Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney - 5-book giveaway

What if it's too late for dreams to come true?

Minor-but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless---and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk. With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

My review:
   I rarely read a romance book, but this series intrigued me, and here I am reading and reviewing the second book in the series. This series is unique in one way that so far the main characters are all married couples who work through some problem in their marriage instead of the "boy meets girl and marries girl" story that is so common even on the Christian market.

  This book centers on another of the Whitman family and her husband. Even though I don't normally like romantic novels, I like Raney's style of writing. And so far, each book tends to give some marriage advice via a novel. Jesse, the main character in this story, gets himself into trouble by being too friendly and naive around women and ends up endangering his family.

  The book was a fast read for me. I liked the plot and characters, and totally love the setting of the book. I really liked Jesse and the fact that he was sacrificing his dreams to make his wife and family happy and give them nice things. One message of the book is that both spouses have to give in a marriage, and one spouse shouldn't have to continually sacrifice his or her dreams.

 I did read the book through in one setting. It is the kind of book that you don't want to put down, and I am looking forward to more in the series.

About the author: 

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas---the setting of many of Deborah'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.

Find Deborah online: website, Facebook, Twitter  

Two Roads Home is available from Abington Press along with the book that precedes it in The Chicory Inn Series, Home to Chicory Lane. I would recommend reading the novels in order.

Thanks to Lutfuse for the review copy.

Dead Dog Like Me by Max Davis

Nick Gregory regains consciousness after a horrific car accident to find he’s been transported back in time and that he has become Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and King Saul’s grandson. Aware that he’s experiencing another man’s life, he has to learn fast. When mega-church pastor, Nick Gregory, regains consciousness after a horrific car accident, he’s on the ground in agonizing pain. Nick realizes he is in a bizarre place – a foreign, parched, ancient land, having been transported back in time to 800 B.C. Unbelievably, he is in the body of a prince named Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan and King Saul’s grandson. Nick is fully aware of who he is and that he’s now living in Mephibosheth’s body, strangely able to speak and understand Hebrew. This experience helps him see that he, like Mephibosheth, is a broken man desperate for God’s outrageous grace and healing (2 Samuel 9:8). Returning to present day, Nick’s experience motivates a changed life.

My review:
  I have never read anything by this author before, but the description intrigued me; especially the part about the main character going back in time and turning into a biblical character. The description of the book is a little misleading as it makes it sound like he is Mephibosheth for a lot of the book, and it is only a brief couple of times. However, the book was still an interesting read.

 The story is ultimately about the fall of a celebrity pastor who has it all, but then a tragedy in his family leads to it all unraveling and his losing everything. Even though the book is fiction, it was somewhat painful to read how quickly and easily something like that could happen.

  I liked the plot and characters, although the main character wasn't too likable for a lot of the book. And it is more than a story. It is a warning for all of us that we need to have a true relationship with God, and that it is all about Him, not us. We don't have to be in ministry to get full of ourselves and think it is us accomplishing good things, when we are just vessels for God to use.

  This was not suspense, my favorite genre', but I still read it through in one sitting. It was very well-written and I wanted to get to the end to find out how the book ends. It is sort of similar to the story of Job in the Bible, only God found no fault in Job. A great read.

About the author:

Max Davis is the author of over 20 published books and has been featured in USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly, and has appeared on The Today Show and The 700 Club. He holds degrees in Journalism and Biblical Studies and is a much sought-after speaker for churches and organizations worldwide. He and his wife, Alanna, live on 50 beautiful acres in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana.


Dead Dog Like Me is available from Worthy Publishing.

Thanks to Worthy for the review copy.

Sanctuary Lost and Sanctuary Buried by Lisa Phillips

U.S. Marshal John Mason gains full custody of his son and is transferred to Sanctuary, a witness protection town that isn't on any map. When the town's first ever murder occurs, John's plans to reconnect with his boy are derailed by the investigation. Andra Caleri gave up her old life a long time ago, but someone wants her out of Sanctuary--to pay. As accusations fly and John uncovers a conspiracy that stretches all the way to Washington, Andra's past comes back in a true test of the mercy she received. Can John give up what he wants the most to bring the truth to light?



Eight years ago Francesca Canetti testified against her father—the head

of a mafia crime family.

Now she’s Frannie Peters, running a bakery in the witness protection town of Sanctuary. Her former-starlet mom and her younger sister mooch off all her hard work, her best employee has terminal cancer, the town’s mafia crew insists she’s one of them and her love life is so non-existent it isn’t even funny. Dare she try and unearth a better life? 
Matthias Hernandez is a ranch hand with his own bundle of secrets. His feelings for Frannie have lain undiscovered for a long time, until he realizes his family won’t fix itself. It’s time to dig up the future he’s always dreamed of. 

When Frannie stumbles on a killer at work, the culprit turns his attention to her — and with the attention comes deadly consequences. Can they figure out the identity of the “dark angel” before it’s too late for all of them?

My review:
  I was browsing on Amazon, trying to find something to buy with a gift card. These two books popped up as a suggestion based on my buying and browsing history. I checked the books out and thought they sounded really good and they had good reviews. I don't know that I have ever bought two books at the same time by an author I had never read or heard of, but I put them in my Amazon cart and checked out.

  I read the first book yesterday and loved it, so I started the second one and finished it today. The idea of a whole town that is secret and full of people in the Witness Protection Services is a unique idea, and it works. I loved the characters, suspense, and the author isn't afraid to make her books Christian. I would highly recommend this series and would imagine all of her books are worth checking out. If you enjoy good Christian suspense, her books are a must-read.

About the author:

A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her).​  

Since then she's taken the Apprentice and Journeyman writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild, and discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after. 

Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children--a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy--and there's only one bunny rabbit now (sad face).

Find Lisa on Amazon and on her website.

A More Christlike God by Bradley Jersak

What is God like?

A punishing judge? 

A doting grandfather? 

A deadbeat dad? 

A vengeful warrior?

'Believers' and atheists alike typically carry and finally reject the toxic images of God in their own hearts and minds. Even the Christian gospel has repeatedly lapsed into a vision of God where the wrathful King must be appeased by his victim Son.  How do such 'good cop/bad cop' distortions of the divine arise and come to dominate churches and cultures?

Whether our notions of 'god' are personal projections or inherited traditions, author and theologian

Brad Jersak proposes a radical reassessment, arguing for

A More Christlike God: a More Beautiful Gospel.

If Christ is "the image of the invisible God, the radiance of God's glory and exact representation of God's likeness," what if we conceived of God as completely Christlike-the perfect Incarnation of self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love? What if God has always been and forever will be 'cruciform' (cross-shaped) in his character and actions?

A More Christlike God suggests that such a God would be very good news indeed---a God who Jesus "unwrathed" from dead religion, a Love that is always toward us, and a Grace that pours into this suffering world through willing, human partners.

My review:
  As soon as I saw the email about this book, the title caught my eye. "A more Christlike God". I read the description and was intrigued, so I ordered it for review.

 The idea of the book is so many people, myself included, have struggled to have the right view of God. Yet, it is rare for people to have the wrong view of Jesus. According to the Bible, Jesus and God the Father are one, so if that is the case, then God is just like Jesus. It is somewhat heavy of a thought, yet totally biblical and one that makes a lot of sense.

  The author tackles the most common wrong views of God in chapter two, then spends the rest of the book showing what the right view of God is.

  This book is classified as theology, and that is the kind of book I rarely read, but it isn't your grandfather's old dusty and dry theology books. Even though there is a lot of depth in the book, it is an interesting and easy read, yet one that still makes you think.

  After each chapter, there is a "pausing to think" section, which has some points and questions to ponder relating to the chapter. Following that is a short prayer.

  As with any theology book, I don't agree 100% with the author or how he presents a few things, but it is a book I would highly recommend, especially for those who struggle to have the right view of God.

About the author:

Brad Jersak (PhD) is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He is on faculty at Westminster Theological Centre (Cheltenham, UK), where he teaches New Testament and Patristics. He also serves as adjunct faculty with St Stephen's University (St. Stephen, NB). He is also the senior editor of CWR (Christianity Without the Religion) Magazine, based in Pasadena, CA.

A More Christlike God is available from Plain Truth Ministries.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.

Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard

Kate won't be safe until all of Port Aster's secrets are revealed

Researcher Kate Adams has finally pinpointed the supposed "miracle plant" that tore apart her family years ago. She's certain that discovering its secrets is her only hope of solving the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance. She's willing to risk anything to find the truth, including her relationship with Detective Tom Parker. But with so many people in pursuit of the plant, going it alone might be a fatal mistake.

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard pulls out all the stops in this breakneck and breathtaking conclusion to the Port Aster Secrets series.

My review:
   I have enjoyed this series and have been looking forward to the last book coming out for a while. This series was different from most Christian suspense trilogies in that it had the same main character and plot line for all three books.

  The other two books have been building up to this book, and though they were great reads and I enjoyed them, this book was the best of all three.... but that could be because everything gets wrapped up in this book, and it seems more happens in this book than the others.

  The author kept me guessing in this book as to who the bad guys were and were not, and I had a few surprises at the end of the book. This was a great conclusion to a great series and I enjoyed it a lot, and couldn't put it down. Top notch writing and suspense, just the way I like it.

About the author:

Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several inspirational romantic suspense/mysteries, including Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Sandra has also received a HOLT Medallion, a Word Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to her busy writing schedule, Sandra enjoys speaking at events and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Sandra's books and check out the special bonus features, such as deleted scenes and location pics, at http://sandraorchard.com.


Desperate Measures and the other two books in the series are available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Fatal Trauma by Richard L Mabry, M.D., and a giveaway

Hang on to your seats! Richard Mabry's latest medical thriler , Fatal Trauma, will have you reading long into the night!

A gunman who has nothing to lose faces a doctor who could lose it all to prove his innocence.

When Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson are held at the mercy of a dangerous gunman, the lives of every emergency room patient are at stake. At the end of the evening three men are dead. One of them is a police officer who couldn't be saved despite Mark's best efforts. The other two are members of the feared Zeta drug cartel.

Though the standoff is over, the killing is not, because when the drug cartel loses its members, revenge is not far behind. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.

At the height of the conflict, three questions remain: Who is the shooter? Who will the next victim be? And can Mark prove his innocence before the gun turns on him?

My review:
  I have enjoyed every Richard Mabry book I have read, and he has become synonymous with great Christian medical suspense to me. When I open a book of his and start to read, I know it is going to be a good read, and this one was no exception,

  A lot of suspense novels slowly inch into the suspense and action. This book jumps into it on the first page with a hostage/gunman situation in the Emergency Department of a hospital, and it doesn't slow down but keeps up throughout the whole book. Mabry does an excellent job of combining a Christian message, suspense, and hospital happenings in a way that it is interesting and easy to understand and read. I didn't get bogged down with the medical "stuff", and found it interesting to get an insider's take on hospital happenings.

  I liked the main characters, and it was nice to read a book that focused more on the male character than the female. Christian fiction tends to be a woman's market, and even when male authors write a book, they often do it from a female's point of view, so cheers to Mabry for focusing on a story more from a man's point of view.

  The book had some surprises and although I saw some thins coming, I didn't see everything coming, which makes for a great novel. I did read the book in one sitting, which I often to with a great novel such as this, and recommend it to lovers of Christian suspense.

  This is a stand alone title.

About the author:

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Find Richard online: website  


Fatal Trauma is available from Abington Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy. Can Mark find out who the shooter is before he becomes the next victim? You won't want to miss the suspense in Richard Mabry's new book, Fatal Trauma. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.

Richard is celebrating the release of Fatal Trauma by giving away The Perfect Prescription Prize Pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $25 cash card
• A copy of Fatal Trauma
• A bag of coffee (because caffeine can cure a lot)
• A medical-inspired coffee mug
• Syringe pens
• A box of medical-inspired cookies (because sugar can cure what caffeine doesn't)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 20th. The winner will be announced June 22nd on Richard's blog.

The Transparent Life by McKrae Game

Secrets destroy families, relationships, and will stop personal growth. Too many people go through life wearing a mask of shame, terrified that if anyone knew the "real me," they would be shunned and alone. Unfortunately many churches and society tell us to keep our struggles, addictions, and pasts hidden. Hiding our problems will not make them go away. There is a way to be free from the shame and guilt. It begins by understanding The Transparent Life. Author McKrae Game is the president and founder of Hope for Wholeness Network. He lives a transparent life and his ministry has counseled countless men and women to begin their own healing by removing the mask and letting people in. This book is for anyone who desires to be free from struggles, addictions, and secrets.

My review:
   It isn't often that I review a book by someone I personally know, and I believe this is only the second time I have done that. I know McKrae Game, and although this is a review of his book and not him, I will say he is a great Christian man of integrity who has dedicated his life to helping others who struggle with same-sex attractions find hope in Christ through his ministry, Hope For Wholeness. I have heard him speak and heard some of his story, but he tells much more of it in this book.

  The book is part autobiographical and part "self-help", for lack of a better word. McKrae tells of his upbringing, of his start of living the gay lifestyle, his conversion, and his marriage. The focus of the book is on how important it is for any Christian, but especially those who have a besetting sin or struggle, to be open and honest and not just have accountability, but an openness of where they have been, where they are, and what they are dealing with.

  He has a lot of great advice, most of it based on his own experiences, of what works and what doesn't, and who you should tell and even when. He shows through his story of how important it is to live a transparent life instead of hiding what you are dealing with. The book brings hope and encouragement, in addition to showing how important transparency is. 

  The book closes with some testimonies of others who have felt more freedom from being transparent with others.

  And although McKrae's story is one of deliverance from homosexuality, this book is not just intended for those who also struggle with that issue, but is intended for all Christians. We all need to be more transparent and open about what we are dealing with, no matter what the issue. I highly recommend this book.

About the author:

McKrae is the Founder and President of Hope for Wholeness. The ministry was founded in 1999 as Truth Ministry. The ministry launched a national network in 2013, Hope for Wholeness, and changed its name to reflect this new direction.

McKrae is an ordained Southern Baptist minister; he was ordained by his home church, First Baptist North Spartanburg, specifically to work in ministry with those affected by same-sex attractions. He shares his beliefs on the causes of homosexuality, from the approach of someone with same-sex attractions now living a biblical standard. When he was younger, he lived as a gay man for over three years.

McKrae is also the founder of the Hope for Wholeness curriculum, a ground-breaking video series and workbook curriculum for those seeking freedom from homosexuality. McKrae and his wife, Julie, were married in 1996 and are the proud parents of a son and daughter. They make their home in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Check out McKrae's ministry website, HopeforWholeness.org
His blog: McKraeGame.com
And read his story here: McKrae's Story.

The Transparent Life is available from Amazon,