Blurb: When Alanthea, high-priestess of Atlantis, connects to a woman in her dreams, she becomes haunted by a mystery. Compelled to trace the other woman's life she finds coded poems that hold clues to the predicament of her people. Now she has to venture ever farther into forbidden territory to link past and present, and understand the real danger threatening Atlantis.
 
Arakon always thought of himself as an orphan, a loner without any real belonging. But after a strange encounter his life changes, and he is drawn into events beyond his control. 
 
They move parallel in their search for answers until their destinies converge, and the weave unravels. Yet what they finally uncover lies deep at the heart of collective evolution, and what has been set in motion cannot be undone.


Bio: Carol Roberts is a free lance writer with particular interest in cultural myth. Originally from Vienna, she has spent all of her adult life in the Far North of New Zealand. Her work took her to several different countries, where she indulged her fascination with stories, particularly those dealing with the creation of man.  'Atlantis' is her first full length novel; speculating on concepts of the human condition, the meaning of individual and collective destiny, and the choices within that. 
 

Excerpt: Time shifted as Arakon carefully turned and dug his heels
into his horse Gideon’s flank. A good horse, a strong horse, just like
the old man’s had been. The shade of the trees embraced him, and
the sound of the water came closer. Would he still find the track?
Was there a track? Time shifted further, and he felt an eerie
sensation between his shoulder blades. The forest was too quiet, the
water overly loud. Gideon started to slip, and he reined the stallion
in even further.
The filtered light threw strange patterns onto the ground,
and when the moment came, he let go of the reins and let Gideon
run. Leaves slapped him in the face, and as the noise became
deafening, he could see the glistening spray that lay like a
shimmering web ahead of him. Gideon shied but could not stop.
They raced on until the tree line opened up, and he could see the
gorge falling away in front of him like a black, open mouth.
Everything happened at once. Gideon panicked, and with all
his strength Arakon pulled him to the left. And as though drawn
by a mighty force the horse was able to respond, avoiding the
straight drop and veering toward something that took shape
between the trees. From the mists it formed, and although it was
obscured by the play of light and shadow, Arakon was able to catch
a glimpse. Then they jumped, or did they fall?

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0777J2MC8/

Blog/Christmas promotion: https://www.smore.com/app/pages/preview/fpnxr

Twitter: @authorRobertsC
​

I recently received a She Reads Truth Bible to review and I decided to use it for my Colossians Bible study. 

First impressions: The one I was sent was a poppy linen version that I’d describe as mango. Normally I’m not a fan of the texture of linen covered books, but this one was surprisingly smooth. I received an indexed version, which is great since I usually have to add those separate tabs otherwise. 

Inside: There are wide margins if you like to take notes or journal in your Bible. I haven’t written in it yet, but I put some scripture stickers and arrows in to highlight certain passages. I saw some reviewers say they felt the pages were thin, but I use gel highlighters and didn’t have an issue. 

This was my first time reading a Christian Standard version (CSB) and I found it very easy to read. I tend to like the New Living Translation (NLT), so this was nice as it is also easy to follow and understand.

There are a lot of devotionals in the Bible that tie into the readings. It also contains maps for each book and reading plans that include, “supplementary passages for added context and deeper understanding.” That was a great bonus feature for those times when you want to dig a little deeper into a section. 

Pros: The reading plans, maps, and section describing the gospel all made this a standout. I also liked the fact this version was indexed. 

Cons: The font could be a little bigger. 
​
Overall, this is a great Bible no matter if it’s your first time exploring the Word or if you’re a veteran of Bible studies. It’s easy to read and has a great section that tells you how to go about reading the Bible. This would be a great gift for someone who wants to start reading the Bible as it’s not overwhelming at all and has a lot of helpful way to start your study. This is a great choice to use for a Bible study. 

www.amazon.com/Reads-Truth-Bible-Poppy-Linen/dp/1433648210/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


*I received this Bible from BH Publishing and Lifeway in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 My name is Valerie Howard. I'm a wife of a pastor, the mother to young boys, the owner of beagles, and an author. I love summer, flip-flops, and chocolate, but since I live in Maine, I can only enjoy one of those things all year round.


I write books about women who face impossible situations and the God Who loves them. My fiction books each star a woman who has had to overcome extreme obstacles – unplanned pregnancy, slavery, homelessness, abuse, death of a loved one, etc. – but their struggles always lead them to learn about a God Who cares and Who can help them deal with whatever life throws at them.


My New England Inspirations books all feature a different New England state as the setting.


Deep Blue Sea is set in Maine. It tells the story of Jamie Walker, a 30-year-old who is dealing with depression and anxiety as the cold case of her missing cousin is re-examined.


Carry Me Home is set in Vermont. It tells the story of Amanda Holbrook, a nurse who struggles to stay afloat as she loses her job and home – and meets the most difficult patient of her life.


Picking Daisy is set in New Hampshire. It tells the story of Elise Gilpatrick, a first-time foster mom, and the troubled 15-year-old girl, DJ, who comes to stay with her.


Books 1 through 3 of the New England Inspirations series are all FREE for the first time ever on November 3.

​Amazon: www.amazon.com/Valerie-Howard/e/B0054R7HKA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1509700617&sr=1-2-ent

I am so excited to host my friend, Tara LaDue, this week. She is truly such a bright light in this world and has such an open heart. It's rare to meet people like that, but I knew when I saw her in New York that she had the gift to help so many people with her work. It has been amazing to witness her on her journey writing a book and I'm excited that, Came to Believe, A Journey of Trust, Faith and Perseverance, has just released! She also has the cutest dog you've ever seen, so check out her Instagram for pics of Chester: www.instagram.com/taraladue/
Take a moment to read her letter to her younger self. 


When I was asked to write a guest blog for my Spirit Junkie sister, Krysten Lindsay Hager, specifically a letter to my little girl, I thought, "Oh wow what would I tell her?" Then so many things flooded my mind and heart that I so wish someone told me when I was younger. It made me think about what I would tell my niece. She is seven now, such a precious age when a little girl is coming into her own person. This is also the time when a child can be so influenced to be who her parents want her to be or who the world tells her she should be. One of my favorite quotes is, "Do you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?" by Charles Bukowski. So here goes, my letter to my younger self. 


Dear Sweet Tara, 
Girl, if you want to wear your clothes inside out and backward, go with your bad ass self. Don't let other people tell you that you can't. Also, if you accidentally spill food on your clothes, who cares? Don't *Not* wear white because you are terrified to get it dirty. (This is funny today because this old limiting belief is what kept me from becoming a Kundalini Yoga Teacher for so long because I was scared to wear white because I was messy. So silly.) 


What do you like to do? What do you have so much fun doing that the time goes by without you even noticing it? Do that. Life is too short to do things that make other people happy. It's your life, live it your way.  


It's okay if you are not the smartest in school and you don't make those honors classes that your friends are in. It doesn't make you any less than. There are plenty of people who have done big things in their life who weren't in honors English and math. (Like me, I wrote a freaking book, I am a published author, and I struggled in English.) The important thing is you do the work. You do the best you can.  And, that you have fun in school and not be so busy with your nose in a book that you miss life happening right in front of you. 


Speak up. When you know in your gut that something isn't right, speak up! Don't be scared. Trust that intuition that God gave you, that inner knowing that will guide you for the rest of your life. It is never wrong. Please, tell someone. And if that person won't listen, tell someone else. Your voice matters. (This last bit brought me to tears.) 


Also, as a young girl going through puberty, I had no idea what was happening to me. I was so embarrassed to ask any questions or talk to my Mom. This shame made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. This not knowing why all these changes were happening to my body made me incredibly insecure as a young girl, especially because I developed so young. Talk to your Mom. Or your big sister if you have one. Make them explain to you how beautiful it is to become a woman. It is nothing to be embarrassed or shameful about.  


Go to college and pay for as much of it you can, yourself. You will appreciate it more.  Work hard and make friends. The friends you make in college will last your lifetime.  And, if you can, go away to college. (Because I had to make this college thing work under my minimal tight budget I wasn't able to go far, but going to school a state away provided me so many more experiences if I would have stayed in my hometown.) 


Lastly, be you. You are a gorgeous light, inside and out. Don't try to conform to everyone else. Don't do what everyone else is doing. Do what moves you. One's authenticity is so vital today. If you can't shine in your radiance, if your Aura can't glow the way it wants to, what is the point of this life? (That last line is on page 191 of my spiritual memoir, Came to Believe, A Journey of Trust, Faith and Perseverance.) 


You are lovable, and you are worthy of anything that you want. Just go for it. You can do it. 

Bio: Tara LaDue is the author of Came to Believe, A Journey of Trust, Faith and Perseverance.  She is a Social Media Coach for Spiritual Entrepreneurs all over the world. She has written a Social Media Guidebook with all her own tips and tricks used to grow her following.  Tara is a Certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher.  She also is a Certified Angel Card Reader™ and Angel Intuitive®.  Tara has taken Gabrielle Bernstein’s Spirit Junkie Masterclass Level 1 and 2.  She is the proud mommy of her fur-angel, Chester Harold LaDue.  For more information on Tara’a work, visit www.taraladue.com.