Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher, and a giveaway

In the high desert town of Frenchman’s Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community’s new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with.

Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm’s inexperience doesn’t sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity’s heart will be broken once again.

A woman who hasn’t known love. A man who lost the love he had.

In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life’s bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

My review:

   I rarely read a romance novel that is just romance. Romantic suspense or a Christmas story with romance, yes, but rarely just romance. However, I have read books by Robin Lee Hatcher before and when I got the email offering the chance to review and give away two of her books, I decided to go for it, and am glad Idid.

   This is the first in a trilogy about three different siblings who were separated as children and are now adults trying to find each other. And this is not just a romance. The title is fitting, as it is a story about belonging and not just finding love, but finding one's place in life. I enjoyed the book and didn't find it to be a gushy over the top romance, but a book that is worth reading, for even a guy.

For more about the book, click here.

About the author: 

Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of over sixty-five books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards for Americana Romance and for Inspirational Fiction, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin currently resides in Idaho. For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com.


Belonging is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to Zondervan for the review and giveaway copy.

Giveway:  There will be a separate blog post where you can enter to win a copy of this book, and the second book in the series. Comments on this review will NOT count as an entry.

The New Recruit by Jill Williamson

The Mission League--Mission 1: Moscow Forced to choose between military school and a Christian spy organization, skeptic Spencer Garmond signs on with the Bible geeks. But before he even boards the plane for Moscow, Spencer realizes this is no Bible club. These guys mean business. Stumbling onto a case involving a gang of homeless boys, a chilling tattoo, and the always beautiful Anya Vseveloda, Spencer struggles to find the faith needed to save the Mission League from enemy infiltration.

My review:
   I review quite a bit of juvenile fiction, but I don't buy a lot of it for myself. However, this book sounded really good when I ran across it, so I purchased it. For me. I liked it. A lot. It has a really neat plot and has some great characters. Some are likable, and some aren't. The main character, Spencer, isn't what you'd call a good kid, but I assume there will be some changes to his attitudes and actions over the course of the series.

   I grew up reading the Hardy Boys books, and this book is somewhat along the lines of a Hardy Boys book, but more exciting and a better read. I could see kids really enjoying this series, and in fact passed the book onto my teenage niece to read. This book is mature enough that teens won't feel it is a dumbed down version of an adult suspense novel. This promises to be the start of a great series that teenagers will love.

About the author:

Jill was raised in rural Alaska. Alone with her thoughts and the moose, daydreaming was a favorite pastime. As was reading.

She always loved reading. She started out with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, the Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. She loves just about every genre out there, but her all time favorites were fantasy and suspense.

Jill met Brad in college and they married after graduation. Her dreams of becoming a fashion designer dragged the couple to New York City for one year. After that, Brad's dreams of directing movies dragged them to Los Angeles. They both worked really hard for people who weren't very nice.

A few years of torture passed.

Brad started volunteering with teens at their Burbank church. They had their first son, Luke, moved to a house, Jill got out of the fashion industry (woo hoo!), and Brad became an ordained minister and full time youth pastor (double woo hoo!). God is good. All the time.

Jill started writing a book. It seemed like a good idea at the time. She didn't have a clue what she was getting into. All she knew for certain was that it was really fun. With two babies at home, it was a neat way to pass the time.

Writing was something Jill never really did before then. Daydreaming and plotting, however, were familiar old friends. So now Jill writes...everywhere. At home, in the car, at church (only notes, I promises!), in line at the grocery store, at the park, while walking, in the shower... (TMI?) and she loves it. She finds creating characters and taking them on a journey an amazing experience. She never knew what it could be like until she met Spencer, Nauja, Martyr, and Achan. Writing was a whole lot of fun. Plus, she couldn't get in trouble for forgetting to add a rosette onto a K-mart costsheet and costing the company a loss of $5,000. (True story...) And she can't get yelled at when the line of evening gowns she shipped via Fed Ex doesn't reach the showroom in New York in time for Market to open. (Was it really her fault the plane got snowed in?)

No. Jill has no bitter memories of the fashion industry at all. (Can we say The Devil Wears Prada, anyone?)

But yes. Writing is something she loves. Writing is something she could do forever, if God allows it. (Please, God? Pretty please?)

May He do with Jill what He wishes.

Flight of the Earls by Michael Reynolds

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Flight of the Earls B&H Books (January 1, 2013) by Michael Reynolds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.


ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America. Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes. Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.

My review:
   This isn't a book I would normally pick up, but it turned out to be a great read. The book is set in the 1800's and focuses on the potato famine in Ireland and the Irish immigration to the US. This book wasn't suspense, yet I did have a hard time putting it down once I caught my interest. The author does a great job of describing the poverty and desperation of the people of that time. I haven't read much about the Irish, much less about their immigration to the US, but I enjoyed learing a little more about it, and the author has captured my interest enough that I plan on reading more of the series as it comes out.

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

Fire of the Raging Dragon by Don Brown

In Fire of the Raging Dragon---the second book in bestselling author Don Brown’s Pacific Rim Series---Stephanie Surber is stationed on board a submarine tender in the South China Sea when a naval war breaks out. After a gruesome discovery escalates America’s involvement, Stephanie’s father, U.S. President Douglas Surber, must choose to take a stand against evil … or save the life of his daughter.

My review: Back around 2005, I picked up one of the first, if not the first, military style Christian fiction books I have read. That book was Treason by Don Brown. I devoured that book and couldn't wait for the sequel to come out, and the rest of the books in The Navy Justice Series. Since then, I have eagerly grabbed each book he has written and enjoyed them all. I was delighted when I got an email offering me the chance to review his newest book, Fire of the Raging Dragon.

    This book is fiction, but its a scary look at what could happen if the USA and China got into a skirmish. Not to get too political in a book review, but this book impressed upon me how important it is to have the right man in charge of our country and our defense. Even though the events portrayed are scary, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and once I started, I only put it down long enough to eat, then picked it up again and read until the finish.

    A few things I really appreciated in this book, and all of Don's books: There is no bad language. Yes, you can write a book of this type and have it be realistic without bad language. Also: There is a lot of action going on in different locations. There are several ships from 3 countries, jets and helicopters from 2 countries, plus action going on in the White House, China, and Taiwan. Every time the location changes, it is indicated and that makes it extremely easy to keep up. I have read books where there is a lot of location change and it isn't clearly marked. Lastly: There is a lot of military jargon action, commands, etc used in the book, but Don does a great job of making it easy to understand for we civilians. Knowing his background, it makes me appreciate the story all the more and know it is realistic.

    This is a fiction book, but it still made me come away with a greater appreciation for our military and gave me a little more insight into what life on the sea and in battle is like for them. It also made me realize just how fragile the peace is between we and so many countries, and as I stated before: how important it is to have the right people in power, which we do not at this time.

   This book would be more for men, though women who enjoy military/suspense books would like it also. There is no romance in the book, but there is a lot of suspense and action. I highly recommend it.

   This is the second book in the Pacific Rim Series, but it is not necessary to read the books in order.

About the author:

Don Brown is the author of Thunder in the Morning Calm, The Malacca Conspiracy, The Navy Justice Series and Black Sea Affair, a submarine thriller that predicted the 2008 shooting war between Russia and Georgia. Don served five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, which gave him an exceptional vantage point into both the Navy and the inner workings of 'inside-the-beltway' as an action officer assigned to the pentagon. He left active duty in 1992 to pursue private practice, but remained on inactive status through 1999, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He and his family live in North Carolina,  where he pursues his passion for penning novels about the Navy.

Visit his website at www.donbrownbooks.com.

More about the book here.

Fire of the Raging Dragon is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to Zondervan for the review copy.

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.

My review:
  This book is a fictional account of a man who gets bad news regarding his health. Instead of sitting back and waiting to die, he decides to live it up for his remaining time and make the best of it. He does the things he always wanted to do, spends more time with loved ones, etc.

 A book about someone with a year to live can be depressing, and though the book did have its sad moments, it was more inspirational than sad. I wouldn't label this Christian fiction, but it is inspirational. Anyone who has gotten bad news of this type, or family members of those who have, would do well to read this. The author has done a great job of taking a scary issue like cancer and showing that there is a good way to handle it, and that even if you are dying, you can go out with no regrets.

About the author:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 best seller, Twelve Months, as well as A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), the heart-warming prequel to Goodnight, Brian (release date, January 8, 2013). His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Recently, three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. Visit: www.StevenManchester.com


Thanks to the author for the review copy.

Best books of 2012

I read a lot of books this past year, and as I did last year, I have compiled a list of the best ones I read. They are not in order of likability, but in the order I read them. Some made the list because they were an awesome exciting read, and some made the list because of how they impacted me. I gave up on doing a top 10 and tried for the top 20, but did add one more to the list. There are two series listed that had 3 books each. I enjoyed both series, and decided to count them each once, instead of adding 6 books to the list.


1) Firethorn by Ronie Kendig
2) Frantic by Mike Dellosso
3) The Chase by Debra White Smith
4) Kiss the Night by Debbie Viguie
5) Accused by Janice Cantore
6) Injustice For All by Robin Caroll
7) The Halflings by Heather Burch
8) The 13^th Tribe by Robert Liparulo
9) The Discovery by Dan Walsh
10) Code of Silence by Tim Shoemaker
11) Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury
12) Race Against Time by Kimberly and Layla Woodhouse
13) Relentless Pursuit by Kathy Herman
14) The Last Disciple Series by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer
15) Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall
16) Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig
17) The End Series by Craig Parshall & Tim LaHaye
18) Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill
19) Soul’s Gate by Jim Rubart
20) If We Survive by Andrew Klavan
21) The 13: Fall by Erik Reed and Robbie Cheuvront

Guardian by Heather Burch

Vigilance. The mission to safeguard Nikki Youngblood depends on the fragile alliance of two half-angel, half-human guardians, both struggling with intense feelings for the girl who has been assigned to their care. Mace, steadfast and deeply in love, wants to protect Nikki at all costs, while Raven's loyalty to Nikki finds him advocating for her independence and battling his own darker inclinations. At the same time, Nikki finds it harder and harder to choose between the two heavenly beings she may never have. Dangers intensify, and tensions between Mace and Raven flare as the purpose of their mission becomes clear. Can their defenses hold up to master manipulator Damon Vessler and the powerful secret he holds regarding Nikki's heritage? Can anyone protect Nikki from her true purpose and destiny?

My review:

   There are quite a few books out for young adults now that are about half human/half angel beings. I think its a neat idea to explore with fiction, and this series is among the best out there. The author has come up with a term, halfling, to describe such a being, and spins a great story around them.

  This is the second book in the series, and I think its even better than the first. There is a lot of action and drama, and even romance - a combination that will appeal to teenagers. And adults like me who can still enjoy juvenile books. This book has more character development of the main characters, especially Mace, Raven, and Nikki, and there is even more conflict between the three with the two guys vying for Nicki's affections. (By the way, Heather if you read this review: Mace better be the one that gets the girl!)
   I loaned the first book in the series, Halflings, to my then 16 year old niece, and she absolutely loved it and asked when the first one would be out. She hasn't read this one yet, but I am sure she will like it as well or more than the first.

   These books are more than drama and teen romance. They show the battle between evil and good and help reinforce the reality that we do have a spiritual enemy who fights us constantly. I highly recommend this series. It would be great for teenagers, especially girls.

Get two free ebooks:
11:15, The Making of a Halfling

A Halflings Rescue

About the author:

Heather Burch grew up in Branson, Missouri, where she learned to love fiction. She then married into a family of published novelists and quickly learned writing was her heart’s desire. When she’s not working on her latest book, Heather can be found watching a sunset at a beach near her home in Southern Florida, along with her sons Jake and Isaac, and husband, John---who is her hero in every way.

 

Check out her website at HeatherBurchbooks.com

Go to the halflings website for more information about the books.

 

Guardian is available from Zondervan Publishing.

 

Thanks to Zondervan for the review copy.