fan especially at this time of year,  but this is lovely.  Not heavy at all and very fresh and lovely.  Sweet gift from a sweet hubby.

3.  Cozy throw blankets.  Nothing nicer on the cooler evenings when the wind is blowing and the rain is falling than cozying up on the couch with a warm throw blanket. 

4.  Fall colors decorating the house.  My favorite colors to decorate with are the rich browns, golds and rusts of fall time.  I love pulling out the fall decorations as it brings those right into the house.  And I finally felt like changing to fall decorations this week.  A bit behind this year on that this year. 

5.  Thanksgiving plans.  Yup it's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend.  Took me a bit by surprise this year, it seems so early, but I love making the plans for dinner and what we're going to do on the weekend.  Hopefully the weather will co-operate with all my well made plans.  

What have been your favorites from the last week?  Please join us as we look for those blessings.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  

.

FIR '011 Question #2

Katrina is posing a question each week to go along with the Fall Into Reading Challenge.  This week's question is:

"How often do you reread books?  What does it take to make you reread?"


I have favorite books that I definitely wish to reread but there are just so many new books and stories that I want to get to that unless I make an intentional point of re-reading it usually just stays a wish.  (That's why I love these challenges, because I can make it intentional to get to those books I keep meaning to get to.)  For a book to make me want to re-read it, it has to draw me emotionally, touch my heart in some profound way, or have lots of layers to it that I want to revisit.  The characters and their stories have to draw me in and make me want to revisit them.  A well-written fiction novel that teaches me something is always something I'm drawn to pick up more than once.

 The bible is the only non-fiction book that is a continual re-read with me.   There are a couple of fiction series I just love that that I've re-read a few times, I usually like to make those a summer project.  And there are a few stand alone books that call my name regularly from my bookshelves that I get to every couple of years.  The book that I have re-read the most is "Ribbon of Years" by Robin Lee Hatcher.  I get something new from it everytime.

What about you guys?  Do you re-read books or is new territory what you stick to?  What makes you want to re-read a book?

FIR Book Review 1 ~ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

 (from the cover): Doctors took her cells without asking.  Those cells never died.  They launched a medical revolution and a multi-million dollar industry.  More than twenty years later her children found out.  Their lives would never be the same.


A few words I would use to describe this book:  Wow, shocking, unbelievable, informative, thought provoking, scary,  moving, sensitive, stuff of science fiction but real life.  This is the story of the first "immortal" human cells grown in culture in a lab.  And they were taken from a black woman who was a poor tobacco farmer in the early '50's without her knowledge or consent. "HeLa"  has since become the most widely used cell line in the world for research, numbering in the trillions and still exists today. It has brought scientific breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine, invitro fertilization and gene mapping.  They have tried to clone them, inject with poisons, develop cures for cancer.  They have shown scientists how viruses work and the effects of the atom bomb.  And yet the family didn't know until twenty years after they took Henrietta's cells.  The author tells such an incredible true story weaving between the scientific viewpoint to the human side to the family's struggles with the news and outcome.  I could not put this book down.  It is definitely not dry and textbook-y.    Yet you learn so much.  It brings up subjects of ethics, racism, human rights, consent, privacy, ownership, reimbursement all while bringing your emotions to the surface in what the family has gone through and the struggles of the daughter who never knew her mother as she trys  to get answers and some recognition for her mom and her contribution to the world.   As I was reading it, I kept thinking this would make a great movie, and have since found out that Oprah has picked it up for her OWN network.  I highly recommend this read.