Paige Torn by Erynn Mangum

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Paige Torn Think (May 1, 2013) by Erynn Mangum

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A few things about her: So, if we were having this conversation in person, we would probably be hanging out at Starbucks or one of the cute coffeehouses in town. I’m nuts about all things coffee, I’m crazy about all things pink and girly, and I love, love, love the Food Network! I’m married to my best friend and the most amazing guy ever, Jon. He is amiable toward coffee, does not like anything pink or girly and tolerates the Food Network. So, we make a good match! In July 2010, we became parents to one of the funniest, cutest, sweetest little guys in the whole world (and nope, we aren’t biased at all!), our Nater-Tot, who is legally known as Nathan. Most days, I’m cleaning up messes, making goofy faces, trying to fit some writing in, and just LOVING the life that God has given me!



ABOUT THE BOOK

Everyone knows they can count on Paige Alder. But between volunteering at church, putting in overtime at work, and helping her best friend plan an anniversary party, she's lucky to grab a cheese stick for dinner. Paige can't even remember the last time she had a few minutes to relax or dig into God's Word. Then she meets laid-back Tyler, an attractive, Jesus-loving guy. Will he be able to help Paige get her priorities on track?

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

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Pieces of the Heart Abingdon Press (June 1, 2013) by Bonnie S. Calhoun

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year,” President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network, and Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference(GPCWC).

For the last six years she has taught workshops in Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and creating Social Media promotions at both CCWC, and GPCWC, and in 2011 at the Montrose, Pa Christian Writers Conference. She also taught a Facebook workshop at the 2012 ACFW conference.

Bonnie and her husband live in a log cabin in upstate area of New York with a dog and cat who think she’s wait-staff.

Her sites are: https://www.facebook.com/bonniescalhounsnarkandsuspense
https://www.facebook.com/bscalhoun

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cordelia Grace watched Bernard Howard, the love of her young life, go off to fight for our country in WWII. And she has spent the last three years creating the Pine Cone quilt that will grace their marriage bed when he comes home. Each row of triangles signifies a layer in her life, sets of memories, hopes, dreams, and prayers for her future, enough spoken words to cover them forever. Her image of their “happy-ever-after” grows proportionally as the quilt expands.

But is the man that returns from the war, the same man that she remembered? Are the dark shades of color that she had to use for the outside edges of the beloved quilt prophetic of her life to come? Can love and faith overcome all?

If you would like to read teh first chapter of Pieces of the Heart, go HERE.

My review:
   This is another book in Abington Press' Quilts of Love series, which are all by different authors. Each book has a quilt at the center of the story. I don't read many books that are strictly romance, but this one sounded good, plus the author runs this blogging program, so I thought I'd better keep her happy ;-).

   I enjoyed the book. It is historical fiction set the 30's and 40's, covering World War II. I liked the plot and characters, but it was sad reading about the segregation that was still going on at that time. I didn't realize how much of an issue that was even in the war among our soldiers, and though the book was entertaining, and inspiring to see love prevail, it was also sobering to read about the segregation.

  This is Bonnie's second book, and though her first book was suspense which is my favorite genre', she shows in this book that she can write any genre' and do it well. Great book.

Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel by Melody Carlson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel B&H Publishing Group (April 30, 2013) by Melody Carlson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.





ABOUT THE BOOK

With high hopes, Dorothy Ballinger lands her dream job at The New York Times. But it's not long until writing about weddings becomes a painful reminder of her own failed romance, and her love of the city slowly sours as well. Is it time to give up the Big Apple for her small hometown of Appleton?

When her eccentric Aunt Dot passes away and leaves a sizeable estate to Dorothy, going back home is an easy choice. What isn’t easy is coming to terms with the downright odd clauses written into the will.

Dorothy only stands to inherit the estate if she agrees to her aunt's very specific posthumous terms -- personal and professional. And if she fails to comply, the sprawling old Victorian house shall be bequeathed to . . . Aunt Dot’s cats.

And if Dorothy thinks that’s odd, wait until she finds out an array of secrets about Aunt Dot's life, and how imperfect circumstances can sometimes lead to God's perfect timing.

If you would liketo read the first chapter of Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel, go HERE.

NKJV New Spirit-Filled Bible

Find the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. Dr. Jack Hayford, founding pastor of The Church on the Way, has led a team of anointed leaders to produce the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible. Even after more than twenty years, the Spirit-Filled Life Bible offers a fresh look at the Scriptures and the work of the Holy Spirit. This Bible addresses important issues of Spirit-filled living in the context of solid biblical scholarship.
Features include:

• Kingdom Dynamic—41 themes throughout the Scripture that give us values as we advance the gospel throughout the world
• Word Wealth—More than 550 key terms defined and brought to life pulling the language from the original Greek and Hebrew to everyday English
• Truth-In-Action—Practical charts pulling out practical application from every book of the Bible
• Detailed book introductions to each of the 66 books of the Bible
• Verse-by-verse study notes
• Articles from 50 of the most respected pastors, teachers, and leaders in the church today.

My review:
   The New King James Version of the Bible is one of my favorite versions, and I enjoy reviewing different study Bibles, so I grabbed this one.

  I have really been enjoying the features of this Bible. The study notes are very good and helpful, but a lot of Bibles have those. This Bible has something called Word Wealths. They are scattered throughout the Bible and tell more about the word, what it means, and expounds on it, and often gives other references where it is used in the same way.

   Kingdom Dynamics focus on different themes throughout the Bible and what they mean to us.

   Each book starts out with a page telling the author, date, purpose, and content, followed by an outline.
 
  Each book of the Bible also has Truth In Action. A small number will appear beside some verses, and there is a truth and action section at the end of the book to correspond to each number.

  I have been using the Bible daily for the last couple of weeks and am really enjoying the extra features of it, and finding them very helpful. It is definitely a Bible I will use often. I reviewed the NJJV, but it is also available in the New Living Translation.

The New Spirit-Filled Bible is available from Thomas Nelson Publishers

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy.

The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

**Note: I have not read this book. I am just helping the author out by doing a post about it.

Brief Synopsis: Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

Author Bio: Steven Manchester is the published author of the #1 best seller, Twelve Months, as well as A

Christmas Wish (the holiday prequel to Goodnight, Brian) and Goodnight, Brian. He is also the Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy and Jacob Evans, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. 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 his short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. steven.h.manchester@sunlife.com
http://www.StevenManchester.com http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester


Paperback & Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Chair-Steven-Manchester/dp/161188067X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366203850&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rockin%27+chair+manchester
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rockin-chair-steven-manchester/1115092542?ean=9781611880670

Fear Has A Name by Creston Mapes

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Fear Has a Name David C. Cook (June 1, 2013) by Creston Mapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as "The Shop."

Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.


ABOUT THE BOOK

From popular suspense author Creston Mapes comes another faith-building thriller, a tale that follows journalist Jack Crittendon as he fights to protect his family from a stalker's terrifying schemes, investigates a pastor's mysterious disappearance, and struggles to keep his faith amidst unthinkable fear.

With his family's safety on the line, Crittendon realizes there are secrets behind "Christian" walls--secrets with painful, deadly implications. He must find the faith to trust a God who allows inconceivable trials, and the courage to guard his family, with danger exploding at every turn.

Through it all--the sharp, character-driven writing for which Mapes is known--takes fans and new readers on an edge-of-your-seat journey that explores the harsh, far-reaching consequences of bullying and the Christian response to fear.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fear Has a Name, go HERE.

My review:
   Creston Mapes is a new author to me, and if this book is any indication of what kind of writer he is, I definitly want to read more of his books.

 This book is the first in a series, The Crittendon Files. I really like the main character Mapes has created for the series, Jack Crittendon, a newspaper journalist, and look forward to reading more in the series.
 
  I like it when an author writes a Christian novel and isn't afraid to make it Christian. The book is suspense, and is a great suspense novel with a lot of nail biting moments, action, and drama, but it also deals with issues of faith and has a great Christian message. The main characters struggle with strill trusting God even when bad things happen and it seeems God is not intervening and answering prayer. That must be a theme God is trying to beat into my head as I have read several novels lately dealing with trusting God.

  I enjoyed this book, a lot. Mapes has written a great suspense novel while showing that God can and should be trusted, even when things are going bad for us.

40 Days Through Revelation by Ron Rhodes

The book of Revelation begins and ends with guarantees that its inspiring message leads to blessing. Popular Bible teacher and author Ron Rhodes guides readers on an encouraging journey through this prophetic book, interpreting its picturesque language and revealing its reassuring promises. Each short chapter is perfect for a group Bible study or a personal quiet time and includes…

• Scripture Reading and Insights—a short passage of Revelation and easy-to-understand notes on each verse
• Major Themes—brief summaries of the most important ideas
• Digging Deeper with Cross-References—several other passages readers can look up on relevant topics
• Life Lessons—practical and helpful applications to everyday life
• Questions for Reflection and Discussion—thought-provoking starters for group discussions or personal journaling

Readers who may have been confused or intimidated by Revelation will appreciate this easy-to-understand and practical presentation of its empowering truths.

My review:
   Revelation isn't my favorite book of the Bible to read, and I don't read it often, to be honest. When I got the opportunity to review this book, I decided it might be my chance to grasp this book of the Bible better.

  The author really seems to know his "stuff". There are 40 chapters, one for each day. In each chapter, he deals with a different section of Revelation, discussing and explaining it, ending with some cross reference Scripture to read, life lessons, and questions for discussion and reflection.

  I found the book to be interesting, informative, and easy to read. The author has written it in a way that isn't boring to read, and he does a great job of explaining from a Biblical viewpoint, what this book is saying and what he believes it to mean. No one knows for sure how to interpret some of the passages in Revelation, but he does a great job of explaining them from what he believes.

  I did enjoy the book, even more than I thought I would, and understand some of Revelation more than I did before reading the book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand this mysterious book of the Bible.

About the author:

Ron Rhodes, president of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries, is heard regularly on nationwide radio and is the author of Bite-Size Bible Answers, Bite-Size Bible Definitions, Commonly Misunderstood Bible Verses and 5-Minute Apologetics for Today. He holds ThM and ThD degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and teaches there and at several other seminaries.

View his website here.

40 Days Through Revelation is available from Harvest House Publishers.

Thanks to Harvest House for the review copy.