"Grace Unplugged" the novel & "Own It" Review & GIVEAWAY!! (10/9)

*Disclosure:  I was provided the following books in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are my own.

 

About Grace Unplugged the Novel:

Grace Trey is an 18 year old singer as passionate about her Christian faith as she is her phenomenal, God-given musical talent. Both traits come from her father, one hit wonder Johnny Trey who found Jesus after losing his chart success two decades ago.

When Grace encounters her own music break of a lifetime, the sudden dive into the "real world" puts her deeper beliefs to the test. Pop superstardom is just within reach but appears to require some spiritual compromise. Will Grace reject her faith, or will she own it?

"Grace Unplugged" is based on the motion picture of the same name starring AJ Michalka (Super 8) and Kevin Pollak ("A Few Good Men") with performances by award-winning artists Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace.

 

About the Grace Unplugged Author:

Melody Carlson has sold more than five million books. A professional writer for twenty years, she recently received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Melody has two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

 

GRACE UNPLUGGED, the movie, releases October 4th!!

Check out the trailer!  I can't wait to see it! :-)

 

About Own It, Discover Your Faith in God:

The movie "Grace Unplugged" tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test.

"Own It" mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges.

Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!

About the Own It Authors:

Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than thirty books including "Dateable, Marriable, Mean Girls", and "The Woman of Mystery". She has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept National Women's Conference, and MOPS Intl. among others and has consulted on the creation and enhancement of some of the largest stadium events for teens and young women in North America.

Michael DiMarco is a skilled communicator and teacher who has authored more than a dozen bestselling books including the 2010 Christian Book of the Year for Youth, "B4UD8" (Before You Date). He and his wife, author Hayley DiMarco, have one daughter and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Grace Unplugged.  I found myself sneaking in time to read it whenever I could.  Although I knew the story would have a happy ending, I still wondered what was going to happen along the way and wanted to keep reading to find out! :-) 

One thing that stood out to me in the Grace Unplugged, besides the main message of the story, was Grace's parents.  When Grace left them for her music career, they hurt that she had deceived them and were scared for her safety being on her own.  I think I would have reacted in a similar way, but for them to ultimately let go and hand her care over to God, knowing there wasn't much they could do, really showed a very strong faith!

The message in Grace Unplugged is an important one that many of us need to hear.  And the book, Own It, takes that message even further by discussing what it means to own our faith in the same kind of way that we take pride in owning material things.  That when we know something 'ours' we take better care of it, and even love it, because it matters to us.  I haven't had a chance to read the whole book, but that analogy really struck me as I had never thought of it in that way before...I definitely plan to finish Own It soon!

I highly recommend reading both these books!  Or make sure to see Grace Unplugged in select theaters October 4th...and then read Own It! ;-)

Buy It!:
Both books can be purchased through B&H Publishing Group.  Grace Unplugged can be purchased for $15.99 and Own It for $14.99.

Thank you to FlyBy Promotions and B&H Publishing Group for providing me these books to review and for another set to give away!

GIVEAWAY:

 

Congratulations to comment #2, mail4rosey!

 

One of my readers is going to win their own copy of Grace Unplugged AND Own It!

To enter to win, please leave a comment below. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

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Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.