Bookmark Cafe

Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

2010-07-14T22:02:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Back On Murder Bethany House (July 1, 2010)

by J. Mark Bertrand

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

Mark has been arrested for a crime he didn't commit, was the foreman of a hung jury in Houston, and after relocating served on the jury that acquitted Vinnie Jones of assault. In 1972, he won an honorable mention in a child modeling contest, but pursued writing instead. Besides his personal website, visit his Crime Genre website at http://www.crimegenre.com/.

The next book in this series, Pattern Of Wounds will come out in the summer of 2011.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Det. Roland March is a homicide cop on his way out.

A missing girl. A corrupt investigation. They thought they could get away with it, but they forgot one thing:

Roland March is BACK ON MURDER...

Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he's disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details. But when he's the only one at a crime scene to find evidence of a missing female victim, he's given one last chance to prove himself. Before he can crack the case, he's transferred to a new one that has grabbed the spotlight--the disappearance of a famous Houston evangelist's teen daughter.

All he has to do? Find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track, a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. With the help of a youth pastor with a guilty conscience who navigates the world of church and faith, March is determined to find the missing girls while proving he's still one of Houston's best detectives.

Battling a new partner, an old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Back On Murder, go HERE.

Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady

2010-07-08T11:53:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Tomorrow We Die
Bethany House (July 1, 2010)

by
Shawn Grady

I'm only about half way into the book, so I'll come back with more later. But for now, the book was a little slow starting, but once the engine gets ramped up, it's one fun ride. More later, I promise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. He is the author of the novels Through the Fire & Tomorrow We Die.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chase the Angel of Death and You Might Catch Him

Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who's spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn't about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, "Give this to Martin," before being taken to the hospital.

The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. With the simple decision to honor a dying man's last wish, Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again--this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life. He must race for the truth before the Angel of Death comes calling for him.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tomorrow We Die, go to HERE.

Nightmare by Robin Parrish

2010-07-07T23:40:00.002-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

NightmareBethany House (July 1, 2010)

byRobin Parrish

I enjoyed this book. And even though this book is up my alley, I couldn't read it at bed time, because I seemed to have weird dreams when I did. The book was enjoyable and something not typical for the CBA. I believe there is a market out there for this kind of book, but a Christian author writing Christian books should be sure the focus is in the right place. The book at some point and/or level should point to our Savior. I think this is where this book fails. And if the rebuttal to that is, "It's not a Christian book," then it shouldn't be published and marketed by a Christian publisher. Perhaps this book belongs with the secular books to engage those who enjoy these stories and topics. I have another criticism. I watch every episode of Ghost Hunters on Syfy and the chapters of the ghost hunts read like those episodes. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of creativity in those chapters. Even with my criticism, I did enjoy the book. Do I recommend that you read it? Only if you like the horror genre. If you have unsaved friends, you could let them read this one. It's not going to point them to Jesus, but it might be a "gateway" book for them to read other Christian books in the genre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish is a journalist who's written about the intersection of faith and pop culture for more than a decade. Currently he serves as Senior Editor at XZOOSIA.com, a community portal that fuses social networking with magazine-style features about entertainment and culture.

He had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist. In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract with Bethany House Publishers. They contracted him for the rights to The Dominion Trilogy: Relentless (2006), Fearless (2007), and Merciless (2008). His science fiction thriller, Offworld came out in 2009. This summer debuts Nightmare, and he's working on another for 2011. Robin and his wife and children live in North Carolina.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Nightmare is Coming...

Ghost Town is the hottest amusement park in the country, offering state-of-the-art chills and thrills involving the paranormal. The park's main ride is a haunted house that promises an encounter with a real ghost.

When Maia Peters visits during her senior year of college, she's not expecting to be impressed. Maia grew up as the only child of a pair of world-renowned "ghost hunters," so the paranormal is nothing new and to her most of the park is just Hollywood special effects. In fact, the ride feels pretty boring until the very end. There, a face appears from the mist. The face of Jordin Cole, a girl Maia knows who disappeared from campus a few months ago.

Convinced what she saw wasn't a hoax and desperate to find answers to Jordin's disappearance, Maia launches into a quest for answers. Joined by Jordin's boyfriend--a pastor's kid with very different ideas about paranormal and the spirit realm--Maia finds herself in a struggle against dangerous forces she never expected to confront on the edge of the spirit realm that try to keep the truth from emerging.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Nightmare, go HERE.

Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

2010-06-03T16:28:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Deceit
Zondervan (June 18, 2010)
by
Brandilyn Collins

Another quick read, but of course, I've come to expect nothing less from Collins' writing. This was another book I couldn't put down. I liked the surprise ending and am amazed that the enter story happens in 48 hours. Collins shows that pride is at the root of evil. Pride keeps Baxter from getting the help he needs, which could have saved Linda. This one will go on the shelf with the Brandilyn Collins collection. It's one to add to your summer reading list.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Skip Tracer Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed his second wife---and Joanne's best friend---seven years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.

The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down. Using her skip tracing skills, she sets out to locate Melissa Harkoff, now twenty-two, who lived in the Jackson home at the time of Linda Jackson's disappearance.

As Joanne drives home on a rainy winter night, a hooded figure darts in front of her car. In her headlight beams she glimpses the half-concealed face of a man, a rivulet of blood jagging down his cheek. She squeals to a stop but clips him with her right fender. Shaking, she gets out of her car in the pouring rain. The man will not let her see his face. Before he limps off into the night he warns her not to talk to police.

As Joanne tries to find Melissa, someone seems to be after her. Who was the man she hit on the road. Is Baxter Jackson out to silence her? Or is some other skip she's traced in the past now out for revenge?

"

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceit, go HERE

Broken by Travis Thrasher

2010-05-27T17:06:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Broken
FaithWords (May 25, 2010)
by
Travis Thrasher
Don't start this book unless you have a lot of time to read. I was pulled in from the beginning and by the time I realized how late it was, I was half way through the book. There are a lot of twists to the story and as with the classical writers of horror (I'm thinking Poe), you aren't even sure if you can trust the narrator. Laila is on the run because she killed a man, but she is as confused as the bad guys and it makes for an interesting read. Thrasher is quickly becoming one of my favorites and this is definitely a book you can take to the beach or park this summer and get lost in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007.

Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has to novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.

Stop by and visit Travis at his Blog where you can sign up to follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Laila had it all--love, family, wealth, and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago.

When she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self-defense, sending herself into a spiral of guilt and emptiness. Six months later, she is trying to move on, but she's haunted by the past. She hasn't told anyone about the man she killed, and she's still estranged from her family.

When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, Laila has no choice but to run. But the stranger stays close behind, and Laila begins having visions of the man she killed. Little does she know she's being hounded by something not of this world, something that knows her deepest, darkest secret.

Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Broken, go HERE.

Frenzy by Robert Liparulo

2010-05-26T18:46:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Frenzy
Thomas Nelson (May 18, 2010)
by
Robert Liparulo
You can’t go wrong with the Dreamhouse series. I have followed this series from the beginning and have loved every minute of it. We have gone from adventure to adventure and Liparulo doesn’t let us down with the last installment. I loved the fast pace, the writing style, and the characters. It will be interesting to see this series go to the big screen or video. Just as the front of the book suggests - if you are new to the series, it is best to start with the first book and work your way through. Trust me, it won’t take you long. Get the series for your kids as well.

This first Dreamhouse series ends with Frenzy, but the Kings will return: The next series is not about the Dreamhouse, but I think you'll like it. It's called Hunter, and will tell the story of two teens, a boy and a girl, who are trying to survive in a world in which most of mankind has been wiped out by a virus. They have to find the cure before it mutates and kills everyone else, and before a band of bad guys finds it. Of course, it'll have a lot of adventure and suspense. Each Hunter book will include a Dreamhouse Kings short story, and then, after Hunter, I'm planning on writing another Dreamhouse series. Long live the Kings!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first novel, Comes a Horseman, released to critical acclaim. Each of his subsequent thrillers—Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock—secured his place as one of today’s most popular and daring thriller writers.

He is known for investing deep research and chillingly accurate predictions of near-future scenarios into his stories. In fact, his thorough, journalistic approach to research has resulted in his becoming an expert on the various topics he explores in his fiction, and he has appeared on such media outlets as CNN and ABC Radio.

Liparulo’s visual style of writing has caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman. were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted in 2008 with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers, released in January 2009, and number four, Timescape, in July 2009, and number five, Whirlwind in December 2009. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series, Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

With the next two Dreamhouse books “in the can,” he is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects supernatural elements into his brand of gun-blazing storytelling. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on his acclaimed short story, which appeared in James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans

ABOUT THE BOOK

Their destiny is to fix history. Their dream is to get home.

When you live in a house that's really a gateway between past and present, you have to be ready for anything. It's a painful fact the Kings have faced since moving to Pinedale eight days ago. Desperately trying to rescue their mother from an unknown time and place, brothers Xander and David have lunged headlong into the chaos of history's greatest--and most volatile--events. But their goal has continually escaped their grasp.

And worse: Finding Mom is only a small part of what they must do, thanks to the barbaric Taksidian. His ruthless quest to sieze their house and its power from them has put not only the family, but all of mankind, in grave danger.

Somehow, the key to it all hinges on Uncle Jesse's words to the boys: "Fixing time is what our family was made to do." But how can they fix a world that has been turned updisde down--much less ever find their way home?

At long last, the secrets of the house and the King family are revealed in the stunning conclusion to this epic series.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of Frenzy, go HERE.

Sign up for the Frenzy Newsletter HERE.

Predator by Terri Blackstock

2010-05-23T21:46:00.002-04:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
PredatorZondervan (May 25, 2010)
by
Terri Blackstock

My review will be coming for this book very soon. We just received the book last week and haven't had time to read it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.

In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.

In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.

Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome?

Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line.

Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now.

Enter the Terri Blackstock iPad CONTEST: http://www.terriblackstock.com/contests/.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Predator, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer video!

Radical by David Platt

2010-05-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

RADICAL by David Platt is a much needed book in our culture and Christian community. The lines have been blurred over the years about what life is really important. I teach about the American dream in my classes, especially when discussing The Great Gatsby. But if you really look at what Jesus teaches and the example of the apostles, you know that we really are missing something. Platt challenges us to get back to living life the way Jesus meant for us to live it. This isn’t a book for the weak. Don’t read this book unless you’re ready to take a microscope to your life and look at your priorities. And by priorities, I mean goals, time, and money. If you read this book, you’re going to want to make some, excuse the word but none other fits, radical changes. There is no way around it. We are here to fulfill God’s purpose, not the other way around.

You can read chapter 1! - to download chapter one: http://j.mp/dwSqII

About This Book

IS JESUS WORTH THIS TO YOU?
It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...
BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?
In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.
Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment --a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

About the author: DAVID PLATT is the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, a four-thousand-member congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Widely regarded as an exceptional expositor, David has traveled and taught around the world. He holds two undergraduate and three advanced degrees, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Heather, live in Birmingham with their family.

Responses to
Radical
“In his compelling new book, Radical, David Platt delivers a powerful picture of the church in America today that, on key points, stands in sharp contrast to what the Bible shows us about the person and purpose of Jesus Christ. David challenges Christians to wake up, trade in false values rooted in the American dream, and embrace the notion that each of us is blessed by God for a global purpose—to make Christ’s glory known to all the nations! This is a must-read for every believer!”
—Wess Stafford, president and CEO, Compassion Intl.
“We have moved into a generation of young leaders who have a passion to surrender the American dream if necessary in order to embrace fully, compassionately, and wholeheartedly a bigger dream—the Great Commission. I have never been challenged by an author more than I have by David Platt. Read Radical, be blessed, and be changed.”
—Johnny Hunt, president, Southern Baptist Convention, and pastor, First Baptist Church of Woodstock
“Radical will cause you to bounce on a spectrum between two words: ouch and amen. Tough truths do that. They challenge us to examine our lives and then choose the lasting over the temporary. Read Radical if you’re ready to live differently.”
—Gregg Matte, senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Houston
“David Platt’s book will leave anyone who sincerely engages with his challenge dissatisfied—and faced with a decision: What will authentic faith look like in my life? This book has the potential to revitalize churches today to practice a radical, biblical lifestyle that can transform society and reach a lost world.”
—Jerry Rankin, president, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention
“The church of the Lord Jesus has been seduced by a skilled seductress: the American dream. David Platt exposes this enemy of authentic Christianity and provides a way of escape through a radical faith that leads to a radical obedience. I am not the same after reading it. I trust that will also be true for you.”
—Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“It is almost impossible to keep the idols of our own culture from influencing us, whether we want it to happen or not. This is certainly true when it comes to the so-called American dream. We need our eyes opened! We need to be called out! In this challenging and thoughtful book, David Platt shows us the way to live for Someone and something bigger.”
—Darrin Patrick, founding pastor, The Journey, St. Louis
“Sometimes people will commend a book by saying, ‘You won’t want to put it down.’ I can’t say that about this book. You’ll want to put it down, many times. If you’re like me, as you read David Platt’s Radical, you’ll find yourself uncomfortably targeted by the Holy Spirit. You’ll see just how acclimated you are to the American dream. But you’ll find here another Way, one you know to be true, because you’ve heard it before in the words of the Lord Jesus, perhaps most forcefully in the simple call ‘Follow me.’”
—Russell D. Moore, dean, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Through solid examination of the Scriptures and compelling testimonies from believers enduring persecution, my friend David Platt pulls back the curtain on subtle dangers weakening the church in our Western culture. Radical is the urgent call we need to care more about the spiritually lost and physically impoverished people of the world.”
—Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

360 Life

2010-04-30T09:08:00.000-04:00

Life is full of decisions, and often we would like to redo those decisions. As Billy Joe Daugherty so aptly shows in his new book 360° LIFE, that is exactly what we were given when we accepted Christ as our savior. He gave us a new chance at life - a restart - a do-over. So often we let fear and anxiety stand in the way, but Daugherty shows how we can overcome those fears and make a difference in our life and the lives of others. We often get caught up in what we think of ourselves or what other people think, and forget about what God thinks about us. God’s opinion is the most important one. And He sees us as valuable, loved, wanted, chosen, and much more. This book is life affirming and gives strength to Christians, especially those who are struggling in their walk.

Read an excerpt.

About This Book

What if you had a second chance to chart your life?

What if you only had a few days to live?
Would you love?
Would you laugh?
Would you give?
Would you live differently than you do right now?
--Billy Joe Daugherty

If possible, would you do a makeover on parts of your life? Most of us would gladly say “Yes!” to a fresh start, and that’s exactly what God offers.

So many people live empty and frustrating lives, which is tragic because God desires a full, productive, and satisfying life for His children. 360° Life explores how ordinary people, regardless of their challenges, can experience life-altering change through simple faith. Billy Joe Daugherty weaves material from the Bible, his own experiences, and riveting interviews with contemporary Christians to reveal how not just to survive struggles, but to rise above them.

That’s the fulfilling result of a 360-degree life.

“Billy Joe Daugherty masterfully leads us back to the resurrection power of Christ that breaks us free from the fears of our past to live a victorious life.”
—T. D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House

About the author:

Billy Joe Daugherty served as the pastor of the seventeen-thousand-member Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma until his passing from earth to heaven on November 22, 2009.

Billy Joe authored a number of books, including No Fear and God Is Not Your Problem, as well as a best selling mini-book entitled, This New Life. Billy Joe’s wife, Sharon, continues to pastor at Victory Christian Center, along with their four children and two sons-in-law.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris

2010-04-22T17:02:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Blood Ransom

Zondervan (April 1, 2010)

Lisa Harris

I love the setting of this book. I love being pulled into a different world and getting caught up in what is going on there. Lisa Harris does just that in her newest novel Blood Ransom. The novel takes place in the Republic of Dhambizao in Africa. It’s a harsh world where people are dying or being sold into the slave trade. This modern-day novel is full of adventure as you journey with the main characters as they try to expose what is going on in this country. All though the novel is full of a adventure, it is a Christian novel, so that means there is a good dose of romance as well. So, there is a little for everyone. Read the prologue and first chapter below and let me know what you think.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Lisa Harris has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has more than fifteen novels and novellas in print. She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries.
From Lisa:
Have you ever noticed how God often uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things? In writing Blood Ransom, I wanted my heroes and heroines to be ordinary people, faced with extraordinary circumstances. Chad and Natalie’s lives were changed not only through the challenges they faced, but also through their reliance on God. And when they set off on their journey to the capital to save Joseph’s family, they never imagined that God would call them to a task that was beyond the scope of their own power.
But while this story is fictional, the issue of a modern day slave trade is very real. It is estimated that there are currently more than 27 million slaves on the world today from Africa, to Eastern Europe … to the United States of America. The fact is, we don’t have to travel around the world to see people hurting and exploited. They’re real people we pass every day, living in our neighborhoods, and attending our churches and schools. They’re empty and broken, searching for freedom and hope in an often hopeless world.
ABOUT THE BOOK

Natalie Sinclair is working to eradicate the diseases decimating whole villages in the Republic of Dhambizao when she meets Dr. Chad Talcott, a surgeon on sabbatical from a lucrative medical practice now volunteering at a small clinic.
Meanwhile, things are unraveling in Dhambizao. Joseph Komboli returns to his village to discover rebel soldiers abducting his family and friends. Those that were too old or weak to work lay motionless in the African soil. When Chad and Natalie decide to help Joseph expose this modern-day slave trade---and a high-ranking political figure involved in it---disaster nips at their heels.
Where is God in the chaos? Will Chad, Natalie, and Joseph win their race against time?
Romance and adventure drive Blood Ransom, by Lisa Harris, a powerful thriller about the modern-day slave trade and those who dare to challenge it.
If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of Blood Ransom, go HERE.

The Bridegroom by Allison Pittman

2010-04-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

My wife read this one and these were her thoughts:

I was confused about the main character, because she had a boyfriend who doesn’t want to get married soon. Then a new guy comes into town and she goes out with him on the side and has all of these feelings for him. But in the end she goes back to the boyfriend and they get married sooner than they thought. It seems wrong that they got together at the end. They talked a little about betrayal, but he was okay with it. The girl’s mother left the family for another man and the main character questions if she is that type of girl. The book seems to prove that she is that kind of girl, no matter how the book ends. I definitely didn’t like the ending.

About This Book

It Only Takes an Instant for Love to Strike

Tragedy hits the Allenhouse family on a hot summer night in Ohio when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now, Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious, would-be sports writer to the Bridegrooms’ handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn’t felt since his wife’s disappearance. Vada’s sisters are giddy at the bevy of possible suitors. And Vada’s life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

The Sword by Bryan M. Litfin

2010-04-21T20:22:00.001-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Sword Crossway Books (April 30, 2010)by
Bryan M. Litfin

I enjoyed this fantasy book. It shows the power of God's word while telling a compelling story full of adventure that should please all readers. I really love the thesis of this book in that it introduces a world to the Bible and they have to wrestle with its meaning, just as we do. That is when a fantasy book is at its best - when that world parallels this one. Liftin does just that and this book doesn't disappoing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bryan Litfin was born in Dallas, but lived in Memphis, Tennessee and Oxford, England, where he discovered that the house of his favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien, was only five doors down from his own. Bryan still enjoys epic adventure stories, as well as historical fiction. However, most of his reading these days is taken up by academia.

After marrying his high school sweetheart, Carolyn (a true Southern belle), he went on to study for a master’s degree in historical theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. From there he went to the University of Virginia, taking a PhD in the field of ancient church history. He is the author of Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction (Brazos, 2007), as well as several scholarly articles and essays.

In 2002, Bryan took a position on the faculty at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago, where he is a professor in the Theology Department. He teaches courses in theology, church history, and Western civilization from the ancient and medieval periods.

On the morning of January 6, 2007, Bryan woke up with an epiphany. Having finished writing his primer on the ancient church, he had the idea of trying his hand at fiction. The thought occurred to him that the writer of speculative fiction typically has two options. He can create an imaginary land like Middle Earth (which offers great creative freedom but is unrealistic), or he can delve into genuine history (which is realistic, yet limted to what ‘actually occurred.’) However, if a writer were to create a future world as in the Chiveis trilogy, it could be both realistic and creatively unlimited.

This little dream stayed in Bryan’s mind while he researched how to write fiction, and also researched the European landscape where the novel would be set. He planned a trip to the story locations, then went there in the summer with a buddy from grad school. Bryan and Jeff rented a Beemer and drove all over Europe from the Alps to the Black Forest with a video camera in hand. With that epic setting fresh in his mind, Bryan returned home and began to write.

Today Bryan lives in downtown Wheaton in a Victorian house built in 1887. He is blessed by God to be married to Carolyn, and to be the father of two amazing children, William, 11, and Anna, 9. For recreation Bryan enjoys basketball, traveling, and hiking anywhere there are mountains (which means getting far away from the Midwest – preferably to his beloved Smokies).

ABOUT THE BOOK

This novel of page-turning action and adventure poses the question, "If a society had no knowledge of Christianity, and then a Bible were discovered, what would happen?"

Four hundred years after a deadly virus and nuclear war destroyed the modern world, a new and noble civilization emerges. In this kingdom, called Chiveis, snowcapped mountains provide protection, and fields and livestock provide food. The people live medieval-style lives, with almost no knowledge of the "ancient" world. Safe in their natural stronghold, the Chiveisi have everything they need, even their own religion. Christianity has been forgotten—until a young army scout comes across a strange book.

With that discovery, this work of speculative fiction takes readers on a journey that encompasses adventure, romance, and the revelation of the one true God. Through compelling narrative and powerful character development, The Sword speaks to God's goodness, his refusal to tolerate sin, man's need to bow before him, and the eternality and power of his Word. Fantasy and adventure readers will be hooked by this first book in a forthcoming trilogy.

Visit the book website at The Sword to see amazing videos and a wealth of information about the trilogy!

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sword, go to HERE

Sworn to Protect by DiAnn Mills

2010-04-16T08:07:00.002-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Sworn To ProtectTyndale House (April 2010)

byDiAnn Mills
Brooke reviews this one. This book has an off-the-beaten-path topic. She enjoyed learning about the border patrol. There is a great storyline. The characters are real. She loved how they turned to God or back to God. She can't wait to read another one of Mills' books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Border Patrol Agent Danika Morales sends illegal immigrants back to Mexico; a job she's paid dearly for. Her husband, Toby, was murdered two years ago trying to help and his murder's never been solved. Now a string of attacks and arrests leads her to believe that someone from McAllen profits from sneaking undocumented immigrants into the country and somehow this illegal activity is tied to her husband, Toby's death.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Sworn To Protect, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer video:

Wildflowers of Terezin by Robert Elmer

2010-04-14T20:04:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Wildflowers of TerezinAbingdon Press (April 2010)by

Robert Elmer

Do you think you could have stood up to the Nazis and saved Jewish lives, or would you have done whatever it took to save your own life? That is just one of the deep questions that arises in Robert Elmer’s Wildflowers of Terezin. The story centers around a Lutheran pastor, Steffen Peterson, and Jewish nurse, Hanne Abrahamsen. A love interest blossoms between the two as the world falls apart around them. People are forced to choose whether to do the right thing or protect themselves from the Nazi regime. But when Hanne faces deportation to the camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia, Steffen takes even greater risks to protect her.

You would think a novel of such terrible atrocities would be depressing to read, but Elmer does a nice job of balancing light moments with the dark moments. The book is uplifting and makes one hope to have the resolve to do the right thing, even when the right thing could mean death. Elmer does a excellent job of interweaving history into the storyline. The story takes place in the fall of 1943 when Copenhagen is placed under Martial Law and Denmark’s Jews are facing deportation. Some of the things based on actually events are: the incident with the Jewish directory, the Bispebjerg Hospital as a hiding place for Jews, and, of course, the Terezin camp. Some of the characters were real people as well, such as Sankt Stefan’s Kirke and Georg Duckwitz. Elmer used eyewitness accounts, letters, radio broadcasts, and many other sources to bring this story world alive.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a must read. It’s not your typical Christian fiction novel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Elmer is a former pastor, reporter and as copywriter who now writes from he home he shares with his wife Ronda in northern Idaho. He is the author of over fifty books, including eight contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience and several series for younger readers. Combined, his books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Like his popular "Young Underground" youth series, Wildflowers of Terezin was inspired by stories Robert heard from his Denmark-born parents and family. When he's not sailing or enjoying the outdoors, Robert often travels the country speaking to school and writers groups.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When nurse Hanne Abrahamsen impulsively shields Steffen Petersen from a nosy Gestapo agent, she’s convinced the Lutheran pastor is involved in the Danish Underground. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But truth is hard to come by in the fall of 1943, when Copenhagen is placed under Martial Law and Denmark’s Jews—including Hanne—suddenly face deportation to the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia. Days darken and danger mounts. Steffen’s faith deepens as he takes greater risks to protect Hanne. But are either of them willing to pay the ultimate price for their love?

To read the first chapter of Wildflowers of Terezin, go HERE.

An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick

2010-04-02T00:14:00.002-04:00

I really enjoy Jane Kirkpatrick's writing. I love being put into an era and living it with the characters. That is where Kirkpatrick is the strongest and she doesn't disappoint with her newest novel AN ABSENCE SO GREAT. Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams. Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning. Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life. This is one to put on the shelf as part of your Kirkpatrick collection. And if you haven't started one, now is a good time to do so.

About the author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

Get the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs Part 2

2010-04-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I promised to write the review when my wife was finished with the book. It took her a little longer to finish than usual, so I'm just now putting this on here. Here is what she had to say:

In the midst of all the tragedy, one found God and the other her way back to God. Elizabeth is one we should all look up to because she was able to forgive. I was glad there was a key in the back of the book for all of the Scottish words. The story flowed, but was very drab. It wasn't very exciting. There were tragedies after tragedies, but even those moments weren't very exciting.

More about the book:

A mother who cannot face her future.

A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

About the author:

LIZ CURTIS HIGGS is the author of twenty-seven books with three million copies in print, including: her best-selling historical novels, Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, Christy Award-winner Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes, a Christy Award finalist; My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland, an armchair travel guide to Galloway; and her contemporary novels, Mixed Signals, a Rita Award finalist, and Bookends, a Christy Award finalist. Visit the author’s extensive website at http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/.

Get the book:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070015

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

On the Road Home by Terry Burns

2010-03-26T09:29:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

On The Road Home

Port Yonder Press; 1st edition (March 3, 2010)

by

Terry Burns

I am currently reading this. I've enjoyed everything so far. Hope to have review up next week, so check back.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry has over 30 books in print, including work in a dozen short story collections and four non-fiction books plus numerous articles and short stories.

His last book Beyond the Smoke is a 2009 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion for best youth fiction and a nominee for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has a three book Mysterious Ways series out from David C Cook, and Trails of the Dime Novel from Echelon Press.

A graduate of West Texas State he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University. Terry plans to continue writing inspirational fiction as well as working as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency. Terry is a native Texan Living in Amarillo, Texas with his lovely wife Saundra.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In our sound-byte society, short stories and poems will always have a place, especially when they've been penned by the likes of Terry Burns. This, the first of four in The Sagebrush Collection, is a compilation of fictional, autobiographical, and fiction-based-on-fact shorts and poems.

Through fluent cowboy-speak, author Terry Burns shares his heart with these sometimes somber, often humorous, always engaging glimpses of life. From short stories about time machines and troubled marriages to poems of roses and hauntingly cold winds, you’ll find much to savor on the pages within.

A born storyteller, Burns style is natural, conversational, and above all real. He’s a fifth generation Irish tale-weaver and a fourth generation Texas Teller of Tall Tales. Storytelling comes as natural to him as breathing.

Come along with Terry as he journeys “On the Road Home”. You’ll be glad you did.

If you would like to read the first chapter of On The Road Home, go HERE.

Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis

2010-03-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Heart Of StoneZondervan (March 1, 2010)

by

Jill Marie Landis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Marie Landis is the bestselling author of over twenty novels. She has won numerous awards for her sweeping emotional romances, such as Summer Moon and Magnolia Creek. In recent years, as market demands turned to tales of vampires, erotica, and hotter, sexier historical romances, Jill turned to writing Inspirational Western Romances for Steeple Hill Books. She truly feels back in the saddle again, working on stories that are a joy to write. With her toes in the sand and head in the clouds, Jill now lives in Hawaii with her husband, Steve.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Laura Foster, free from the bondage of an unspeakable childhood has struggled to make a new life for herself. Now the owner of an elegant boardinghouse in Glory, Texas, she is known as a wealthy, respectable widow. But Laura never forgets that she is always just one step ahead of her past.

When Reverend Brand McCormick comes calling, Laura does all she can to discourage him as a suitor. She knows that if her past were discovered, Brand’s reputation would be ruined. But it’d not only Laura’s past that threatens to bring Brand down─it’s also his own.

When a stranger in town threatens to reveal too many secrets, Laura is faced with a heartbreaking choice: Should she leave Glory forever and save Brand’s future? Or is it worth risking his name─and her heart─by telling him the truth?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Heart Of Stone, go HERE

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

2010-03-19T18:38:00.000-04:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Here Burns My Candle

WaterBrook Press (March 16, 2010)

by

Liz Curtis Higgs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In her best-selling series of Bad Girls of the Bible books, workbooks, and videos, Liz Curtis Higgs breathes new life into ancient tales about the most infamous—and intriguing—women in scriptural history, from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene. Biblically sound and cutting-edge fresh, these popular titles have helped more than one million women around the world experience God's grace anew. Her best-selling historical novels, which transport the stories of Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, and Dinah to eighteenth-century Scotland, have also helped her readers view these familiar characters in a new light. And her nonfiction book, Embrace Grace, winner of a 2007 Retailers Choice Award, presents her message of hope in an engaging and personal way, speaking directly to the hearts of her readers.

A veteran speaker, Liz has presented more than 1,600 encouraging programs for audiences in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries: South Africa, Indonesia, Germany, France, England, Canada, Ecuador, Scotland, Portugal, and New Zealand. In 1995, she received the Council of Peers Award for Excellence from the National Speakers Association, becoming one of only 32 women in the world named to their CPAE-Speaker Hall of Fame.

Feature articles about Liz have appeared in more than 250 major newspapers and magazines across the country, as well as online with Salon.com, Beliefnet.com and Spirituality.com. She has also been interviewed on more than 600 radio and television stations, including guest appearances on PBS, A&E, MSNBC, NPR, TBN with Kirk Cameron, CBC Canada, BBC Radio Scotland, Rhema Broadcasting New Zealand, Radio Pulpit South Africa, LifeToday with James Robison, Focus on the Family, Janet Parshall's America, 100 Huntley Street and Midday Connection.

Liz is the author of twenty-six books, with more than three million copies in print.

Her fiction includes two contemporary novels, one novella, and four historical novels. And she has written five books for young children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A mother who cannot face her future.

A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.

One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

Watch the book video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of Here Burns My Candle, go HERE.

Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris

2010-03-19T14:33:00.000-04:00

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this book. I was invigorated by their first book, Do Hard Things, and am excited about the fire it has spiked among young people. The new book, Start Here, is the perfect companion. Do Hard Things convinces young people to make better choices. Start Here shows them the practicality of their choices and how to go about getting things done. They show what the first stages look like when young people are ready to get started on something. Then they talk about how to go about making their great plans work. This is done by presenting a question and the Harris brothers answering it. They go on to talk about when changes come along and to persevere through tough times. The book is short, easy to read, and very practical. If you bought Do Hard Things for your young person, then you must get this companion as well.

More about the book:

At the age of eighteen, Alex and Brett Harris wrote Do Hard Things—and launched a movement that would change a generation. Young people around the world were ready to be inspired, ready to move beyond complacency, ready to rebel against society’s low expectations.

Now the highly anticipated companion book, Start Here, answers the questions Alex and Brett have received from thousands of teens on their worldwide conference tour and popular online community: How do I get started? What hard things does God want me to do? How do I keep from getting discouraged or burned out? What is the best way to inspire others?

Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide for young people who are ready to take the next step and blast past apathy. Let the rebelution continue.

This highly anticipated companion to Do Hard Things is filled with stories and insights from Alex and Brett Harris and other rebelutionaries who are making a difference right where they are. Start Here is a powerful and practical guide for young people who are ready to blast past apathy and “do hard things” for the glory of God.

More about the authors:

Alex and Brett Harris are the coauthors of the best-selling book Do Hard Things, which they wrote at age eighteen. Today the twins speak regularly to audiences of thousands on The Rebelution Tour, maintain a hugely popular online presence through their blog, TheRebelution.com, and have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and in the New York Times. Raised in Portland, Oregon, the brothers currently attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia.

Go get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422705&ref=externallink_mlt_starthere_sec_0127_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Raven's Ladder by Jeffrey Overstreet

2010-03-12T06:56:00.000-05:00

Note: I'm not far enough into this book to give a short review, so I will withold judgement until I'm further in the book. In the meantime, read below:

Following the beacon of Auralia’s colors and the footsteps of a mysterious dream-creature, King Cal-raven has discovered a destination for his weary crowd of refugees. It’s a city only imagined in legendary tales. And it gives him hope to establish New Abascar.But when Cal-raven is waylaid by fortune hunters, his people become vulnerable to a danger more powerful than the prowling beastmen––House Bel Amica. In this oceanside kingdom of wealth, enchantment, and beauty, deceitful Seers are all too eager to ensnare House Abascar’s wandering throng. Even worse, the Bel Amicans have discovered Auralia’s colors, and are twisting a language of faith into a lie of corruption and control. If there is any hope for the people of Abascar, it lies in the courage of Cyndere, daughter of Bel Amica’s queen; the strength of Jordam the beastman; and the fiery gifts of the ale boy, who is devising a rescue for prisoners of the savage Cent Regus beastmen. As his faith suffers one devastating blow after another, Cal-raven’s journey is a perilous climb from despair to a faint gleam of hope––the vision he sees in Auralia’s colors.

About the author:
Jeffrey Overstreet is the author of The Auralia Thread, the fantasy series which begins with Auralia’s Colors, a thrilling adventure twice-nominated for a Christy Award, and Cyndere’s Midnight. He is an award-winning film critic and columnist, his work appearing in many publications including Image, Paste, and Christianity Today. He is also the contributing editor for Seattle Pacific University’s Response magazine. Jeffrey writes in the coffee shops of Shoreline, Washington, with his wife, Anne.

Buy the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074679

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black

2010-03-11T06:45:00.004-05:00

Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue. While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out. She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

I had a little trouble getting into the book. I enjoyed the Sir Dalton book, so I knew I would enjoy this one. It just took me a little time to get into it. And the book didn't disappoint. These books are actually parables to tell the real life spiritual battles that are going on around us and that went on in the Bible. I can't wait to get my son into these books. I think he will see the spiritual truths in them as well.

About the author:
Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of nine novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.

Get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421272

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The Lord is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguie

2010-03-10T18:37:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Abingdon Press (March 2010)
by
Debbie Viguie
My wife absolutely loved this book. She read it in two nights. She couldn't put it down. There were great characters that she enjoyed following as they tried to solve the murders. It was also good to see the two different beliefs working together. She learned a lot about both. This is definitely a book to read if you enjoy murder mysteries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debbie Viguié has been writing for most of her life. She has experimented with poetry and nonfiction, but her true passion lies in writing novels. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from UC Davis. While at Davis she met her husband, Scott, at auditions for a play.

Debbie's love for writing brought her from working as a church secretary to a successful career writing supernatural fiction. She is the author of Midnight Pearls, Scarlet Moon, and Charmed: Pied Piper, and the young adult Sweet Seasons series. She also is coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Wicked book series.

Debbie and Scott now live on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. When Debbie is not writing and Scott has time off they love to indulge their passion for theme parks.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cindy’s church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah’s Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die.

Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lord Is My Shepherd, go HERE.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

2010-03-05T16:30:00.001-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Hearts Awakening

Bethany House (March 1, 2010)

by

Delia Parr
We just got this book last week, so Brooke hasn't read it yet. I'll write a review once she reads it. Until then, read below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Delia Parr, pen name for Mary Lechleidner, is the author of 10 historical novels and the winner of several awards, including the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book. She is a full-time high school teacher who spends her summer vacations writing and kayaking. The mother of three grown children, she lives in Collingswood, New Jersey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Two people in desperate circumstances. Life has left few choices for Elvira Kilmer. Her hopes for marriage and a family of her own have long since passed her by, and her arrival on Dillon's Island, nestled in the Susquehanna River, is not of her choosing, either.

She needs work. And Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper. Yet Ellie never imagined the widower would be so young...so handsome. Jackson, on the other hand, has never met anyone quite so...plain. But he quickly comes to realize that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage.

When Jackson offers her something quite out of the ordinary, will Ellie look beyond mere necessity and risk opening her heart?

Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal...

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hearts Awakening, go HERE.

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregan by Miralee Ferrell

2010-02-17T12:21:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon
Summerside Press (January 1, 2010)by
Miralee Ferrell
This is a good book that shows that God still works in our lives, even we don't think he is. It also shows that parents often do know best for their children. One of things that is great about books is being put into a world different from your own. This book takes place in a logging community, to there is a lot to learn about this world. Read more about the book below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In October 2007 Kregel Publications published The Other Daughter with excellent reviews. The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four and a half stars, with a very strong review. Two different major motion picture studios are currently considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being reviewed for a possible contract offer now.

In February of 2009, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California was published by Summerside Press

And Finding Jeena will release in April 2010 from Kregel Publications.

Miralee Ferrell lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, ans has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church ans is actively involved in ministry to women.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.

Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she's giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.

While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.

When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE

Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge

2010-02-12T09:35:00.001-05:00

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a review of LOVE & WAR by John and Stasi Eldredge. This book is an essential for engaged and married couples. It gives an honest look at marriage and the Eldredges are kind enough to share their experiences, from being on the verge of divorce to their lives now. This book has it all. I have read WILD AT HEART by John Eldredge, so I’ve come to expect a lot from his books and this one doesn’t disappoint. The Eldredges candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we'll find our way through. LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

About the authors:
JOHN ELDREDGE is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Epic, Waking the Dead, Wild at Heart, and Desire, and coauthor of Captivating and The Sacred Romance. STASI ELDREDGE, who is passionate about mentoring women in finding their true identity as the beloved of Christ, has been leading women's Bible studies for years. With a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and formerly on staff with Youth for Christ, Stasi now leads the women's ministry of Ransomed Heart. She has been married to John for nineteen years and together, they have three sons.

Get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385529808

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Hunter's Moon by Don Hoesel

2010-02-08T15:51:00.001-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Hunter's Moon

Bethany House (February 1, 2010)

by

Don Hoesel

I'm not far enough into the book to give an adequate review, so look for it soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He works as a Communications Department supervisor for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal.

Don and hopes to one day sell enough books to just say that he's a writer. You can help with that by buying whatever his newest novel happens to be.

He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family has secrets. Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them. Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades. Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past. With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money. There are wounds even time cannot heal.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hunter's Moon, go HERE

Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah

2010-02-02T08:14:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed this insightful book. Dr. David Jeremiah takes an in-depth look at angels and does it from a Biblical perspective. Jeremiah says, "We ought to try to know as much about angels as God has determined to reveal to us - and then be content to leave it at that. Someday we'll understand more. But try crossing that line now and you can end up doing yourself damage" (22). At the end of that first chapter, Jeremiah points out that the only aim of studying angels is to draw closer to God.

Each chapter is chalked full of Biblical quotes to explain almost every aspect of angels. From the presence of angels to angels carrying us to heaven after death, this book has it all and references for every note and scripture.

Some people may come to this study to look for information about Satan and his demons. There is a great fascination with them. But again, if our eyes are upon them, then they are not on God. Jeremiah only spends the last twenty pages discussing Satan and demons. And once again, it is from a Biblical perspective.

I think this is an excellent book to read and to reference later.

About the book:

What are angels? What is their role in God’s plan? Are they present? Do they appear? Do they give us personal insight about our work, our worship?

Many contemporary beliefs about angels are based on misconception and myth. Dr. David Jeremiah uses scripture to unveil the remarkable truth about these agents of heaven, and their role and work in our world—and lives.

More than 60,000 units of this powerful book have sold in two past editions. This repackage of the original 1996 paperback will surely capture the attention of readers of all ages who seek a broad and thorough survey of scripture that clearly separates fact from fiction as it relates to angels. The book will appeal to the thousands who follow Dr. Jeremiah’s books, and radio and TV broadcasts.

Relevant, little known biblical facts help readers sharpen their knowledge and sensitivities toward the spiritual reality of angels. Dr. Jeremiah’s enlightening findings are supported with illustrations and insights from Billy Graham, Corrie ten Boom, C.S. Lewis, and more.

About the author:

Dr. David Jeremiah is senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, and founder of Turning Point Radio and TV Ministries. His radio program is carried on over 2,500 stations worldwide, while the TV broadcast is received by 500 million homes via cable and satellite. The recipient of numerous awards for broadcast excellence, his books have garnered Gold Medallion awards and become bestsellers with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the New York Times. He is a sought-after conference speaker by organizations nationwide.

Buy the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422699&ref=externallink_mlt_Angels_sec_1208_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

2010-02-01T16:57:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beguiled
(Bethany House March 1, 2007)
by
Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand
Again, Brooke snatched this one up and read it. She absolutely loved the novel. The characters were real and she was pulled into the plot by a strong storyline. Her biggest hope is that this is the beginning of a series. It definitely one she will continue to follow. Sorry, but that's all I've got to say, because that's all she said. You can read the first chapter below. Enjoy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her... Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of , go HERE

Check out their video:

Becca by the Book by Laura Jensen Walker

2010-01-29T22:13:00.002-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Becca By The Book

Zondervan (January 1, 2010)

by

Laura Jensen Walker

My wife read this one. She really enjoyed the read. It was fun and read much like a movie. She liked the characters and the pacing. The one thing she didn't like was the fact that the main character didn't become a Christian by the end of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.

Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.

Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.

Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.

To learn more about Laura’s latest novels, please check out her Books page.

A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.

She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver...

At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.

And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.

This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Becca By The Book, go HERE

Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medeans

2010-01-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

One of the things that struck me over and over was the Muslim response to Jesus. To them he is just one of the prophets in the line of prophets and that his message is really no different from Muhammad’s message. There is a Jesus in the Koran that will return and help at the end of time. Throughout this work, there is hints of the movement toward a religion that incorporates all of the major religions, kind of like a buffet of religious beliefs. Dekker doesn’t come out and talk about it, but it’s there underlying this narrative. There is also tips of the hat to feminism. Dekker talks about how women in the Middle East rule behind closed doors, just like in America. Dekker claims that he is just reporting and doesn’t have an agenda, but I don’t believe that. A person can’t write anything without it being influenced by the writer’s world view.

I do like the idea that when you look deep into the hearts of people, we are really the same. We have love, and hurts, and a strong desire to defend what we believe belongs to us. There are big philosophical differences between people and sometimes we need to look at the hearts to see our fellow man and help them, just like in the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Can we really do that, especially when that enemy is looking to destroy you? Jesus did.

Another point that I liked, and it is one that I’ve always known, the people of the Middle East see Americans as they are portrayed in the movies. The people of the Middle East don’t realize that the Godly people in this country also disagree with what is in the movies. Maybe we need to start attacking the views that are shown through the movies to show that many people in this country do love God and have accepted Jesus as their savior, and that we disagree with Hollywood as well. There is a common ground for you.

This book is an interesting read, but one that should be approached with caution at some of the ideas that underline the book.

About the book:

Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.

About the authors:

Ted Dekker is the author of many nationally bestselling novels, including Bone Man’s Daughters, The Circle Trilogy, Thr3e, and House, which was coauthored by Frank Peretti. His unique style of storytelling has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Visit him at TedDekker.com.

Carl Medearis is the founder and president of International Initiatives, LLC, an organization that promotes cultural, educational, and commercial exchange between the East and the West. He is an advisor on Arab affairs to the members of the U.S. Congress and leaders in international business.

Get the book

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307588296

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Kelly's Chance by Wanda E. Brunstetter

2010-01-25T16:35:00.003-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Kelly’s Chance
Barbour Books; Reprint edition (January 1, 2010)

by

Wanda E. Brunstetter

My wife read this one, so I'm going on what she had to say. She enjoyed the book and read through it fairly quickly (as she usually does). The one thing that she did say was that it was very predictable. There was nothing new or fresh with the plot line. Perhaps we've reviewed enough of these books to see the patterns, which shows why it is so hard to be original in this business. Brunstetter is one of the top authors in Christian fiction and has the book list to prove it. If you like her books or the Amish books, you'll like this one as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Note From Wanda:

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the second grade, I wrote my first poem about a moth. Luckily, I received encouragement from my teacher. During my teen years, I wrote skits that my church teen group performed during special holidays.

It wasn’t until 1980, that I took a course on writing for children and teenagers. I became serious about a career as an author. Soon after that, I began to write stories, articles, poems, and devotionals, which appeared in a variety of Christian publications. Later, I had 5 books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts published. *These books are currently available by contacting me. (wanda@wandabrunstetter.com)

My first novel was released by Barbour Publishing’s book club, Heartsong Presents, in Dec. 1997. I have now written nearly fifty books, with over 4 million books in print. Many of the novels I've written are Amish-themed.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life for Kelly McGregor is a daily drudge of driving her overbearing father’s mules along Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Canal. She dreams of one day owning an art gallery where her own drawings and paintings are on display. But these dreams don’t include marriage. . .not after seeing what her father has done to her mother. How then can Mike Cooper, a general store owner, make her realize he is different than her father and wants to support her artistic talent? Will Kelly learn that dreams can walk hand in hand with a love created by God?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Kelly’s Chance , go HERE.

Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

2010-01-22T11:19:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a book comes along that actually impacts your life and gets you to make some changes. DUG DOWN DEEP by Joshua Harris has done that for me. The book is an honest look at the Christian life and how theology, doctrine, and orthodoxy has been watered down over the years. For some people, Christianity has become about “a set of moral standards than belief and trust in Jesus Christ” (5). Harris is calling for people to get back to the deep matters of the Christian life. He says, “I’ve come to learn that theology matters. And it matters not because we want a good grade on a test but because what we know about God shapes the way we think and live. What you believe about God’s nature - what he is like, what he wants from you, and whether or not you will answer to him - affects every part of your life” (10). He later says, “Theology, doctrine, and orthodoxy matter because God is real, and he has acted in our world, and his actions have meaning today and for all eternity” (15).

As a Sunday School teacher I completely agree with his call to get back to teaching theology and doctrine. I have even asked my class if they would like to work through the textbook, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. My suggestion wasn’t met with great enthusiasm because I believe the students, like so many others in the church, think that theology equals boring. We have talked about doctrine issues, but I want to go more in-depth with them and teach them the deeper beliefs of the Christian faith. So, Mr. Harris, I have heard your call and am ready to change things as well.

I think your life will be challenged and changed with this book as well. It’s not hard to read and Harris explains the beliefs that make us Christian.

More about the book:

What will you build your life on?
With startling transparency, Joshua Harris shares how we can rediscover the relevance and power of Christian truth. This is book shows a young man who rose quickly to success in the Christian evangelical world before he realized his spirituality lacked a foundation—it rested more on tradition and morality than on an informed knowledge of God.
For the indifferent or spiritually numb, Harris's humorous and engaging reflections on Christian beliefs show that orthodoxy isn't just for scholars—it is for anyone who longs to know the living Jesus Christ. As Harris writes, "I've come to learn that theology matters. It matters not because we want to impress people, but because what we know about God shapes the way we think and live. Theology matters because if we get it wrong then our whole life will be wrong."
Whether you are just exploring Christianity or you are a veteran believer finding yourself overly familiar and cold-hearted, Dug Down Deep will help you rediscover the timeless truths of Scripture. As Harris challenges you to root your faith and feelings about God in the person, work, and words of Jesus, he answers questions such as:
What is God like and how does he speak to me? What difference does it make that Jesus was both human and divine? How does Jesus’ death on the cross pay for my sins? Who is the Holy Spirit and how does he work in my life?
With grace and wisdom, Harris will inspire you to revel in the truth that has captured his own mind and heart. He will ask you to dig deep into a faith so solid you can build your life on it. He will point you to something to believe in again.

About the author:

Joshua Harris is senior pastor of Covenant Life in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which belongs to the Sovereign Grace network of local churches. A passionate speaker with a gift for making theological truth easy to understand, Joshua is perhaps best known for his runaway bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which he wrote at the age of twenty-one. His later books include Boy Meets Girl, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is), and Stop Dating the Church. The founder of the NEXT conferences for young adults, Joshua is committed to seeing the gospel transferred to a new generation of Christians. He and his wife, Shannon, have three children.

Buy the book at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421517

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

The Judas Ride by Peggy Sue Yarber

2010-01-18T16:46:00.002-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Judas Ride

Tate Publishing (December 8, 2009)

by

Peggy Sue Yarber

We didn't like this book at all. It was hard to follow and quite frankly, we didn't really care about the characters. I say we because both my wife and I tried to read it. She got further into the book than I did because I decided a long time ago that life was too short to waste on bad books. Brooke is more hardcore about the books being "Christian" if they're labeled "Christian," so she had a problem with the extreme edginess of the story. I didn't have a problem with that because I knew what I was getting into when I chose to review the book.

The problem with the storyline was that the narrative jumped points-of-view and it was hard to know exactly what was going on and again, why I should care. I don't recommend this book. Spend your time reading something else.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD in psychology, lives in central California with her husband, two daughters, six turtles and two dogs. She works in the field of education.

The Judas Ride was inspired by her current and previous students. She has seen and experienced and seen similarities between the students and Jesus’ traitor, Judas Iscariot. She has always been fascinated with Judas. Yarber went to a catholic school when she was young and Judas was always portrayed like a mysterious rebel.

She ventures to say, “I guess he was my James Dean of the Bible. But in a good way! In the way that…he did something so wrong so that the entire world could be saved. He had to betray Jesus in order for the rest of the story. I have always wondered what it would be like to not do that one bad thing that would lead to that one great thing. So I had the Vader character sort of run through the paces of Judas.”

Redemption and reality are the two distinguishing features about Yarber’s writing. Not all teens find redemption in The Judas Ride. Yarber considered trying to show the negative outcomes as much as the positive. She wasn’t thinking in terms of positive and negative but she did try to balance the two sides. Yarber says she often sees people daily that , “…have even more screwed up lives than these characters.” Yarber admits sometimes there is not an ending to the madness unless someone dies and then even after the death the ripples still linger. She has written another novel TARE and a children’s book Rocketships to Heaven and the SOS Fuel Station. She loves to run, read, shoot guns and watch her daughters play soccer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unwed (and unwanted) teen pregnancy with two possible fathers. Abusive relationships. Drug and alcohol addiction. Rape and molestation. The struggle to understand grace, forgiveness, and free will versus predestination. The Judas Ride hits the road running in the opening pages, where Sonia and Xavier argue explosively about whether Sonia should have their unborn child and about who the father is: Xavier, a struggling Christian, or Vader, an abusive and abused drug dealer. As the pages turn, readers continue to meet a hodgepodge of troubled teens and eclectic characters, including Pastor Manny, a quirky immigrant pastor infatuated with John Wayne. Pastor Manny desires to help the tortured souls in his community but finds that it takes more than unconditional love to reach them. Secrets literally kill in The Judas Ride, an edgy, in-your-your face Christian novel that boldly explores the struggles of modern-day young people.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Judas Ride, go HERE

The Male Factor by Shaunti Feldhahn

2010-01-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this book. I was ready to defend males everywhere, but as I read it, I was like, “Yeah, that’s true.” “Okay. I agree.” It just amazed me the detail of information Feldhahn provides and the accuracy of that information. This book goes beyond the men are from Mars, women are from Venus scenario. It shows you why certain actions by women cause certain reactions by men, especially ones that aren’t intended. The book also shows different patterns of thinking.

Here is an example that is so true at our house. My wife will talk about her job non-stop at home and even when we’re with friends. I hardly ever mention my job unless something crazy happened. Feldhahn says, “Men’s tendency to segregate ‘personal’ and ‘work’ is something they do automatically without thinking about it, in part due to their brain structure” (45). That is so true. When I leave work, I truly leave work. I don’t carry it around with me. And she makes the opposite point as well; men don’t bring the personal world into work. One of the rules that Feldhahn focuses on is keeping the personal world out of the workplace or any resemblance of it.

A couple of other things that I liked in the book were this kind of advice. Men want you to get to the point. One quote she gave was, “Don’t tell me about the pain; just show me the baby” (144). She also says that men prefer the conclusion or the bottom line up front because it helps them listen. Another point is “men place a high value on being able to address concerns or offer a criticism directly, without worrying about how someone is going to react” (153).

THE MALE FACTOR is stacked full of details that anyone in business would want to read. It has practical advice and will help you see the world through a man’s eyes. I think this is definitely one for the workplace library.

Summary

Many talented women today risk undermining their careers without realizing it, simply because they don’t understand how they are perceived by their male colleagues and customers.
In What Men really Think, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn reveals the inner reality behind men’s views — the unspoken expectations that no man would dare to publicly acknowledge, and no woman would learn from an HR department. These revelations include:

• Men’s unwritten ‘rules’ of the workplace
• How men perceive workplace emotion
• What common situations with female colleagues most frustrate men-- and why
• Why revealing clothing can sabotage a woman’s effectiveness
• Why some men think flextime is fine, but equal compensation for it is not

What Men Really Think equips women with the information they need to make informed decisions and compete on a level playing field.

About the author:

Shaunti Feldhahn is a nationally syndicated columnist and the bestselling author of For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men and For Men Only, which together sold one million copies. She holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard, worked on Wall Street and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Purchase the book http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457721&ref=externallink_wbp_extraordinary_sec_0817_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Primal by Mark Batterson

2009-12-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

My neighbor brought this book over to me last Saturday, because it had been put in their mailbox at some point. It was postmarked November 20^th and the guy hands it to me on December 12^th. So, I didn’t have a lot of time to read this one, but what I have read has been really good. Batterson looks at the Great Commandment from Jesus to love God with all of your heart. Batterson breaks the book down into four sections - heart, soul, mind, and strength. He calls it getting back to our spiritual roots, hence the title PRIMAL. This really is a convicting book that gets at the heart of the Christian walk. One of the questions Batterson asks is “do the things that make God mad make you mad?” What, what a powerful question. This is a book that needs to be read and applied by all Christians. This book should be number 1 on your “To Read” list for 2010.

About the book:

We have a tendency to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at this Great Commandment.

In Primal, Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. Along the way, he calls you to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in your own life.

As Mark writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

Primal will help you live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God. It will help you become great at the Great Commandment.

About the author:

The author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the D.C. area. Mark has two Masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. www.markbatterson.com

Purchase the book:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421319

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong by Leslie Vernick

2009-12-11T14:54:00.000-05:00

Today’s book is a little better than the one I reviewed yesterday. This one is called How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong (ISBN: 978-0-307-45849-0) by Leslie Vernick, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience, reveals how God uses the imperfections, difference and sins of a spouse to help anyone become more like Christ. Based on the title, I was a little worried about what this one was about or the slant it would take. But it’s really about becoming a better person and being the Christian that God would want you to be. Some examples of the chapters are: “Stop Reacting, Start Responding” and “Center Yourself in God.” The book really focuses on our power to choose and she spends a chapter each on how we should choose to grow and choose to love.

About the book:

There are no perfect marriages or perfect spouses. We know that having a good marriage requires effort and hard work. Yet we often don’t know how to continue to love when we are angry, hurt, scared, or just plain irritated. Nor are we sure what that kind of love is supposed to look like. Should we be patient? Forgive and forget? Do something else entirely? In HOW TO ACT RIGHT WHEN YOUR SPOUSE ACTS WRONG, you’ll find the answers to these questions and more as Leslie Vernick reveals how God uses the imperfections, differences, and sins of your spouse to help you become more like Christ.

Through the insights in this book you will: discover how to respond wisely when wronged; see yourself and your marriage through the lens of god’s eternal purposes; learn how to love and to keep your promises when you don’t feel like it - or when your spouse isn’t keeping his or hers; and understand how to act when love must be tough.

About the author:

Leslie Vernick, ACSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has her own private counseling practice and more that twenty-five years of experience counseling Christian individuals and families from a biblical worldview. She is a popular speaker for women’s groups, couple’s retreats, and professional seminars and is the author of numerous books including THE EMOTIONALLY DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS: SEEING IT, STOPPING, SURVIVING IT. She and her husband, Howard, live in Pennsylvania, and are the parents of two grown children.

You can purchase the book by going here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

This book is part of the VALUE NON-FICTION LINE

Just because the economy is suffering doesn’t mean relationships have to suffer, too. The Value Non-Fiction Line (September 15, 2009) offers insightful books on love, marriage, relationships and personal growth. At just $6.99, WaterBrook Press is offering readers on the most limited budgets, valuable resources to help them grow and succeed in their personal lives.

More Than A Match (ISBN: 978-1-4000-7489-1) by relationship experts, Michael & Amy Smalley, marriage and family counselors who demystify the science behind compatibility tests to help singles in search of love recognize when the right relationship comes along. They also reveal the specific skills that can transform an ideal match into a lasting love.

Fool Proofing Your Life (ISNB: 978-0-307-45848-3) by Jan Silvious, Precept Ministries (Kay Arthur) radio co-host discusses how attempts at coping with difficult people often fails, because they are what the Bible refers to as “fools.” Silvious provides tools to help readers get along and conduct relationships in a way that honors God, while preserving their own sanity.

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong (ISBN: 978-0-307-45849-0)

by Leslie Vernick, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience, reveals how God uses the imperfections, difference and sins of a spouse to help anyone become more like Christ.

What Women Don’t Know and Men Don’t Tell You (ISBN: 978-0-307-45850-6)

by Michelle McKinney Hammond, best-selling author, speaker, singer and co-host, with Joel A. Brooks, Jr., senior pastor of Christian Life Center, clears up misperceptions, providing women with the information they need to succeed in a lasting male-female relationship ─ both while waiting and after the wait is over.

The Value Non–Fiction Line provides readers with invaluable resources at a low cost, and offers priceless insights to help build meaningful relationship.

99 Ways to Entertain Your Family for Free by Mack Thomas

2009-12-10T15:05:00.000-05:00

The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group introduces 99…times six…practical and up-to-date ways to help families flourish despite present economic challenges (WaterBrook Press, July 21, 2009). The book I was given to review was 99 Ways to Entertain Your Family for Free (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45836-0) by Mack Thomas, bestselling author of The First Step Bible and What Would Jesus Do?. His books have won three ECPA Gold Medallion book awards.

This books offers activities and events to entertain and educate family members of all ages. The book is split into chapters to cover different types of entertainment: indoors, outdoors, around town, just imagine, out in nature, rituals and routines, and holidays. I was excited when I got this book to review, because it was a perfect fit for my family. But as I read the book, I couldn’t help but think that a lot of this stuff we do anyway. It seemed like things you would just look up online if you really couldn’t find anything to do with your family. Then I looked at the price of the book, which is $5.99, and I thought there was no way I would pay that for the book. I might pay $.99 at the Christian bookstore checkout and not complain, but that’s about it. Maybe others will find the book worth it’s price.

You can find out more about the books by going here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

In case you want to know a little more about the other books in the series, they are listed below.

99 Ways to Stretch Your Home Budget (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45841-4) by Cheri Gillard, nurse and mother of quadruplets. Practical ideas on how families can save money around the house.

99 Ways to Increase Your Income (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45839-1) by Frank Martin, successful entrepreneur and author of over sixteen books. Provides tips to generate more cash, and rebuild or supplement an income, while hanging on to existing dollars.

99 Ways to Build Job Security (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45840-7) by Gary Nowinski, veteran in corporate management and downsizing. Introduces key strategies to help employees keep their jobs during economic cutbacks.

99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45837-7) by Elsa Kok Colopy, Associate Editor for Focus on the Family Publications. Presents skills to guard rest, dream a little, and dive into truth and more.

99 Bible Promises for Tough Times (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45838-4) by Randy Petersen, seasoned author of more than fifty books and Bible studies. Gives encouraging and wise words found in Scripture to mediate upon.

Written for families and individuals who are hoping to not only survive but thrive, during tough times. These value-packed, applicable resources offer relevant and reliable insights to endure the current economic downturn, and are sure to appeal to families in all stages of life.

God Gave Us . . . by Lisa Tawn Bergren

2009-12-04T15:11:00.000-05:00

I have read the other books in the series to my children and they loved them. These two are no different. I began “God Gave Us Christmas” the other night before dinner, then had to stop half way through. When I was putting my five-year-old to bed, she asked, “Daddy, can we finish that story?” That’s how powerful and well told these stories are. The art by Laura J. Bryant is exceptional and the stories talk about God in a way that is understandable to the children. These books are a permanent part of our book collection as we will read them to our children, then one day to our grandchildren. Read more about the books below.

About the books:

God Gave Us Love: As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable.
In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because…
“Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love.”
This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”

God Gave Us Christmas: As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that… Jesus is the best present of all.
This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

About the author:

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

Buy the books:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074471

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071753

Treasured by Leigh McLeroy

2009-12-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

TREASURED by Leigh McLeroy reads like a devotional but with more substance. The stories she tells from her own life are lively and rich in detail. In this book, she takes worldly things that could be collected, ties in stories from her own life, and show how God worked in the Bible in the same type of situation and how He is still working today. This is an easy book to read and can be read as a devotional, even though the chapters are longer than what a devotional usually is. This book would make an excellent stocking stuffer or gift for that person that’s hard to buy for. There is nothing threatening about the book and it will help those who read it in their Christian walk. Please respond here or on Facebook and let me know what you think about the review and if you might purchase the book.

About the book:

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides readers in discovering evidence in their own lives of his attentive love.

“The idea for the book came from a cigar box filled with odds and ends of my grandfather’s life that arrived a few months after his death. Sifting through the objects in the box, I experienced him in a fresh new way. This made me wonder what treasures might be tucked away in Scripture that could frame God for me in an equally intimate, tangible way. This process also helped me uncover my own “treasures” of my walk with the Lord: objects that remind me of my history with him and his faithfulness to me,” says McLeroy.

Drawn from the pages of Scripture, the author considers twelve such treasures and personalizes their meaning for readers, such as a green olive branch that offers proof of God’s “new every morning” mercy and a scarlet cord that demonstrates his willingness to adopt “strays” of every sort.

Weaving these treasures together with scenes from her personal history, Leigh McLeroy invites readers to discover God’s heart for them and embrace their unique role in his redemptive story. Treasured offers readers a guided experience of God’s love and character and invites them to consider their own treasures that point to their part in God’s ongoing story.

About the author:

Leigh McLeroy is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas, and posts often on www.leighmcleroy.com and www.wednesdaywords.com.

Get the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074815

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Saint's Roost by Terry Burns

2009-12-02T18:37:00.004-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Saint's Roost
Sundowners (September 20, 2009)
by
Terry Burns

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not into westerns, but I chose to read this one because of Terry and because there are so few Christian books written by men. I was pulled into the story and followed Janie on her adventures in the west. When I sat down to read this, I felt like I was surrounded by friends. I enjoyed the characters of this story and how they interacted with each other. There were the two cowboys, Ruben and Frank, that first helped Janie, then stuck around. There was the orphan boy, Preston, who was being raised by his grandpa, Cornelius. Then there was Sharon, the former prostitute, and Shine, the Indian girl. I couldn't wait to sit down to see what happened to this group as they continued their journey.

There were some things about writing that I picked up as well. I liked learning new information why I read. I liked learning how the chuck wagon worked and how food was prepared in the west. It's those kinds of details that gives a story some meat. Also, there was a nice, steady pace to the novel. We weren't rushing around trying do this and that. We were living in the old days when time was slower and people had time to share their lives with others. There are plenty of Biblical themes throughout the novel, such as not judging others and witnessing to your circle of influence.

I can't finish the review without bringing up the fact that there are a lot of grammatical and typing errors in the novel. I don't know the reason for this, and perhaps I have an advanced copy and those things have been changed. If not, don't let those things get in the way of a great story. I believe this is a tale you will enjoy just as I did, and I really hope there is a sequel in the works. This would also make a great Christmas gift if you have a western reader in the house.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry has over 30 books in print, including work in a dozen short story collections and four non-fiction books plus numerous articles and short stories.

His last book Beyond the Smoke is a 2009 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion for best youth fiction and a nominee for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has a three book Mysterious Ways series out from David C Cook, and Trails of the Dime Novel from Echelon Press.

A graduate of West Texas State he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University. Terry plans to continue writing inspirational fiction as well as working as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency. Terry is a native Texan Living in Amarillo, Texas with his lovely wife Saundra.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Terry Burns has written a novel rich in Texan drawl and old western authenticity.

Saint’s Roost opens with a determined couple leaving a wagon train to set off on their own, only to be set upon by savages. Patrick, an eager evangelizing preacher, steps out to share the Good Book with the savages and meets an untimely demise, leaving his wife, Janie, alone on a trail to nowhere with no one to help her survive.

She makes her way across the frontier determined to follow her husband’s calling, but she doesn’t know where to begin, or even how to take care of herself. When her travels bring her into the lives of two cowhands, an ex-prostitute, a young boy and his drunken grandfather, and towns filled with cowboys waiting to be saved, she discovers there’s more than one way to spread God’s word.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Saint's Roost, go HERE

Loss of Carrier by Russ White

2009-11-25T16:51:00.002-05:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Loss Of Carrier

BookSurge Publishing (October 27, 2009)

by

Russ White
I want to introduce this book, but I haven't read it yet, so a review will come later. You can read below to see what the book is about.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Russ White is an internationally recognized internetwork engineer. He has co-authored eight books in the field of network design and routing
protocols and is a regular speaker at international networking conferences.

In addition to working on several expert and senior-level network engineering certifications, he is a certified firearms instructor.

Russ, his wife, and their two children live in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, where they enjoy spending time on Jordan Lake and attending Colonial Baptist Church. Loss of Carrier is his first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bright yellow cables against a blue shirt? Carl never would have approved of that color combination. Why was his face so white? His eyes should be closed, not open. Why hadn’t one of the security guards seen this and reported it to the police? The lights were off, the cameras were useless in the dark.

Of course, the cables wrapped around Carl’s neck explained why the server wasn’t working. Loss of carrier.

Jess Wirth lives a dreary life. He spends most of his time crammed inside a cubicle, toiling as a network engineer and stewing over the details of his ugly divorce. But when he finds his co-worker dead in the basement of their office, Jess’s life takes a surprising—and unpleasant—turn.

The police quickly declare the death a suicide, but Jess isn’t so sure. Not long after he begins digging into the victim’s work, another co-worker turns up dead, convincing him once and for all that something sinister is brewing behind the cubicle walls.

His investigation leads him to a mysterious woman name Leah, who pushes him to entrust her with the information he’s collected about his dead colleagues. Wary of Leah’s motives yet inexorably drawn to her, Jess keeps her at arm’s length...until an attempt is made on both their lives. Realizing they are close on the trail of a dangerous criminal, the pair race to expose a data theft ring before they become the killer’s next victims.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Loss Of Carrier, go HERE

Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones

2009-11-20T13:56:00.003-05:00

And just in time for the release of the new Twilight movie comes a review of TOUCHED BY A VAMPIRE: DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN MESSAGES IN THE TWILIGHT SAGA.

I was a little worried when I agreed to review this book, because I had read a book about Harry Potter that equaled Harry Potter to Christ because they both went through the heroic journey. Yes, that is ridiculous, and I was afraid I was headed for that kind of nonsense with this book. I was so relieved that I was wrong. First, let me say that I haven't read the Twilight book and I probably never will. I tried to watch the movie with my teen daughter, but I was bored out of my mind and found I really didn't care about the characters. And, as always, the books appear to be better than the movies.

Anyway, on to the book review. I like about the way Jones goes about discussing the series. She gives an overview of the books, then breaks into themes and discusses the themes one by one. Yes, she covers them all. And she is very honest about it. There is a lot of talk about how the characters in the series wait for marriage to have sex, but their relationship is just as unhealthy by the way they do give into their passions. She makes some valid points about the series and had I read this book first, I wouldn't have started my teen daughter on the series.

Another thing that Jones does is compare the themes with scripture. So, this is a great book for youth leaders and parents a like to have discussions with their teens and preteens.

Let me also add, that Jones doesn't bash the series in her book. She has read the stories and understands the phenomena, but she is also honest in her assessment and conversational in her style.

There are a lot of Christians singing the praises of this series, but I think if they stepped back and took an honest look at what the books are really saying, they may not be as zealot.

About the book:

EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS. People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

You can purchase the book by going here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422781

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

2009-11-20T13:45:00.006-05:00

THIRSTY by Tracey Bateman is an intense book about addiction. Yes, there is a vampire subplot, which is one of its selling points in this vampire crazed world, but as with any "horror" novel, you have to look at the underlying themes and this one is addiction and breaking from that addiction. While some people may pick this book up thinking it's a Christian version of Twilight, it is not. This is a thriller book that has it's own place on the shelves.

About the book:

There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

Get the book: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307457158

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge

2009-11-20T13:45:00.001-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Eternity Falls
Marcher Lord Press (October 1, 2009)
by
Kirk Outerbridge
I enjoyed reading this book. It was exciting, with a lot of action and not a lot of romance, even though there is some. This is the type of book that boys will love to read with all of the different villains and gadgets. This is a good publishing credit for Marcher Lord Press and it's easy to see how they are making a different mark in the market place.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kirk Outerbridge developed a passion for storytelling at an early age. Through years of reading Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, comics, table top gaming and watching endless hours Japanese anime, he developed a keen sense for what made stories enjoyable and more importantly—what didn’t.

While pursuing an engineering degree in college, Kirk endeavored to tell his own stories, choosing writing as the easiest and cheapest medium to master—or so he thought. Several years and several hundred thousand words later, he produced a Sci-fi trilogy that shall never (God willing) see the light of day, but that did teach him much needed lessons about the craft of writing fiction.

After college Kirk returned to his homeland of Bermuda where he reunited with his childhood friend and future wife, Ria. But before marrying his lovely wife, Kirk entered an even greater marriage and devoted his life to Christ in 2002.

With a new found direction in life, writing fell by the wayside but the urge to tell futuristic stories never left. After much prayer and contemplation, Kirk purposed his writing for God’s Will, seeking to draw to Christ those who shared his passions for all things futuristic and Sci-fi.

Kirk currently lives with his wife Ria and 18 month old son Miles in beautiful Bermuda. He is a faithful member of the Church of Christ and is a professional engineer employed by the government.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the future, death is only a problem if you can’t afford the price. Such is the promise of Gentec Corporation’s “Miracle Treatment”, a genetic anti-aging elixir that grants eternal life—or does it?

When a Gentec client suddenly dies of natural causes, the powers that be will stop at nothing to ensure their version of eternity remains unchallenged; even if it means concocting a religious sabotage conspiracy to cover a lie.

With the media about to blow the story wide open, the credibility of Gentec and the lives of millions of clients rest on one man’s ability to uncover the truth.
Enter detective Rick Macey, religious counterterrorist expert and Gentec executive Sheila Dunn’s last hope for salvation.

Now with the clock ticking and the corporate brass seeking their own solution at any cost, Macey must track down a religious zealot out to destroy the Miracle Treatment for good.

But when Macey finds himself not only falling for his client, but confronted with the possibility that the culprit could hold a connection to his shaded past, the truth suddenly becomes a dangerous thing.

Only through a test of faith can he stop the crisis before it’s all too late and eternity falls.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Eternity Falls, go HERE

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

2009-11-13T14:12:00.004-05:00

Susan Meissner is an amazing writer. She has the literary touch that is so needed in the industry. Her characters have depth and the plot is driven by those characters, not the other way around. The teenagers are true-to-life and yet the problems the parents endure while trying to appear that they have it all together ring of truth as well. But while there are problems at home, there is also another plot line happening with the Holocaust survivors. This didn't cause a problem for me because real life often has many things going on at once, but I can see where this could aggrevate some readers. They mights say, "Well, which things is this book about?" And I answer, "It's about all of those things and those things boil down to family. The story is about family, the dream of having a family, a little white house, and (yes, you guessed it) a white picket fence. My wife and I both read this book and both believe it's one of the best we've read. You have to check this book out for yourself. There's a little more about the book below.

About the book:

Amanda Janvier’s idyllic home seems the perfect place for her niece Tally to stay while her vagabond brother is in Europe, but the white picket fence life Amanda wants to provide is a mere illusion. Amanda’s husband Neil refuses to admit their teenage son Chase, is haunted by the horrific fire he survived when he was four, and their marriage is crumbling while each looks the other way.

Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.

Readers of emotional dramas that are willing to explore the lies that families tell each other for protection and comfort will love White Picket Fences. The novel is ideal for those who appreciate exploring questions like: what type of honesty do children need from their parents, or how can one move beyond a past that isn’t acknowledged or understood? Is there hope and forgiveness for the tragedies of our past and a way to abundant grace?

Author Bio:
Susan Meissner cannot remember a time when she wasn’t driven to put her thoughts down on paper. Her novel The Shape of Mercy was a Publishers Weekly pick for best religious fiction of 2008 and a Christian Book Award finalist. Susan and her husband live in Southern California, where he is a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. They are the parents of four grown children.

You can get the book at https://exchange.nccsc.k12.in.us/owa/redir.aspx?C=af1d8818712d417d8e4b60432f32d604&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.randomhouse.com%2fcatalog%2fdisplay.pperl%3fisbn%3d9781400074570%26ref%3dexternallink_wbp_whitepicketfences_sec_0916_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

One Fine Season by Michael Sheehan

2009-11-06T16:06:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Fine Season
AuthorHouse (November 25, 2008)
by
Michael Sheehan

When I first read about this book and signed up for the review, I thought it was a perfect fit for me. I love Christian fiction. I love baseball. And here the two were together. However, you can't judge a book by its cover. While there is a positive message to the book, I was troubled by quite a bit. To begin with, I had a hard time getting pass all of the grammatical errors in the book. Then there were moments when the book seemed to go against Biblical teachings and there is a lot of cussing in the book. I have never had any luck with a self-published book and I wish I had known it was from the beginning. The blurb below sounds good, but I really can't recommend this book. And it's not often that I do that. I think the last time I didn't recommend a book was for a self-published book. I guess there's something to say for the traditional route to publishing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Sheehan is CEO and founder of BioResource, a company that distributes natural remedies including the popular INFLAMYAR ointment for sports injuries. He wrote One Fine Season to honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young, before they could realize their dreams.

One Fine Season is true to life. It draws on Sheehan’s religious education at a Catholic seminary and his experience as a high school baseball and collegiate soccer player. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Sheehan also earned a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. He lives in Northern California.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend.

Best friends Pete O’Brien and Danny Grace are gifted college athletes, both hoping for careers as professional baseball players. When tragedy strikes, Danny struggles to cope with his overwhelming grief and fulfill a pact the young men made years earlier: to play in the World Series.

Events unexpectedly thrust Danny into the spotlight with the new expansion team in Sacramento. Three guides – an aging catcher, spiritual centerfielder and wise manager – plus a beautiful woman lead him on a healing journey, revealing that even death cannot break the bonds of true friendship.

If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of One Fine Season, go HERE

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth

2009-11-03T15:53:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Slow Burn
Zondervan (October 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth
You should never judge a book by its cover, because I thought this book was an historical romance, but it's not. According to my wife, it's a modern-day thrill that is full of suspense. The message that we all need to love more and definitely love the unlovable resonates throughout. The writing is fast and engaging. When she said the book was little literary, I thought that meant it was slow and meandering, but that's not what she meant at all. The themes and depth of character are more than just the run of the mill book, and this is a book that stays with you after you are done. It is the second book in the series, so check it out for yourself. Hope you enjoy it as much as she did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Watch the video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

Shadow Government by Grant R. Jeffrey

2009-10-30T08:29:00.000-04:00

Nothing scares me more than the actual news and watching the path our government takes. For everyone that believes big government is just getting bigger and we’ll soon be living in a police state, then Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey is a book you will want to read. People give up freedoms for safety. We keep giving and the government keeps taking. And even scarier, the government also takes without our permission. Do I want them watching and listening to some group who might blow up a skyscraper or airport? Sure. Do I want them listening to me and my neighbors? No. This is not the U.S.S.R. But sadly, it’s where we’re heading. Not just in this country, but in the world. The stage is being set and prepared for the antichrist, and Jeffrey does an excellent job of showing the steps and technology that the antichrist will use. If you feared this was going on, then your fears are founded and you don’t want to miss this book.

About the book:

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

About the author:

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

Get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074426&ref=externallink_wbp_shadowgovernment_sec_0908_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

2009-10-29T09:06:00.000-04:00

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur was a bestseller in 1991 when it was released. I am shocked that I have never heard of the book until now. It is a powerful story about a pastor who is controlled by legalism. He believes the world should see things his way and that he is right in all of his thinking. The church even lovingly calls him The General. What The General doesn’t realize is that through his harshness, he has lost his daughter and is losing his wife. Then a tragedy hits that makes him realize the errors of his ways and that he has lost the ties that he should have had with his family. The theme is so powerful and timely, because so many people force their beliefs on others and tend to forget about grace. There are the big beliefs that shouldn’t be compromised, like salvation through Christ. But so many people get hung up on the minor beliefs, like what kind of music to listen to and what movies to watch or even if you should be allowed to play cards.

The pastor in Wisdom Hunter, Jason Faircloth, begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that forces him to look into the depths of his soul. He wants to be better and not fall again, but he must overcome his way of thinking. Just like the promo paragraph says, this novel “explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism - and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death. The book has been very controversial from the beginning and the author lost his job and much of his missionary support because of it. Yet, the book has endured as a classic because of its timeless message.

Author Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 until 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over the Europe. Arthur is also the founder of AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Purchase the book at http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422996&ref=externallink_mlt_wisdomhunter_sec_0908_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

A Little Help from My Friends by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

2009-10-27T16:17:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Little Help from My Friends
FaithWords (October 15, 2009)
by
Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

This was a really fun read. I was worried when I started the book because I hadn't read the earlier books in the series, but I didn't have any trouble picking up on the story or the characters. This is a fast and fun read and one that teenagers will enjoy reading. I was completely pulled into the story and went along with Zoe and the rest of the group as they had plenty of problems along the way. It's not too early to think about stocking stuffers and this just might be a good one for that teen girl in your life.

You can read more about the authors and book below. There is also a link to read the first chapter online. At least then you can decide if you want to read on or not.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.

MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.

Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls series

ABOUT THE BOOK

Zoe is used to being overlooked. As the youngest and shyest Miracle Girl, she was happy to fade into the background last year. But when she sheds her baby fat and shoots up four inches the summer before her junior year, everything changes. Now she's turning heads at school, and this new attention is beginning to strain her relationship with her sweet, serious boyfriend, Marcus.

Pressure builds when Zoe's assigned partner for history class is Dean Marchese--a handsome New York transplant who isn't afraid to show her how he feels.
Just when she needs her three best friends the most, the Miracle Girls are suffering from boy troubles of their own.

Even Zoe's rock-solid home life begins to shake underneath her when her parents' relationship frays in the face of serious financial burdens. As this uncertain year of growing pains comes to a frenetic head, the quietest Miracle Girl must find her voice at long last and take control of her own destiny . . . with more than a little help from her friends.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Little Help from My Friends, go HERE

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

2009-10-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS by Cindy Woodsmall shows that deception is not the way to go. However, just like Esther, God can use that to make something good. Characters are realistic and situations of guilt can really wear a person down. Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

If you enjoy escaping into the Amish world, then this is a book you will want to add to your collection.

About the author:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

Purchase the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446534

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Extraordinary by John Bevere

2009-10-09T08:53:00.000-04:00

John Bevere, author of The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, Driven by Eternity, and others has written a new book - Extraordinary. When I began the book I figured it was just going to be another one of those “You can do it” books, but this one goes much deeper than that. He talks about grace and how Christians don’t understand that grace is more than what brought us into a relationship with God. Grace is also the power source for incredible joy, success, and peace in life. Bevere says, “Because of this lack of knowledge about grace, large numbers in the church are still living relatively the same as before salvation and are defeated in many areas of life” (53). He goes on to give the definition of grace according to Encyclopedia of Bible Words. “This grace is a dynamic force that does more than affect our standing with God by crediting us with righteousness. Grace affects our experience as well. Grace is marked always by God’s enabling work within us to overcome our helplessness” (54). He quotes Hebrews 12:28 in support. “Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably.” Bevere explains, “What was impossible in our own strength, an acceptable and pleasing life to God, is now possible, and grace provides the ability. We are empowered to overcome our shortcomings.” This small piece of the book shows the depth of Biblical knowledge and explanation. This is not a feel good book. It’s an empowering book.

There is another quote I want to bring out that I really liked:

“We must always pay attention to what has been given us by God. A person’s ability to write, teach, preach, sing, compose music, design, manage, organize, lead, interact well with people, and so forth is a gift given by God. If I keep that in mind, it guards me from the deadly traps of pride or envy - pride in thinking I’m better than others, envy in coveting what another person has. . . . So in regard to what we have, we cannot compare our measured results with others. However, in regard to what we do with what we have, we will be judged, and in this we bring pleasure, or a lack of it, to our heavenly Father.”

So, use what God has given you to live an extraordinary life.

Summary:

There’s a question that troubles many believers: “Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn’t Jesus promise that?”

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of “the ordinary.” They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments—the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God’s incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the “extra” to “ordinary.”

About the author:

John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.

Find our where you can get a copy of this extraordinary book by clicking the link below. (pun intended)

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457721&ref=externallink_wbp_extraordinary_sec_0817_01

Word from Matthew Pearl, author of The Last Dickens

2009-10-06T12:47:00.000-04:00

Dear friends,

My novel THE LAST DICKENS (Random House) is out in paperback today in the US and Canada! If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, this is a great time to show booksellers support for the book at your local store or online. (You can order at www.matthewpearl.com/dickens/order.html)

If you already have the hardcover, I hope you'll consider picking up the paperback as a gift for someone, and do pass along this email to anyone who might be interested. There is a Readers' Guide in the back of the paperback perfect for book clubs. Your support for the books, as always, means everything.

THE LAST DICKENS, a National Bestseller and an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review, is a literary thriller that begins when Dickens's sudden death leaves his final mystery novel unfinished. His young American publisher James Osgood sets out on a quest from Boston to England to discover how Dickens's novel was going to end, unleashing a real-life puzzle that becomes a matter of life and death. Lots more at www.MATTHEWPEARL.com! A companion volume is also out today: a new edition of Charles Dickens's THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD from Modern Library for which I wrote an introduction and served as editor (more at www.matthewpearl.com/dickens/edwin.html)

If you're in New England, come celebrate the publication of the paperback of THE LAST DICKENS with me at the Westford Library in Westford, MA on October 8 and the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, MA on November 9, as well as at the first literary luncheon for Literary Matters in Old Greenwich, CT on October 27. I will be honoring the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's death by speaking about THE POE SHADOW in Attleboro, MA on October 7. After this summer's trips to Italy and Spain, I'll continue talking about THE LAST DICKENS in translation when I go to Guadalajara, Mexico at the end of November. I will also be in the Plano, TX area (October 14-16) and Irving, TX (October 20) for speaking events about THE POE SHADOW, and will be back in Texas at the end of April/early May when I go to Mansfield, where THE LAST DICKENS will be the city's Book in Common. Details on all of these events and others as they're added at www.matthewpearl.com/news.html ... Because I don't like to clutter inboxes, I only send emails for book publications or events in your area, so check my site for other updates.

Please register and join in the conversation about THE LAST DICKENS at my LibraryThing chat (http://www.librarything.com/topic/74513), where I'm answering questions, and at the full-blown book club discussion at SeniorLearn (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=840.0), where they are reading the novel section by section and I'm giving my two cents where I can. Plus, I've been blogging! I post my entries--about my books, writing in general and literary history--simultaneously at my Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-Pearl-author/29977879540) and MySpace pages (http://www.myspace.com/quentinclark), so please join one of those and chime in on anything that interests you. You can also follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MatthewPearl

Looking for more reading choices? See below for my latest recommendations.

Happy autumn,

Matthew

Intervention by Terri Blackstock

2009-10-04T14:33:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Intervention
Zondervan (September 22, 2009)
by
Terri Blackstock

My wife enjoyed this book. It's scary to realize that even if you teach your children the right way, they can still be influenced by drugs and alcohol. But it is nice to know that God can still use you to intervene in their lives. The characters in this novel were realistic and easy to connect with. We strongly recommend this book. It is a strong Christian book and you see God's protective hand throughout.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.

In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.

In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.

Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.

The panic level rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Intervention, go HERE

Watch the book Trailer:

If God is Good by Randy Alcorn

2009-09-23T13:29:00.001-04:00

After giving you two great non-fiction books that I was really pumped up about, I’m giving you one this week that I’m a little more reserved about, not because it’s a bad book or has bad writing. I’m going to be honest with you - I had trouble reading this book. I have trouble hearing about all of the bad things that happen to people, especially Christians, that the more I read of this book, the deeper my sorrow went. Yes, I realize bad things happen to good people. We’ve all experienced hurt, pain, and loss in our lives. I like what Alcorn says about suffering and how God works in our lives, but still, I had to stop reading. I just couldn’t take any more. I think this is a perfect book for those who help others, or to have as a reference for when you may need those words of encouragement, or just know that you’re not the only one going through bad things. I think this is a much needed book. Alcorn addresses the atheists who try to use these events to say there is no God.

About the book:

Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us. In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist? These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God. In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise. Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear. As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.

About the author:

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries and a bestselling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written eighteen nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and four grandsons.

You can get the book at http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421326

You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson

2009-09-17T15:07:00.000-04:00

For the second week in a row I get to bring you a book that I think is one of the best I’ve read in the non-fiction realm in a long time. This one is YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS by Bruce Wilkinson, the author of The Prayer of Jabez. The main thing that strikes me about this book is that it lingers with me long after I’ve read the chapter. I meditate on what has been said and can actually feel my heart transforming to the way God would have it. We all long to connect to God on a deeper level than we do, and Wilkinson shows how the spirit is always nudging us to do the work God would have us to do, but we have found it way too easy to say, “No,” or to pass off the thought or feeling. Wilkinson says, “Now all believers had the Spirit all the time, not just dwelling in them for renewal and comfort, but working through them to accomplish Heaven’s desires for people in need” (27). Another thing that I love about this book is how it shows how God works and it’s not the way we would normally expect.

I do have a criticism. Chapter 1 seems to be a 14-page advertisement for the book, which I don’t need since I’ve already chosen to read it. I’m not sure why the chapter was created this way. It makes more sense to make it an introduction. I’m sure there was a reason for it. I just don’t want you to get into chapter 1 and wonder why I’m so excited about the book. You’ve got to go further and deeper. I’m sure this one will be a New York Times phenomenon, just like The Prayer of Jabez.

About the book:

Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.”

In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a “Delivery Guy” from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.

You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and I expect to!”

About the authors:

One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.

The Book That Made America by Jerry Newcombe

2009-09-11T11:13:00.001-04:00

I love that I am reviewing a book about the Godly foundation of this country on the eighth anniversary of the Muslim terrorist attacks on 9/11. In THE BOOK THAT MADE AMERICA: HOW THE BIBLE FORMED OUR NATION, Jerry Newcombe is “a definitive volume on the Christian roots of our nation. Those who want to restore knowledge of our Christian heritage have their work cut out. As secularism continues its stranglehold on American education, we move further and further away from retaining our Christian roots.” Being a Christian, an educator, and a history buff, I wanted to give this book my full attention and have loved every minute I have poured through this book. Some things I already knew, but Newcombe takes it even further and gives example after example of how the founders of this nation incorporated God. This is a book you will want to read with pen in hand as I have underlined, marked, and written notes in the margins.

Newcombe breaks the book into four parts. Part one is “The Book That Made America.” This section covers our Christian roots, how the Bible was incorporated from the very beginning, and how God has had his hand upon this country through presidents and other leaders. There is even a 50-page multiple-choice quiz that then gives a detailed explanation of the answers. I scored a 23/50, so I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. But then again, where would I have learned about our Christian heritage? It definitely wasn’t in school or college. Part Two is “The Bible and the Settling of America.” This section talks about the early settlers and how they came to this country in hopes of establishing a nation based on Biblical principles and of bringing the Gospel to the Native Americans. Part Three is “The Bible and The Founding of America.” Obviously, this talks about the Bible’s influence upon the forefathers of our nation and their strong beliefs in God. Part Four is “The Bible and the American Experience.” This section talks about where we’ve come to since those early days and what went wrong. The question that begs to be asked is - can a nation continue to thrive without God’s blessing?

I agree with the press release for this book. “THE BOOK THAT MADE AMERICA will challenge anyone to know the true origin of our Nation and to fight to keep it. Newcombe hopes to educate Americans by providing the facts of history, proving that America began as a Christian nation and American’s have every right to preserve and uphold that heritage. All that is positive in our foundation can be traced back to the Scriptures. Recently, President Obama declared that America is not a Christian nation, while Newsweek announced the demise of Christian America. This book is the answer to America’s critics with the facts of history.”

About the Author:

Jerry Newcombe, D. Min., is senior producer for Coral Ridge Ministries and has produced or coproduced more than fifty documentaries. The host of two weekly radio shows, he has also been a guest on numerous television and radio talk shows - including Fox Business News, C-Span, USA Radio and Moody Radio. He is the author or coauthor of twenty two books, including with Dr. Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?, How Would Jesus Vote?, and The Presence of a Hidden God.

Coral Ridge Ministries is a media outreach founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Its programming reaches a national television, radio, and Internet audience at www.coralridge.org.

You have some choices:

Go buy the book at the online stores: http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.nordskogpublishing.com

You can reply to the post and WIN ONE OF TWO COPIES!

The Frontiersman's Daughter

2009-08-28T15:44:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Frontiersman’s Daughter
Revell (September 1, 2009)
by
Laura Frantz

I got this book for me to read and review. I spent my childhood in Harrodsburg, Kentucky and one of my heroes was/is Daniel Boone. So when this book came up, I jumped all over it. However, my wife beat me to it. I didn't think this would be a book for her, because she's not all that into history. She absolutely loved the book. She learned about the people and places that I have talked about. She loved the storyline and the characters. There is a lot of history mixed in, but not to the point where it is overwhelming. She learned a lot about Kentucky history. While this is marketed to the romance market, it could also be marketed to the historical novel market. Of course, the cover would need to change. Hopefully, Ms. Frantz will get some of the stores along I75 to put out her book, especially those in the Berea area. I'll talk more about this book when I read it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born and raised in Kentucky and my love of history goes deep - way back to the 18th-century when my family first came into the Bluegrass State. It will always be home to me, even though I now live with my husband, Randy, and my sons, Wyatt and Paul, in the misty woods of northwest Washington. I go back as often as I can to visit family and all the old haunts that I love.

I grew up playing on the original site of Fort Boonesborough and swimming in the Kentucky River and climbing the Pinnacle near Berea and watching the great outdoor dramas of the early settlers. Often my cousins and brother and I would play in my Granny's attic and dress up in the pioneer costumes she made us and pretend to be Daniel Boone, Rebecca, Jemima, or the Shawnee.

As I grew up I began to write stories and they were always historical, filled with the lore I had heard or read about. It's no accident that my first book (which is actually my fifth book - the others were practice!) is about those first Kentucky pioneers.

I feel blessed beyond measure to write books. My prayer is that you are doubly blessed reading them.

Note: Laura Frantz credits her 100-year-old grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in 1792 and settled in Madison County where her family still resides. Frantz is a former schoolteacher and social worker who currently lives in the misty woods of Washington state with her husband and two sons, whom she homeschools.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lovely but tough as nails, Lael Click is the daughter of a celebrated frontiersman. Haunted by her father's former captivity with the Shawnee Indians, as well as the secret sins of her family's past, Lael comes of age in the fragile Kentucky settlement her father founded.

Though she faces the loss of a childhood love, a dangerous family feud, and the affection of a Shawnee warrior, Lael draws strength from the rugged land she calls home, and from Ma Horn, a distant relative who shows her the healing ways of herbs and roots found in the hills.

But the arrival of an outlander doctor threatens her view of the world, God, and herself--and the power of grace and redemption. This epic novel gives readers a glimpse into the simple yet daring lives of the pioneers who first crossed the Appalachians, all through the courageous eyes of a determined young woman.

Laura Frantz's debut novel offers a feast for readers of historical fiction and romance lovers alike.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Frontiersman’s Daughter, go HERE

Summer Reading - 3 Books

2009-08-28T15:43:00.000-04:00

I’m doing something a little different with this post. I’m going to introduce you to three books at once. We do recommend all of them, but take a look at what we had to say about each of the novels.

Summary for The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.
As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and young adult books, with more than a half-million in print. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she is currently a publicist with Books & Such literary agency.

Review: This is a fast-paced book that is also full of humor. At times I found myself laughing out loud. I can easily see this book as a comedy, perhaps even like some of the classic Disney movies. This is a fun, exciting novel to read. I would recommend this one to anyone, especially if you plan on sitting by the pool or on the beach during these late summer months.

Summary for The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love

Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.
As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.
Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Patillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program.

Review: We reviewed the first book in this series some time ago. Besides being a good piece of Southern writing, I like the fact that there is a lot of depth to the characters. They become friends and people we care about. My wife said if often felt like you were sitting right there with them and listening in on the conversation. While there seems to be a book about every type of hobby-related ladies group, this one stands out because the characters are easy to relate to and you could see this group gathering at your own church. This is another great read for your late summer perusing.

Summary for Rose House

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.
She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.
What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.
A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

Tina Ann Forkner is the author of Ruby Among Us. Originally from Oklahoma, she now lives with her husband and three children in Wyoming, where she serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation’s board of directors.

Review: Just like the book above, we reviewed the first book in this series when it came out. Forkner once again brings the California wine country to life. But more importantly, she brings the people there to life as they deal with love, heartache and past mistakes. While my wife enjoyed the first book in the series more than this one, she still enjoyed this one. There is a lot of suspense and just enough romance. If you haven’t read the first book, Ruby Among Us, we suggest you start with that one, then read this one.

Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach

2009-08-24T16:34:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Surrender The Wind
Abingdon Press (August 2009)
by
Rita Gerlach
My wife just started reading this book. I asked her if there was anything I could say about it, but she couldn't think of anything at this point. So, I'll give more of a review later when she finishes the novel. Meanwhile, check out the things below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rita Gerlach has published three historical novels plus articles in Writers Gazette, Write to Inspire, Will Write 4 Food, and The Christian Communicator.

She also is the editor of Stepping Stones Magazine, an online website focused on writing, marketing, and promotion for writers. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and The Western Maryland Writers Guild.

She currently lives in Frederick, Maryland. You can also visit her at her Blog

ABOUT THE BOOK

Seth Braxton, a patriot of the American Revolution, unexpectedly inherits his loyalist grandfather's estate in England. Seth is torn between the land he fought for and the prospect of reuniting with his sister Caroline, who was a motherless child taken to England at the onset of the war.
With no intention of staying permanently, Seth arrives to find his sister grieving over the death of her young son. In the midst of such tragedy, Seth meets Juleah, the daughter of an eccentric landed gentleman. Her independent spirit and gentle soul steal Seth's heart. After a brief courtship, they marry and she takes her place as the lady of Ten Width Manor, enraging the man who once sought her hand and schemed to make Ten Width his own. From the Virginia wilderness to the dark halls of an isolated English estate, Seth and his beloved Juleah inherit more than an ancestral home. They uncover a sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction, and betrayal--an ominous threat to their new life, love, and faith.

If you would like to reas the Prologue of Surrender The Wind, go HERE

Watch the trailer:

North, or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

2009-08-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

Some time ago I introduced you to ON THE EDGE OF THE DARK SEA OF DARKNESS by Andrew Peterson. It was an exciting fantasy book for children of all ages (including 39-year-olds). Well, it was obvious at the end of that book that it would be just the first in a series and the second book in that series is here. It’s called NORTH, OR BE EATEN. In this second installment of the Wingfeather Saga, Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, mom Nia, ex-pirate grandfather Podo, Peet the Sock Man, and trusty dog Nugget flee north to rebel headquarters. Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.

FantasyBookCritic.com said, Book One was “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

My nine-year-old son is reading this series every night before he goes to bed and is loving the story, the setting, and the characters. I think your son or daughter will enjoy it as well. Who knows? You might even enjoy it, too.

About the Author:

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit Andrew’s websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com.

Go get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400073870&ref=externallink_wbp_north!orbeeaten_sec_0623_01

The Friends We Keep and 40 Minute Bible Studies

2009-08-14T11:54:00.005-04:00

I have two books to blog about today. I should have done one yesterday and one today, but here they are all at once. The first book I want to talk about is THE FRIENDS WE KEEP. This book is by Sarah Zacharias Davis, a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University. She joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife and Transparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Now a little more about the book. During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:• Why do we long so for women friends? • Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?• How do I foster friendship?• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

The second book is MONEY AND POSSESSIONS: THE QUEST FOR CONTENTMENT by Kay Arthur. This book is part of the 40 Minute Bible Study from Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries. They tackle important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life. In case you don't know Kay Arthur, she is executive vice president and co-founder of Precept Ministries International. She is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.

I'm considering doing this series with my college/career class at church, although I'm in the process of writing my own series.

Other Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer

•Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works

•Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past

•Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk?

•Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret

•Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment

•Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father?

•Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation

•What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

The Sacred Cipher by Terry Brennan

2009-08-07T00:46:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Sacred Cipher
Kregel Publications (July 31, 2009)
by
Terry Brennan This is a great debut novel. It has all of the intrigue and suspense of a Dan Brown novel without all of the nonsense. Brennan leads us along with clues and actions as we try to figure out the sacred cipher and its significance to the world. I hope this is just the beginning of things to come from Brennan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the past 35 years, Terry Brennan has accumulated a broad range of experience in both the profit and non-profit business sectors.

His 22-year, award winning journalism career included:
• Seven years as a sportswriter and editor with The Philadelphia Bulletin, at the time the largest-circulation afternoon newspaper in the nation;
• Leading The Mercury of Pottstown (PA), as its editor, to a Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing;
• Serving as Executive Editor of a multi-national newspaper firm – Ingersoll Publications – with papers in the USA, England and Ireland.

In 1996 Brennan transferred his successful management career to the non-profit sector and served for 12 years as Vice President of Operations for the Christian Herald Association, Inc., the parent organization of four New York City ministries, including The Bowery Mission.

Now Chief Operating Officer of the National Organization on Disability, Brennan also won the Valley Forge Award for editorial writing from the Freedoms Foundation. His two adult sons and their families live in Pennsylvania. Terry, his wife Andrea and their two adult children live in New York City. The Sacred Cipher is his first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

History's greatest secret could be tomorrow's greatest threat More historically and biblically accurate than The DaVinci Code and just as adventurous as an Indiana Jones movie, The Sacred Cipher combines action and mystery to draw readers into a world of ancient secrets and international escapades.

When an ancient scroll appears in a secret room of the Bowery Mission in New York City, Tom Bohannon is both stunned and intrigued. The enigma of the scroll's contents will send Bohannon and his team ricocheting around the world, drawing the heat of both Jewish and Muslim militaries, and bringing the Middle East to the brink of nuclear war in this heart-pounding adventure of historical proportions. The Sacred Cipher is a riveting, fact-based tale of mystery and suspense.

If you want to read the Prologue of The Sacred Cipher, go HERE

Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

2009-08-06T02:50:00.000-04:00

My wife read this book and enjoyed it. She was surprised by the harshness of the Amish community and wondered if it is really like that. One of the major themes from the book was to let people see God through you, which is something everyone needs to live by.

About the book:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life. Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

You can get the book here.

About the author:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

Click the picture below to go to a news interview by ABC.

Here is some other news from Woodsmall:

New York Times bestselling author Cindy Woodsmall is on tour, and she may be coming to a city near you! Don’t miss your opportunity to meet Cindy and have her sign her newest title The Hope of Refuge at one of the following events.

Tuesday, August 11 7 – 8:30pm
Barnes & Noble
5141 Peachtree Parkway, The Forum

Norcross, Georgia 30092

(770) 209-4244

Wednesday, August 12 7 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble Opry Mills
515 Opry Mills Drive

Nashville, Tennessee 37214

(615) 514-5000

Thursday, August 13 6 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble
2540 Futura Pkwy. #135

Plainfield, Indiana 46168

(317) 838-7941

Friday, August 14 6 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble
1550 West 75th

Downers Grove, Illinois 60516

(630) 663-0181

Saturday, August 15 1 – 3pm
Baker Books
2768 East Paris Ave SE

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-6139

(616) 957-3110

Sunday, August 16 2 – 4pm
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
3700 Rivertown Parkway Ste. 2058

Grandville, Michigan 49418

(616) 531-1825

Monday, August 17 7 – 8:00pm
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1739 Olentangy River Road

Columbus, Ohio 43212

(614) 298-9516

Tuesday, August 18 7– 8:30pm
Joseph Beth Booksellers
2705 E. Carson Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203

(412) 381-3600

Wednesday, August 19 6 – 8pm
Hackman’s Bible Book Store
1341 Mickley Road

Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052-4610

(610) 264-8600

Thursday, August 20 1 – 3pm
Rachel’s Country Store (Amish dry goods store)
6352 McClays Mill Road

Newburg, Pennsylvania 17240

(717) 530-9452

Can’t make the tour? You can still follow Cindy’s adventures on Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter. See you there!