The Remaining by Travis Thrasher

The Remaining is a novelization of the apocalyptic movie from Sony Affirm. Just after a young couple says their vows, the earth shakes, and some people die suddenly and are taken away. The rest of their wedding party and friends are left to wrestle with what happened and with their faith. Characters struggle with secret love, dreams, hopes, and beliefs as they continue to evaluate their faith. This book and movie are both action-packed thrillers that will encourage audiences to think about their beliefs.

My review:
   I have read several Travis Thrasher books, and his books are usually really different from the average Christian fiction book. He is an excellent writer, but some of his stuff is just..... weird. And this book falls into that category.

  I have also read several fiction books about the Rapture, but this book is totally different from any that I have read. Instead of Christians disappearing, their souls were taken, leaving them quite dead. I guess that is a possibility, but it doesn't seem likely.

 Things happened really fast in the book. It had things happening close together that the Bible indicates happen further apart.

  I did like the characters, but didn't enjoy their going back in time and thinking. It detracted from the story line for me.

  The book was entertaining at times, but overall, I didn't really care for it, and it is rare I say that about a book I review. The departure from the normal idea of the Rapture did bother me, but the book seemed more like a Stephen King thriller, than a book about the Rapture, and there were too many rabbit trails with the main characters. 

  Travis Thrasher is an excellent author, so I would lean towards the movie being that way, since this book is just a novelization of the movie. I wouldn't really recommend the book, but he has many others that are excellent reads.

About the author:

Critically acclaimed and creatively diverse novelist Travis Thrasher has made a career out of defying expectations.Writing stories that have moved, haunted and provoked readers, Thrasher has told tales in a variety of genres. His one common theme is brokenness, and his one common tactic is surprise. He lives with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Chicago. 

For more information on Travis, go to www.travisthrasher.com.

The Remaining is available from Tyndale Publishing.

Thanks to Tyndale for the review copy.

Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Driftwood Tides Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2014) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain was a Christy Award finalist. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore. When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making drifwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.

Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

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

THE IDENTICAL ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK SAMPLER

The IDENTICAL tells the compelling story of twin brothers unknowingly separated at birth during the Great Depression. DREXEL HEMSLEY becomes an iconic 50’s rock ’n’ roll star, while RYAN WADE (Blake Rayne) struggles to balance his love for music and pleasing his father. The Reverend Wade (Ray Liotta) and his wife (Ashley Judd) are sure their adopted son has been gifted and called by God to be a preacher. But Ryan challenges his parent’s vision for his life, and unflinchingly chooses to launch his own music career with his best friend (Seth Green). Encouraged by his wife (Erin Cottrell) and employer (Joe Pantoliano), Ryan embarks on an unpredictable, provocative path - performing the legendary music of Drecel Hemsley in sold out venues all across the country. As the brothers destinies tragically collide, Ryan discovers that Drexel is his identical twin which leads him to question everything he’s ever believed about God, family, and his own identity.

About the Soundtrack Sampler:

  THE IDENTICAL ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK SAMPLER features 12 of the 20 original songs by Jerry Marcellino and Yochanan Marcellino from the film. Including “Your Love’s Keepin’ Me Tonight,” “City Lights,” “Angel of Mine,” “Everybody Knows It” and “Nashville Tonight."

My review:

  This review is actually for the sampler soundtrack for the movie. It isn't quite what I expected after watching the movie trailer and reading about the movie. I expected more 50's type songs, and  most of them are a bit too much for me. However, the songs are well done. There was one bluegrass styled song which appealed to me more than the rest of the CD, but for those who enjoy rock music, the CD is one they will enjoy.

Love Story by Nicole Noredeman

The Hand That Holds Us 
From the Garden To The Gate

Based on the #1-selling Christian album The Story (EMI/WOW), lyricist and Grammy-nominated artist Nichole Nordeman helps readers embrace God’s relentless, loving pursuit of the most weak and sinful among us from the beginning of time.

Love Story is an exquisite narrative that exposes the emotional and human underside of major biblical events, including Adam and Eve’s dramatic fall in the Garden of Eden, Sarah and Abraham’s struggle to have a child, Mary’s surprise at being pregnant with Jesus, Paul’s trauma on the road to Damascus, and concludes with a triumphant picture of the second coming of Christ. This book is a dramatic connecting point for all readers, inspiring them to grasp the poignant nature of God’s immense, all-consuming love.

My review:
  I am familiar with Nicole Noredeman as a singer, but not as an author, but this book sounded worth reading, so I requested it to review.
 
  We tend to put the Bible characters on a pedestal and forget that they were humans just like us, who had struggles and doubts just like us.  The author takes several characters and stories from the Bible and shows in a unique way how human they are, but doesn't do it in a bad way. I found the book an interesting read that opened up familiar Bible stories in a whole new way for me.

 I don't agree with the author on everything, such as her attempts to come up with worship songs not depicting God as  father for 2 women pastors, but overall, I would recommend the book. It is very well written, and she does a great job of bringing new life to these stories and characters.

About the author:

Nichole Nordeman has twice been named GMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year and is also a noted lyricist who has won 9 Dove Awards. Nordeman lives in Tulsa, OK.

Love Story is available from Worthy Publishing.
Thanks to Worthy Publishing for the review copy.

Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney

Home to Chicory Lane (Abingdon Press), book one in Deborah Raney'sChicory Inn series, offers a tender mix between big-city New York and small-town Langhorne, between big family drama and a faith that binds them together---for better or worse.

Landyn longs for home, but her mother may have other plans. 

Audrey Whitman's dreams are coming true. Now that their five kids are grown, she and her husband, Grant, are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri. 

Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious, with family and friends coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. But when Audrey's daughter, Landyn, arrives, the U-Haul she's pulling makes it clear she's not just here for a few days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent Landyn running home? Where was Landyn's husband, Chase? And what else was her daughter not telling her? One thing was for sure, the Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide the comfort of home her daughter so desperately needs?

My review:

  I rarely review books like this, and this one is even boldly labeled "Women's Fiction" on the spine, enough to scare interested men away. But I didn't see that warning label when I requested it, and I read a couple of books by Deborah Raney some years ago and enjoyed them, so I went ahead and asked for the book.

  This is the first book in a series, and even if it is women's fiction, I liked it so well I will probably read more in the series. I liked the setting. It made me want to step into the book and spend a few nights at the new Inn. And I loved the characters, especially Landalyn and Chase, married only a year and already having marriage problems. I thought the author did a great job of having them work through their issues, and the thought came to me that this would be a great book for a new married couple to read, whether or not they are having problems or not.

 And in spite of the women's fiction label, I think a lot of men would enjoy the book. Much of the book is from the viewpoint of a man and his take on marriage and the problems in it.

 Maybe I shouldn't admit liking a book so muchthat is specifically labeled "women's fiction", but I did. I read it through as fast as I would a suspense novel, which is my favorite genre', and will definitely be recommending it to others.

About the author:

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Deb enjoys teaching at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas---the setting of many of Deb's novels---for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. 

Visit Deb on the web at DeborahRaney.com.

Home to Chicory Lane is available from Abington Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

The first book in Deborah Raney's new Chicory Inn series, Home to Chicory Lane, introduces us to Audrey Whitman, a mother who has launched all her children into life and now looks forward to fulfilling some of her own dreams during her empty-nest years. However, not all of her children are ready to stay out of the nest quite yet.

Deborah is celebrating the release of her new series with a $200 B&B Weekend Getaway and a Facebook author chat party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A B&B Weekend Getaway (via a $200 Visa cash card)
• Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 9th. Winner will be announced at the Home to Chicory Lane Author Chat Party on 9/9. Deborah will be hosting a heartfelt book chat, giving away prizes, and answering questions from readers. She will also share an exclusive sneak peek at the next book in the Chicory Inn series!

So grab your copy of Home to Chicory Lane and join Deborah on the evening of September 9th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!

The Oath of the Brotherhood by C.E. Laureano

In a kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man’s worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a scholar, a musician, and a follower of the forbidden Balian faith: problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king.

When Conor is sent as a hostage to a neighboring kingdom, he never expects to fall in love with the rival king’s sister, Aine. Nor does he suspect his gift with the harp (and Aine’s ability to heal) touches on the realm of magic. Then his clan begins a campaign to eliminate all Balians from the isle of Seare, putting his newfound home in peril and entangling him in a plot for control of the island that has been unfolding since long before his birth.

Only by committing himself to an ancient warrior brotherhood can Conor discover the part he’s meant to play in Seare’s future. But is he willing to sacrifice everything—even the woman he loves—to follow the path his God has laid before him?

My review:
   I don't read much fantasy type books, and this falls under that genre', but I found myself enjoying the book much more than I expected. It is labeled as young adult fiction, but after reading it, I would have to say it is much more on the reading level of an adult and late teens more than early teens.

   My one issue with books like these, is they always come up with other names for God and the Bible. The author makes it obvious they are serving and talking about the one true God of the Bible, but that is something that could confuse some people. Other than that, I have no complaints about the book. It is a fast and fascinating read with a lot of drama and action. I liked the characters, especially Conor, the main character, and thought the author did a great job of developing him as a character and man throughout the story.

  The themes of God being in control, of guiding and taking care of His children are all through the book, and even though it was a fictional story, I found myself encouraged by reading it as it was a great reminder that God does take care of us and cares what happens to us.

  In my opinion, it would take a lot of imagination and work to come up with a book like this with all of the made up places, people, and their ways and laws. The end result is a book definitely worth reading. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

About the author:  

Carla Laureano studied literature and criticism at Pepperdine University and earned a degree in English in 1997. Since then, she has worked in a number of different industries as a salesperson, marketing manager, copywriter, and small business consultant. In addition to her work for corporate clients, she wrote for publications produced by the World Health Organization. She loves the history, culture, and mythology of Ireland and Scotland, which form the settings for most of her work. She also enjoys incorporating her background in martial arts and fencing into the action elements of her stories. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and currently serves as vice president of the South Denver ACFW chapter, Mile High Scribes. She was selected as a finalist in ACFW's 2012 Genesis contest in the speculative fiction category. Her debut novel, a contemporary romance entitled Five Days in Skye, was released by David C. Cook in June 2013. The first volume of her three-book young adult fantasy series, The Song of Seare (NavPress), released in May 2014. She lives with her husband and two sons in Denver, Colorado.


Oath of the Brotherhood is the first book in The Song of Seare series, and is available from Navpress/Tyndale Publishing.

Where the River Runs by Kelly Minter, and a giveaway

Bestselling author, popular speaker and musician Kelly Minter releases Wherever The River Runs: How A Forgotten People Renewed My Hope In The Gospel, August 1 from David C. Cook. The book is real life adventure of one woman's journey from Nashville's stages to the Amazon jungle where machete wielding mothers, heroic jungle pastors, faith-filled children and miracles too little experienced in the Northern Hemisphere transformed her faith. Minter's unfettered narrative pulls back the curtain on one of the most captivating places on earth and reminds us that no matter where the river runs and how deep or far it flows, it will never reach a place where the gospel is not enough.

Despite a mostly comfortable, American Christianity, Kelly Minter found herself striving for more: Not more accumulation, but a deeper experience of Christ. Wherever The River Runs (#WhereverTheRiverRuns) tells the surprising story of how this fuller meaning came through the poor and forgotten people who live along the vast riverbanks of the Amazon River that teems with piranhas, caimans and poverty. Through honest and often humorous narration, Kelly reveals the tension and deliverance that arises when we come face to face with suffering, while also reminding us that the gospel is still the best news to be had no matter where the river takes you.

Encountering widespread hopelessness and suffering along the Amazon River, Minter comes to the disturbing realization that her resources are not enough, her compassion is not enough and even her tightly wrapped theology is not enough. Here she discovers that only the hope and power of Christ are sufficient, leading her to a deeper understanding of the gospel.

"I thought that all our stuff, our fancy-dancy help, our American know-how would be the answer here, the rattle that finally got the baby to smile," says Minter. "Could it be that the tangible offerings of food and clothing were but the sideshow to a young boy in the middle of the jungle who needed to understand that God knew him?"

Her honest and engaging narrative pulls back the curtain on parts of the gospel we may be able to recite, but have never fully believed. For anyone feeling complacent in their American Christianity, Minter's story is a life-changing reminder that wherever you live, whatever your calling, the gospel is alive, powerful and always enough.

My review:

   It almost sounds heretical to admit, but I am not as interested in missions as I should be. With that thought in mind, and thinking the book sounded interesting, I decided to review it.

  The book is a fascinating and convicting read. Kelly Minter does a great job of describing her trip down the Amazon and telling about the villages she visited and some of the people she met. It is convicting in realizing how much I have compared to the people she met and tells about in her book. And even with the discomforts she tells of, it made me wish I could go on a trip like that.

  It is sobering to realize there are Christians on the other side of the world who have so little, yet are so faithful to serve God no matter what. And yet we complain so easily and are unhappy with what we have.

  We all need to read a book like this once in a while. We are too comfortable, and not thankful enough, And yet, reading a book isn't enough. Hopefully those who read the book, myself included, will be more prone to thankfulness and try to truly do something to help others.

About Kelly Minter:

Nashville-based Kelly Minter is an acclaimed author, Bible teacher, speaker and musician. Her bestselling Bible studies, including Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break and Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy, have each been featured by Beth Moore on her summer blog Bible study series. Minter's acclaimed books include No Other Gods and The Fitting Room, while as a musician she has released four full-length recordings and has had her songs recorded by Point of Grace, Joy Williams, Sonicflood, Sandi Patty and more. She also speaks to women around the world at events like Women of Faith, and partners with Justice and Mercy Amazon, an organization that serves in the Amazon jungle (http://justiceandmercy.org/serving/brazil/). More information on Minter can be found at http://kellyminter.com/.

Where the River Runs is available from David C Cook Publishing.

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review copy.

Book trailer:

Giveaway:
Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy of Where The River Runs to give away.

To enter:
Comment on this blog post. Watch the book trailer, a music video of Kelly on YouTube, and comment. Or just read the book review and comment.

I will pick a winner using Random.org 2 weeks from today on August 26.

Note:
I will only do the giveaway if I have at least 5 entries, so if you are interested, get a friend to enter.