Thoughts of a Sojourner

The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski

2012-01-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it’s easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles and conflicting priorities. For many Christians, God often becomes little more than an afterthought after days absorbed and depleted by the busyness of life. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story—including the mundane, ordinary ones we experience on a regular basis. That is why Marty Machowski beckons families to take time out from the daily grind to be transformed by the message of the Good News in his latest release, The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments (New Growth Press, November 2011).

Based on the ESV Bible, this uniquely illustrated Bible storybook uses 156 stories to present God’s plan of salvation in Christ from its opening narrative in Genesis to its finale in Revelation. This easy-to-read storybook written for children from preschool to high school introduces readers to many captivating people, places and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments. At the same time, Machowski skillfully connects the individual stories to the overall gospel narrative of how God redeemed a broken world through sending his son Jesus to save his people. Each story ends by connecting to Jesus and his gospel of grace. By sharing these Bible stories with each other, young and old will learn together the life-changing habit of recognizing the presence and workings of Christ in every moment of their day.

“The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to change the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read,” says Machowski. “That’s what makes The Gospel Story Bible ideal as a storybook for a preschooler, a devotional for a grade school student, a refresher for the adult believer or an introduction for the new one. Parents and children will learn together to read the whole Bible as one story, with one hero—Jesus Christ.”

Vibrant illustrations by A. E. Macha, child-friendly discussion questions and Scripture references accompany each story to help lead families in exploring the Bible. Parents and teachers will be delighted to discover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of a story that he or she has already come to love. A companion to the family devotional Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the soon-to-be-released Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum (February 2012), The Gospel Story Bible is also a great resource for churches, Sunday school classes, home-schoolers and Christian schools who want to teach their children to apply the gospel to every situation and make Jesus the most important part of their everyday lives.

My review:
I was more impressed with this Bible story book than some I have read. The stories are told well, as in others I have read, but this one has a bigger focus on the message of the stories.

In addition, there are a few questions at the end of each story for kids to thing about and answer.

The subtitle of the book is "Discovering Jesus In the Old and New Testaments." In reading over some of the stories, I noticed the author points out how the story relates to Jesus and brings Him into it in some way.

Overall, I enjoyed reading and reviewing this, and feel it is a great tool to be used to help kids learn more about the Bible and more about Jesus. I'd recommend it for any family.

About the author:

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for twenty-three years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children's ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the author of Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the forthcoming Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

The Gospel Story Bible is available from New Growth Press.

Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.

Love Blooms In Winter by Lori Copeland

2012-01-26T22:05:00.002-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingLove Blooms in WinterHarvest House Publishers (January 1, 2012)byLori Copeland

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. Lance and Lori have three sons, three daughter-in-laws, and six wonderful grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. Lance and Lori are very involved in their church, and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa.

Lori began her writing career in 1982, writing for the secular book market. In 1995, after many years of writing, Lori sensed that God was calling her to use her gift of writing to honor Him. It was at that time that Lori began writing for the Christian book market. To date, she has had over 100 books published.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A romantic new book from bestselling author Lori Copeland that portrays God’s miraculous provision even when none seems possible.

1892—Mae Wilkey’s sweet next-door neighbor, Pauline, is suffering from old age and dementia and desperately needs family to come help her. But Pauline can’t recall having kin remaining. Mae searches through her desk and finds a name—Tom Curtis, who may just be the answer to their prayers.

Tom can’t remember an old aunt named Pauline, but if she thinks he’s a long-lost nephew, he very well may be. After two desperate letters from Mae, he decides to pay a visit. An engagement, a runaway train, and a town of quirky, loveable people make for more of an adventure than Tom is expecting. But it is amazing what can bloom in winter when God is in charge of things.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Blooms in Winter, go HERE.

Unhallowed Ground by Mel Starr

2012-01-25T22:20:00.000-05:00

“The man is surely dead of his own hand, Hugh. You must not seek a felon where none is. And even was atte Bridge slain there is no man in Bampton sorry for it. He was an evil fellow we are well rid of.”

Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cow-Ley’s Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so. Many of the town had been harmed by Thomas, and Hugh is not eager to send one of them to the gallows ... Hugh must discover which of his friends has murdered his enemy.

My review:This is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Huge de Singleton, Surgeon, and possibly the best so far.

For those unfamiliar with the series, these are mysteries set in medieval times. The 1300's, to be exact. The main character is a surgeon, Hugh de Singleton, who also is a bailiff and has to do his share of solving crimes.

These books have some very interesting aspects for me. The author has studied medieval times and the ways of medicine and surgeons in that time, so I have found it extremely interesting to read of the methods used in that time. Also, it is interesting to read of crime solving in a time period where they didn't have the modern day methods that we take for granted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In it, the main character has to solve the murder of his enemy, a man who did him and many others wrong. The story part was enjoyable, but the author also got some great points in about God's mercy and hit on themes of forgiving others.

This book, as the ones that precede it, are totally different reading than the Christian suspense authors I read, but they are all enjoyable reads. After reading this book, I am looking forward to the next book in this great and fascinating series.

About the author:Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Spring Arbor High School in 1960, and Greenville College (Illinois) in 1964. He received an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970. He taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School.

Mel married Susan Brock in 1965, and they have two daughters; Amy (Kevin) Kwilinski, of Naperville, IL, and Jennifer (Jeremy) Reivitt, of Portage, MI. Mel and Susan have seven grandchildren.

Unhallowed Ground is available from Monarch, an imprint of Kregel Publishing.

Thanks to Kregel for the review copy.

Firethorn by Ronie Kendig

2012-01-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Ronie Kendig

and the book:

Firethorn, Discarded Heroes #4

Barbour Books; Discarded Heroes edition (2012)

***Special thanks to Ronie Kendig for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An Army brat, Ronie Kendig grew up in the classic military family, with her father often TDY and her mother holding down the proverbial fort. Their family moved often, which left Ronie attending six schools by the time she’d entered fourth grade. Her only respite and “friends” during this time were the characters she created.

It was no surprise when she married a military veteran—her real-life hero—in June 1990. Married more than twenty years, Ronie and her husband, Brian, homeschool their four children, the first of whom graduated in 2011. Despite the craziness of life, Ronie finds balance and peace with her faith, family and their three dogs in Dallas, TX.

Ronie has a deep love and passion for people, especially hurting people, which is why she pursued and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Liberty University. Ronie is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has volunteered extensively, serving in a variety of capacities from coordinator of a national contest to appointment assistant at the national annual conference.

Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and her books have been gained critical acclaim and national attention, including:

Finalist in Christian Retailing’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards (Nightshade)
RWA’s Faith, Hope, & Love’s 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards in Romantic Suspense (Nightshade)
Named one of the Top 25 Christian Fiction Suspense, Mystery, and Thriller Writers by FamilyFiction (Sept 2011)
2011 FamilyFiction Readers’ Choice Awards – 3^rd place as New Favorite Author, 8^th place with Nightshade for Novel of the Year.
INSPY Award Shortlist final in Mystery/Thriller (Dead Reckoning)
The Christian Manifesto’s 2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Nightshade)

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Blown and dismantled, Nightshade is ready to repay the favor.

Former Marine and current Nightshade team member Griffin "Legend" Riddell is comfortable. So comfortable he never sees the set up that lands him in a maximum security prison, charged with murder. How can he prove his innocence behind bars?

Covert operative Kazi Faron is tasked with reassembling Nightshade—the black ops team someone dissected. Breaking Griffin out of a federal penitentiary amid explosive confusion may turn out to be her last assignment. What will it take to convince the fugitive that whoever set him up has also dissected the Nightshade team? As Kazi and Griffin race to rescue the others and discover the traitor,

love begins to awaken in their hearts.

Can a covert operative and the felon she's freed overcome their mutual distrust long enough to save Nightshade? Will anything prepare them for who—or what is coming?

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books; Discarded Heroes edition (2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602607850
ISBN-13: 978-1602607859

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

To all American military heroes

At home and abroad,

Those who have gone before

and those serving today—

THANK YOU!

Because of you, we are FREE!

RECON CREED

Realizing it is my choice and my choice alone to be a Reconnaissance Marine, I accept all challenges involved with this profession. Forever shall I strive to maintain the tremendous reputation of those who went before me.

Exceeding beyond the limitations set down by others shall be my goal. Sacrificing personal comforts and dedicating myself to the completion of the reconnaissance mission shall be my life. Physical fitness, mental attitude, and high ethics—The title of Recon Marine is my honor.

Conquering all obstacles, both large and small, I shall never quit. To quit, to surrender, to give up is to fail. To be a Recon Marine is to surpass failure; To overcome, to adapt and to do whatever it takes to complete the mission.

On the battlefield, as in all areas of life, I shall stand tall above the competition. Through professional pride, integrity, and teamwork, I shall be the example for all Marines to emulate.

Never shall I forget the principles I accepted to become a Recon Marine. Honor, Perseverance, Spirit, and Heart.

A Recon Marine can speak without saying a word and achieve what others can only imagine.

Swift, Silent, Deadly

Chapter 1

The Shack

“It’s sad, really.” Marshall “The Kid” Vaughn trudged away from the thumping rotors of the helo that had deposited them back at the Shack, his pack almost dragging the ground. “Ya don’t realize how much a person adds until he’s gone.”

“Legend’s not gone.” Max “Frogman” Jacobs hoisted his rucksack into a better group, his mind locked on Sydney and their two sons waiting for him at home. Poor woman had to be going out of her mind with two of his Mini-Me’s running around.

“Yeah.” John “Squirt” Dighton hit the light breaker, then waited for the six-man team to clear the door. “He’s just temporarily detained.”

Lights sizzled and popped to life. Groaning bounced off the grimy windows as he hauled the door closed, locked it, then started toward the showers.

The Kid grunted. “Forty-years-to-life temporary.”

In the locker room, a depressive gloom hung over the team. They’d been on countless missions, hit just about every terrain and environment imaginable, but none had taken the toll the last couple had. And there was one reason—they were down a man. Griffin “Legend” Riddell. If Max could write the playbook, they wouldn’t do another mission without the guy. But with the man in federal prison for murdering a congressman, it’d be a long wait.

It was quiet. Too quiet. Max looked around the Spartan room. Walls of lockers, most unused. A few benches. A giant once-white bin for dirty duds. And the team. Six men, now. All very skilled. Good men. Even the one missing. Every man here knew Legend had been set up—he didn’t murder that congressman. But nobody could prove it. The evidence was damning. Justice—injustice was more like it—came swiftly. Lambert, ever the puppeteer, couldn’t pull the right strings to get Legend off.

“I’m heading up to visit him tomorrow. Anyone game?” Colton “Cowboy” Neeley slumped on a bench and ran a hand over his short, dark hair. His blue eyes probed the group.

“Nah, man. I’ve got a date,” the Kid said.

Squirt beaned him with a towel. “What girl would go out with you, mate?”

The Kid snapped the terry cloth back at the former Navy SEAL. “Your sister.”

Squirt froze. His jaw went slack. Then his eyes darkened.

Laughing, Canyon “Midas” Metcalfe rose to his feet from the corner. “You just proved his point by thinking your sister would actually go out with him.”

Squirt swallowed, his face drained of color. “I introduced them at a New Year’s party.”

Midas laughed harder. “Your mistake, mate.”

Shuffling closer, Squirt pointed a finger at the Kid. “I swear, you touch her, I’ll shove a fist full of witchety grubs down your gullet.”

“Give me credit, dude.” The Kid raised his hands. “I’m a gentleman.”

Max grunted. “Right.” As he strode around the lockers to the shower well, he heard more threats and much more laughter from the Kid. Max shook his head. Would the Kid ever grow up, learn when to leave things alone?

As he tossed his oily, grimy duds on the bench, Max paused, thinking maybe he should send his report to Lambert now so he wouldn’t have to mess with it tomorrow. The mission had been simple enough, a snatch-n-grab of an Iranian doctor. It’d been nice and clean, in and out. The report wouldn’t take long. Then he could shower, bug out, and know he had the whole weekend with Syd and the boys.

Max jogged up the iron stairs, which creaked and groaned beneath his weight. Down the hall to the right. He punched in the code and entered the secure hub, the door hissing shut behind him. The most high-tech part of this dump-of-a-warehouse.

Shouts drew his attention to the blinds. He jabbed two fingers between a couple and spread them to peeked down into the main area. Squirt and the Kid raced into the bay and back the way they came. Squirt looked ready to kill. The Kid’s face revealed his fear. Max shook his head again. Man, he wanted Griffin back. The guy seemed to bring balance to the team. Badly needed balance.

Max powered up the computer. Hand propped on the warped wood, he waited for the system to boot.

More shouts. Loud thuds.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Would they never—?

Tat-a-tat! Tat-tat-a-tat!

Instinct drove Max to his knee at the sound of gunfire. He scrambled to the window. Through the slanted blinds, he peered down into the slab of cement. His brain wouldn’t assemble what he saw. Gunmen. A dozen or more. Rushing into the Shack from the parking bay. Moving swiftly, as if. . .

They know the layout.

Max darted to the door and jerked it open. He sprinted down the hall toward the stairs. As his boot hit steel, he froze. A shadow emerged. Floated into the hall.

Too late.

Max jerked back. Pressed his spine against the wall.

By the showers, the Kid looked up. Max signaled to him. Then made his best and loudest Nightshade whistle, hoping it would penetrate the building, give the men warning to take cover.

The Kid threw himself back into the locker room.

Men swarmed the corner. One looked to his left, one right. His weapon slowly rose as he traced the stairs with his M16.

Max leapt backward into the darkness and into office. He closed the door. As the lock clicked, darkness dropped like an anchor over the entire building. Behind him, a glow screamed his location. The monitor!

Max spun. Lunged across the desk. Stabbed the power button. And paused with his hand still near the monitor. If someone was coming after them. . .accessing this computer. . .

On his knees, Max yanked the cords free. With the box, he moved to the window and reassessed the parking bay. Another van with a half-dozen men with AK-47s. They streamed into the warehouse.

Max’s gut wound into a dozen knots. They were screwed.

Think! Hand on the door, he considered going back downstairs. But that would get him captured. Killed. Yet he’d rather be with his guys than running like a chicken.

No, not running. Considering options, gaining the advantage. Planning. The invasion force was armed to the teeth. They knew who they were coming after. They’d brought weapons. And those guys moved with precision. Swift, deadly precision.

Though Nightshade had a stellar ops record, perhaps they had finally met their match. Still. . .two to one? Nightshade had faced worse.

A large black Suburban screeched to a halt in the middle of the parking bay. Two men emerged, both wearing trench coats.

Max cursed his luck to be up here, away from his gear, his weapons. Up here, without firepower. Thus, powerless.

Okay, enough. He was going down there. He eased the door open and slid across the hall. Bathed in darkness, he crouched at edge of the landing, using the wall for cover. A dozen men so far, rushing here and there. Quick, quiet chatter between the men.

A smirk slid into Max’s face. His team had taken cover and these goons couldn’t find them. If he could just get a weapon. . .

“Can’t find them.”

“They’re here. I saw them go in,” the man nearest the SUV shouted. “Find them! Lights!”

Light rushed through the building as headlamps from the vehicles stabbed the dusty, damp building. Max yanked back, out of sight. He needed to get down there, defend his men. His boot hit the landing.

Shouts erupted. A shot bounced off the steel rafters, taunting as it echoed through the Shack. Stilled, Max waited. More shouts. The sound of a scuffle. The half-dozen men waiting by the SUV lifted their weapons to the ready.

The locker room door swung open. A man walked backward, his AK-47 aimed at a large form filling the doorway. Cowboy. Arms raised, dressed only in his jeans, he stalked forward. Someone shoved him from behind, which barely moved the big lug.

Spine pressed against the wood, Max peered down into the bay.

“You move one wrong muscle,” the one in front of Cowboy growled, “and so help me God, I’ll kill you.”

“No you won’t.” Cowboy lowered his hands. “If you wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be out here.”

Ride ’em, Cowboy.

From the side entrance to the showers, three men dragged a shouting, cursing Kid into the bay. Max smirked that it took three tangos to wrangle the Kid.

Hand clenched, Max’s mind went into overdrive. What could he do? God. . .I need. . .something. What could he pray for? Intercepting the team was impossible. Twelve, fifteen armed tangos against one unarmed man?

He latched on to the hope that they’d only found Cowboy and the Kid. No Midas, Squirt, or Aladdin. Good. Maybe they could regroup and—

A man flew through the bay door from the showers and landed with a thud a yard from the others. Midas flipped over, scissored his legs, and swept the thug off his feet. The Kid seized the confusion to attack the men guarding him. And impressively. With a hard right, he dropped the first and used that weapon to disable the second.

Cowboy took a step back and rammed his elbow into the gut of the nearest guard. The gunman bent forward—straight into Cowboy’s meaty fist. The big guy pivoted, slapped the interior of the gunman’s wrist, effectively seizing the weapon and flipping the muzzle around. He fired at the guy.

Crack!

In the split second it took for Max to realize the sonic boom that rent the air wasn’t the report of Cowboy’s .45 MEU but of a rifle, Max saw the man in the black trench coat drop to the ground. A circle spread out like a dark halo.

“Sniper!” someone shouted.

The dead guy had fallen backward. Most likely shot from the front. Which meant. . . Max’s gaze rose to the rafters. With no light, it’d be the perfect hiding spot. But. . .who? Squirt? Aladdin?

Crack!

The man guarding Colton stumbled forward, then went to his knees before hitting the cement.

The man in the black trench coat nearest the SUV dropped. A pool of blood spilled out.

“There!” One guard swung and fired his fully automatic at the ceiling. Four others followed suit, firing at the bank of grimy windows on the southeast wall of the building.

Max followed their direction and watched. Waited, his breath caught at the back of his throat. Cracks and shattering glass blended with the staccato punches of the guns to create a wild cacophony of noise. Max tuned it out, praying whoever—Aladdin or Squirt—wouldn’t be hit.

But then he saw it. A shift of a shadow. Like someone rolling. . .

The gunfire petered out as a body plummeted the eight feet to the ground.

The thud seemed to have supernatural powers as it pounded Max’s chest and pushed him back. Away from the window but not far enough that he lost line of sight.

Silence dropped on the Shack.

“Where’s Max Jacobs?”

As the question streaked through the warehouse, Max registered a red glow in the far corner. Even as he noticed it, he heard a beep. Another. His gaze darted to the source of the noise. Two men were walking the perimeter, their M16s dangling as they raised their arms and pressed something against the supports. Arms lowered and the men stepped back revealing gray bricks with wires.

Explosives.

Gotta stop this. Do something. His gaze collided with Cowboy’s. The big lug gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Max’s nostrils flared as he wrestled with what to do.

“Where’s Dighton?”

How do they know our names?

“Dead,” someone answered.

Pulled back into the shadows, Max clenched his eyes and bit down on his tongue. Dighton was dead. What about Aladdin—had he survived the fall?

Sirens wailed in the distance.

“Load ’em up.”

“What about Jacobs?”

“Outta time.” The leader left as the gunmen dragged the team out of the building.

Stealthily, Max held on to the box and sprinted the length of the hall to the side of the Shack. In the conference room, he plunged toward the window. Craned his neck to peek out. Three vehicles—twin white vans and a black town car.

The guys were loaded into the van and one into the car.

The leader shifted, held something out, then it wavered.

Detonator.

Max spun around, searching for an out. Doors. Only one way down—the stairs. But they led to the bay, which would be engulfed.

Windows. Overlooked the dock. The canal. It was January. The water would be brutal cold. His split-second assessment told him no matter what route he took, it’d be deadly. Despite his training, if he didn’t find shelter out of the water once he broke surface, he’d die an ice cube. If he stayed, he’d die a fireball.

Good thing SEALs are insulated against cold water.

Max vaulted toward the window, hurtling the computer through the window. The glass shattered as a violent force blasted through the air. It lifted him. Up. . .up. . . Flipped him. Searing pain sliced through his arm. Heat stroked his back and legs. Fire chased him out of the building. Into the night.

Boom!

Another wave slammed into him. Threw him backward. Toward the water.

Something punched his gut. Knocked the breath from his lungs.

Bright white lit the night. Blinded him. Then—almost instantaneously—black. Pure black. And he was falling. . .down. . .down. . .

Ro n i e K e n d i g

Firethorn

Discarded Heroes # 4

OTHER BOOKS BY RONIE KENDIG

Nightshade (Discarded Heroes #1)

Digitalis (Discarded Heroes #2)

Wolfsbane (Discarded Heroes #3)

© 2011 by Ronie Kendig

ISBN 978-1-60260-0785-9

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

For more information about Ronie Kendig, please access the author’s Web site at the following Internet address: www.roniekendig.com

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683,

www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

My review:

Printed in the United States of America.

Ronie just keeps getting better with each book she writes. I totally loved this series, and was sad to see it end. Other than one sad part in Firethorn, the series could not have ended any better than with this book.

Each book in the series focuses on a different member of the special ops group, Nightshade. I think the series should have gone on with a book about each member. That is for you, Barbour Publishing. :-) Firethorn focuses on Legend, the black dude of the group.

This book has a lot going on in it. This really isn't a spoiler, since it happens at the very beginning, but efforts are made to take out the group. I won't give details - read the book and the whole series. In my humble opinion, this may be the most exciting book of the series. It shows what the guys are really made of, and shows their loyalty to each other, their families, and to their country.

Ronie has done a fantastic job through this fictional series of showing the life of military special ops. Not only did I enjoy this book and the whole series, but it has given me a new appreciation for our military and a little glimpse into that world.

As I stated in my reviews of her other books in The Discarded Heroes Series, men will definitely enjoy and get into these books, but so will women who like a suspenseful read with military action. If I gave stars on my book reviews, this book and the three that precede it, would all get 5 stars out of 5 stars. This is an outstanding series.

Thanks to the author for the review copy.

Read the whole series by Ronie Kendig. And check out her website.

A few of my favorite authors: Kathy Herman

2012-01-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

Kathy Herman came out with her first novel, Tested By Fire, in October of 2001. I was working at the local Christian bookstore and it grabbed my attention as I was checking in an order from Multnomah Publishing. I bought it and read it that evening. I loved it. That book was #1 of 5 in The Baxter Series, and each book that followed was better than the previous, or at least it seemed like it to me.

Kathy writes Christian suspense/mystery, and does an excellent job of it. Her books are not gory, and have no cursing or inappropriate content in, which some Christian authors are allowing in such kind of books.

The Baxter Series was followed by a stand alone title, Poor Mrs. Rigsby, and two other series with Multnomah Publishing: The Seaport Suspense Series (a "spin-off" of the Baxter Series" and The Phantom Hollow Series. Kathy then switched to David C. Cook Publishing, a move that had me a bit worried, but my fears were groundless. With David C. Cook, she put out the even better Sophie Trace Series, and the "spin-off" from it that she has written two books in so far, Secrets of Roux River Bayou.

With the kind of writing she has done and is still doing, Kathy has established herself as one of my top favorite authors, and I always look forward to each new book she comes out with.

In addition to being a great writer, she is also a very sweet and gracious lady. She has always been happy to do a giveaway any time I ask her, though I don't bug authors too much. She is also into bird watching and is always posting great pictures on facebook.

More about Kathy:
Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added eighteen more titles to her credit, including six more bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, The Right Call, False Pretenses, and Dangerous Mercy.

Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.

If you have never read any of Kathy's books, check her out.
Author website: KathyHerman.com.

Chasing Mona Lisa by Trica Goyer and Mike Yorkey

2012-01-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock.

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all—the Mona Lisa—as a postwar bargaining chip.

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

My review:I thoroughly enjoyed the first book by this writing team, The Swiss Courier, so I was glad to see them team up for a sequel. This book takes up pretty close to where the last one ended. World War II is still going on, but this book takes place in Paris for the most part.

I had a hard time getting into the book at first, but then it picked up and grabbed my interest. I don't remember ever reading or studying much, if any, about France during World War II, so it was interesting to get a different view of World War II through what was going on in France.

This book is historical fiction. Though some of the characters and parts of the story are fictional, the story about the Germans trying to steal the Mona Lisa and other priceless artwork, and the effort to keep the artwork from the Germans, is true. I had never heard about it, but the authors did a great job of writing about it in a historical fiction filled with suspense.

I hope these two authors keep teaming up in the future as they have hit another grand slam with Chasing Mona Lisa.

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Chasing Mona Lisa is available from Revell Publishing, an imprint of Baker Book House.

The Mulligans of Mt Jefferson

2012-01-20T12:06:00.000-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Mulligans of Mt JeffersonDavid C. Cook (January 1, 2012)byDon Reid

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Don is one of the original members of the STATLER BROTHERS, the most award-winning act in the history of country music. He and his brother and two friends began singing in their hometown of Staunton, Virginia when Don was only fourteen years old. Working all over their home and neighboring states as a part time group, they were discovered in 1964 by Johnny Cash and given their first record contract. By the time Don was 20 years old, the STATLERS had their first major, world-wide hit record with FLOWERS ON THE WALL, which started a string of hits that generated a career in the music industry that lasted for four decades. The STATLERS have been recipients of multiple industry awards:

It wasn’t until the STATLER BROTHERS decided to retire from traveling in 2002 that Don pursued his writing career to another level. Having songwriting and scriptwriting under his belt, the next obvious step was to write a book. And that book was the scripture based HEROES AND OUTLAWS OF THE BIBLE published in June of 2002 by New Leaf Press. He has since written two other non-fiction books and in 2008 saw another dream come true for Don when he released his first novel, O LITTLE TOWN. Novel number two came in the form of ONE LANE BRIDGE, and THE MULLIGANS OF MT. JEFFERSON, is a sequel to O LITTLE TOWN.

Don is the father of two sons. Debo and his wife, Julie, and daughters Sela Mae and Adra, live within a stone’s throw. You may have seen Debo’s name on many songs written with Don on albums over the years.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cal, Harlan, and Buddy grow up together in a small Virginia town in the years before the second World War. United by age, proximity, and temperament, they get into—and out of—all the trouble that boys manage to find. They even earn a nickname from a local restaurateur who gives the boys their first jobs and plenty of friendly advice. “Uncle” Vic calls them the Mulligans, because they always seem to find a way through a thicket of trouble—family problems, girls, college, war—to success. Cal and Harlan and Buddy have been blessed with second chances.

Now it’s 1959, and police lieutenant Buddy receives an early-morning phone call: his friend Harlan, a store owner, has been shot in a break-in. Cal, now a preacher, meets Buddy at the hospital, and together, as professionals and as friends, they begin to unravel what might have happened to Harlan.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Mulligans of Mt Jefferson, go HERE.

A few of my favorite authors: Ronie Kendig

2012-01-18T00:16:00.000-05:00

I was bored and not ready for bed, so I decided to blog. After trying to decide what to blog about, I decided to blog about my favorite authors. It was going to be one blog post, and then I decided to do a "series" about my favorite authors. I was going to start with Mike Dellosso since I am part of his Darlington Society, an inner circle he picked to help promote his books. Then I remembered I did something like that already. Read that here. So next up is Ronie Kendig.

Ronie Kendig is still fairly new to the Christian fiction market, and is a tremendous author. Her first book, Dead Reckoning, came out in March of 2010. It was a stand alone title full of suspense and intrigue. I loved it.

A few months later, she came out with the first book in her best-selling Discarded Heroes Series, Nightshade. It was followed by Digitalis, Wolfsbane, and the just released Firethorne, the fourth and final book in the series. I have had the privelege of reading and reviewing all of Ronie's books so far. My review of Firethorne will post on January 23. This series is geared more for men in my opinion, yet with romance thrown in, women will enjoy them also. OK, a lot of women would enjoy the series without the romance. :-) This series has a lot of suspense, military and special ops. A really awesome series. And I don't say that lightly.

Next up, a new series, A Breed Apart, a series about military dogs. The first will come out in September of this year. I am not a big dog person, but I look forward to this series.

Coming up in May is a book collaboration that Ronie is involved in along with six other authors, including the already mentioned Mike Dellosso. The book is called 7 Hours. More on that here.

More about Ronie:

An Army brat, Ronie Kendig grew up in the classic military family, with her father often TDY and her mother holding down the proverbial fort. Their family moved often, which left Ronie attending six schools by the time she’d entered fourth grade. Her only respite and “friends” during this time were the characters she created.

It was no surprise when she married a military veteran—her real-life hero—in June 1990. Married more than twenty years, Ronie and her husband, Brian, homeschool their four children, the first of whom graduated in 2011. Despite the craziness of life, Ronie finds balance and peace with her faith, family and their three dogs in Dallas, TX.

Ronie has a deep love and passion for people, especially hurting people, which is why she pursued and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Liberty University. Ronie is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has volunteered extensively, serving in a variety of capacities from coordinator of a national contest to appointment assistant at the national annual conference.

Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and her books have been gained critical acclaim and national attention, including:

■Finalist in Christian Retailing’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards (Nightshade)

■RWA’s Faith, Hope, & Love’s 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards in Romantic Suspense (Nightshade)

■Named one of the Top 25 Christian Fiction Suspense, Mystery, and Thriller Writers by FamilyFiction (Sept 2011)

■2011 FamilyFiction Readers’ Choice Awards – 3rd place as New Favorite Author, 8th place with Nightshade for Novel of the Year.

■INSPY Award Shortlist final in Mystery/Thriller (Dead Reckoning)

■The Christian Manifesto’s 2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Nightshade)

Check out her website.

The Christmas Note by Donna Vanliere

2012-01-14T11:06:00.000-05:00

Gretchen McCray has recently moved into an apartment with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. She and her children are building a life together in a new community when a mysterious young woman, Melissa Summit, moves into the apartment next to them. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself.

One day, a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen's door for assistance. Melissa's mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother's apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help, but the apartment is a gut-wrenching shamble of a home.

There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished but in the two scribbled lines, Melissa discovers she has a brother and a sister that she never knew about. Even more shocking, she begins to uncover family secrets that show her who she really is. Can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope, and redemption?

My review:
This book got laid aside and I didn't get the review up before Christmas, as it should have been done.

I enjoyed this read, as I have enjoyed all of Donna Vanliere's Christmas novellas. (Though The Christmas Shoes was as sad as the song!) This book is more of a happy and hopeful book. The part about one of the characters having been basically a "throw away child" is sad, but the rest of the book has that "wonderful things happen at Christmas" feel to it.

With books like these, I find myself wishing the story was longer, for I was sad to come to the end, but had that contented feeling that I had just read a great book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good Christmas story.

About the author:
Donna VanLiere is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author and gifted conference speaker. She has published ten titles including The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing, both of which were adapted into movies (starring Rob Lowe, Kimberly Williams-Perry and Neil Patrick Harris) and garnered big ratings for CBS television. LifetimeTelevision adapted The Christmas Hope (starring Madeline Stowe) and premiered it December 2009 to stellar ratings as well. Donna's non-seasonal novel, The Angels of Morgan Hill, has captured the same warmth as her Christmas books and continues to please loyal and new fans alike.

Donna is the recipient of a Retailer's Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, an Audie Award for best inspirational fiction, a nominee for a Gold Medallion Book of the Year and was recently inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence joining such luminaries as Coretta Scott King, Hugh Downs, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Senator John Glenn. Donna is an in-demand conference speaker having appeared at countless women's and family events, including select Women of Faith and Extraordinary Women conferences.
Donna lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband, Troy, and their children, Grace, Kate and David.

Learn more at www.DonnaVanLiere.com

The Christmas Note is available from Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy.

Deadly Disclosures, $.99 e-book

2012-01-14T10:15:00.001-05:00

During January, you can get Deadly Disclosures for $.99 in e-book form:

Meet Dinah Harris, the sarcastic and brilliant heroine of the Dinah Harris mystery trilogy, for only .99 cents this month!
From January 15th - 31st, you can get your copy of Deadly Disclosures at a promotional rate of .99 cents! This includes digital copies available for the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. To get your copy at this special price visit any of these fine retailers: Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ibooks.html iBookstore (iPad)
Answers in Genesis Bookstore (any of the above!)

Remember, this promotion will last January 15-31 only, so make sure to act fast!"

The Search Committe by Tim Owens

2012-01-12T20:09:00.000-05:00

A mismatched team of seven hit the road in an Econoline church van on a mission to find a new pastor. They don't agree on much other than the stops at Hardee's for coffee and a biscuit. But they stick to the call, trying to slip undetected into worship services across the Southeast—all in hopes of stealing a preacher for their congregation.

Each member is wrestling to balance their own busy life and personal struggles. And they're trying to keep their issues to themselves. Forced to spend countless hours together, these very different personalities from different generations begin to bond. And their lives are profoundly changed as they love and support each other through the difficulties in each of their lives.

My review:
Take seven people with different personalities, put them in a van to travel in search of a new pastor, and you have the makings of some funny stuff, or a disaster.

The book has a lot of humor in it. To me, the idea of a search committee is foreign to me. A handful (sometimes I think it boils down to one guy, the church boss) of people decide who the church will call, and members vote on him, so I was interested and entertained by how the search committee works. It actually sounds kind of fun.

Each individual on the committee has problems and struggles they are dealing with. None of them are perfect. One struggles with lust. Another loses a spouse. As they travel from church to church, they learn more about each other and how to be there for others.

If there is a lesson to be learned from this book, I would say there are two actually. First off, none of us are perfect, but God loves us anyway and keeps working on us. Secondly, sometimes what we are looking for is right in front of us, and we don't need to go looking elsewhere. I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it.

About the author:

Tim Owens has a doctorate in environmental engineering and is the co-owner of an environmental engineering firm. He also holds three patents, is a Scoutmaster, and participated in disaster relief in Honduras and Mozambique as a water systems engineer. He currently resides in Summerville, South Carolina, with his wife and four children.

Check out his website.

The Search Committee is available from Tyndale House Publishing.

Thanks to Tyndale for the review copy.

Race Against Time by Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse

2012-01-12T17:13:00.001-05:00

Anesia Naltsiine has made mistakes that have cost her-and her 13-year old daughter, Zoya-dearly. But no more. She will prove her worth as a mother and as a breeder of champion sprint racing dogs. Her kennel is so successful that buyers come from all over the world. So why does she still feel so worthless?

Zoya misses the dad she never knew. All she wants is to follow in his footsteps as a champion sprint dog racer. But when she witnesses a murder in their town of North Pole, Alaska, she finds herself thrown into dangers and emotions she can’t begin to understand.

Enter Sean Connelly, a new employee at the kennel with demons of his own. When he discovers macrochips bearing military secrets implanted in the Naltsiine's dogs, a puzzle tracing back to the murder unfolds. Then strange "accidents" start happening; clearly someone wants Zoya silenced. Anesia tells her daughter it's not safe to race, but Zoya, angry with the world- and God-takes off across dangerous Alaskan terrain alone. Anesia and Sean must race against time to save the girl-and themselves.

My review:
I extremely enjoyed the debut novel by this mother-daughter writing duo, No Safe Haven. To be honest, I doubted the sequel could compare, but I was wrong. This book was awesome. There is plenty of suspense, which I love, some romance - which is ok as long as there is suspense, and the book had a great message. One of the characters in the book struggles with doubts of God, of Him deserting her, failing her, not caring about her. That is something I struggle with, so I appreciated the authors dealing with that issue in a novel.

These ladies have hit it out of the ballpark with this book. It was a great read, and I could not put it down. I am looking forward to reading more from this great writing duo.

About the authors:
Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, writer, and musician approaching life with a positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. Her previous book, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, chronicles her daughter’s extremely rare health issues and how the Woodhouses received an amazing gift through the ABC television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Kim and her husband have two children and live in Colorado.

Kayla Woodhouse is a teenage author whose life-altering medical condition (a nerve disorder that prevents the body from regulating its temperature or sensing pain) has not stopped her love for swimming. She is home schooled and has an adventure blog called Dragon Claws, Dog Paws, Swimming Laws.

Race Against Time is available from Broadman & Holman Publishing.

Thanks to Broadman & Holman for the review copy.

The Hilarious Book of Heavenly Humor by Bob Phillips & Johnny Hawkins

2012-01-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

Bestselling jokester Bob Phillips (more than 5.4 million books sold) and godly, goodly humor cartoonist Jonny Hawkins team up to take a lighthearted look at church, Bible characters and events, and faith in this collection that offers a bit of humor for those in the pulpit, pews, and anywhere in between.

Eve: Adam, do you love me?

Adam: Who else?

Question: What caused Abel to feel neglected?

Answer: His parents were raising Cain.

This collection of jokes, quotes, and cartoons, alphabetized and indexed from Abel to Zacchaeus, will be a favorite resource for those who want to freshen their bulletins, newsletters, speeches, or sermons—or just infuse their earthly days with some good clean fun.

My review:
I love a good joke book, and am always on the look out for a good and clean one. This falls into both categories. It is full of humorous quips and cartoons centering around the Bible and church. Some I had heard before, and many I had not, but all put a smile on my face and many caused me to chuckle out loud.

Bob Phillips wrote the written part of the book, and Johnny Hawkins did the cartoons. Both guys did a great job of presenting good, clean Christian humor. This a book I'd recommend to anyone who likes humor, and it would be great for bulletins and a tool for pastors to insert in their messages.

About the authors:
Bob Phillips, PhD, is the former executive director of a multimillion-dollar nonprofit corporation. He is a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist in California. The cofounder of the Pointman Leadership Institute, Bob has presented leadership seminars in 19 countries. With more than 11 million copies in print, he is the author and coauthor of numerous nonfiction, humor, and fiction books, including his New York Times bestselling Babylon Rising series.

Recipient of the ECPA Gold Book Award for Redi-Reference in 1990 and Awesome Good Clean Jokes for Kids in 2005

Recipient of the Harvest House Platinum Award in 1999

Jonny Hawkins is a full-time cartoonist whose work has appeared in more than 600 publications. He also creates five themed Cartoon-a-Day calendars each year. Jonny and his wife, Carissa, have three children and live in Michigan.

The Hilarious Book of Heavenly Humor is available from Harvest House Publishers.

Thanks to Harvest House for the review copy.

One Step Away by Eric Wilson

2012-01-12T13:08:00.000-05:00

A Modern Twist on One of the World's Oldest Tales

Bret and Sara Vreeland have been targeted. Someone has plans for them, a plot that reaches into their past and threatens their future.

When one of Sara's patients dies, a mysterious old man, he leaves his fortune to her and her family. They have no idea they are part of an experiment. Satan once tested Job through trials, but failed to break him. Now Satan has sought God's permission to test the Vreelands with a $6,000,000 blessing.

As their lives take turn for the better, will their souls take a turn for the worse?

My review:
Eric Wilson has written some strange books. Good strange though, not bad strange. This book doesn't fall into the strange category, but does fall into the good. The very good. A mark of how much I enjoy a book is whether I read through it in one day, and I did this one. I unfortunately started reading it before work, and had to wait until after work to finish it, but finish it I did, around 1:30 am this morning.

The book was suspenseful and entertaining, and I thought Eric did a tremendous job of showing the effects on a family of becoming an instant millionaire. It sounds great, and I would like to have more money, but through a fictional account, he shows the effects on a marriage, the inner workings of family, and on their souls.

I have liked everything I have read by Eric, but this is at the top of the list. I am anticipating the release of the next book in this series.

About the author:
Eric Wilson is a New York Times best-selling author with a gift for weaving spiritual realities into the extreme difficulties and dark challenges of real life. After the firestorm of success with the best seller Fireproof, Eric established himself as a master of the spiritual thriller in the Jerusalem Undead Trilogy for Thomas Nelson. Currently he is penning a new series for Bay Forest, By the Numbers.

One Step Away is available from Bay Forest Books.

I purchased this book and the review was done on my own.

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

2012-01-12T12:53:00.002-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingHis Steadfast LoveThomas Nelson (November 1, 2011)byGolden Keyes Parsons

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction for Thomas Nelson Publishing, and is also a popular retreat/conference speaker. Her highly acclaimed Darkness to Light Series chronicled the journey of her French Huguenot ancestors in 17th century France. Her newest novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel set in Texas, just released November 2011. Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine, where they enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and are avid sports fan of their alma mater, Baylor University.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It isn't until the Civil War comes to her doorstep that Amanda Bell must choose between love and family.

It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Amanda never thought she would marry because of a promise she made to her dying mother, but her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.

When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel aligns with the Confederate States, while Kent remains with the Union troops.

Her heart is torn between the two men she is closest to and the two sides of the conflict. Amanda prays to God for direction and support, but hears only silence. Where is God in the atrocities of war-and whose side is He on?

Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. She must trust God to deliver her family through the chaos of war with her heart and her faith intact.

If you would like to read the first chapter of His Steadfast Love, go HERE.

The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer

2012-01-10T13:29:00.002-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Captive HeartBethany House (January 1, 2012)byDale Cramer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dale Cramer spent his formative years traveling the world as an Army brat, then settled in Georgia at the age of fifteen when his father retired.

After high school he became an electrician, a job that took him to places as diverse as power plants, stadia, airports, high-rise office buildings and a hard-rock mining operation.

Twenty-five years of experiences in the trades provided him with the wealth of characters, stories and insights that populate his novels.

When he married his childhood friend, Pam, in 1975 he had no way of knowing they would not have children until fifteen years later.

In his early forties, when Dale left his job to become a stay-at-home dad, he suddenly found himself with time on his hands, so he pursued a lifelong dream and taught himself to write.

Using an online writer’s forum as a training ground, he wrote his first short stories in 1996. As his writing skills improved he turned to novels, publishing his first book, Sutter’s Cross, in 2003.

Since then, Dale has published four more novels and garnered a measure of critical acclaim with two Christy Awards, a listing among Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2004 and numerous other Best lists. Dale and his wife Pam live in Georgia with their two sons.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bandit troubles intensify as Caleb Bender's family tries to settle into their new life in 1920s Paradise Valley. When El Pantera kidnaps Rachel and leaves her brother, Aaron, for dead, Jake Weaver and the Mexican native Domingo pursue the bandit leader to his mountain stronghold in a hopeless rescue attempt. Jake and Domingo manage to escape with Rachel, with the bandits hot on their trail. In a desperate attempt to avoid recapture, Domingo puts himself squarely in harm's way, giving Jake and Rachel time to get away. This is not the quiet life Caleb Bender envisioned when he led his family out of Ohio. What is a father to make of his daughter's obvious affection for a man outside the fold? And how will a pacifist Amishman like Caleb respond to the events that threaten his family and their way of life?

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

Never The Same by B.C. Fleming

2012-01-05T18:44:00.000-05:00

On one calm morning in late July 2006, a ten vehicle convoy departed its Forward Operating Base in southeastern Afghanistan. Destination: KANDAHAR. Less than five hours later one soldier awoke, burned and bloody, in a ditch on the side of the road. This is the story of Sergeant B.C. Fleming. A Team Leader in a Reconnaissance Platoon with the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, Fleming recounts his grueling experience of waging war in the high-desert mountains of Afghanistan. From being shot at to getting blown up TWICE to delivering humanitarian aid to impoverished children, he candidly describes "the real story" of the war in Afghanistan as he experienced it. His story is one of truth, pain, sacrifice, soul-searching, and the unthinkable adversity American troops overcome daily in order to protect and defend the American people.

My review:
First off, this book has given me a greater appreciation for our military and what they do and go through to keep us safe, and to fight for our freedoms.

Brian gives some background on himself, and tells how and why he got into the military. His descriptions of life on the battlefield are graphic and made me able to see it in my mind.

His story is amazing. Much more so when you see the pictures of him after his run-in with a suicide bomber. He doesn't pull any punches, but tells of the pain he suffered, his doubts and anger with God, yet his story is one of hope and encouragement. He made this book into more than a story about what happened to him and how God brought him through it. He uses his story to encourage his readers that no matter what our wounds and scars, God can bring good out of them, and that often what hurts and cuts us the most, can become our greatest strength and a way to help others.

About the author:
B.C. Fleming graduated high school just north of Miami, Florida, in 2003. Ranking at the top of his class academically, he fully intended to attend college and then medical school to become a physician. But he realized, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, that he needed to rearrange his priorities.

Upon graduation from high school, Fleming enlisted in the United States Army as an infantry soldier. After spending three and one half months at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fleming was sent overseas for duty in South Korea. While there, he served as a machine gunner in a mechanized infantry platoon with the 2nd Infantry Division. In Korea, he developed a love for mountain climbing and was inspired to begin writing his first book, A Life Worth Living. Upon completion of his one-year tour in South Korea, Fleming returned to the United States and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, 4th Brigade, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and placed into a scout/sniper platoon as a team leader. Over the following year and a half, Fleming was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant just one week before his unit deployed to Afghanistan.

On the morning of April 18, 2006, Fleming’s vehicle was annihilated by a homemade bomb that was buried in the dirt road he was traveling. Though the vehicle was completely destroyed, Fleming walked away without a scratch. Just a few months later, on July 24, 2006, Fleming’s Humvee was blown up by a suicide bomber and, in the blink of an eye, the course of his life was changed again.

Fleming was transported home on July 27 to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for reconstructive surgery. After fourteen months of rehabilitation, Fleming was officially discharged from the US Army. He then moved to Colorado for several months to work for Dave Roever, a severely burned Vietnam veteran, who mentored Fleming in public speaking and in life, showing him how to turn tragedy into triumph and become a success in life.

A recipient of the Purple Heart, Fleming was inducted into the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in 2010. He is the author of five books, including Never the Same, the personal story of his encounter with a suicide bomber, and has appeared as a guest on several Christian television shows such as The 700 Club with Pat Robertson, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Daystar Network and Life Today with James and Betty Robison. He has shared the stage with well-known public figures such as Governor Mike Huckabee, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Sean Hannity, Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and his close friend Dave Roever. Fleming has become best known for telling people, “Getting attacked by a suicide bomber never felt so good” because of the healing power God has brought to so many others as a result of his once devastating war injury.

Fleming now resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and two children. Meet him online at www.BlownUpGuy.com and www.facebook.com/blownupguy.

Shadow In Serenity by Terri Blackstock

2012-01-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

Carny Sullivan grew up in the zany world of a traveling carnival. Quaint and peaceful Serenity, Texas, has given her a home, a life, and a child. Logan Brisco is the smoothest, slickest, handsomest man Serenity, Texas has ever seen. But Carny Sullivan knows a con artist when she sees one—and she’s seen plenty, starting with her father. As far as Carny Sullivan can tell, she’s the only one in town who has his number. Because from his Italian shoes to his movie-actor smile, Logan has the rest of the town snowed.

Carny is determined to reveal Brisco’s selfish intentions before his promise to the townspeople for a cut in a giant amusement park sucks Serenity dry. Yet, as much as she hates his winning ways, there is a man behind that suave smile, a man who may win her heart against her will. Shadow in Serenity is a modern-day Music Man, penned by a Christy Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author.

My review:
Terri Blackstock typically writes suspense, and to me she is the pioneer of Christian suspense. I don't know if she is the first Christian author to start writing suspense, but I don't remember much being in the Christian market when I bought her first Christian suspense novel. This book is not suspense, but I still enjoyed it extremely.

I loved the characters in this book. There is the con man, Logan, who is trying to con a whole town and is being rather successful at doing so, and then there is Carny, who can see right through him and fights him the whole way.

This is pretty much a romance, which I don't usually read, but since Terri is a long time favorite author of mine, I requested it to review, and am glad I did. Yes, it is a romance, but it also shows how God can work and change anyone, and bring that person to him. This was an entertaining read, but one with a great message.

I found it interesting that this book was published previously when Terri wrote secular fiction. Some content has been changed due to technology changing, and it now being a Christian book.

About the author:

Terri Blackstock has sold six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestseller. She is the award-winning author of Intervention and Double Minds, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.

Author Website:

http://www.terriblackstock.com

Shawdow In Serenity is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to Zondervan for the review copy.

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

2012-01-04T10:01:00.002-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Rose of Winslow StreetBethany House (January 1, 2012)
byElizabeth Camden

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.

When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.

As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Rose of Winslow Street, go HERE.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

2012-01-04T10:01:00.000-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Maid of Fairbourne HallBethany House (January 1, 2012)byJulie Klassen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years (first in advertising, then as a fiction editor) and now writes full time. Two of her books, The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Girl in the Gatehouse also won a Midwest Book Award and The Silent Governess was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA awards.

She graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoys travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends. Julie and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?

Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?

On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, go HERE

Frantic by Mike Dellosso

2012-01-01T22:16:00.001-05:00

Can a deranged serial killer be stopped before it s too late?

For gas station attendant Marny Toogood it s just another day on the job when an urgent message from a young girl in the backseat of a car draws him into a daring rescue attempt. Now on the run with the girl and her brother, Marny begins to realize he must conquer his own past and surrender all to Christ.

As they face kidnapping, underground cults, and other evils, can Marny trust the simple faith of a child and stand his ground against a power so twisted?

My review:
This is my first book review of 2012, and I am honored to review the newest book by one of my favorite authors, Mike Dellosso. The book is titled Frantic, and though I say this about each book he writes, I think it is his best yet.

Awesome s a word that gets overused, but it is a word that describes this book perfectly. Awesome. The story revolves around a young boy of eleven years of age, William. He has a special gift that seems almost magical, yet it is one we could all have: faith. Real faith. He believes, and it happens.

This book is fast-paced. I had a hard time finding a good stopping place when I needed to put the book down. It has a lot of action, a lot of running and chasing, and a lot of people die. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will try not to give out too much that happens in the book.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Mike's books, but I really liked his characters in this book. First off, is William. Sure, he is a fictional character in a fictional story, but he is what Jesus promised all of us. If we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Yes, it is only a story, but it made me hunger and wish for that kind of faith. Praying and really believing it would happen. Not just hoping it would happen.

Next up, Marnin, or "Marny." A young man who sees the bad in life, and feels he is basically an unlucky charm to anyone he comes into contact with. I identified a lot with him. No, I haven't had a lot of people die around me, nor had an abusive step-father, but I have tended to focus too much on the negative and hang back, afraid to step out on faith. And like Marny, I have let the past define who I am and affect me more than I should let it.

And then there is Esther. She is the older sibling of William, who she protects with her life.

The book has its villains also, but these three characters from the mind and pen (or maybe keyboard) of Mike Dellosso are not just characters in a Christian fiction novel. They are a lesson and example. I came away from the book feeling convicted for my lack of faith, for my ease in letting the negative things in life cloud my life and hold me back. I also came away with the desire for true faith.

There are some who look down on Christian fiction. They call it shallow. And some may be. This book, however, is not shallow. It is entertaining, gripping, and a terrific read that is hard to put down, but it has a message we all need to hear and take to heart. Actually more than one message. If we have faith - true faith, we can move mountains and more. Second, God can work anything out for the best, even when horribly evil men have nothing but bad planned for us. Thirdly, the past is just that -the past. We shouldn't let it rule us and define who we are and what we do. And lastly, no matter how negative our outlook is on life, no matter how far from God we may be, He can change anyone. At least that is what I got out of the book. :-)

About the author:
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He is a regular columnist for AVirtuousWoman.org, was a newspaper correspondent/columnist for over three years, has published several articles for The Candle of Prayer inspirational booklets, and has edited and contributed to numerous Christian-themed websites and e-newsletters. Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers association, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer’s Network, and FaithWriters, and plans to join International Thriller Writers. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master’s Graduate School of Divinity.

Also by Mike:

Frantic was provided to me for review by the author, Mike Dellosso, and Realms Publishing.

Check out Mike's blog/website.

New blog

2011-12-30T22:14:00.001-05:00

I started this blog out a few years ago blogging about "stuff": God, church, life, etc. Then I got into reviewing books, and this blog has turned into more of a book review blog. With a new year coming on, I decided I need to blog more, for a few reasons. I have a few friends (yeah - I have friends!) who grumble about my not blogging anymore.... so for them, and for other reasons, I am starting a new blog for the new year. I like the name of this blog, Thoughts of a Sojourner, but it would be too difficult to move all of my book reviewing to a new blog, so this blog will stay here for book reviews, and possibly some other things, but I created a new blog, Ponderings from the Journey, where I will be blogging about "stuff". So, if you're interested, check it out and follow.

Tyndale giveaway

2011-12-17T13:39:00.001-05:00

Tyndale is giving away a NLT Life Application Bible. Enter here.

Giveaway

2011-12-13T11:08:00.002-05:00

win a Bible here

Tim Tebow

2011-12-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

**Disclaimer: I detest football, and this blog post in no way changes that. I don't understand why people get so obsessed and excited about seeing guys they don't know play a game. I think its sad that a lot of church people can name team members, stats, etc, but couldn't name the 12 apostles or the Beatitudes. I have no interest in who wins the Superbowl, except I cheer for the opposite team of my facebook friends.That said.......

I admire Tim Tebow. He has been coming under fire from all sides, even other Christians, for his outspokenness about his Christianity, his kneeling "Tebowing" after he gets a touchdown, or whatever he does it for. They say he is too fanatical, and he has been mocked for it.

I didn't even know til today when I read an article about him, what team he plays for. Neither do I care. I do admire him though. I don't know a lot about him, but it sounds like he is true to his convictions, and he is not ashamed of his Christianity. I am sure I wouldn't agree with everything he does - i.e. playing on Sundays, but it doesn't sound like he does anything to ruin the Christian image he puts forth.

I have a few thoughts about him and his forwardness about his Christianity, and the media and liberals attacking him for it.

First off: If he were a Muslim, they wouldn't dare attack him and mock him, but Christians are fair game. (great article on Fox News website about him, and the writer makes that point).

Second: If we live as the Bible commands, the world isn't going to love us. And if we live as the Bible commands us to, people are going to know who we are, and what we stand for. I have little time for these so-called Christians who are in entertainment, sports, etc, and you would never know that they are Christians by anything they do. They don't sing about Jesus, they aren't careful about the kinds of movies they appear in, etc. If every sports person and celebrity who claimed to be a Christian was like Tim Tebow, he wouldn't be an oddity or anything unusual.

And to take that further, if everyone who claimed to be a Christian, celebrity or your average Joe, was made of the stuff Tim Tebow is made of, and acted out our faith the way he does, this world would be a totally different place.

So, Tim Tebow, though I hate the sport you play, thank-you for your integrity and boldness to show your faith and beliefs in the face of mockery and attacks on you. God bless you for being something that so many people in sports are not worthy to be: a role model.

30 Days of Faith

2011-12-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

To kick off the release of his upcoming book, Frantic, one of my favorite authors, Mike Dellosso is having a "30 Days of Faith" on his blog, and is wanting submissions of the faithfulness of God in our lives. Check it out on his blog.

Secrets of the Moutain Movie

2011-12-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

Dana James is a single mom with three kids living in upstate New York. Life together has generally followed a predictable routine and things have always seemed manageable. But somewhere between the demands of her career as public defender, her ex’s wedding and the challenges of school schedules, a noticeable distance has emerged between family members.

Dana (played by Paige Turco) is now desperately looking to find ways to draw the family back together and reestablish the closeness they once had. An unexpected offer to purchase the mountain property inherited from Dana’s Uncle Henry (Barry Bostwick) provides an impromptu trip to Tesla Falls. The plan is to finalize the deal and to spend some much needed quality time together. Upon arrival, the family discovers the pending property sale has been driven by the discovery of an ancient text describing buried Aztec treasure within the mountain. And in an even bigger discovery, the family finds that adventurer Uncle Henry is still alive. Henry has his own plans to solve the mountain’s secrets and enrolls the entire family to help.

The race is on to solve the secrets of the mountain and find the treasure before the sale goes through. But those behind the purchase are determined to do everything possible to keep that from happening. Each family member will be required to step up and contribute their individual skills and talent if they are to solve this mystery. Because when times get tough, families don’t run away from problems. They run to each other.

My review:
I don't watch a lot of movies, but thought this one looked worth watching, and it was. This is not a Christian movie, but it couldn't be any cleaner or more family-friendly. There is no cursing at all. There WAS one use of God's name taken in vain which I did not catch, but I read Plugged In Online, Focus on the Family's review site, and they caught it. As they state in their review, this movie is "squeaky clean." I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is one that kids will definitely enjoy. It has a bit of Indiana Jones feel to it at times. Check out the trailer:

F.A.I.R.I.E.S.: Baptism by Fire

2011-12-07T00:22:00.000-05:00

Today's Wild Card author & illustrator is:

M. C. Pearson

and the book:

F.A.I.R.I.E.S.: Baptism by Fire

FIRST Wild Card Press (December 5, 2011)

***Special thanks to M. C. Pearson of FIRST Wild Card Press for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. C. Pearson graduated from San Jose State University with a B. A. in art, served as a multi-media illustrator in the United States Army, earning the rank of sergeant, and spent four years as a house parent for at-risk youth. Now married over 20 years, she homeschools her two children, volunteers with her church youth group, and runs a book review blog alliance (FIRST Wild Card Tours) while writing and drawing. F.A.I.R.I.E.S.: Baptism by Fire is her first novel.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Unwittingly chosen to join an army of fairies, who fight for the Light of the One, a teenaged girl learns about spiritual warfare as she attends a military academy with fantastical beings.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

Here lies a most precious treasure,

Awaiting one Chosen to deliver.

Seek out the red cousins in the East,

For on this your greed mustn't feast.

The wealth of a species now in your hands,

Do with it as the light demands.

Give them your gift to unite,

For it is the darkness we all must fight.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

"Imagination runs wild in F.A.I.R.I.E.S. Pearson brings young readers through a looking glass and into a world bursting with adventure, heroism, and fascinating creatures. Readers will be inspired to be true to the One and left with anticipation of more to come."
--Jill Williamson, award-winning author of
By Darkness Hid, and other books

"Sprinkled with delightful illustrations, and brimming with a full bestiary of magical creatures, F.A.I.R.I.E.S. is a fun, clever romp through the alternate landscape of the most magical world of all, our own. Read, and take up the call: 'Defend and Emancipate!'"
-- D. Barkley Briggs, author of
The Book of Names, and other books

"F.A.I.R.I.E.S. will appeal to readers who love the interplay of fantasy and reality. A rich cast of eccentric characters and exotic settings make this a fun addition to the folklore of the battle between good and evil."
--Mike Hamel, author of
YA fantasy series: MATTERHORN THE BRAVE

"F.A.I.R.I.E.S. is one of those rare gems I want to tell everyone about. It's highly imaginative, packed with adventure, and full of hope. A must read for kids and for kids at heart. Even better than Narnia! I was thinking about Pearson's wonderfully memorable characters for days."
--C.J. Darlington, author of
Thicker than Blood

"Ms. Pearson's extravagant and imaginative F.A.I.R.I.E. kingdom will surely delight the young and the young-at-heart in this tale of good and evil, light vs. darkness. The fantasy-loving reader will not be disappointed!"
--Linore Rose Burkard, award winning author of
Before the Season Ends, and other books

Product Details:

List Price: $17.99
Paperback: 482 pages
Publisher: FIRST Wild Card Press (December 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615530222
ISBN-13: 978-0615530222

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Four thousand seasons shall pass while our swords grow rusty.

Where once one chose to divide, another shall be chosen to unite.

One changed the past, the other shall change the future.

One must emancipate the other to allow the light its dominion.

The realm, now torn, allows the shadow to abide, as humanity lies blind to its peril.

The bond of friendship must endure, for the army of shadows awaits another tear.

Dust off your swords.

Unite the realm.

Destroy the strongholds.

Foretelling of Didasko Gnome Digdeep

†

PART ONE

t was an accident!” Mellie yelled, not caring who heard or stared. Tears streaked her face as she fled down the Santa Cruz coastline, away from her family.

You don’t need them, a voice hissed in her ear, Escape. Run away.

Scorching sand burned at her feet and bitterness ate at her heart. Mellie pumped her legs as fast as they would go. Her feet pounded with the rhythm of her emotions, beating a tempo with the crashing waves. Run-a-way. Run-a-way. Run-a-way. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins, quickening her step.

Why did I have to be the youngest? Only 12 years old. Never smart enough. Never athletic enough. I just wish they loved me.

Once, just once, she wanted to do something that would make her sisters see that she wasn’t the stupid, awkward, ugly, little baby sister.

As she ran, she wiped away some tears with the palm of her hand. Her fingers settled on her large nose, a gift from her dad’s Hungarian ancestry.

Chelsea got the ski-slope shaped nose. I had to get Half-Dome. It just isn’t fair.

Her hand dropped to her side and she pinched at her stomach. It still had some of its baby fat.

Ugh, why are my sisters so perfect? What happened to me?

Pushing her short bangs from her forehead in disgust, she mumbled, “Maybe I’ll find treasure. I’ll be the rich one, and then they’ll have to accept me.” But she knew better. California didn’t hold any more undiscovered treasures.

The sand, hot and coarse, cut at her feet. I wish I had remembered my shoes. She wore only a black, one-piece swimsuit and a San Jose Sharks sweatshirt tied tightly around her waist.

Breathing rapidly, she began to tire. She slowed her pace to a walk and looked back across the beach. The sand was so hot that waves of heat rose from it and blurred her view. A lone seagull screeched overhead.

Her sisters were nowhere in sight.

Man, I thought for sure that Chelsea was going to chase me down and kill me.

She had to admit that it was a little gratifying to see the sand fly from her foot, covering Chelsea’s sub-sandwich and freshly oiled stomach. Grinning slightly, the tears stopped flowing. She rubbed her eyes.

Mellie looked in the direction of her sisters. “You guys can never take a joke.” Flipping her golden hair, she turned her head back toward her chosen path. She no longer smiled as she stomped her feet in the cold surf, remembering the hateful words that had been said.

“Oh, waa waa, you stupid cry baby! Go tell mommy! Maybe she’ll feel sorry for her ugly, fat baby. Why don’t you grow up? We don’t want you near us. Can’t you understand English? You are so dumb. Look at her mouth open. Oh wait, here she goes…come on, baby…cry!”

Mellie knew she couldn’t go back. They would only ridicule and torment her further. Her mom would never believe it was Chelsea’s fault. No, the evidence was on Chelsea’s side. Who was the one with the sand all over her oily, coconut-smelling body? Who was the one who had a sandwich full of sand? Mellie walked on.

After her temper finally cooled, it occurred to her that she had never walked so far alone.

How far have I gone?

A shadow passed over her, and she looked up. Nothing was there. A cool breeze from the ocean created a stark contrast to the scalding sand. She shivered but kept walking, lost in her loneliness.

Not until she stubbed her toe on a large broken clamshell did she look at the beach. A chill snaked up her back. Nothing appeared familiar. The sounds of the surf were still there, yet something was decidedly different. She felt dizzy. Looking around, she could not quite pinpoint the change. Then it struck her.

No people.

Where did everybody go?

Even though she could see no one, Mellie could swear that she felt eyes staring at her.

She looked inland across the sand, saw movement near some eucalyptus trees, but decided that the wind must have caused it.

Trees? So close to the beach?

Something shook the trees again, causing goosebumps to stand out on Mellie’s arms. Alarmed, she checked the skyline. The sun was close to setting. She hoped that the police weren’t out looking for her.

Suddenly cold, she pulled at the arms of the sweatshirt still tied around her waist. It fell to the sand. Bending to pick it up, she once again saw a blur of movement, except this time it came from a rocky outcrop by the waves. She shook the sand out of the sweatshirt and hurriedly tugged it over her head.

“Okay, I’m seeing things.” Mellie yanked at her hair, pulling it out of the sweatshirt. She stared at the sinister rocks. “Hel-lo?” Her voice cracked as she spoke louder. “Is someone the-ere? Hello?” No answer. The shadowy rocks seemed to quiver with excitement, beckoning her closer.

Hmm…probably just a seagull.

Even if it was a bird, she did not want to see it.

There’s no way I’m going over there.

The wind picked up and blew her hair into her eyes. The sand spun with the wind.

Yes, definitely time to move. I need to find a road.

She turned back toward the sweet smelling, oddly placed trees.

Mellie arrived at the base of the first, colossal eucalyptus tree. Without warning, one of the branches fell in front of her, then seemed to get up from the ground and pose its bottom stems in a military-like stance.

Mellie screamed and jumped back. “Branches don’t stand.”

“They do if they are walking sticks.” The eucalyptus branch chuckled, stretching to its full height, considerably taller than Mellie’s meager five feet.
She gasped, grabbed the branch, and threw it like a javelin, as hard as she could.

As she took off running, she heard a bark and halted. Turning, she saw a golden retriever bounding toward her with the stick in his mouth. The dog dropped it at her feet. She watched the dog run into the grove of trees and disappear before she fearfully turned back to the possessed stick.

It had already gained its footing again and stood over her. Mellie was too frightened to move this time.

A face emerged from the skinny twig and took on the characteristics of a male human, but none like Mellie had ever seen. He had hair made up in rolls as if it were a powdered, green-silver wig, the same color as the leaves that grew all around his skinny body. His face was long and his forehead high. The twiggy man smiled and said in a distinctly British, albeit breezy, accent, “Do not worry, you are safe.”

Mellie couldn’t answer.

“Ahh…I love new recruits. They are so easily addled.”

Feeling more confused than threatened, Mellie found her voice. “What? What do you mean, new recruits?” She rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. “Okay, I’m talking to a stick now. Yes, I have lost it. I have gone totally mental.”

“Oh, I say, am I to understand that I am the first to be revealed to you?” With round, leathery leaves, the branch resembled a toddler toy with rings stacked on one another.

She dropped open her mouth and nodded.

“Well, let me do this properly, then. Ahem. Mortal, made of clay, you have been Chosen to join the Fantastical, Aerial, International, Reasonably Inconspicuous, Emancipation Squads.”

“What? What are you? You look like a stick…but you can talk.”

“Yes, child,” the stick replied with a sigh. “But, I think we are quite past that by now. Have you not heard me? You have been Chosen.”

Mellie opened her mouth wider, closed it, frowned, and opened it once more. “Chosen? For what?”

“You did wish to be different? To change who you were? ’Twas an especially strong desire, yes?” The branch crossed its arms and tapped its twiggy foot.

“Umm…”

“Dear me, this is highly unusual. You made a choice to run away from a miserable life and asked to be set free? Correct?”

“Well, I, ah…yeah. I guess so. What did you say about recruit for some squad?”

“Humph. I see that I was not understood. Yes? Let me elucidate. The Fantastical, Aerial, International, Reasonably Inconspicuous, Emancipation Squads , or shall I say F.A.I.R.I.E.S.? have accepted you into their organization. You asked. You were answered.” The branch attempted a smile, but looked impatient instead.

“Fairies? I don’t believe in fairies.” Mellie winced, half expecting him to fall down and writhe in pain until she clapped her hands.

“Quite right. You are not supposed to. If humans truly believed we existed, we would never get anything accomplished.”

Mellie laughed and looked around for a hidden camera, thinking this must be a joke. “Right. Ah…heh…okay, bud, brilliant costume,” she said, imitating the branch’s accent. “Where’s the zipper?” She reached toward him and touched a soft leaf.

The branch slapped her hand away and stamped its foot with a loud cracking noise. “I beg your pardon. I have not been a bud for over 800 springs!” He paced, his leaves crumpling, mumbling to himself about humans and why, in the One’s name, did he listen to that confounded gnome who told him that he needed to stand gate duty. With his rank!

“I’m sorry I upset you. Please, I’m very confused. I’m lost, and I just want to go home.” Mellie bit her lip.

The branch stopped mid-pace. “Home? Earlier, did you not wish for a new life? And riches? I know you wished for treasure, hmm?”

“How do you know that?” Mellie furrowed her brow. “Have you been reading my mind?”

The twig man didn’t answer her questions, asking his own instead. “Ahh, so, you admit this, yes?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, but…well, this really isn’t what I had in mind.”

The branch threw up its twiggy fingers. “Oh, well, of course you did not have this in mind. After all, we are reasonably inconspicuous, especially to humans. How could you have this in mind? However, is it not superior of the One to think that this is what you would have chosen had you known about us? Anyway, ’tis irrevocable now. So, if you would just follow me, we shall get you signed in and enrolled for training.”

The branch marched off between the trunks of two large eucalyptus trees.

Mellie slid uncontrollably after the walking stick. She planted her feet firmly, refusing to budge, but she slid after him anyway. Grasping at branches of nearby trees, she panted heavily as she struggled to resist following the branch. Some kind of invisible tie connected her to him. He seemed to pull her along with his every step.

Mellie thought about her sisters and how mad they were at her. I’m dead meat if they find me. Mellie quickly gave up her battle and ran after the eucalyptus branch, barely keeping up with his stride.

†

The sand changed to coarse dirt, with pebbles and sticks. More and more trees filled Mellie’s vision. Bushes scraped against her bare legs and slapped her face as she moved deeper inside a forest of eucalyptus and redwood trees. She winced in pain as a razor-sharp rock sliced her foot. Stopping to nurse it, she wished once again for her forgotten shoes.

“Excuse me, sir?” Mellie looked around. She could not see the branch anywhere.

“Do not call me ‘sir’, I work for a living.” The branch peeked out from around one of the gigantic trees. “And please, try to keep up. We need to reach the gateway.”

Mellie limped up to him. “Sorry, sir…I mean…umm, what should I call you then?”

“Oh, well, we did skip that. Did we not? Yes, all right, an introduction then.” The branch man seemed to enjoy formal etiquette for he gave an elaborate wave and bowed. “My name is Regnans, family of Myrtaceae, born member of the F.A.I.R.I.E.S., Britannia Wing, rank of Master Nymph Dryad.”

“Nice to meet you, Reg…Reg?” Mellie chewed on the inside of her mouth. Never good at remembering names, she knew she would offend him with her lack of manners.

Sure enough, the dryad raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “Regnans.” He gave a hurt sniff, then drolly sneered. “If you find that a difficult name, you should meet the rest of my family, all seven-hundred thirty-four of them.”

“Sorry, I just…well, it is a lot to remember. It’s a nice name, though. My name is Maryellen Goodwin of Bret Harte Middle School, San Jose, California. But everyone calls me Mellie.” She stuck out her hand, intending to shake. Regnans stared at her.

“That is a strange curtsy. However, I guess ’twill do. We must get moving now. The shadows abound, you know.” Regnans made an about face and marched off faster than before.

Another hour passed, and still they strode along the forest floor. Mellie’s feet were now cut, blistered, and bleeding. She kept up as best she could with Regnans’s long stride. Whenever she tried to stop, he would pull her on with that invisible force of his.

Stupid, pompous, magical Star Wars freak.

She whimpered as she limped. Darkness and mist now covered the woods. As she was about to plead for a break, Regnans stopped. Except for her heavy gulps of air, all seemed quiet.

Regnans stiffened even more than usual. Nothing on him moved, apart from his eyes, which darted around quickly.

“All is safe, we may proceed.” He held up a twiggy finger to his woody mouth. “Please do not speak, and try not to breathe so abominably loud.”

Mellie nodded with a disgusted frown. Sweat dripped from her bangs. She tried to calm her breathing, even though her vision blurred, and her legs wobbled. Her blisters had popped by now and oozed wetness.

Regnans moved again, yet this time he took slow, deliberate steps, all the while scanning his surroundings. He walked up to a massive redwood tree and stroked its bark.

A breeze stirred up, rattling the leaves, sounding almost like spoken words. Mellie thought herself crazy again. However, the longer she stood there, the more she sensed that it really was the tree’s language, as if she had never listened to trees properly before. It said, “If you love, you will say the one true love that leads the way.”

Regnans whispered in a leaf rustling voice, “Ah-gaw-pay.”

A loud grumbling sound, as if someone awakened after a long sleep, shook the grove. The redwood tree opened two eyes, each the size of Mellie’s head, and blinked. A great fissure erupted below the eyes in the shape of a crescent, and redish-brown wooden teeth emerged. A long, knobby branch pushed its way out above the mouth and inhaled deeply.

The tree chuckled. Instead of the whispering leaves, a low, rumbling utterance of human speech came from the redwood tree. “Regnans? What brings you to my neck of the woods?” He blinked again. “And who is this? A new recruit? A human? A Chosen?”

Mellie knew she looked silly, standing there with her mouth in an ‘O’ shape, but she couldn’t move. This was simply impossible. There is no such thing as fairies!

“Yes, yes. Please open the gate, we must not dawdle here…they may be watching.” Regnans looked agitated.

A deep laugh resounded from the redwood. “Oh, Regnans. There are none who watch here.”

Regnans mumbled something about hamadryads and their pride, then proclaimed in a slightly louder voice to the tree, “We must be sober, be vigilant, because the shadow walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom it may devour.”

The hamadryad looked chagrined. “You speak true, dryad. Forgive me for acting like an arrogant seedling.” He glanced at Mellie, and with a lowered voice asked, “And what is your name, little human?”

Mellie managed to squeak out, “Mellie Goodwin.”

“Ah, ’tis always nice to have a Good Wind.” The hamadryad laughed heartily.

“Sorry to interrupt this lovely tete-a-tete,” Regnans said, “but would you please open the gate? I left Westside completely unguarded.”

An annoyed creak came from the base of the redwood, followed by a sigh. “Yes, Regnans. Agape you said, and agape it is. Go with the light, my friends.” The large, joyous eyes closed, and the hamadryad whispered in his leaf rustling voice, “Until we meet again, Good Wind.” His face disappeared, and his roots lifted and pulled apart, exposing a tunnel within his trunk.

Regnans grabbed Mellie’s hand with his rough, wooden one, and pulled her inside the opening. The tree closed itself abruptly and left them in total darkness.

Regnans cleared his throat and said, “Let there be light.”

A burst of dazzling brightness sparkled from the tunnel’s wall. Mellie glanced around and noticed a long, winding stairwell leading down into the ground.

“Shall we, then?” Not waiting for a reply, Regnans started down the steps.

MANY ARE CALLED

BUT

FEW ARE CHOSEN

†

CHAPTER ONE

Off and Running

Available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

I didn't review or read this book, but the author is the owner of FIRST blogging group, which I am a member of, so I am posting this to help get the word out about her book.

The Common English Bible. A Christmas Reading and giveaway

2011-12-06T23:17:00.000-05:00

I used Random.org to pick the winner of last week's giveaway of The Common English Bible (and other giveaways that ended today), and will email the winners as soon as this post is up. Details for this giveaway at the end of the post.

As part of The Common English Bible tour, all participants are encouraged to post about the Bible, using verses from it. For this post, since Christmas is fast approaching, I am posting Matthew 1:18-24:

Birth of Jesus

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. 20 As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
23 Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel.[a] (Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

24 When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.

Giveaway:
One week giveaways don't seem to work very well for me, so I am going to run this one for two weeks, drawing a winner on December 20. To enter, do one of these two things:
1) go to Biblegateway.com and read some portion of Scripture. Comment on this blog post with what portion of Scripture you read.

or
2) go to another blogger who is part of the tour and tell me which one you visited. Links to blogs below:

Abbie Reviews (http://www.abbiereviews.blogspot.com/) – Abbie Riddle

· All Things Are Possible (http://cindywoolard.blogspot.com/) – Cindy Woolard

· Authentic Light (http://www.authenticlight.org/) – J. A. Carter

· Ayers Family Happenings (http://ayersfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/) – Tara Ayers

· Bear Witness to the Love of God in this World (http://revkencarter.blogspot.com/) – Ken Carter

· Biblical Musings (http://biblicalmusings.tumblr.com) – Christopher Price

· Blessed are the Poor (http://gpatrickhubbard.com/) – Patrick Hubbard II

· Bluerose’s Heart (http://bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/) – Tammy Shelnut

· Bona Annuntiatio (http://bonaannuntiatio.blogspot.com/) – William Meeker

· Book Reviews from an Avid Reader (http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/) – Joan Nienhuis

· The Book Tree (http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/) – Laura Ellis

· Books and Needlepoint (http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/) – Kristi Herbrand

· Books at the Beach (http://booksatthebeach.blogspot.com/) – Steven King

· Bridget Willard (http://www.bridgetwillard.wordpress.com/) – Bridget Willard

· Bruce Reyes-Chow (http://reyes-chow.com/) – Bruce Reyes-Chow

· By the Book (http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/) – Beckie Burnham

· Canadian Ladybug Reviews! (http://canadianladybugreviews.blogspot.com/) – Isabelle Lussier

· Captain’s bLog (http://rob-reardon.blogspot.com/) – Rob Reardon

· ChurchThought.com (http://churchthought.com/) – Matt Steen

· Cindy’s Book Reviews (http://cindylovenreviews.blogspot.com/) – Cindy Loven

· Clicking Her Heels (http://clickingherheels.blogspot.com/) – Suzanne Schaffer

· Connect Dots Today (http://everchris.wordpress.com/) – Christopher Everson

· Corybanter II (http://caspianrex.posterous.com/) – Cory Howell

· Daniel in the Lions Den (http://daniel-inthelionsden.blogspot.com/) – Daniel Hayward

· David Kenney (http://www.dckenney.com/) – David Kenney

· Deacon’s Word (http://ajscom.wordpress.com/) – Andrew Schleicher

· Deep Breathing for the Soul (http://keriwyattkent.com/soul/) – Keri Wyatt Kent

· The Divine Crash (http://www.divinecrash.com/) – William Gilligan

· Eis Doxan (http://eisdoxan.wordpress.com/) – Jason Gardner

· Faith Freaks for Teens (http://blog.faithfreaks.com/) – Nick Fama

· Flowing Faith (http://www.flowingfaith.com/) - Mari-Anna Stålnacke

· Friar Tuck’s Fleeting Thoughts (http://www.friartucksfleetingthoughts.blogspot.com/) – Clint Walker

· Fusion of Gospel (http://gospel-fusion.tumblr.com/) – Trina Constantine

· GivingNSharing (http://givingnsharing.blogspot.com/) – Tina Peterson

· GodHungry (http://godhungry.org/) – Jim Martin

· Growing For Christ (http://homeschoolblogger.com/ohiosarah/) – Sarah Bailey

· guymwilliams.net (http://guymwilliams.net/) Guy Matthew Williams

· Hacking Christianity (http://hackingchristianity.net/) – Jeremy Smith

· Hanging Off The Wire (http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/) – Hayley Kolb

· Home With The Boys (http://homewiththeboys.net/) – Erin Mohring

· The Homesteading Hippie (http://harrisheather.com/) – Heather Harris

· Iambelievinggod’s Blog (http://iambelievinggod.wordpress.com/) – Jill Jones

· I’m Just Saying (http://thepostmodernpastor.com/) – Matt Rawle

· In-Formatio (http://in-formatio.com/) – Michael Rich

· Inspirations of Marie T. Morrison (http://inspirationsofmarie.blogspot.com/) – Marie T. Morrison

· Inspiring Followers of Jesus to Live Love (http://margotstarbuck.blogspot.com/) – Margot Starbuck

· (Ir)Regular Christian (http://www.irregularchristian.com/) – Casey Taylor

· Jack’s Blog (http://reconnectministry.wordpress.com/) – Jack White

· Jacob’s Café (http://jacobscafe.blogspot.com/) – Josh Morgan

· Jennifer Grant (http://www.jennifergrant.com/) – Jennifer Grant

· A Journeyman’s Catalog (http://mattlipan.blogspot.com/) – Matt Lipan

· Kennedy Reviews (http://www.christinajonaskennedy.com/) – Christina Jonas Kennedy

· The Koala Bear Writer (http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com/) – Bonnie Way

· LeadFollower (http://www.tonyjohnson.tv/) – Tony Johnson

· Life and Ministry (http://wjcollier3.wordpress.com/) – John Collier

· Life as a Mom CEO (http://www.lifeasmomceo.blogspot.com/) – Pamela Black

· Life Goes On (http://bcole127.blogspot.com/) – Bill Cole

· Life Happens with Kids (http://lifehappenswithkids.blogspot.com/) – Jennifer McCullar

· Lighthouse-Academy (http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/) – Laura Hilton

· Little Homeschool on the Prairie (http://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/) – Renee Knoblauch

· Love Radically (http://loveradically.com/) – Brad Smith

· Lutheran Confessions (http://lutheranconfessions.blogspot.com/) – Clint Schnekloth

· Melissa’s Musings Product Review Blog (http://hugapoohlouise.wordpress.com/) – Melissa Waters

· Metromonk (http://metromonk.blogspot.com/) – Mike Belmares

· michellependergrass (http://michellependergrass.com/) – Michelle Pendergrass

· Mike Slaughter (http://mikeslaughter.com/blog) – Mike Slaughter

· A Mom After God’s Own Heart (http://therempels4.blogspot.com/) – Shirley Rempel

· Mother of Three (http://www.motheroftwo-jenmom.blogspot.com/) – Jennifer McIlwain

· My Reading Room (http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/) – Crystal Fulcher

· Nicole Unice (http://www.nicoleunice.com/blog/) – Nicole Unice

· No End to Books (http://noendtobooks.blogspot.com/) – Jeff LeMaster

· Not All Who Wander Are Lost (http://www.wanderingnotlost.com/) – Sophia Kristina Agtarap

· A Novel Source (http://www.anovelsource.com/) – Stacy Millican

· Of Jesus and Starbucks (http://jesusandstarbucks.wordpress.com/) – Nathan Sosnovske

· Off & Running (http://makolbfamily.blogspot.com/) – AnnMarie Kolb

· Only Wonder Understands (http://onlywonder.com/) – Jay Voorhees

· The Orange Monkey (http://theorangemonkey1976.blogspot.com/) – Asa D. Coulson

· The Parson’s Patch (http://theparsonspatch.com/) – Mark Stevens

· A Peculiar Prophet (http://willimon.blogspot.com/) – Will Willimon

· A Peek At My Bookshelf (http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/) – Deena Marie Peterson

· Pharris Garcia (http://isojourn.wordpress.com/) – Pharris Garcia

· Ponderings by Andrea (http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com/) – Andrea Schultz

· Ponderings on a Faith Journey (http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/) – Robert Cornwall

· Posts from the Blog of an (un)Tamed Cynic (http://johnvest.com/) – John Vest

· Preacher on the Plaza (http://preacherontheplaza.wordpress.com/) – Elizabeth Hagan

· Preacher Smith (http://preachersmith.com/) – David Smith

· Preaching for Life (http://www.preachingforlife.blogspot.com/) – Jordan Thrasher

· Radiant Light (http://www.frommipov.blogspot.com/) – Andi Tubbs

· Reflectionary (http://reflectionary.blogspot.com/) – Martha Spong

· Rev. Brent L. White (http://brentwhite.wordpress.com/) – Brent White

· Reviews By Molly (http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/) – Molly Edwards

· The Revolution (http://amodeirevolution.org/) – Jerrod D. Burris

· Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth (http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/) – Nick Norelli

· Rita Reviews (http://ritareviews.net/) – Rita Hernandez

· Salvaged Faith (http://salvagedfaith.blogspot.com/) – Katie Dawson

· The Seminary Blog (http://theseminaryblog.com/) – Joy Hunt

· Shekinah Glory (http://pastorofdisaster.wordpress.com/) – Brian Merritt

· Simul lustus et Peccator (http://simuliustusetpeccator.com/) – Craig Falvo

· snidbits (http://amberfrench.blogspot.com/) – Amber French

· So Many Books.. So Little Time (http://melanieski.blogspot.com/) – Melanie Schemanski

· Spirit Stirrer (http://spiritstirrer.org/) – Juan Huertas

· splashesofjoy (http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/) – Joy Hannabass

· Stepanana’s Stumbles (http://www.stepanana.wordpress.com/) – Stephanie Levan

· Steven’s Blog (http://stevenlwolf.wordpress.com/) – Steven Wolf

· Storied Theology (http://www.jrdkirk.com/) – J. R. Daniel Kirk

· Summit Book Reviews (http://summitbookreviews.blogspot.com/) – Edward Lewis

· Sunflower Faith (http://sunflowerfaith.com/) – Vida Clark

· Take Courage (http://www.takecourage.net) – Bill Mazey

· Tammy Griffin (http://tammybookparlor.blogspot.com/) – Tammy Griffin

· Tara’s View on Books (http://tarasviewonbooks.blogspot.com/) – Tara Robertson

· Thumbprint Eternity (http://ww.therealkenpatterson.com/) – Kenneth Patterson

· The Timothy Blog (http://thetimothyblog.wordpress.com/) – Timothy Baranoski

· An Unfinished Symphony (http://unfinsymphony.wordpress.com) – Rev. Deb Vaughn

· Vic’s Media Room (http://vicsmediaroom.wordpress.com/) – Victor Gentile

· A View from a Point (http://michaelhidalgo.blogspot.com/) – Michael Hidalgo

· Vital Congregations (http://blog.umcvitalcongregations.org/) – Amy Valdez Barker

· The Watered Soul (http://wateredsoul.blogspot.com/) – Wanda Ward

· A Well Watered Garden (http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com/) – Annette Kristynik

· Whatever You Do (http://whateveryoudo.ca/) – David Wierzbicki

· Whitby Forum (http://www.whitbyforum.com/) – Carolyn Custis James

· Willis Wired (http://www.williswired.com/) – Randy & Joleen Willis

· WORD up! (http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com/) – Stacey Dale

· Worthey Words (http://wortheywords.wordpress.com/) – Brian Worthey

· WV Stitcher (http://www.kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com/) – Brenda Casto

· Wyns Book Reviews (http://wynsbooks.blogspot.com/) – Wyndy Callahan

· Zwinglius Redivivus (http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/) – Jim West

Check out the website for The Common English Bible.

I Have Seen The Light..... another Christmas favorite

2011-12-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Robert Sterling and Chris Machen

I was a seeker for light in a dark world,

I looked for truth but settled for lies.

I had been blinded, I couldn't see

Till the Star in Bethlehem's sky opened my eyes.

I have seen the Light shining in the darkness,

Bursting through the shadows, delivering the dawn.

I have seen the Light whose holy name is Jesus,

His kingdom is forever; He reigns on Heaven's throne!

There in a manger, an innocent baby;

Who could believe He was the One;

I can believe it, I know it's true;

He changed my life; He is the light; He is God's Son!

I have seen the Light shining in the darkness,

Bursting through the shadows, delivering the dawn.

I have seen the Light whose holy name is Jesus,

His kingdom is forever; He reigns on Heaven's throne!

We must tell the world what we`ve seen today in Bethlehem!

He`s the promised King; we bow down and worship Him!

Worship Christ The King!

I have seen the Light shining in the darkness,

Bursting through the shadows, delivering the dawn.

I have seen the Light whose holy name is Jesus,

His kingdom is forever; He reigns on Heaven's throne

Top books reviewed in 2011

2011-12-02T13:18:00.000-05:00

I read and reviewed a lot of books in 2011. Not sure of the exact amount, but here are the ones that make my "top 15" list for this year, in no particular order. (I tried for top 10, but couldn't narrow it down to 10)

1) Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

2) Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig. Yeah, she made the list twice, but she is an excellent author, and I reviewed two of her books this year, and both were top-notch)

3) Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso .Mike has become one of my favorite authors. He doesn't have a lot of books out yet, but all of them are awesome. And he is a great Christian and very nice guy.

4) Passion to Action by Jay & Beth Loecken. Non-fiction doesn't excite me as much as fiction, especially suspense, but this was an excellent book. Impressive family.

5) Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn. This has to be his best ever, and one that will be hard to follow.

6) The Guardian by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed. New authors, and a really different idea to write about, but it was an awesome read.

7) Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards. Another non-fiction title, but the book really impressed and convicted me.

8) The Queen by Steven James. This series just keeps getting better, and his writing is top-notch. I just wish I didn't have to wait a year in between each book!

9) Targets Down by Bob Hamer. This former FBI agent writes a great suspense novel, and knowing he knows what he is talking about adds a lot to the story.

10) The Kiloton Threat by William Boykin and Tom Morrisey. The awesome sequel to an awesome book. Highly recommended for guys to read.

11) The Chair by Jim Rubart. I really enjoy this guy's writing style. This was a really different idea to write about, but it was an awesome read.

12) A Killer Among Us by Lynette Easom. This author writes some great suspense, and is one of my favorite authors.

13) False Pretenses by Kathy Herman. I love Kathy's writing style, and she is another author who gets better and better with each book and series she writes. A definite favorite author.

14) Rooms by Jim Rubart. I reviewed three of his books this year, and all three are tremendous reads, so he makes the list three times. This is his first and best, though all three are great reads.
15) Book of Days by Jim Rubart. Another awesome book by Jim.

I read a lot of great books and there are a lot that belong on my top list, but these 15 were my favorites - not to say they are better than the others - it comes down to taste also, but it is MY top list, and these are the ones I picked :-)

Giveaways

2011-12-01T23:48:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Linda who won the boxed set of Dinah Harris Mysteries.

Current giveaways still going on:

The Common English Bible, drawing on Monday, December 5.

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson. Drawing was supposed to be today, but I am going to run it until Monday, hoping to get a few more entries.

God Makes Lemonade, two winners. I am also going to run this one through Monday.

My Favorite Bible, drawing on December 11.

The 365 Most Important Bible Passages For You by Jonathan Rogers

2011-12-01T13:41:00.001-05:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jonathan Rogers

and the book:

The 365 Most Important Bible Passages for You: Daily Readings and Meditations on Experiencing God's Richest Blessings in Your Life

FaithWords (November 10, 2011)

***Special thanks to Sarah Reck, Web Publicist | FaithWords & Center Street | Hachette Book Group, for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

No matter what he is writing, Jonathan Rogers is motivated by the astonishing reality of God's transforming grace in the lives of human beings. He is passionate about seeing the truths of Scripture bear fruit in the lives of students - lives of integrity, purpose, and joy. That passion is reflected in his books, including Words to Live By for Teens, What Really Counts for Students, and his Wilderking Trilogy of adventure novels - The Bark of the Bog Owl, The Secret of the Swamp King, and The Way of the Wilderking. Jonathan holds a PhD in English literature from Vanderbilt University. He lives with his family in Nashville Tennessee.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This year-long devotional is both unique and simple by targeting the general reader, both men and women. Features include:

--A comprehensive overview and accompanying meditation for each passage;

--Daily encouraging and engaging scriptures that focus on the Bible passages that reveal the divine character of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; and

--Insightful comments and applications to daily life.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (November 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446574996
ISBN-13: 978-0446574990

AND NOW PRESS THE OPEN BOOK WIDGET TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Truth & Dare by Ann-Margret Hovsepian

2011-11-30T21:23:00.000-05:00

Is your pre-teen daughter ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare her to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God. Show her she’s got what it takes to make an impact on the world. Ann Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshipping God.

It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps they feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to them. Maybe they may lack encouragement or accountability, or they may just have too many distractions in their everyday lives. This lack of spiritual food can stunt girls’ spiritual growth and make them vulnerable to the temptations and ungodly influences around them. It can also prevent them from developing a love for Scripture early in life, making it even harder to get into God’s Word when they get older.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. They will see it make a difference in their daily lives and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for them to make their faith come alive as they learn to serve others, build character and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. So encourage the tween girl in your life to take the dare and discover the truth! It’s her time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.

My review:
This devotional is for girls ages 9-12. The devotions are set up Monday through Friday and has one for the week-end. Each day has a "truth" and a "dare", followed by a journaling section to answer "how did it go?" and "what did you learn?" At the end of the week are extra things to do to cause the reader to do some more thinking.

This is a great devotional for girls in this age group. So many devotionals out there for girls are geared for teenagers, so it is nice to see one for this age group, and the author did a great job of coming up with a devotional to appeal and interest girls in this age group.

About the author:

Ann Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls (Thomas Nelson, 2006) and The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

Truth & Dare is available from David C. Cook Publishing.

Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.

Triple Dog Dare by Jeremy V. Jones

2011-11-30T20:51:00.000-05:00

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

Triple Dog Dare connects God’s Word to boys’ hearts and hands with real-life scenarios and activities. Each day is filled with short Scriptures, concise biblical truth and a daily dare, all challenging them to put their faith into practice. Scripture readings from every book of the Bible open up the action-packed Word of God. Whether it’s drawing comic strips of biblical battles, dreaming up a life list of goals, making snack packs for the homeless or producing Bible-based movies, boys will go on daily dynamic experiences with God, taking faith off the page and setting it into motion. Themes cover the daily realities of pre-teen males, including bullying, peer pressure, girls, sibling rivalry, honesty and more.

These exciting devotions will inspire boys’ hearts toward godly characteristics such as integrity, generosity and kindness.

Parents will appreciate watching Christ-like traits emerge as each dare is undertaken. It is a manual that will deepen boys’ friendships with Jesus as they look forward to spending time with Him every day. So if you know a boy who is up for the challenge, triple dog dare him!

My review:
This is a devotional geared for boys ages 9-12, and the author did a great job of not just writing, but designing it to appeal to boys that age. There are devotionals set up for Monday through Friday, and one for the week-end. Each day consists of a short devotional, a "triple dog dare" - 3 things to do, and a section "what did you learn, what did you do?"

At the end of each week, there is a page titled "your page" with direction given on what to write about, such as "summer is:"

Boys in this age group aren't always interested in reading, but these devotions are short and interesting enough to appeal to them, and the "triple dog dare" aspect adds to that. I'd recommend it.

About the author:

Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and Walking on Water: The Spirituality of the World’s Top Surfers. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.

Triple Dog Dare is available from David C. Cook.

Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? by Ed Welch

2011-11-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

In an increasingly unstable culture, being obsessed with what others think is an escalating struggle among teens and young adults, leading to more serious consequences than ever before. Although everyone—whether they’re sixteen or sixty—works hard to win someone’s approval or ward off someone’s rejection, these issues plague teenagers and young adults with particular intensity. And how teens and young adults answer the big questions of their lives now will affect the direction of their adult lives for better or worse. In his new book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life (New Growth Press, October 2011), Edward T. Welch extends hope to those weary of hiding behind a mask of performance in order to gain love and acceptance.

Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning.

Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves.

An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults. A corresponding website rich with controversy and dialogue, My-Big-Life-Question.com, will also offer readers a place to discuss personal needs as well as to find other resources for life’s journey and places to go for help.

My review:
Though this was written and geared for teenagers, this is a book that anyone struggling with self esteem issues could benefit from reading.

The author did a great job of addressing esteem issues and self worth. He comes from a Christian standpoint, and deals a lot with how God views us. He doesn't do a bunch of psycho babble, but really has some good advice and good things to say. There are questions throughout the book that make the reader think and get more involved in the book. This would be a great book for anyone struggling with self esteem issues, and for anyone not necessarily dealing with that. We can all use a reminder of our value to God.

About the author:

Edward T. Welch recalls two spiritual turning points in his life. The first he pinpoints as the month after his graduation from college, before entering graduate school, when his plans for his future made a complete shift. A shift for which he has been grateful ever since. In that month, he determined to complete a simple task—to read the Bible in its entirety. It was that "simple" undertaking which brought him to a deep understanding of the power of scripture. For the first time, he grasped the relevance of scripture to the simple details of our lives. God, he realized, was speaking through this book. All his plans changed, and he entered the Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.

The next turning point came during his second year in seminary when he began to study counseling and was given the opportunity to observe an actual counseling session. "That first hour of being placed on the front lines of counseling redirected my life," he tells us. "In that moment I saw the Bible as alive, and I knew that I wanted people to feel understood by scripture."

After graduating from seminary in 1978, Ed went on to study at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (Neuropsychology) in 1981. He currently serves as counselor, faculty member and director of the School of Biblical Counseling at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation and as professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Ed is deeply devoted to his wife, Sheri, and his two daughters and their husbands, all of whom live close by in the Philadelphia area. The family has traveled yearly to the west coast to visit relatives and enjoy water sports at the beach.

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? is available from New Growth Press.

Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.

Favorite Christmas Song #1 It's Still The Greatest Story Ever Told

2011-11-29T13:48:00.002-05:00

The Names of God Bible, Ann Spangler

2011-11-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

Open the door to a more intimate relationship with God

Discover the Hebrew names of God within the biblical text

Encounter God through prayers, promises, and devotional readings

Experience God's character more deeply by studying his names

One of the best ways to get to know God on a deeper level is to know his names and titles as revealed in Scripture. Now the bestselling author of Praying the Names of God and Praying the Names of Jesus uncovers the richness of God's character and love found in his names right within the Bible text.

The Names of God Bible restores more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God--like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay--to help readers connect with the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith and experience a deeper understanding of God's character. Perfect for personal study, prayer, and reflection, The Names of God Bible includes these special features:

More than 10,000 names and titles of God restored to their Hebrew equivalent and printed in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text

Names of God reading paths lead readers to the next reference of the name so they can pray and study the names of God throughout Scripture

Name Pages feature

background information associated with the most important names and titles of God

key Scripture passages in which the name is revealed

devotional readings for each of the featured names

specific Bible promises connected to each of the featured names

Calling God by Name sidebars shed light on the relationship between biblical people and the specific names they called God

My review:
I snag a Bible for review any time I can. I enjoy reading and exploring new translations and new study Bibles, etc.

I was not very familiar with the God's Word translation, and though this review is not specifically geared for the translation, I do like what I have read of it. If you are unfamiliar with that translation, you can find out more about it on the website for God's Word Translation.

The Names of God Bible is very unique and unlike any Bible I have used. I, like most people very familiar with the Bible, am aware that originally there were different names for God used throughout the Bible: Jehovah, Elohim, etc, and that they were all changed to "God" and "Lord" for the most part. What this Bible does, is to change all uses of God back to the original names of God.

Before each book of the Bible in this Bible, there is an introduction to the book, and then a list of the key names of God used in that book, along with their meaning. Example from Psalms:

Yah, Yahweh...........Lord
Melek.......................King
Elyon.......................Highest

And so forth. "Yeshua" is used in the New Testament instead of "Jesus". This makes reading the Bible totally different. All too often it is easy to read over familiar passages without thinking about what we are reading. However, when you are reading this Bible and running onto names like "Melek", it causes you to slow down, look up the meaning of the name, and think more on what you are reading.

I think this is more than a Bible. It is a valuable tool. In translating all of the names of God to "God" and "Lord", we have lost something: the meaning of the name originally used. This Bible brings that back and adds meaning to what is being read.

About the editor/commentator:

Ann Spangler is an award-winning writer whose fascination with the Bible has resulted in books that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers. She is the author or coauthor of several bestselling books, including Praying the Names of God, Praying the Names of Jesus, Women of the Bible, and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. Together, her books have sold nearly 3 million copies. She has held senior positions at two Christian publishing houses and lives with her two daughters in Michigan.

The Names of God Bible is available from Revell, part of Baker Publishing Group.

The Bible is available in hardcover, black, and mahogany duravella.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Ann Spangler talking about The Names of God Bible:

The Names of God Bible overview:

The Common English Bible...... and a giveaway

2011-11-28T09:53:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the winner for last week, Chris Miller. Anyone else can enter again at the end of the blog post.

With Christmas all too fast approaching, I am sharing some verses from the Old Testament about Jesus, of course from The Common English Bible:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel.

Micah 5:2 As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you. His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.

Isaiah 9:6-7: A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be vast authority and endless peace for David’s throne and for his kingdom, establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever.

Isaiah 53: 1-12: Who can believe what we have heard, and for whose sake has the LORD’s arm[a] been revealed? 2 He grew up like a young plant before us,[b] like a root from dry ground. He possessed no splendid form for us to see, no desirable appearance. 3 He was despised and avoided by others; a man who suffered, who knew sickness well. Like someone from whom people hid their faces, he was despised, and we didn’t think about him. 4 It was certainly our sickness that he carried, and our sufferings that he bore, but we thought him afflicted, struck down by God and tormented. 5 He was pierced because of our rebellions and crushed because of our crimes. He bore the punishment that made us whole; by his wounds we are healed. 6 Like sheep we had all wandered away, each going its own way, but the LORD let fall on him all our crimes. 7 He was oppressed and tormented, but didn’t open his mouth. Like a lamb being brought to slaughter, like a ewe silent before her shearers, he didn’t open his mouth. 8 Due to an unjust ruling he was taken away, and his fate—who will think about it? He was eliminated from the land of the living, struck dead because of my people’s rebellion. 9 His grave was among the wicked, his tomb with evildoers,[c] though he had done no violence, and had spoken nothing false. 10 But the LORD wanted to crush him and to make him suffer. If his life is offered[d] as restitution, he will see his offspring; he will enjoy long life. The LORD’s plans will come to fruition through him. 11 After his deep anguish he will see light,[e] and he will be satisfied. Through his knowledge, the righteous one, my servant, will make many righteous, and will bear their guilt. 12 Therefore, I will give him a share with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong, in return for exposing his life to death and being numbered with rebels, though he carried the sin of many and pleaded on behalf of those who rebelled.

Giveway:

I am allowed to give a copy of The Common English Bible each week I blog about it during the next 3 months. This is the first giveaway, and I am going to do something I normally don't do: make it possible to get an extra entry.

Here is how to enter. Follow the instructions to be eligible: Go to Biblegateway.com, and read a passage of Scripture. (scroll down on the page I linked to, it has all of the books of the Bible and their chapters). Comment on this blog post/review and tell me what passage(s) that you read.

Second entry: I would like to help generate some buzz and interest in this version and giveway, so if you mention this giveaway and link to it on Twitter, a blog, facebook, or even email it to some friends, comment a second time and tell me.

Drawing date: I will pick a winner using Random.org a week from today on December 5, and if there has been enough interest, will do more giveaways in the coming weeks.

Check out the website for The Common English Bible.

Thanks to B&B Media and The Common English Bible Team for the review copy and giveaway.

My Favorite Bible Giveaway

2011-11-27T01:12:00.007-05:00

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

Giveaway:
Courtesy of Revell Publishing, I have one copy of My Favorite Bible to give away.

To enter, comment and tell who you would give the Bible to. (i.e. your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, etc)

Bonus entry: Post something about my current giveaways and say where (facebook, blog, etc). Comment a second time saying where you posted it.

I will pick a winner two weeks from today on December 11.

Wood Shed

2011-11-26T18:28:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd give some friends of mine a little advertisement. They make some nice products using wood and sell them on their blog. Check it out if you need some gift ideas: Zeigler's Wood Shed. They have items such as the ones pictured below:

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman

2011-11-25T07:44:00.000-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Marriage CarolMoody Publishers (September 1, 2011)byChris Fabry and Gary Chapman

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

CHRIS FABRY is a graduate of W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and Moody bible Institute's Advanced Studies Program. Chris can be heard daily on Love Worth Finding, featuring the teaching of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. He received the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters. He has published more than 60 books since 1995, many of them fiction for younger readers. Chris collaborated with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye on the children's series Left Behind: The Kids. His two novels for adults, Dogwood and June Bug, are published by Tyndale House Publishers. Chris is married to his wife Andrea and they have five daughters and four sons.

GARY CHAPMAN is the author of the bestselling Five Love Languages series and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio program airs on more than 400 stations.

ABOUT THE BOOK

On Christmas Eve twenty years earlier, Marlee and Jacob were married in a snowstorm. This Christmas Eve, they are ready to quit, divorce is imminent. Their relationship is as icy as the road they’re traveling and as blocked with troubles as the piling snow. They take a shortcut to get to the lawyer’s office, on a slippery, no-fault path. She thinks they need to stay on the main road. He disagrees. They fight. Story of their lives and they slam into a bank of snow , spinning, drifting, falling, out of control. Just like their lives. Reluctantly, freezing cold, hungry, scared, she trudges up the hill. Paul is nowhere to be found. Her ears frozen, fingers and hands red, she comes to a house on the hillside, built like a Bed and Breakfast, a green wreath on the red door and the door-knocker is in the shape of a wedding ring.

The red door opens and the first thing she notices is the fire in the room, blazing hot, a warm, inviting, friendly place and the voice of an old man welcomes her in. There are three golden pots on the hearth, shining, glimmering things. The old man claims that they are used to restore marriages. She laughs—and begins a journey through her past, present, and future that will test how she views her lifelong love. There are two futures available. Which will she choose?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of A Marriage Carol, go HERE.

Due to the books not having been shipped yet, I have not read the book and have no review to post.

Christmas In Sugarcreek by Shelly Shepard Gray

2011-11-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingChristmas In SugarcreekAvon Inspire (October 25, 2011)byShelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, and Abingdon Press. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page

ABOUT THE BOOK

Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.

But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.

Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.

Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.

As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.

Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Christmas In Sugarcreek, go HERE.

Common English Bible...... and a giveaway

2011-11-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

What is the CEB?My review:

The Common English Bible is more than a revision or update of an existing translation. It’s an ambitious new translation designed to read smoothly and naturally without compromising the accuracy of the Bible text.

A key goal of the translation team is to make the Bible accessible to a broad range of people; it’s written at a comfortable level for nearly all English readers. As the translators do their work, reading specialists working with 77 reading groups from more than a dozen denominations review the texts to ensure a smooth and natural reading experience. Easy readability can enhance church worship and participation, and personal Bible study. It also encourages children and youth to discover the Bible for themselves, perhaps for the very first time.

Who Is It For?

The Common English Bible is committed to the whole church of Jesus Christ. To achieve this, the CEB represents the work of a diverse team with broad scholarship, including the work of over one hundred and twenty scholars—men and women from twenty-four faith traditions in American, African, Asian, European and Latino communities. As a result, the English translation of ancient words has an uncommon relevance for a broad audience of Bible readers—from children to scholars.

Who Sponsored the Common English Bible?

The Common English Bible is a distinct new imprint and brand for Bibles and reference products about the Bible. Publishing and marketing offices are located in Nashville, Tennessee. The CEB translation was funded by the Church Resources Development Corp, which allows for cooperation among denominational publishers in the development and distribution of Bibles, curriculum, and worship materials. The Common English Bible Committee meets periodically and consists of denominational publishers from the following denominations: Disciples of Christ (Chalice Press); Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (Westminster John Knox Press); Episcopal Church (Church Publishing Inc); United Church of Christ (Pilgrim Press); and United Methodist Church (Abingdon Press).

I am big on reading different translations of the Bible, and am always eager to check out a new one, so I jumped at the chance to review The Common English Bible.

I like it. It isn't far out in the language, but the language is modern enough that it is definitely easier to read than some translations. I obviously haven't read the whole thing. I am a fast reader, but not THAT fast. I have looked through it, and read several familiar passages to see how they differ from the KJV and NKJV. I even took it with me to church this morning and used it in Sunday School class and church.

There are some verses where the wording is a lot different, and not a lot on some others, yet from what I have seen so far, the meaning of the verse hasn't been changed. They have stayed true to what the verse means and is saying, they have just worded it better and more in today's language.

My only complaint is I wish the Bible was red-letter, but that isn't a big issue.

This is Psalm 23 from The Common English Bible:

1 The LORD is my shepherd.

I lack nothing.

2 He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;

3 he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
for the sake of his good name.

4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger
because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
they protect me.

5 You set a table for me
right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
my cup is so full it spills over!

6 Yes, goodness and faithful love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live[b] in the LORD’s house
as long as I live.

Giveaway:
I am allowed to give a copy of The Common English Bible each week I blog about it during the next 3 months. This is the first giveaway, and I am going to do something I normally don't do: make it possible to get an extra entry.

Here is how to enter. Follow the instructions to be eligible: Go to Biblegateway.com, and read a passage of Scripture. (scroll down on the page I linked to, it has all of the books of the Bible and their chapters). Comment on this blog post/review and tell me what passage(s) that you read.

Second entry: I would like to help generate some buzz and interest in this version and giveway, so if you mention this giveaway and link to it on Twitter, a blog, facebook, or even email it to some friends, comment a second time and tell me.

Drawing date: I will pick a winner using Random.org a week from today, and if there has been enough interest, will do more giveaways in the coming weeks.

Check out the website for The Common English Bible.

Thanks to B&B Media and The Common English Bible Team for the review copy and giveaway.

God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson...... with a giveaway

2011-11-19T14:16:00.000-05:00

Do you know anyone who could use some encouragement? Perhaps that someone is you. In God Makes Lemonade™ you’ll read stories from everyday folks, people like you and me who discover unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some of these real-life stories are laugh-out-loud funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will have you reaching for a tissue. But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope. There’s no question that life gives us “lemons,” like issues with health, employment, and relationships, truly sour circumstances we wouldn’t wish on anyone. But when those lemons become lemonade, it’s as refreshing as an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day. It’s true that in life “stuff” happens, but I have found that Lemonade Happens™ too! It is my deepest wish that God Makes Lemonade brings you encouragement and inspiration.

My review:
This is the kind of book that I really enjoy reading: several true stories in one book. And it is a very entertaining and encouraging read. There are all sorts of people and situations in these stories, but they all have one thing in common: a bad situation that turned out for the good in the end, though life for those involved may still not have been perfect, something good came about.

I just received this book in the mail this morning, and have already read most of it, so it is an easy read. Some of the stories made me smile, while on others I found myself getting misty-eyed.

No matter how good a Christian a person is, we all have rough spots in life. Sadness, and sometimes tragedy. And we all need encouragement. The Bible and God is where we need to go first, but books like these can also be a great help, and this one can be.

I highly recommend this book. It will definitely entertain, inspire, and encourage.

About the author:
Don Jacobson’s twenty-five years in publishing included being the president and owner of Multnomah Publishers. He oversaw the production of more than 1,000 titles, including the fivemillion-plus-selling series Stories for the Heart. He’s had the pleasure of working with best-selling authors such as Randy Alcorn, Joni Erickson Tada, Henry Blackaby, Robin Jones Gunn, Karen Kingsbury, Andy Stanley, Bruce Wilkinson, and James Dobson.

Don's story:
Hi, I’m Don Jacobson, and I’m a walking, talking lemonade story.

Back in 1980, I was a happily married twenty-four-year-old who enjoyed a physically demanding job in commercial construction. I knew my future was bright, and I knew what it would take to get there: hard work, planning, and dedication.

Then, one winter night, a shooting accident changed everything. I nearly died as I lay for hours beneath a tree, but miracle after miracle happened to keep me allive—a story you can read in full in God Makes Lemonade. I spent nine agonizing days in critical condition, and nearly a month in the hospital. When I left, things looked bleak, and I could no longer physically provide for my family.

It took a while for God to turn that lemon into lemonade, but in the end it was wonderfully sweet. I began to work in Christian publishing, and the shape of my life changed forever. Now, 25 years later, I see that not being able to work with my hands forced me to work with my head and heart, and both my family and my career became better than I could ever have imagined.

My wife, Brenda, and I know that the hardships of life have molded our characters and turned us into people we would never have been apart from the pain. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the hardest times of my life for anything, because they led me toward something better . . . something God had planned all along.

When I share my lemonade story with friends, two amazing things happen. My story inspires others and gives them hope. Then, almost without fail, my friends excitedly tell me their lemonade story, and I’m filled with inspiration and hope in return.

Recently it hit me: we all have lemonade stories—so what would happen if we could share them with the people around the world who need them most? That’s the dream of the God Makes Lemonade series: to publish true stories to encourage people in sour circumstances that God is at work making lemonade.

Check out the website for God Makes Lemondade.
Find them on Facebook.
And on twitter.

Giveaway:
Courtesy of Lemondade Books, I have two copies of God Makes Lemonade to give away. I will pick two winners two weeks from today on December 3.

To enter, just comment on this blog post/book review.

Thanks to Lemonade Books for the review and giveaway copies.

10 Tips for Setting a Beautiful Holiday Table

2011-11-17T20:43:00.001-05:00

By Roxanne Hughes Packham, Co-Author of the Hospitality Book: Inspired Design

Are you in need of some holiday inspiration?

In need of some help when it comes to decorating for the holidays? Roxanne Packham shares ideas for making your home beautiful and inviting in her book, Inspired Design. Below are tips for setting a beautiful holiday table.
Drawing from a rich family history and her own collection of acclaimed designs, California-based interior designer Roxanne Packham has joined with her teenage daughter Hannah to create Inspired Design (Inspired Design Publications), an idea-provoking book filled with stunning photographs, treasured family traditions and a plethora of truly inspirational tips for creating a warm and welcoming home, not just throughout the holiday season, but every day to follow.

Whether seeking unique ways to entertain for the upcoming holidays, celebrate with friends, begin new family traditions or showcase the family history, talents and passions in the home’s interior design, the Packhams have shown the way. In doing so, they have utilized the beautifully structured pages of Inspired Design to reveal the classic truth that any home is made more beautiful when it is filled with love, joy and the determination to make those who enter it feel welcomed.

In today’s rough economic climate, keep in mind that although I hope to inspire you to set a beautiful Thanksgiving or Christmas table the real beauty comes from the thought and love you show your friends and family. Beautiful tables comprise equal parts from the “Inspired” & the “Design” categories. See examples: http://www.inspireddesignpublications.blogspot.com/.

~Place cards

I love to use the ceramic place cards that can be written on with a wipe-off marker. You can quickly write people’s names, a favorite quote or sentiment. Friends love that you thought about them before the dinner and even something as simple as writing their names on the place cards really makes them feel remembered.

~Welcome Sign

It is so welcoming, to have a sign somewhere near the front door to greet your family and friends. From a very personal “Welcome Smith Family” or a seasonal “Merry Christmas” to “We are so glad you are here” on a casual chalkboard or an elegant mirror or glass framed, and write with a wipe-off marker, that welcome sets the tone for the rest of the event. I used an antique French cupboard door and painted it with chalkboard paint on the raised panel part.

~Quote or Scripture

The most inspirational part of the Holiday table is the beautiful quotes and scriptures. It depends on the occasion, but a quote that is either inspiring or focused on gratitude is the favorite. There is nothing like feasting your eyes, and then your thoughts, on what we can be thankful for, especially as an example for our children. Scattering them around the home (powder room, end tables, above door jam’s) is a great way to elevate your family and friends thoughts.

Design

~Fresh Greenery

Sometimes we mistakenly think a tabletop has to have flowers as a centerpiece to be really elegant and festive. Greenery is a wonderful, fresh and festive way to make a beautiful Christmas table. Simply cut a few small twigs of trees/bushes like pine or ivy, or my favorite boxwood branches, bay tree and magnolia leaves and put them in three smaller glass or crystal vases.

~Candles

No table is complete, in my opinion, with 5 to 7 little glass votives with white candles in them. The light sparkles and makes everything else on the table more beautiful and sets a soft, relaxing, often more romantic tone.

~Seasonal Piece

By seasonal I suggest a “Santa” figurine or such, a gingerbread house, or a standing cross to have in the center of the table. A clear jar of candy canes, M&M’s or such would do just fine, as well. Think: Something available only at this time of year. I usually have plenty of items in the Holiday Decor that I switch out to put on the table for each dinner.

~Napkin Rings

These can be such a pretty way to pull a linen napkin through to set on a place and make a really beautiful table setting. You can use french ribbons, or plain silver rings and they help to really make a bigger impact for an inspiring table.

~Sparkling Glasses

Whether crystal or glass, tall freshly washed glass sparkle so much with the votive candles that it is hard to wrong with this combo. A tall glass and short glass of whatever kind you like is very dramatic and beautiful, set together. Whether colored or clear the sparkle is crucial for the holiday table.

~White Plates

Although I love to use seasonal chargers and salad plates a crisp white plate is the most beautiful element to my favorite tables. They can be dressed up or down, and makes each setting look fresh and not heavy and overdone.

~Seasonal Linens

Of course, linen napkins add the most wonderful touch of elegance to any table, and Christmas plaid or red and green are no exception. My grandfather, who was a “Silversmith to the Stars”, loved a bare table with only plates (or placemats) but wasn’t a fan of covering a beautiful wood table. I have followed suit. Try leaving the wood table bare! The natural elements together is beautiful and simple.

Remembering You by Tricia Goyer..... and a contest

2011-11-17T20:23:00.001-05:00

35-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request--fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own--to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.

As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they're on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava's videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too--especially for her heart.

My review:
I don't typically read romance novels, but I have read a few of Tricia Goyer's historical novels and have really enjoyed them.

Remembering You is more than a romance novel. There is a lot of historical information in the book, and gave me a greater appreciation for our military past and present for what they do and have done to fight for our freedom.

The book was an interesting and entertaining read, and I didn't even mind the romance aspect of the book. Tricia came up with a great plot and characters, and I was quickly pulled into the story, and loved the ending. A recommended read for historical fiction buffs. Though the book isn't historical fiction, it does blend modern day with history.

About the author:
Tricia Goyer is an acclaimed and prolific writer, publishing hundreds of articles in national magazines including Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family while authoring more than thirty-one fiction and nonfiction books combined. Among those are 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award winners Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights. She has also written books on marriage and parenting and contributed notes to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia lives with her husband and four children in Arkansas.

For more information about Tricia or her other books, please visit her website: http://www.triciagoyer.com/.

Win a Kindle Touch for YOU and a Friend from Tricia Goyer!
Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you ... and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she'll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!

During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she'll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.

Yon't miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself ... and to "remember" a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner's choice!)
A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson.....and a giveaway

2011-11-17T19:17:00.001-05:00

The small town of Parrish Springs is not quite ready for Matilda Honeycutt.

A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share—that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.

My review:
I have almost come to equate Melody Carlson with Christmas stories. She has authored several Christmas novels, having come out with one yearly for the last several Christmases.

As with any of Melody's Christmas novels, this book is filled with interesting and unique characters, not the least of those Matilda Honeycutt. And as with any of Melody's Christmas books, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The plot was very original, and the setting and characters were top notch, the kind of setting that makes you want to step into the story and explore the town.

There is usually a lesson to be learned by the characters and/or a change to be made in a Melody Carlson Christmas novel, and these characters needed to learn a lesson or two, lessons good for the reader also: don't judge a person by their outward appearance, and we need to hold onto good memories.

I really enjoyed this book, and read it in one evening. It is the type of book that helps the reader focus on what is important not just at Christmas, but all of the time.

About the author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

Giveaway:

Thanks to the author and her husband, Chris, I have one copy of The Christmas Shoppe to give away. I will pick a winner using Random.org two weeks from today on December 1.

To enter, go to Melody's website. There are seven Christmas books listed on her website. She has 2 collections of 3-in-1 books, those don't count, list one of the 7 original :-)

The Christmas Shoppe is available from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Donna at Revell for the review copy, and Chris and Melody Carlson for the giveaway copy.

The Dinah Harris Mysteries by Julie Cave.... Giveaway

2011-11-17T00:23:00.000-05:00

Christian suspense author Julie Cave emailed me about reviewing her books, as her series is coming out as a boxed set. I read all three books, and reviewed two of them, so to help spread the word about her books, I am doing this post about all three, and she is giving away one boxed set of her books, The Dinah Harris Mysteries.

This is an excellent series. One thing that really impressed me about Julie's writing, is she brings the Bible into her stories in a great way. In the first book, she brought Creationism into the plot. In one of the other books, the sanctity of human life, and how everyone deserves life, and no one is worthless.

The books are very suspenseful - my favorite genre'. Julie created in her heroine a very flawed person, trying to overcome alcoholism and the failures of her past. I really enjoyed this series and was sorry to see it end with only three books, but hopefully she has more in the works.

Deadly Disclosures:

A suspense-filled fiction mystery which answers an ominous question: How far will some go to silence an influential Christian voice?

Stunning revelations of intrigue and conspiracies set against the powerful backdrop of Washington, DC.

Uncover a hostile academic world filled with secrets and unexpected danger.

Meet FBI investigator Dinah Harris as she tries to unravel the mystery before her own personal demons derail her career.

Thomas Whitfield, proud Secretary of the Smithsonian and its extensive scientific influence, has disappeared from his office with foul play suspected. Dinah Harris, an FBI agent struggling with alcohol and depression, is seeking answers amidst the fallout of her own personal issues. Whitfield’s body is eventually found, and other people connected to him begin dying as well, ultimately exposing a broader conspiracy connected to Whitfield’s recent conversion to Christ and promotion of a biblical worldview in an academic world of financial gain hostile to this concept. Will Dinah be able to experience the redemptive power of Christ before it’s too late? Or will the ominous danger stalking her investigation claim another victim?

The Shadowed Mind:

After the deadly investigation into the Smithsonian murders, Dinah Harris is now facing a daily battle to keep her sobriety while struggling to form a new career from the ashes of her former job as an FBI agent. From the shadows will emerge a cunning and terrifying killer, who carefully and methodically will decide whose life has value to society and whose does not.

Using her profiling and security skills as a private consultant based in Washington, DC, Dinah uncovers a connection to the shadowy world of neo-eugenics, and those who publicly denounce the killings but privately support a much different view.

Against this backdrop, Dinah must come to terms with her own past, as those associated with the deepening mystery face their own personal demons, and struggle with the concept of God’s inexhaustible grace and forgiveness. Old secrets are revealed, tragedies unearthed, and the devastating legacy of science without compassion is finally brought to light.

Pieces of Light:

Detective Dinah Harris hunts down a serial bomber targeting religious icons and buildings. The bomber is on a mission to rid the city of religion and establish a ‘new world order’. Can someone so intent on ridding the world of God experience redemption? What lies behind his hatred of God? Will his darkened soul search for pieces of light?

The first two books of the series, Deadly Disclosures and The Shadowed Mind reveal the amazing grace of God while showcasing a world losing sight of Him. In Pieces of Light, Cave’s continues her compelling storylines using believable characters and realistic situations to:

Identify the importance of living under the authority of the Bible

Deliver a Biblical worldview perspective to current events

Illustrate the power of Jesus’s sacrifice and desire to redeem every life

Provide believers a resource easy to share with skeptics.

Check out Julie's website. You can read the first chapter of each book there.

The giveaway:

The author has graciously donated a boxed set of her series to give away to one winner. I am going to make you work for your entry just a little. To enter, you MUST do the following:

Go to one of the reviews I did of Julie's books - links posted below - and read one of them. Then comment on this blog post and tell me which one you read.

Two weeks from today, on December 1, I will pick a winner using Random.org.

Reviews:
Deadly Disclosures

Pieces of Light

Thanks to Julie for the giveaway. And if you don't win, go buy her books.

Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

2011-11-16T13:11:00.000-05:00

Can one Christmas change a life forever?

Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls begging him to come home after his stepfather has an aneurysm, Rick is more than a little reluctant. What was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and dealing with the homeless guy who keeps hanging around the store. The one bright spot is the lovely and intriguing young woman who works at his side each day.

As Christmas nears, Rick's old life beckons, the hurts from his past loom large, and the decisions he makes will determine more than just where he spends Christmas Eve.

With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story that will have you remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

My review:
Dan Walsh totally captivated me with his first book, also a Christmas novel, The Unfinished Gift. This not a review of that book, but if you haven't read it, you need to - totally awesome. It is possibly the best Christmas novel I have ever read.

This is a totally different story, but it was a terrific and very moving story also. Walsh has again created some great and likable characters. The story also has some very unexpected twists and turns.

Remembering Christmas is a book that would be great to sit by a fire with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It gets at the heart of Christmas: giving, family, and God. There is a slow progression of change in the main character, and a lesson that he learns that would be good for all of us: we should be careful of how we treat the people that cross our path, for they might not be who we think they are. (Read the book to see what that means).

I enjoy a good Christmas story and jump at the chance to read and/or review one. And this one did not disappoint. Walsh has written another great Christmas story that is sure to entertain, move, and help focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

About the author:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, The Deepest Waters, and Remembering Christmas. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Donna at Revell for the review copy.

Mike Dellosso

2011-11-16T12:37:00.000-05:00

One of the authors that I read started a new venture. In a nutshell, he picked 20 people to be more involved in his work as an author. One thing he asked of us was to help spread the word about his books, so I am going to try to help him out on that.

I would compare his writing to Frank Peretti's style, especially his earlier books. They are suspensful, often having supernatural aspects like Peretti's early books.

His first book was Hunted, which I think is his only book I did not review:

A town’s deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith…

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills. With rumors spreading of a rogue lion roaming the woods, he embarks on a mission to learn the truth. As he peels away the layers of Dark Hills, he discovers a secret that has been shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces behind it?

Mike's second book was Scream. I had won a book through a blog and already had it, so I traded with another winner and got Scream. I liked it so well, I posted a short review of it here.

Otherworldly Screams…

A Madman on the Loose…

This Time the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend’s life. When this happens several more times—screams followed by an untimely death—he is compelled to act.

Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.

Darlington Woods was next, and I received a copy of it to review. Review is here.

Something evil is drawing them here . . .

Rob Shields has just lost his wife and son. Battling depression, denial, and an irrational fear of darkness, Rob travels to the small town of Mayfield, MD to check out a house he has inherited from his great aunt Wilda, a woman he has never even met. There in Mayfield strange things begin to happen that lead Rob to believe his son, Jimmy, is not really dead. After a restless night and eerie dream, Rob is convinced the answer to the mystery surrounding Jimmy’s disappearance and alleged death is to be found in a village called Darlington, a town found on no map.

Teaming up with a quirky local waitress who insists she has been there, Shields begins his quest to find the truth about the town—and his son. In Darlington, Rob and Juli come face to face with the town’s secret, creatures called Darklings inhabit the night and instill paralyzing fear in Darlington’s citizens. Their search for Jimmy leads them into the woods surrounding Darlington where, once in, there seems to be no way out.

Darkness Follows is Mike's latest book, which just came out back in May of this year. I also received a copy of it to review. That can be found here.
Sam Travis is a man on the brink of despair . . .

Out of a job and feeling worthless, Sam Travis is awakened one night to the sounds of a Civil War battle raging outside his Gettysburg home. But it’s the middle of the night, and the summer reenactments are long over. A search for the source brings him to an old journal by a Union soldier . . . written in his own handwriting.

When more of the mysterious writings appear and begin to mimic Sam’s own life, his search for the truth puts him on a downward spiral that eventually drives him from his wife, his daughter, and his home–and into an evil plot that could cost many lives, including his own.

I had Mike do a guest blog when I reviewed Darlington Woods. That can be seen here.

And I posted an in interview with Mike when I reviewed Darkness Follows. The link for that is here.

Although Mike only has 4 books published so far, he has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He also has a blog he writes on regularly. It is here.

If you enjoy suspense with a touch of the supernatural, check out his books.

The Story of Your Life by Matthew West and Angela Thomas

2011-11-15T14:07:00.002-05:00

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Matthew West
and
Angela Thomas

and the book:

The Story of Your Life

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matthew West is a recording artist whose singles have topped the charts and been named Billboard’s Most Played Christian Songs in 2004, 2009, and 2010. “The Motions” also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Song in 2010. His albums have sold more than 275,000 copies.

Visit the Matthew's website.

Angela Thomas is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and bestselling author of Do You Think I’m Beautiful, My Single Mom Life, Prayers for My Baby Boy, and Prayers for My Baby Girl. She inspires thousands at national conferences, workshops, and through video studies that she filmed and wrote including When Wallflowers Dance.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When Grammy-nominated recording artist Matthew West started writing his top-selling new album, The Story of Your Life (Sparrow, 2010) he asked fans to submit personal experiences. More than 10,000 tales of hope, perseverance, and redemption poured in. With friend and author Angela Thomas, West presents some of these powerful stories paired with meaningful devotions they inspired.

Wendy gave birth to her daughter in jail. When all seemed hopeless, she found God and her life transformed into something beautiful.

Cory, a married youth pastor, had an affair and his life fell apart. With God’s mercy, he and his wife gathered the broken pieces and started again.

Sheila always struggled with severe insecurity. Now she lives confidently in the purpose God has for her.

This unforgettable devotional journey inspires readers to discover God as the author of their unique lives and to share the power of their story.

Also available this season—a companion DVD of the same title and an interactive standalone guide Experiencing the Story of Your Life, which allows readers to personalize and explore more deeply the messages of God’s hope and redemption in their stories.

Before Grammy-nominated recording artist Matthew West wrote his top-selling new album, The Story of Your Life, he asked fans to submit their faith stories. Thousands of powerful tales of hope and redemption poured in. Now West and author Angela Thomas share these amazing stories and the meaningful devotions they inspired.

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943986
ISBN-13: 978-0736943987

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Who is the Author
of Your Story?

From Lajos …

I grew up in Communist Hungary and escaped in 1987 at age 21. I went to a refugee camp as an atheist who mocked Christians, and 18 months later I came out of it turning my life over to Christ. It was a trying, dramatic, and sometimes traumatic experience. But in the middle of what should have been my most hopeless days and nights, I could not deny the overwhelming feeling that I was not alone and the peace that came along with it.

I went to Canada in 1988. Starting a new life in a new country as a 23-year-old was truly challenging. Without my newly found faith, I probably could not have done it. Now I am following Christ and serving Him by going on mission trips. I want the world to know there is a God, a God who is with us in our darkest moments.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1).

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers of rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17).

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…(Hebrews 12:2 nasb).

Matthew Responds …

Who is the author of your story? How did you get here? Do you see the world as nothing more than one big coincidence after another? Did the oceans just tell themselves they could go only so far? Did the sun just appear out of nowhere? What about all the billions of stars in the galaxies or the intricate design of a human life? Is there an answer for all these questions?

When your eyes see a majestic snowcapped mountain climbing a mile high in the Rockies, does the experience leave you awestruck and amazed? When you hold a newborn baby in your arms, are you filled with wonder as you touch the tiny hands and toes and ears? When you witness a great big world with billions of people moving in billions of directions, does your heart scream, “This can’t be mere coincidence! This could not be the work of human hands! There’s no way this all just happened!”

Even the English astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle concluded, “The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way is comparable with the chance that ‘a tornado sweeping through a junk yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.’ ”

Sadly, more and more people are choosing the former way of thinking. In fact, many studies and polls report that atheism is on the rise both in America and around the world. This really should come as no surprise in a society that places so much emphasis on self-sufficiency. Nike prompted us, “Just Do It.” Burger King invited us, “Have It Your Way.” Apple Computers promised their products would give us “The Power to Be Your Best.”

In our world, all signs point to the notion that you and I are the ones who write the stories of our lives. And so people are choosing to believe there is nothing to believe in. Atheists believe there is no God. And to believe there is no God is to believe we are the authors of our own stories. Yet how can we be the authors of a story we never created? You were not the one who came up with the idea to create you. The decision of whether to believe in God is the foundation that every soul will build its story upon. The story of your life is being written every moment of every day, even as you read this right now. The question you must ask is, who is holding the pen?

In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren begins his very first chapter by establishing where we must first look if we are to find a story with true purpose.

You must begin with God, your Creator. You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God—and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

Warren goes on to tell the story of Russian novelist, Andrei Bitov who had a similar experience to our story of Lajos.

Andrei…grew up under an atheistic Communist regime. But God got his attention one dreary day. He recalls, “In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) I was overcome with a despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any meaning. Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared: Without God life makes no sense. Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and walked into God’s light.”

There it is. Without God life makes no sense. Without God our stories have no meaning, no purpose. We live, we die, and that’s it. Our stories end when we die. Oh, what a sad existence if this is true. I once wrote a lyric in a song called “The World Needs a Savior” that reads, “Atheists, there are no atheists when the plane’s going down and you’re crying out for one more chance.” I wrote that line thinking about the reality that when people face crisis, they reach out for help. When our nation, which fights for separation of church and state, fell victim to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, we came together to pray.

I remember something my mom often did when I was a kid and we were in the car. Anytime she was forced to slam on her brakes or swerve out of the way to avoid an accident, her knee-jerk reaction was to stretch her arm out across whoever was sitting in the front seat, either my brother or me, and shout a prayer: “Jesus, help us!” My mom is a praying woman. She always has been, both in times of triumph and times of crisis. She knows whom she can call upon. She knows the all-knowing and all-powerful God. She knows that God hears us when we call out to Him in a whisper of praise or a cry for help.

Whom do you call out to in times of crisis? Lajos was once convinced God did not exist. But in the middle of his loneliest, most desperate hour, this “atheist who mocked Christians” cried out to Jesus. “I could not deny the overwhelming feeling that I was not alone and the peace that came along with it,” he said as the undeniable presence of our Creator turned this atheist into a believer. Lajos handed over the pen right then and there, choosing to make God the author of his story.

Maybe you are thinking, “This doesn’t apply to me. I believe in God. I’m no atheist.” Well, let me leave you with this one question. Who is really holding the pen? It is possible to believe in God, go to church, tithe, and do all the things Christians do without fully submitting the story of your life to the true “author and finisher” of our faith. It is a daily struggle to determine who holds the pen, but surrendering our stories to the One who “holds all things together” is the only true way for the stories of our lives to be filled with meaning and purpose.

My review:
This was a very enjoyable book to read. Each chapter begins with a letter someone wrote telling about their life, some from people who overcame some major battles and trials. After each letter, is a reponse by Matthew or Angela.

This is a very encouraging book. Not only are some of the stories very encouraging, but the comments by the authors are right on and very encouraging. I recommend this book to anyone who needs some encouragement.

Thanks to FIRST and Harvest House for the review copy.

The Three Trees by Elena Pasquali

2011-11-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item--a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross—it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life their hopes are more than fulfilled.

This traditional folktale is accompanied by stylish artwork from a highly sought-after children's book illustrator, and will help set the Christmas and Easter stories into the overall context of the Christian faith.

My review:I have always loved this story, and was happy to see it come up for review. There have been several versions of this done over the years by different authors and publishers. This newest is from Kregel Publishing, and a new author. This version is done very well. The author did a great job of telling this familiar story, and the illustrator also did a great job of illustrating the book.

If you are not familiar with the story, it is the story of three young trees who all have aspirations of what they want to be when they grow up. It looks like they are going to be totally different from what they wanted, but in the end they turn out to be so much greater than they had dreamed.

This is a great book for kids and grown-ups alike, and if you don't own a copy of this timeless story, this would be a great addition to your library.

About the author:
Elena Pasquali studied romance languages at university and has a special interest in researching folk tales. She worked for some years in children's publishing before going on to be an author in her own right.

About the illustrator:
Sophie Windham has illustrated books for Bloomsbury and Orchard and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal for Unicorns! Unicorns! by Geraldine McCaughrean.

The Three Trees is available from Kregel Publishing.

Thanks to Kregel for the review copy.

Proof of Heaven by Mary Curran Hackett

2011-11-11T11:02:00.002-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingProof of HeavenWilliam Morrow Paperbacks (November 1, 2011)byMary Curran Hackett

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Curran Hackett is the mother of two children, Brigid Claire and Colm Francis, and is married to Greg Hackett. She received an MA in English Literature from the University of Nebraska and a BA from the University Honors Program at Catholic University in Washington, DC. Born and raised in Danbury, CT, she has traveled extensively and lived in various places throughout the U.S., but her favorite place in the world is home with her kids, husband, and her stacks of books. Like her character Colm Magee, Mary suffers various heart and brain ailments, but thanks in part to her brother, a physician, as well as her own doctors, she now has a pacemaker and a heart that beats on its own at least most of the time. This is her first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A mother’s faith, a child’s courage, a doctor’s dedication—a moving and thought-provoking tale of hope, love, and family.

He might be young, but Colm already recognizes the truth: that he’s sick and not getting better. His mother, Cathleen, fiercely believes her faith will protect her ailing son, but Colm is not so sure. With a wisdom far beyond his years, Colm has come to terms with his probable fate, but he does have one special wish. He wants to meet his father who abandoned his beloved mother before Colm was born.

But the quest to find the dying boy’s missing parent soon becomes a powerful journey of emotional discovery—a test of belief and an anxious search for proof of heaven.

A magnificent debut novel, Mary Curran Hackett’s Proof of Heaven is a beautiful and unforgettable exploration of the power of love and the monumental questions of life, death, and the afterlife.

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

Paper Angels

2011-11-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Country singer Jimmy Wayne discusses his new book, Paper Angels, and his growing up years. Worth watching.

Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling

2011-11-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingValley of DreamsBethany House (November 1, 2011)byLauraine Snelling

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has up to sixty books published.

Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

As a most sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.

Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where here father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised in a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.

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

The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

2011-11-09T14:12:00.002-05:00

If Halloween were Christmas

2011-11-08T21:30:00.000-05:00

I am not a big fan of Halloween, but I am also not one to make a big deal about not liking it. Imagine for a moment though, if the stores and media treated Halloween as we do Christmas....

We would have "holiday" costumes

Trick or treating is a Halloween word, so it would be called "nocturnal door knockers" or something ridiculous like that.

No more Jack O Lanterns. Squash with an atttiude would be in. Orange and black would be outlawed at schools

No more witches. Evil women with items to sweep the floor

No ghosts. Visitors from another world.

No more Halloween candy. "Holiday candy"

No more Haunted House, hayrides, etc. It would be a "scary place"

I wonder how far they would take it. Sounds stupid doesn't it, but they already do it with Christmas.

The Guardian by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed

2011-11-06T22:09:00.000-05:00

Plunge into the world of seen and unseen forces in The Guardian. Anna Riley has just come into possession of a two-thousand-year old scroll that God gave to John the Disciple. Her mission—to guard the scroll and unlock its secret. Jason Lang, her protector, has his work cut out for him as they begin their journey around the world, facing corruption and dodging bullets—all the while trying to keep his attraction to Anna at bay. Will he succeed in defending the woman he’s vowed to protect? Will Anna, forced to trust other people to stay alive, fulfill the challenge that she’s accepted?

My review:
Just within a period of a few days, I received three different books to review all having to do with a scroll. This was one of the three, and the most riveting and interesting of the three.

It starts out with the idea that in the book of Revelation when John is commanded to eat a book, that he regurgitates that book, or scroll, and his descendants have been charged with the safekeeping of that scroll down through the ages.

Enter Anna Riley. Upon the death of a grandfather she didn't even know was alive, she has the responsibility of the scroll's safe keeping thrust upon her.

I really loved and enjoyed this book. It had non-stop action and suspense, something that I love in a book, and the plot was terrific. There was a lot of globe-trotting from the Vatican to London and places in between.

The conclusion of the book was something totally unexpected, but was a great ending. This story is truly a masterpiece of fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down until I had finished it. This was the first book from this writing duo, and I am eagerly anticipating their second book, and definitely plan on reading it.

About the authors:

Robbie Cheuvront

Robbie is the worship pastor of The Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, and cofounder of C&R Ministries with Erik. He is also a songwriter and formerly toured with BNA recording artists, Lonestar. Robbie is married to Tiffany and has two children, Cason and Hadyn, and is currently pursuing a theology degree.

Erik Reed

Erik is the lead pastor and an elder of The Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. He graduate from Western Kentucky University with a B.A. in Religious Studies. He also graduated with his MDiv from Southern Seminary. Erik is married to Katrina, with two children, Kaleb and Kaleigh.

Check out their website.

Read the first chapter of The Guardian here.

Book trailer:

Author interview:

The Guardian is available from Barbour Publishing.

Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

Giveaway reminder

2011-11-03T19:08:00.000-04:00

There is still a few days to enter to win Book of Dreams by Davis Bunn. Drawing on November 8. Enter on the orginal review.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

2011-11-03T17:48:00.000-04:00

Before Audrey was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife.

Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.

Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something—or someone—at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.

Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.

But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind—her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.

My review:
This was a very enjoyable read. It was one of those "read in one sitting books" that I refer to.

There are mentions early on about the scandal that caused the pastor and his wife to become the baker and his wife, but the details are held out until more of the story develops, which made sense as this was kind of a cause and effect story. The events in the story wouldn't have happened without the scandal.

The suspense factor is great, complete with a hostage situation, but the message of the book comes through that there are always ripple effects to our actions, and God is sovereign through it all and has a purpose. The further I got into the book, the more the story made sense, and the more I enjoyed it. Definitely recommended.

About the author:

Erin Healy is the best-selling co-author of Burn and Kiss (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning editor for numerous best-selling authors. She has received wide acclaim for her debut solo novels, Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. She and her family live in Colorado. Erin can be contacted through her website erinhealy.com or through Facebook at erinhealybooks.

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Black & White Kitschy Apron
Black Silicone Oven Mitt
Black OXO Rolling Pin
Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Thanks to Litfuse and Thomas Nelson for the review copy.

Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

2011-11-01T12:38:00.000-04:00

(I double-booked this one by accident, so I am posting two reviews of it)

Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

My review:

This is only the second book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It made me want to read more of her books.

There is a lot of suspense in the book, which is right up my alley, and some romance - which is ok. The plot is a great plot. I have not read many, if any books, that centered around Secret Service agents, and it made an interesting story line. It is evident that the author did a lot of research on the Secret Service and how they operate. I loved the characters. Mills did an excellent job on coming up with likable and believeable ones.

There was a good Christian message in the book and God was presented as the solution to problems faced by the characters.

One negative: I am a stickler for language issues in Christian books. I don't think any objectional words/curse words belong in one. This book used the word substituted for donkey. Much to my disappointment, Tyndale has started to allow a few words like this to slip into their novels. Other than that one instance in this book, this is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.

About the author:
DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010. DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops. DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website at: http://www.diannmills.com/ or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills.

Attracted To Fire is available from Tyndale House Publishing.

Thanks to Tyndale for the review copy.

The 13th Demon by Bruce Hennigan

2011-10-27T17:53:00.000-04:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe 13th DemonRealms (October 4, 2011)byBruce Hennigan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bruce Hennigan was born and raised in the isolated countryside of Shreveport, La., a place full of possibilities for the active mind of a young boy. The fertile imagination he cultivated while playing deep in the Louisiana woods would lead to a lifelong love of creative writing.

In 2006, Hennigan pursued the Certified Apologetic Instructor Certificate from the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has become a frequent speaker at regional and state events on apologetics and his strong point is in making these sometimes hard to understand issues easily approachable for the average Christian. Hennigan’s experience in apologetics inspired him to write his new novel, The 13th Demon: Altar of the Spiral Eye, a supernatural Christian thriller that combines science and faith. Now, combining his love for apologetics and his love for the art of writing, Hennigan is pursuing a career as the “Michael Crichton” of Christian fiction building powerful, fast paced stories around the truths of Christian apologetics.

Hennigan currently resides in Shreveport with his wife and daughter. He continues to write and to practice radiology at the Willis Knighton Health Care System. He has secured Jeff Jernigan of Hidden Value Group (www.hiddenvaluegroup.com) as his literary agent and has signed a five book deal with the Realms imprint of Charisma Media for “The Chronicles of Jonathan Steel”.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Jonathan Steel wakes up on a beach in a raging thunderstorm, naked, beaten, and bleeding, he has no idea who he is or how he got there. But just as he starts to make progress in his slow journey to recovery, tragedy strikes again, taking everything in his new life that he has come to love and rely on.

Filled with rage and a thirst for revenge, he searches the countryside for the entity responsible—an entity called only the Thirteenth Demon. His quest brings him to Lakeside, Louisiana, and a small country church where evil is in control and strange writing on the walls, blood-soaked floors, and red-eyed spiders have appeared in the sanctuary.

As he faces the final confrontation with an evil presence that has pursued him all of his life, he must choose between helping the people he loves or destroying the thirteenth demon.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The 13th Demon, go HERE.

My review:
It might seem odd to say that a Christian book is creepy, but this one was creepy - but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of it seems a stretch of what demons would and could actually do, but then I am no expert on that matter, so the events in the book could very well happen.

The book does show through a fictonal story how real evil and the devil is, how powerful he is, and the lengths he will go through to destroy us.

This book was kind of like Frank Peretii's early books on steroids. Not something you want to read before bedtime if you are prone to nightmares, but a great read. I liked his characters and the setting, and the book definitely held my inerest and I read it through in one evening.

Thanks to Charisma and the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for the review copy.

Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

2011-10-25T11:10:00.000-04:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAttracted to FireTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 2011)byDiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010. DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops. DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website at: http://www.diannmills.com/ or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills

ABOUT THE BOOK

Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

Watch the book trailer:

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

My review:
This is only the second book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It made me want to read more of her books.

There is a lot of suspense in the book, which is right up my alley, and some romance - which is ok. The plot is a great plot. I have not read many, if any books, that centered around Secret Service agents, and it made an interesting story line. It is evident that the author did a lot of research on the Secret Service and how they operate. I loved the characters. Mills did an excellent job on coming up with likable and believeable ones.

There was a good Christian message in the book and God was presented as the solution to problems faced by the characters.

One negative: I am a stickler for language issues in Christian books. I don't think any objectional words/curse words belong in one. This book used the word substituted for donkey. Much to my disappointment, Tyndale has started to allow a few words like this to slip into their novels. Other than that one instance in this book, this is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.