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Loved by Rebecca St. James

Loved Edited by Rebecca St. James
Reviewed by Tracy Darlington

"Perfect for youth groups, women’s Bible studies, or your own personal use."

She’s probably best known for her catchy music ministry which began in 1991 at the age of 13, when under the stage name “Rebecca Jean” she released an independent album titled Refresh My Heart in Australia. Soon after its release, her family moved to the United States where her father received a job offer, and the rest is history. Rebecca St. James is no stranger to the book world, either. She has authored numerous titles such as: Pure; She: Safe, Healthy, Empowered; She Teen; Wait For Me, among others.

Now, in her latest book Loved - Stories of Forgiveness she dons the editor's cap.You will find true stories of God’s amazing love and forgiveness for young women from all walks of life. Divided into six parts, each begins with a dramatized story from the Bible and continues with seven present day stories of women who have made mistakes but found God’s love in the end. These sections cover the issues: identity crisis, addictions, family problems, friends, man trouble, and faith crises.

The theme of the book comes from St. James’ song “You Are Loved” which Rebecca wrote for her friend, Daniel. The words to the track can be found on the frontmatter. With its 6 week devotional format, each vignette can be gone through quickly. Perfect for youth groups, women’s Bible studies, or your own personal use.

The stories are real eye-openers. As the young women find themselves in bad relationships, eating disorders, and lost in a sea of rejection they discover that God cares for them in the midst of their turmoil. Like sixteen year old Naomi, whose prescription drug abuse and early childhood memories of molestation drive her to rock bottom. But “instead of running away from the pain she has learned to run to God in her pain.” Not all the entries are as dark as Naomi’s, but they depict real life for women in today’s society without sugar coating.

Loved - Stories of Forgiveness does remind us how much God truly loves us. As Rebecca puts it, “Loved is about prodigals and for prodigals - which is all of us. God has His arms open wide, waiting for us, no matter what we have done. This is a message of hope that our generation needs to hear. No matter where you’ve been and what you’ve done. . . you are loved.”


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Vicky Beeching's Favorite Starbucks Drink

Iced grande decaf Americano with room for some milk and splenda

Read my full interview with Vicky here.

Francesca Battistelli's Favorite Starbucks Drink

A grande Americano with cream or an iced green tea, unsweetened.

Read my full interview here!

More to come in this series. :)

Britt Nicole's Favorite Starbucks Drink

I have a couple favorite drinks. I'm looking forward to the pumpkin spice latte that's about to come for fall. It only appears there in fall, so I'm looking forward to it! I saw the other day on the countdown that it was ten days. (Laughs) I was like, “Yes!” But right now, since pumpkin spice latte is not here right now, I usually get a white mocha with three pumps. It comes with four, and I get it with three, 'cause four pumps is too sweet for me. I love white mocha. Or I do a London fog, which is Earl Grey tea with soy milk, and it's really good. Or I get a Venti iced chai, which you probably knows from “Holiday”. When I wrote that song, that was my favorite drink, and I would drink it every day. (laughs) I don't drink it as much now. Now I have to write a song that says, “White Mocha, You're my closest friend.”

Read my full interview at TitleTrakk.com here

For all of you Skillet fans out there read Titletrakk's review of their album!

Awake by Skillet

Reviewed by Adrian B. Martinez

"...takes the same formula that made Skillet’s last project so successful and turns it up a notch."

John Cooper and Co. are BACK! With their 8th studio album, and the much anticipated follow-up to the monolith that was the 2006 release Comatose, “AWAKE” released August 25th on INO Records, and it continues with the use of strings and guitars with a harder rock sound that made Comatose such a success.

Recording for this album began in March 2009 with lead singer John Cooper writing more than 40 songs in preparation of the pressure to outdo the last record. “This time it was intensified because the last project was so successful,” he said.

Unveiling what primary songwriter Cooper (penning all 12 songs), calls a “turning of a page” for the band, “AWAKE” takes the same formula that made Skillet’s last project so successful and turns it up a notch. Cooper said that it “sounds like Skillet with some new things people may not expect.” Some of those new things are the inclusion of drummer Jen Ledger’s vocals. She's included most notably in the hook heavy opening track "Hero", the ballad "Don’t Wake Me", "Awake and Alive" and "One Day too Late".

Trying to capture lighting twice, “Awake and Alive” is very reminiscent of Comatose’s "Rebirthing”. This string heavy rock song takes all the components that worked in "Rebirthing"---from the opening violins surrounded by Ben Kasica’s guitar playing and Korey Cooper’s keyboards---they all aid John’s raspy voice (never sounding better) and create one fantastic fist pumping song. Cooper says, “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s hope, and sure you can choose to give up, but why not face it ‘Awake and Alive’"?

8 albums in and Skillet still shows a noticeable maturity. Cooper says, “Everything we sing about on this album is something someone can relate to, and if anything, the songs will let you know you’re not alone. Some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record (Monster, Hero, Should’ve When You Could’ve), some very melodic moments with orchestration and piano (Awake and Alive, Believe, Never Surrender and Lucy), along with a lot of today’s heavier rock influences as well.”
As they do consistently, Skillet will be touring heavily to promote Awake in what they are calling their “Alive and Awake Tour” set to begin September 24, 2009 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Accompanying them on tour will be, The Letter Black, Decyfer Down and Hawk Nelson.

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Pre-order Your Copy of Thicker than Blood on Amazon

My sister's novel Thicker than Blood is now available for Pre-Order at Amazon! Be sure to pick up your copy today!

Christy Williams finally has her life on track.

She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit.

With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged, younger sister, May, who she abandoned in their childhood after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. May’s Triple Cross ranch could be the safe haven she’s searching for, but will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

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