The Discovery by Dan Walsh

An Engrossing Story of Family Secrets and a Love for the Ages



When aspiring writer Michael Warner inherits his grandfather's venerable Charleston estate, he settles in to write his first novel. But within the confines of the stately home, he discovers an unpublished manuscript that his grandfather, a literary giant whose novels sold in the millions, had kept hidden from everyone--but which he clearly intended Michael to find. As he delves deep into the exciting tale about spies and sabotage, Michael discovers something that has the power to change not only his future but his past as well.

Laced with suspense and intrigue, The Discovery is a richly woven novel that explores the incredible sacrifices that must be made to forge the love of a lifetime. Author Dan Walsh delivers yet another unique and heartfelt story that will stick with you long after you've turned the last page.

My review:
I sometimes have a hard time posting an original review for a book that I think is a cut above others. One that was extraordinary. That is the case with this one.

Dan Walsh had me at his first book, a Christmas book he wrote in 2009 titled The Unfinished Gift. He went on to write a sequel to that, The Homecoming, in 2010. He followed that up with a stand-alone book, The Deepest Waters and another Christmas book, Remembering Christmas, both in 2011. When I got the email offering his newest book for review, I immediately sent back the reply that I wanted to review it.

The book sounded interesting enough, but (sorry Dan!) it didn't sound like a major page turner. I put it in my stack and left it for closer to the review dates. Then a week before the review dates, I sat down and started to read it. It is a first person point of view book, not my favorite, but I put up with it from my favorite authors. It had a good beginning, and I liked the main character right away.

This may be a bit of a spoiler, but given the book description, maybe not. The main character finds a book by his author grandfather and begins to read it. From then on, the story becomes two stories. Michael in the present, and the story he is reading. Admittedly, I wasn't thrilled at the idea as I read a book where something similar was done with a diary and did not like it, but hey, I like this author, plus I committed to reading the book. Man, was I in for a surprise.

The majority of the book is the story Michael's grandfather wrote. It is suspenseful, stirring, moving, and it pulled me in before I could blink. Did I ever misjudge this book! This is Dan's best book so far, and The Ultimate Gift was a hard one to beat. I didn't just enjoy this book. I loved it. Could not put it down (other than to eat lasagna for supper). Yes, I still liked the main character, but the characters brought forth in the book Michael read were superb. The descriptions were top notch. I could almost see and feel Charleston and Daytona Beach. I felt like I had stepped out of the year 2012 into the era of World War 2. I felt the agony and the happiness of the characters and tried to fight those nasty liquid things we guys are supposedly not supposed to have come from our eyes. Losing battle there. Move over, Karen Kingsbury. This book gives her book competition for an emotional read.

I read one Nicholas Sparks book in my life, A Walk to Remember. I get the idea that his books are sad and someone always dies. If that is the case, this book is something he'd write if he were to write Christian fiction and decided on a happier theme. And don't let the Christian fiction label turn you away if you are not into Christian fiction. This isn't a preachy book, but it will leave you with a longing to visit Charleston, and to have a love like that in the book, and show that God can work anything out.

What more can I say about this book? It is just really, really good, and definitely worth reading. All of Dan's books are, but he has hit a home run with this one. It will be a hard act to follow, but he did that with this book, and I have confidence he can do it again. Totally awesome book. Read it.

About the author:
Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, The Deepest Waters, Remembering Christmas, and The Discovery. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Check out Dan's website and his blog.

Available April 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Donna at Revell for the review copy.

Read the first chapter here.

The 13th Tribe by Robert Liparulo

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe 13th TribeThomas Nelson (April 3, 2012)byRobert Liparulo



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Best-selling novelist Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first three critically acclaimed thrillers—Comes a Horseman, Germ, and Deadfall—were optioned by Hollywood producers, as well as his Dreamhouse Kings series for young adults. Bestselling author Ted Dekker calls The 13th Tribe, released in April 2012, “a phenomenal story.” Liparulo is currently working with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) on the novel and screenplay of a political thriller. New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” Liparulo lives in Colorado with his family.



Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans, or at Twitter @robertliparulo.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Their story didn't start this year . . . or even this millennium.

It began when Moses was on Mt. Sinai. Tired of waiting on the One True God, the twelve tribes of Israel began worshipping a golden calf through pagan revelry. Many received immediate death for their idolatry, but 40 were handed a far worse punishment-endless life on earth with no chance to see the face of God.

This group of immortals became the 13th Tribe, and they've been trying to earn their way into heaven ever since-by killing sinners. Though their logic is twisted, their brilliance is undeniable. Their wrath is unstoppable. And the technology they possess is beyond anything mere humans have ever seen.

Jagger Baird knows nothing about the Tribe when he's hired as head of security for an archaeological dig on Mt. Sinai. The former Army Ranger is still reeling from an accident that claimed the life of his best friend, his arm, and his faith in God.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The 13th Tribe, go HERE.

My review:In my opinion, this is Liparulo's best book so far, though I loved his Dream House King books.

This is also his most Christian book. The plot is unique and based on something that happened in the Bible: A group of people cursed with immortality at Mt Sinai in Moses' time. The way the book is written, though you see their actions as wrong and misguided, you also sysympathize with them.

I loved the characters in the book. The 13th Tribe is full of unique and different personalities, and then there is Jagger, the hero of the story. He is a man struggling with God because of what has happened to him in the past, and is bent on doing the right thing, even if it means risking his life.

There is a lot of action in the book, and a few surprises. One that concerns the hero of the story is something I didn't see coming.

I labeled this book a "read-in-one-sitting" book, and it was for me. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. So I didn't. It was an excellent story, both in plot and plot and in the writing. I am hoping this is the start of a series.

I had one issue with the book. In one instance, a character tells another one to "go to (hot place)". I don't like to see or hear that anywhere, and especially in a Christian book. Other than that..... awesome book. Loved it.

The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer

Plea bargains may grease the rails of justice, but for Jamie Brock, prosecuting criminals is not about cutting deals. In her three years as assistant DA, she’s never plea-bargained a case and vows she never will. But when a powerful defense attorney is indicted for murder and devises a way to bring the entire justice system to a screeching halt, Jamie finds herself at a crossroads. One by one, prisoners begin rejecting deals. Prosecutors are overwhelmed, and felons start walking free on technicalities. To break the logjam and convict her nemesis, Jamie must violate every principle that has guided her young career. But she has little choice. To convict the devil, sometimes you have to cut a deal with one of his demons.

My review:I'm always happy when I get the chance to review one of Randy Singer's books. He writes legal thrillers like the well-known John Grisham, but I think Singer is better. And I admire him for writing Christian books. Grisham claims to be a Christian, but his books do not reflect that, nor do his political leanings. I'd much rather read a Randy Singer book any day over a John Grisham book.

There is a lot I don't understand about legal proceedings and what goes on in court, so the idea of plea bargains wasn't something I knew much about, but I thought the plot sounded good. And it was.

The book itself was very interesting, and is one of his best, in my opinion. He brought back some of the characters from his last book, and introduced some new ones. The story has a lot of suspense, legal action, and legal jargon. Singer does a great job of writing legal "stuff" in a way that even I can understand what is going on. I learned a lot about plea bargains, and a little more about our court system.

I knew this would be a book I'd want to not lie down once I started reading it, so I saved it until I could devote enough time to finish it. And that is what happened. I  began reading it and read until I was done. Randy has written another masterpiece, one that measures up against Grisham or any other secular author.

About the author:


Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned 10 legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel, Directed Verdict. Randy runs his own law practice and has been named to Virginia Business magazine's select list of "Legal Elite" litigation attorneys. In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his "Jekyll and Hyde thing"—part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and civil litigation at Regent Law School and, through his church, is involved with ministry opportunities in India. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children. Visit his website at http://www.randysinger.net/.
 
 
The Last Plea Bargain is avaiable from Tyndale House Publishing.
 
Thanks to Debbie at Side Door Commmunications for the review copy.
 
A video about the book:

Cooking the Books by Bonnie S. Calhoun

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingCooking The BooksAbingdon Press (April 2012)byBonnie S. Calhoun



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As the Owner/Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Bonnie has helped use the 220+ blogs of the Alliance to promote many titles on the Christian bestseller list. She also owns and publishes the Christian Fiction Online magazine which is devoted to readers and writers of Christian fiction. She is the Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). At ACFW she was named the ‘Mentor of the Year,’ for 2011, and she is the current President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network. Bonnie is also the Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.



In her spare time she is an avid social media junkie, and teaches Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and HTML as recreational occupations. She also has a novel coming out in the Abingdon Quilts of Love series. Her novel Pieces of the Heart will publish August of 2013.



Bonnie and her husband Bob live in a log cabin on 15 acres in upstate area of Binghamton, New York with a dog and cat who consider the humans as wait-staff.





ABOUT THE BOOK

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”



A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Cooking The Books, go HERE.



Watch the book video:







If you'd like to read interviews with Bonnie, try these:

Everbody Needs A Little Romance

A Christian Writers World

Novel Rocket

ACFW - Fiction Finder

My review:The author, Bonnie, is the owner of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, which I am part of, and am reviewing this book through. I have a lot of contact with her, and she is a very nice lady. However, I am afraid not to give a good review since she runs this, so I will give a good one. Just kidding :-)

I really did enjoy the book. It is suspense, which is my favorite genre', but it is also full of humor. Bonnie created some interesting and humorous characters and situations. Her main character, Sloane, is not a perfect character, but has her flaws and messes up, which I prefer over a character who is perfect in every way - that is so unrelastic.

The book is written in the first person point of view, which isn't my favorite, but it worked well for this book, and it also goes to the third person point of view sometimes.

This isn't a scary suspense novel. It has its suspenseful moments, and I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the main character in some situations, but it isn't one that will have you cowering under the covers. The humor helps. I found myself smiling a lot and laughing out loud on occasion at the antics of some of the characters.

This is the first novel by Bonnie, and she has done a great job on her debut. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Simon and the Easter Miracle by Mary Joslin

The gospels tell of Simon of Cyrene--"a man coming in from the country"--who was ordered to carry Jesus' cross. Over the centuries, his story has been woven into a Polish folktale. In the tradition of The Three Trees this folk tale gives a fresh perspective on the Easter story.


When Simon the farmer brings his wares to market, little does he expect how he will be involved in the events of that very special day, nor how his items--bread, eggs, and wine--will become important symbols of Jesus' passion and resurrection, remembered throughout the ages.

This picture book retelling of a traditional tale is both thought-provoking and engaging.

My review:

This is a fictional telling of the events of Good Friday from the viewpoint of Simon of Cyrene. Its geared for young children, so it isn't very long in length, but is one of those books with a lot of pictures and a short story.

The idea of the book is neat, and I like the end result. It is easy for a child to read, or be read to, and the illustrator did a great job illustrating the book. I would recommend this for parents who want to help their young children understand the events of Good Friday a little better.

About the author:

Mary Joslin, published exclusively by Lion, is known for her children's books on belief and spirituality. Her books, which include The Story of the Cross and On That Christmas Night, have sold more than 200,000 copies.

About the illustrator:
Anna Luraschi has illustrated a number of books for Usborne. 

Simon and the Easter Miracle is available from Kregel Publishing.

Thanks to Kregel for the review copy.

The Chase by DiAnn Mills

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe ChaseZondervan (March 27, 2012)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 or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills





ABOUT THE BOOK

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.



Watch the book video!







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

My review
I have not read many books by DiAnn Mills, but I'm thinking I need to start reading more of her suspense novels. From looking at her books on Amazon, it appears she has written a wide variety of novels, and among them are many suspense, my favorite.

This book falls into the suspense genre', and it is a terrific suspense novel. She came up with some great and likable characters which were also believable. The plot was a great plot, and a bit different from many suspense books. The heroine ois involved in the action because she is writing a suspense novel. Maybe the author got the idea from the TV show Castle. Regardless, it worked, and the end result makes for great reading. I did read this book in one evening and did not want to put it down. It is romantic suspense, and all too often authors tie that part up in a nice red bow. This book leaves that open for the next book, which was a bit disappointing, but also more realisitc. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to the CFBA and the author for the review copy.

Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingMissingAvon Inspire; Original edition (March 20, 2012)byShelley Shepard Gray



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. 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

In the first book in her new Secrets of Crittenden County series, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country



Perry Borntrager had been missing from the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky, for months when his body was discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well. Everyone had assumed Perry left Crittenden on his own, seduced by the wider world he discovered during his rumspringa, but now the truth has thrown this once-peaceful town into chaos. The first death from mysterious circumstances in Crittenden in more than two decades has invited the scrutiny of the outside world: a police detective arrives to help their local sheriff with the investigation. His questioning begins with Lydia Plank, Perry’s former girlfriend, and Perry’s best friend, the Englisher Walker Anderson.



Lydia and Walker know they didn’t have anything to do with Perry’s death, but they both hold secrets about his final days. Do they dare to open up about the kind of man Perry had become? In the oppressive shadow of these dark times, they discover strength in a most unlikely companionship that offers solace, understanding, and the promise of something more.



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