Litfuse blog tour stop for Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney (with bonus review!)

Deborah is celebrating with a fun "Date Night" Giveaway (win a $200 Visa Cash Card!) and an Author Chat Party on Facebook! {5/30}

 
One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one – your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
• The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 29th. Winner will be announced at the "The Face of the Earth" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 30th. Connect with Deborah for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deborah will also be sharing a sneak peek of her next book and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Face of the Earth and join Deborah on the evening of May 30th 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 30th!

My review:

I love books that make me think. This is the types of novel that leaves you pondering things even after you finish the last page. I really liked how the story ended because it brought closure to everything. I also appreciated the realistic struggles that the hero and heroine had. This author does a good job with stirring emotion in the reader and making hearts ache as well as rejoice. There were just enough "we think we've found out what happened" scenarios to make it seem suspenseful, even though it wasn't a suspense novel. There was also a mystery element to the book. It would be hard to sit around waiting when the trail seems to grow colder by the day.

The questions Mitch asked himself were legitimate ones. How do you know when it's time to let go? How do you get peace in a situation like this? Why did God let it happen and why did it take so long to find out the truth? Well, God knows what he's doing and if we tune into His will, we will find peace and a deeper relationship with Him, but we have to surrender our own plans first. It's really hard to talk about some of the characters' journeys without posting spoilers and this is the kind of book that you don't want to cheat and read the end first.

Half the beauty of reading the story is not knowing the outcome. The moral and spiritual dilemmas are more complex when the reader doesn't know the future... just like in real life. How many decisions would we change if we knew what the future held? It was a realistic and touching journey for me in that respect. I really enjoyed this story.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Hide and Seek by H. L. Wegley

About the book:

A computer security breach within a US defense contractor's firewalls leads investigators, Lee Brandt and beautiful, brilliant Jennifer Akihara, onto the cyber-turf of terrorists, where they are detected and targeted for elimination. Lee leads them on a desperate and prayer-filled flight for survival into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Will Jennifer's pursuit of truth about the conspiracy, and the deepest issues of life, lead her into the clutches of terrorists, into the arms of Lee Brandt, or into the arms of the God she deems untrustworthy?

My thoughts: I was supposed to get this book to review but it hasn't arrived yet. If I get it soon, I will review it later.

The question: What do you think about cyber terrorism? I will choose a winner next Sunday using "the hat" randomizer program.

Litfuse blog tour stop for Pastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen (with bonus review!)

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd 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 23rd!

My review:

Not sure what to say about this book, but I'll do my best to express my thoughts and opinion. It was definitely interesting for the most part, but there were a few places I skimmed because the content was a bit blah. The story had some touching scenes, especially around the death of Ruthie's mother. At the same time, there were realistic doubts and conflicts between characters. I found that refreshing and honest. Everything wasn't painted as rosy and perfect. That's not real life. 

There was some harsh language, but it tended to be mainly in the thoughts of the one pastor's wife who didn't believe in God, so she wouldn't filter her thoughts or clean them up anyway. It was hard to tell if the author of this book sees the church as a do-good charity type organization where people had good intentions - well, at least some of them - because at the same time she portrayed some of the characters as solidly religious, almost like they were crafty, narrow minded, or stupid - like blind sheep who followed power hungry people. Some of them just plain scared me because they were so controlling and hateful.

Even the Bible verses quoted by characters were in King James English. I don't know many people who read that version anymore because it's too hard to understand. Plus, usually when the verses were quoted, it was to make a point or to control someone through religious guilt. The fact that the core church in the book was a bit weird with the rock band, smoke machines, and dancing in the aisles, not to mention the ministry focused on "all religions leading to the same God," was a bit off-putting. Most churches are not in favor of a "one world religion" and are not filled with con artists. Then again, maybe I've just attended good ones where the focus is on growing closer to each other as a community, serving others, and loving the same Jesus.

Anyway, all that to say I wouldn't recommend this book. I never really connected with the characters. They felt shallow to me. I wanted to feel their pain and to connect with them. I understood their desire to run away at times and how they often felt abandoned by their husbands, but I never really "felt" a true connection with them. I wanted to relate to them like real people who could be my friends, but I just wasn't feeling it. 

Litfuse Publicity blog tour stop for It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist (with bonus review!)

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

  One "fair" winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd 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 22nd!

My review:

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this story and the pictures the author included. The emotional bonding that took place between characters over various incidents that occurred at the fair was well done. I appreciated the insight the author had into a number of issues. One had to do with how the belief in someone's abilities and admiration of them as a person will increase their feelings for each other. Especially men. They want the woman they are attracted to also believe in them as a person and what they can do, not just the length of time they had known each other. That makes for a stronger kind of love; one that leads to a passionate marriage rather than just a comfortable one.

The hero, Cullen, was very likable, but also quite manly. The description of his physique was quite hot, actually. I enjoyed how the author used the need for him to learn how to lip read as a way to meet the woman he became attracted to and make it difficult for him to learn from her by putting them in a number of private situations. That was great when it came to developing tension between them. His fierce protectiveness of her made me love him more. He was a good guy and cared deeply about a number of things, including loyalty. One of his most intense issues was his need to put out fires to save lives. He got to the point where he had to rely on God to see him through some tough issues. I loved that he grieved along with Della during a tragic time at the fair. It helped bond them even more. That was very well done.

The heroine, Della, was a sweetheart as well. The way her feelings slowly developed for the hero was touching. The scene with the little girl in her class was a tear-jerker, but it really made Della think about what the kids experienced from being separated from their parents. Della had her own frailties, but she was a tough lady. Her response to seeing the hero's buff physique made me smile. I felt like I was touching those ripped muscles. And that first kiss... whew! Great romantic tension. She got a bit skittish at times when she felt like she couldn't trust him, but she came around and that made me admire her more. Very enjoyable story.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Courage to Change by Elizabeth Maddrey

About the book:

Book Two of the 'Grant Us Grace' Series.

When Phil Reid became a Christian and stopped drinking, his hard-partying wife Brandi divorced him. Reeling and betrayed, he becomes convinced Christians should never remarry, and resolves to guard his heart.

Allison Vasak has everything in her life under control, except for one thing. Her heart is irresistibly drawn to fellow attorney and coworker, Phil. Though she knows his history and believes that women should not initiate relationships, she longs to make her feelings known.

As Phil and Allison work closely together to help a pregnant teen, Allison melts his defenses. But when Brandi discovers Phil's new relationship, she decides that though she doesn't want him, no one else can have him. Can Phil and Allison's love weather the chaos Brandi brings into their lives?

My review:

Coming soon! I'm enjoying it a lot so far. Look for a full review in June! The review will also be featured in The Wordsmith Journal Magazine's June issue. :)

Now for the question....  What do you think about divorced Christians remarrying?

My review of Phoenix Takes Flight by Michelle Stevens

About the book:

Before the world of Facebook, Chat Rooms and Blogs, there were online communities called Bulletin Boards…

Beth Lynn is falling in love with The Keeper, also known as Scott Reiner. But he is about to reveal something that will tear the new couple apart. Forced on her own again, Beth is determined to make the most of her life. In the process, she encounters new friends and makes a discovery that changes everything.

* The second part of Beth’s journey expands her horizons. From romance to spiritual awakening, she will never be the same. The Phoenix Series chronicles the love story of Beth and Scott, two computer BBSers who meet in the 1980's. Obstacles lie ahead for the young couple and a tragic event stands at the end that will deeply impact Beth’s life.

For you see, she is a Phoenix ~ her future requires the flame.

My review:

I absolutely loved this book. Over 80% of it was read to me by my Kindle Fire HD, but I had no trouble understanding it because it was in the first person POV and there was only one character to track while listening. Anyway, I bought this book to find out more about Scott and to see what happened. I was not disappointed. Things just really took off and now I'm feeling bummed that the next book isn't out yet. I loved how the author wrote life like she saw it for this character and wasn't worried about being PC when it came to conversations and actions. These characters acted like real people would.

I love the setting because I was young in the 1980s and when computers first came out. I remember the chat rooms and going dancing with friends. Some people might take issue with them drinking champagne a few times, but they never got drunk so it didn't bother me. Beth, AKA Phoenix did get drunk in the first book, but she wasn't a believer and her boyfriend made her drink too much. I liked this book better even though the first book sets the foundation for her past, which helps you understand the second book. I found this story compelling and very interesting. The faith elements became a pleasant surprise I hadn't seen coming. I am definitely going to buy the third book.

One last thing... This book was published by the author via Amazon and is a great example of what stories can be like when written from the heart without all of the editing that often removes the heart and soul of the story.