Review of The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

With Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the U.S. both approaching, The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey is a timely read. Not only is this exciting story a poignant reminder of the immense sacrifices others made so that we could live in freedom, it is just a fun book! When I reached the last page of the story, I literally had to wait for my heart rate to settle down just so I could continue with my day.

From the riveting opening scene, through plot twists and turns, all the way to the edge-of-your-seat ending, The Swiss Courier pulls you back in time to the tragedy and terror of World War II and reminds you that nothing is so terrible - not even Hitler and the Nazis _ that God can't overcome it.

Gabi Mueller is the "Swiss Courier," a translator working at the American Office of Strategic Services (forerunner to the CIA) in Switzerland. Her ear for languages isn't her only talent, though, and as she's asked to volunteer for dangerous assignments, she soon finds herself wondering who she can trust .

But it is more than her own life that is at risk when she is asked to "courier" a German scientist who is working on the atomic bomb out of enemy territory. The fate of the war, and the entire world, is at stake.

As exciting as this story is, what I found even more compelling were the reminders of the sacrifice everyone made during that era. It was not only the trained soldiers who fought for us, but people from all walks of life, making the choice to do the right thing and doing whatever they could for a cause they believed in.

The Swiss Courier is also a wonderful book to share with older teens. As the horrors of WW2 fade farther into history, and so many of us live in relative safety, I find it difficult to impress upon my teenaged children how much we owe to the people who fought for that safety.

Sometimes I take it for granted too.

The Swiss Courier is a powerful reminder.

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Balancing Faith with Working at Home

As a work at home mom who is also a Christian, the most difficult part of starting my Virtual Assistant business wasn’t writing a marketing plan, setting up my first website, or even finding my first client. It was figuring out what role my faith in God should play in my new business. The answer seems obvious - of course it comes first! The tricky part was learning exactly what that should look like…

That’s why I was so thrilled to discover the new book by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen, So You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business. Diana’s Virtual Assistance books and Jill’s online community of Christian WAHMs had been very influential for me when I began working from home years ago. Together, Jill and Diana know everything there is to know about working from home, and they know how it all fits together with faith in God.

Every inch of starting a home business is covered in this wonderful book. Jill and Diana walk readers through choosing a business, setting it up, marketing a business, and even how to balance your family with your home business. And through it all runs the idea that for a Christian mom like me, faith in God needs to come first, in everything I do.

The information in these pages is priceless for any mom considering a work at home lifestyle. But what was most inspiring for me were the personal stories Jill and Diana share about their own work at home journeys, along with interviews with other successful business owners that are sprinkled throughout. It was encouraging to realize that these women I had admired for so long had once faced the same problems I had, and had asked the same questions.

And the most important question this book finally resolved for me, was the role my faith should play in my business. My faith in God is at the beginning, and in everything I do. Just what does that look like? Some days it’s frustrating. Some days it’s amazing. And there are days when I wonder if my hopes will ever be realized. Then I remember that God’s plans are much bigger than mine, and what He has in mind for me is greater than I could possibly imagine.

If you need encouragement in your own work at home journey, or want to know what it really takes to become a work at home mom, you will love the book, So You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom. Visit http://SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com to learn more about the book and order your copy!

An Eye for an Eye - Or a Chance to Forgive?

An Eye for an Eye is the most recent book by Irene Hannon. This is the first time I've read anything by her, and I was delighted to discover an author who successfully interweaves an exciting suspense story with romance.

Mark Sanders is on the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, but he's working as a field agent in St. Louis, getting himself back together after accidentally killing an innocent teenager. He finds a much needed distraction in a chance encounter with Emily Lawson, his first love from 20 years ago, now a psychologist who is more that what she appears. But as they toy with the possibility of rediscovering their relationship, Emily is injured by a sniper. As the hunt for the shooter ensues, no one knows for sure who his intended victim was, or if their rekindled relationship will survive the threat of danger and memory of past hurt.

An Eye for an Eye is a fast-paced romantic suspence novel that keeps the action moving while still taking time to explore the romantic relationship between Mark and Emily. All the way through the book, I was kept wondering... if they survive the shooter, will their rekindled relationship last?

It is always refreshing to find a suspense/romance novel written from a Christian perspective. An Eye for an Eye also explores the healing power of forgiveness and the burden we carry when we refuse to forgive. The title, of course, refers to the Old Testament verse, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But the story celebrates the redeeming power of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

This is the second book in the Heroes of Quantico series, but is an enjoyable read on its own. I hadn't read the first book and I had no problem getting into the setting, the story and the characters.

If you're looking for an evening of suspense and romance, I highly recommend reading An Eye for an Eye!

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Do You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom?

Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own. So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business. So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes: * Detailed information on types of businesses to start * Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business * Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes * Help for developing your Website * Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more About the Authors JILL HART is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Jill has published many articles and is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed. She holds a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ . DIANA ENNEN has been a leader and mentor in the work-at-home industry since starting her business, Virtual Word Publishing, in 1985. She is the author of many books, including Virtual Assistant the Series; Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and Words from Home: Start, Run, and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. She resides in Margate, Florida, with her husband and their three children.   Below is an interview with the authors of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom – Jill & Diana. If have questions they are happy to answer your questions anytime. Leave a comment below or email Jill@cwahm.com or Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com How long have you been working at home? Jill Hart - I've been working at home since 2000. I had to go back to work full-time for a brief period in 2003 when my husband got out of the Air Force. At that point I got even more serious about making my business work and I've been home full-time since then. Diana Ennen – I’ve been working at home since 1985, when my son was born. He’s now graduated college and already working towards his own career. I absolutely love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.   What types of businesses do you operate? Jill Hart – I run Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com, a website full of free resources, job listings and information about home businesses. I also write articles and books (yes, more books to come!) and am a blogger for sites like Time/Warner's Christian Momlogic.com and a member of the Guideposts blogger team Diana Ennen– I’m the President of Virtual Word Publishing. I’m a virtual assistant and specialize in marketing & publicity. I’ve also written numerous books on how to start a VA business and offer PR and VA Coaching.   Tell us about your book? How do you think it can benefit those who want to start a business? Jill Hart - The book has been such a "God thing." He orchestrated the entire sequence of events - from putting Diana and I together as co-authors to bringing us to the right publisher. The book is a hands-on practical guide for anyone who wants to build a business from home. We cover topics ranging from how to select the right type of business for you, to how to get started, to how to market and grow your business. Diana Ennen - I think one of the best features of our book is that it’s not only informative, but motivational as well. You’ll feel like friends are helping you on your journey to success. Also, we discuss numerous types of businesses to start and provide proven methods to achieve success. We also often hear how starting a business can be so overwhelming. That’s why we pay special attention to all the how tos. We feel very confident our book will help, not only those starting a business, but those already in business wanting to expand it.   What types of businesses are featured in your book? Jill Hart - We have such a great range of contributors - everything from direct sales companies like Southern Living at Home and Avon to unique product-driven businesses like BSM Media and GrillCharms. These woman are amazing and give readers a great insight into how they've grown their businesses in very different ways. Diana Ennen - We cover everything from direct sales companies to specialized areas such as medical transcription and virtual assisting. Also, Jill shares detailed information on starting a community based membership site. We think you’ll get a lot of helpful tips too from such work-at-home powerhouses as Maria Bailey and Lesley Spencer Pyle.   Do you have any tips for success for Christian entrepreneurs that you’d like to share? Jill Hart - I think my favorite tip - shared with me by one of our contributors, Tammy Degenhart, almost ten years ago is that working together benefits everyone. She told me, "Jill, what you give to others God brings back tenfold" and I've seen that hold true time and time again. It may not be in financial gains and it may not look like what we expected but God is so faithful in that when we work together there is no competition - it's a win-win situation. Diana Ennen - Do what you believe in and use your own skills and prior experience to find the business that’s just right for you. Research/Research/Research. The more you research, the better your business. Continue to market and be out there. So many once they find a few clients stop marketing. You need to get out there continually. You then become the go to person when someone needs services or products that you offer.   What are some of the challenges that you see with those starting or operating a business? Jill Hart – In my experience, I've talked with many women who get frustrated because success doesn't come easily or quickly. Working from home may sound easy, but in reality it can actually be just as hard as working outside the home. There are many unique challenges, especially when working at home while raising children. If women don't prepare themselves, they can become discouraged and disheartened. Diana Ennen– One of the major challenges I see is losing belief in yourself that you can do it. That’s why I think a faith-based book will be so beneficial. Even when times get tough, you can rely on your faith to forge ahead.   With the economy, do you believe it’s still a good time to start a business? Why? Jill Hart – I think it's a better time than ever. The internet is so much more widely used than it was even nine years ago when I began my website. If people do their research and find a company that fits them as well as their budget this can be a great time to break into the work-at-home field. Diana Ennen – Absolutely. In fact, I think there’s never been a better time. You might have to work a little harder, but it absolutely can be done. Plus, there are so many businesses who need us more than ever because of the economy. For example, with virtual assistants because businesses are downsizing they are seeking the help of a VA to help on an as needed basis.   Your book is written from a Christian perspective? Tell us a little about that and how you feel that makes it so unique? Jill Hart – My faith is central to who I am and therefore central to my business. I began Christian Work at Home Moms because I wanted women to have a safe place where they could discuss not only business things, but also talk about an area that doesn't get talked about a lot in business circles - how our faith affects our businesses. The book is written in a way that doesn't hit anyone over the head with our faith, but it's true to who we are and talks about things from the vantage point that we see life - through the lens of our faith. Diana Ennen – There are so many books out there today on starting a business. However, few have the Christian mom in mind. We provide a lot of scriptures and examples of how you can use your faith to help you. Our hope is that not only will your business thrive, but it might just give a little boost to your faith as well. Learn more about the book at Beacon Hill Press or SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com.

Review of The Homeschool Income Makeover by Tisha Silvers

I was delighted to discover The Homeschool Income Makeover by homeschooling mom and business owner Tisha Silvers. As a homeschool mom who also works at home, I understand the financial challenges faced by new homeschooling families. Tisha's book offers practical advice you can use to simultaneously build your homeschooling, start your home business and pay down your current debt.

Besides giving advice on how to start a home business and providing many creative business ideas, Tisha offers sound advice on reducing your current debt and creating support systems for your homeschool and home business. To start earning money as soon as possible, she advocates finding an existing market for your product or service first, and explains how to find one. She also provides suggestions on how to find affordable mentors for your business.

Tisha recommends making money management a family affair and explains how to help your kids make their own money. Even if you're not interested in starting your own biz right now, tips on how to think wisely about money and teach your kids sound money management principles.

One of the things I most appreciate about this book was Tisha's emphasis on the importance of support groups. She gives practical advice on how to create your own so you never feel alone while you're homeschooling and/or running a business.

The Homeschool Income Makeover is written in a step-by-step format and important principles are repeated throughout the book. It is generously sprinkled with personal anecdotes from Tisha's own experiences as a business owner and homeschooling mom. Reading the book is like sitting down with a good friend over a morning coffee.

Many of the recommended resources are only available to those living in the United States. However, you can look for similar resources in your own country.

The updated version has a bonus section that includes: social media explained in everyday language, affiliate marketing and resale rights information, Internet marketing basics, information on how to get started with homeschooling and other schooling options you can consider for your children. What I most appreciated here was her ready-to-use business plan templates.

If you would like to homeschool your children, but aren't sure you can afford to, you'll find some valuable ideas in The Homeschool Income Makeover.

The Homeschool Income Makeover is available in paperback on Lulu.

Or you can order the e-book for $10 less at Tisha's blog .

Free WAHM Books

There is so much great free information available on the internet. And a lot of it comes in the form of BOOKS. Here are some of my favorite free WAHM e-books.

Do you have a free WAHM book you want everyone else to know about? Please add your comment with a link and description of your book and I'll check it out. Thanks!

Here are some I've enjoyed.

The Complete Step By Step Guide to Finding Your Perfect & Profitable Business.

If you’re looking for the right business to start, you probably have a lot of questions. For example, is direct sales the way you want to go? Can you really make money with affiliate marketing? Or do you have what it takes to be a freelancer?

In this book, you’ll find the answers to those questions (and more) and you’ll discover how to choose the perfect business for you. You can get your copy here.

How to Be a Six Figure WAHM

I’ve read a lot of things about how to make 6 figures a year from home. Some of what I’ve read doesn’t seem ethical, and sometimes borders on illegal. Other stuff I’ve found has been all hype - believe you can do it and you will! But it doesn’t tell you exactly how.

What I appreciated most about Debbie’s book is that it explains the steps to follow to 6 figures (they’re legal, ethical AND doable) and she also covers:

* how to find out if your current business can get you to 6 figures
* what changes you can make to reach 6 figures
* what to do if your current business can’t get you to 6 figures

There’s also a free audio class to listen to after you read the book.

Here’s the link to your own copy of How to Reach 6 Figure Success in Your Home-Based Business

Encouraging Words

Use Encouraging Words to Motivate Positive Action is based on the Law of Attraction, it talks about how to communicate effectively and encourage others, through what we do, what we say, and how we say it.

This 25 page ebook is filled with practical tips and real-life examples, but my personal favorite is on page 24 - "At least 101 other words and phrases to encourage positive action." That one is going on my fridge as a reminder to everyone in my family - but especially ME - of words we can use to encourage each other.

Here's the link to your copy.

Now it's your turn! Tell me about your free WAHM book and how it can bless moms and their families.

Terms & Conditions

I only publish favorable reviews of books that I deem to be of value to WAHMs and their families. Time permitting, I will also submit the review of your book to Amazon.com if you sell it there.

By requesting a review of your book you agree to these terms:

1. You agree that you do not get to approve the review before publication or request changes to it once published. With that out of the way, you should know I LOVE books of all kinds, and I sincerely want to help the people who write them. Without you, my world would be a very lonely place. I'll write an honest review, and if I don't like your book I simply won't write about it.

2. By requesting a review, you acknowledge that I may choose to not review your book. And you agree that I don't have to give you a good reason for declining. If you don't like being told "no," then please don't ask. I do try to say yes as often as I can because I am passionate about discovering new books and sharing them with others. But I also have a life. And a family. And a business. And still only 24 hours in the day.

3. While I will review e-books, a print copy of your book is preferred. It's much easier for me to pack and read while I wait for the kids at their lessons. Also, there's a much better chance it won't get lost among the hundreds of emails I receive daily.

4. You are responsible for all costs associated with mailing your book to me. I will not reimburse you for any reason.

4. Your book will not be returned to you. Whether I decide to review it or not, your book will not be returned under any conditions, so please don't ask. I understande that it costs a lot to send your book to me, which is why it would be helpful to give me as much information about it as possible before sending it, so I can be sure it's something I'd like to recommend to my readers.

5. Although not required, linking back to the review or putting our button on your own website is much appreciated. However, linking to me or putting my button on your site doesn't change any of the above terms.

6. You understand that any of the above terms and conditions could change at any time.

7. You understand that I am a Christian. While this is not a Christian blog, my opinions are going to reflect my personal beliefs.

If you can agree to all those conditions and you would still like me to review your book, I would be delighted to consider it.

Please contact me at contact at wahm-articles.com with details about your book and why it would be a blessing to moms and their families.