Now I'm giving away a copy of Cassidy by Lori Wick...

To enter, just post a comment and leave a way for me to contact you if you win!

From the Publisher

Following the success of her recent stand—alone novel, White Chocolate Moments, bestsellingauthor Lori Wick returns to delight readers with a new series set in the vast open places of Montana.

Token Creek, Montana Territory, 1880—Cassidy Norton is a fine seamstress who makes her living sewing for others. Amid the bustle of a busy frontier town, her life is rich. What time her business doesn't take, her friends and church family fill. But Cassidy hasn't always lived in Token Creek, and few people know her full story. So she struggles with a nagging unsettledness in her heart.

Cassidy's friend Meg is married to a rancher and has a baby, something Cassidy wants for herself. But that would mean revealing the details of her life. Will Cassidy find the strength to take that risk?

Book 1 in the Big Sky Dreams series.

The Dead Whisper on by T.L. Hines is up on CFBA!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

THE DEAD WHISPER ON

(Bethany House July 1, 2007)


by

T. L. Hines

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tony is the author of the acclaimed Waking Lazarus. He has been an advertising agency owner/principal, a trade amgazine editor, and now a novelist.

He has been a professional writer for more than 15 years with articles appearing in publications as varied as Log Homes, Conservative Theological Journal, and Travel & Leisure. He is also Creative Director at Montana's largest advertising agency.

His long list of past odd jobs includes trimming Christmas trees, sorting seed potatoes, working the graveyard shift at a convenience store, and cleaning cadaver storage rooms.

As a teen he was undefeated in air guitar competitions in which he performed songs by ZZ Top.

He lives in Montana with his wife and daughter.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Would You Run Into A Burning Building?

Candace "Canada Mac" MacHugh lives a ghost of her former life.

Once a proud Butte, Montana, miner who daily risked her life setting explosives, she's now a garbage collector in her dying hometown.

Her beloves father is dead and she doesn't speak to her mom. More than anything, Candace Mac misses her father. He promised to contact her from the "other side" if he could...but it's been eleven long years. And now even her beloved city of Butte, Montana, seems to be dying off.

Candace Mac is alone. Longing for the past. Dreaming of making a difference.

Until one night when her father's voice speaks to her from the shadows. Bud MacHugh's trademark growl. The dead, it seems, have messages they hunger to share with the world...warnings of impending disasters and grave danger. Of cities doomed to burn.

But they need Canada's help.

T.L. Hines' first novel, Waking Lazarus was named one of the Library Journal's Top 25 Genre novels of 2006. Now he's back with a gripping suspense that brings to light our fears and asks us if we still have the courage to fight for those around us. if we have the guts to be one of those who run into burning buildings.

"Chilling!" Publishers Weekly

"...a well-paced suspense populated by dynamic characters." Kirkus Discoveries

My review of Bad Idea by Todd and Jedd Hafer...

From the publisher:

A weird family, one messed-up guy, and an angry coyote transform Griffin Smith's rite-of-passage road trip to his freshman year of college into an attitude-changing adventure! As their journey takes random detours and the states blur by, Griffin, his best friend, father, and kid brother learn life lessons about forgiveness, integrity, and character.

My review:

I'll admit I feel a bit conflicted about this book. I've worked with troubled kids for over twenty years so I know where the authors are coming from. The book was compulsively readable. The wit, sarcasm, and analogies were the most original and creative I've ever read. The authors clearly had insight into a troubled kid's head as well. I'm not sure I agree that the content is for kids as young as twelve, though, despite what the recommended age level is. For one thing, Griffin does a lot of dangerous stuff in this book including self-mutilation and drinking secretively through the majority of the book. My concern would be that a troubled kid would read about something they'd never done before (like burn themselves) and try it because they read about it as a way of coping for Griffin and if they thinks he's cool...

I dunno. I remember being 12 and 13 and reading a book about girls who were anorexic and trying to imitate their behavior when I was upset because I thought they were cool. That's what I'm getting at here. I liked how the authors gave incredible insight via the first person point of view into Griffin's inner heart attitude and his extreme pain over his mother's abandonment and how that played out in his life. I also liked how they showed the lessons Griffin learned over time, though they were slow at coming out and then the book was over. I'm also a bit conflicted on the spiritual element because from reading this book you sort of get the impression that Griffin sees himself as a Christian, yet his thoughts don't seem to match up with how a truly spiritually regenerated person would view things. He seemed to have no hope at all so that didn't sit right with me. However, he did seem to understand grace more in the end, so something obviously happened to his heart to change his impression of what a relationship with Christ means.

Some of the stuff in Bad Idea is truly LOL funny, but even when reading snippets to my two teenage sons, I could not get them interested in reading this book and they are the target audience! Some of the stuff seemed too thirty-something sounding in Griffin's thoughts. What 18 year-old knows what Billy Idol's fish hook snarl looks like? Or am I just out of touch with the pop culture of today? At any rate, I still recommend this book for a snappy read to someone who loves angst and works with troubled youth. I'm just not so sure I'd recommend it to troubled teens as a resource. Sure, they might also self-mutilate and can identify with Griffin's thought process, however, if they don't already self-mutilate I'd hate to think they had now just discovered a whole new way to hurt themselves via a Christian book. Make sense?

I love edgy stuff, so I had to really sleep on this one before I put my thoughts down to be fair to the authors. I still want to read the sequel.

Bad Idea was published by NavPress THINK and released in August 2006.

New cartoon humor...

While this isn't true for me, I still think it's hilarious! Must be having PMS!

Now I'm giving away a copy of Wedding Bell Blues by Linda Windsor...

She will autograph the winner's copy.

All you have to do to enter the drawing is post a comment below. I will pick a winner on Wednesday. Thanks for participating!


From the Publisher:

Wedding Bell Blues tells the delightful story of four best friends who have returned to their small hometown on the eastern shore of Maryland, Piper Cove.

Alex Butler is a successful home decorator who hopes she has finally gotten her life together. But when Josh Turner, the man who ran away and broke her heart sixteen years ago, returns to Piper Cove to be the best man in her sister's wedding, Alex can't escape the butterflies in her stomach. But Alex has no time for distractions, her family has enlisted her to make this the wedding of the century. To pull the event off, she pools the talents of her three best friends - Jan, who creates desserts to-die-for will help with the cake and catering, tomboy Ellen, who works at a landscaping business will handle the flowers and decorations, and Sue Anne, who can . . . well, Suzie Q can give Alex a much-needed reality check in the course of the wedding planning chaos.

But fate won't be stopped in this small town as Alex and Josh keep running into each other at every turn. When sparks fly, Alex soon finds herself caught in a paralyzing battle of the heart between her old-fashioned Southern father, who fiercely resents Josh for breaking his little girl's heart, and her feelings for the one man she ever truly loved.

As the wedding approaches, the Butler family faces a threat to their reputation that will shake this Chesapeake clan to their very core. In the midst of it all, can Alex and Josh resist the many forces that seem to be drawing them together?

My review:

This is the first novel I've read by Linda Windsor and now I'm wondering what took me so long to delve into her stories. I own several more, which I will soon be reading, especially if they are all as good as this book was. I really enjoyed the tension between characters. Especially the hero and heroine. The longing for each other, and yet trying-to-remain-aloof-but-not-succeeding portion of the story kept me smiling.

I love a book that has passionate kissing in it, especially when the two people who are drawn together also feel like they shouldn't succumb to what they long for. That makes for the best romantic tension. And this book has fabulous kissing and romance, yet they never fall into dangerous territory because Joshua is heroic enough to flee temptation. The author has a gift for description, making your heart float at times. She also has a great sense of humor and uses witty metaphors.

Incredibly romantic, this novel had just enough sizzle to hook me on her books for life. Not to reduce it to sizzle, because the spiritual element was deep and edifying as well, but I SO love an inspirational novel that has more than just one kiss at the end. Trust me, if you love romantic tension, great character arcs and an interesting plot, this story has a gourmet distribution of them all. Delicious and addicting. I loved it.

Wedding Bell Blues was published by Avon Inspire and released in July 2007.

My thoughts on what I'm reading this last week in August 2007...

It's been about a month since I posted my thoughts on the books I'm reading. Since it's unlikely with the congregational meeting at church tonight that I'll get a chance to finish a book, at least you can know what I'm reviewing. Bad Idea by the Hafter brothers is pretty psycho. I love the sarcasm and wit. A couple of things disturb me, but I can see the flip side as well. The book keeps begging me to pick it up and finish it. I'm thinking it will win out. I'm still reading Mothering Mother by Carol O'Dell and I'm loving it. This story is hilarious and witty, so I'll definitely finish it soon. I just started Sushi for One by Camy Tang. The food incident was pretty gross at the restaurant, but it's not dull so it's holding my attention. I like the author's voice. I'm enjoying Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury. It's the story where Dane and Katy finally get married. You know I'll love it! I began The Cure by Athol Dickson and it's kind of spooky, as is The Void by Mark Mynheir, which makes them perfect "guy" books. I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed with the amount I need to read and those I need to finish, but time flies so if I have one of your books and haven't read it yet, I truly apologize for the delay.

Sunset pictures from my back porch taken tonight...

I took these pictures literally five minutes ago. Gorgeous aren't they?

My review of The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall

From the Publisher:

Lady Isabel Ashton, scorned by society after the birth of her illegitimate child, longs to regain wealth and position-despite Christ's call on her heart. But when her son is kidnapped, she's forced to seek the aid of the man who pirated her purity. How far will Isabel go to save her child and redeem her honor?

Captain Kent Carlton, desperate to win the heart of the woman he once ravished, finds himself battling jealousy as well as the sea. Can a penniless pirate capture the love he so urgently desires, or will the lady seek her safe harbor in another man's arms?

My review:

All of the books in the Legacy of the King's Pirates series have been awesome, but this story was probably the best of them all. It's a difficult task to take someone who was so unlikeable in previous books - Captain Carlton - and make him someone you want to see Lady Ashton choose to love and spend the rest of her life with. The author has such rich, emotional characters and so much depth to her stories that it's hard to not feel sad when the story ends. I enjoyed this novel to the last page, because when it comes to torturing her characters, M.L. Tyndall is the queen of tension. The Restitution was riveting.

I also loved how Tyndall created pirate cuss words without having the characters actually swear. Her skill with the English language and her ability to describe things is incredible. This is an author who puts you in every scene--from the stench of the filth inside the ship to the hair-raising fear experienced by the characters. And the faith element was once again believable. There is no easy faith on pirate ships, but God shows His love in impossible, but true-to-life situations. This is an author I will not miss. Every book she writes is a treasure and I highly recommend them all.

The Restitution was published by Barbour and released in August 2007.

Win one of Nikki Arana's books!

You can win a free copy of Nikki Arana's new release, As I Have Loved You. Just go to www.Amazon.com . Then go to the page for As I Have Loved You by typing that title at the top of the page under search. When the book appears click on the title. Now you're on the contest page. Follow the simple instructions under Win a Free Book!

In fact, you can go to all her other book pages, The Winds of Sonoma, In the Shade of the Jacaranda, and The Fragrance of Roses and enter multiple times!!

Now I'm giving away a copy of The Lost Sheep by Brandt Dodson!

All you have to do to win is enter a comment. I'll pick a winner Sunday!


From the Publisher:

Readers who loved the first three Colton Parker Mysteries will devour this latest entry in the fast—paced and highly recommended series.

After closing a high profile case, Colton Parker's life is beginning to turn around. His detective agency has money in the bank, a growing clientèle, and the relationship between Colton and FBI agent Mary Christopher is beginning to blossom. Things are looking up...until his daughter, Callie, vanishes.

The search for Callie will lead Colton into a world he has never seen. A world where everything is wrong—and wrong is right. A world where light is exchanged for darkness, and the truth is sacrificed for a lie.

If Colton is to save Callie in time, he will need to confront evil where it dwells. A confrontation that will affect both father and daughter for all eternity.

My review of Fair Game by Carol Cox...

Book Description:

Dinah Mayhew takes on more than just a job at the Chicago World's Fair when she sets her cap for Seth Howell. As Dinah and Seth team up to help Chicago's unfortunates, romance fairly blossoms. But matters take a turn for the worse when Cousin Gladys appears on the scene and starts looking for love in all the wrong places. Upon Gladdie's sudden and mysterious disappearance, Dinah and Seth begin searching for answers, only to find themselves trapped in a maze of secrecy and deception. Will they live to expose the truth or find themselves facing the point of no return?

My review:

Fair Game is an intriguing tale. While it had some slow spots, overall it was a fascinating story and I enjoyed it. Though labeled a romantic mystery, Fair Game contained quite a bit of suspense--especially toward the end. I knew who the creepy man was and what he was doing and I wanted to protect Dinah from him. The romance between Dinah and Seth was sweet, and at times rather emotionally intense. The subplot of her father's rejection of her really drew their hearts together and touched mine.

I loved Seth from the beginning, but as I got to know him better I loved him even more for being so heroic. Great romance, riveting suspense. Wonderful historical fiction. I enjoyed it almost as much as the first book in the series. If not for the slow spots I would have enjoyed it even more, but they weren't significant enough to keep me from finishing the story.

Fair Game was published by Barbour and released in April 2007.

My review of The Castatway's Bride by Susan Page Davis...

Book Description:

Edward Hunter has been shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island for four years. He finally returns home and finds changes everywhere. His native Maine is now a state. His beloved father is dead, and Edward now owns the shipping company. And his fiancee, Abigail Bowman, believing him dead, has promised to marry his cousin. Abigail's younger sister, Deborah, acts as a mediator between Edward and Abigail, but he soon begins to wonder if attempting to win Abigail back is a mistake. Perhaps God has another plan for him and the loyal, understanding Deborah.

My review:

This story will make your heart sing. Poor Edward. You can't help but feel sorry for him and anxious for his cousin as he worries that Abby will want Edward back. But five years is a long time, and Edward and Abby have both changed. One thing that has remained constant, however, is Deborah's love and admiration for Edward. But dare she hope that he might return her affections?

This enjoyable romance shows how getting to know someone's character and heart for others can lead to love. Beauty is only skin deep. While Deborah is by no means ugly, her heart for others makes her beautiful in Edward's eyes. Hold your breath as you wait for them to discover love and hope that they can get past societal expectations from that era to achieve the relationship they both long for.

The Castaway's Bride is published by Heartsong and is due to be released Dec. 1, 2007

New niece pics with bubble thoughts. She's 1 year old!!!

Um, Mom, the cake has like some fire shooting out of this tube-like thing on top. Is it safe?

Whew, the fire is gone, but what's this stuff? Do you eat it? Hmmm....Should I check? I like the pretty colors.

Why is everyone looking at me? Did I do something wrong? I was just tasting it. You didn't say I couldn't.

I am supposed to eat the cake? Well, why didn't you just say so? Do you mind if more ends up smeared on my tray than what actually goes in my mouth???

Um, Mom, why am I the center of attention again? I suppose I don't mind another picture... You could've given me a moment to fix my hair, though. Sheesh!

Hey! No fair! Daddy tickled my knee to get me to laugh. He cheated! Can we take the picture over again? I wasn't ready.

Well, okay. I guess I can forgive you, Daddy, since you're giving me a ride down this slide. This is so much fun! Wheeee!!!

Hey, just checking for leftover frosting. Geez, Mom, why'd you have to get a picture of that!?!

The Void by Mark Mynheir is up on CFBA this week!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

THE VOID
(Multnomah Fiction August 21, 2007)
by

Mark Mynheir

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Mynheir is a cop writer. He has authored Rolling Thunder (The Truth Chasers Book One) and From the Belly of the Dragon (The Truth Chasers Book Two).

During his career as a police officer, Mark has worked as a narcotics agent, a S.W.A.T. team member, and a homicide detective. Mark and his wife, Lori, live with their three children in central Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Truth Chasers Book Three

Someone’s trying to play God…
and he’s turning Palm Bay into hell.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Robbie Sanchez devotes her life to crime prevention, and it shows: She has no personal life and doesn’t know the meaning of a day off. After all, someone has to be around to clean up the mess crime leaves behind.

So when Officer Brad Worthington is brutally murdered, Agent Sanchez is called to the scene along with Brad’s best friend, Detective Eric Casey. The two turn to Lifetex, the genetics lab near the scene, hoping their elaborate security system might have captured the crime outside.

But what’s going on inside the lab is far worse: a renegade scientist is cloning humans! As Robbie and Eric pursue clues–and a growing attraction–they are caught in a deadly battle as the clones begin to act on their own volition…but this battle threatens to claim more than human life; the clones are vying for human souls.

The Void is nothing short of a page-turner. Mynheir is truly hitting his stride as one of our industry's most notable Christian novelists. This latest book has it all: suspense, humor, intrigue, realistic police action, and one thought-provoking story line.

Creston Mapes
Author of Nobody

My take on this book:

Anyone see that movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger called The Sixth Day? This book reminds me of the movie, but it is slightly different. Mark is a fabulous author who knows how to pull you into a story. I loved From the Belly of the Dragon, the second book in his Truth Chasers series, but after reading the first few chapters of this story, I think The Void is going to top that one in suspense and overall creepiness. This is one to read even if you don't read the other books first. I hope to read the Rolling Thunder, the 1st book in the series, some day. But for now I'll just enjoy this one!

Is this how you feel sometimes? It is for me...

Sutton siblings video....most of the pictures have me in them.

Yeah, I'm the oldest girl so my mom must've been especially obsessed with taking my picture. That's me with the frog, too. :) BTW, I have a husband so I'm not sure why my sweet sister didn't include him in the picture with me at the end so I'll just post it here...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's been awhile since I posted a cartoon...

Tribute to my dad (who is thankfully still with us...)

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My review of God Wants You to Shine by Stephanie Perry Moore...

Product Details
# ISBN: 0736919201
ISBN-13: 9780736919203
# Format: Paperback, 144pp
# Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
# Sales Rank: 342,078
# Age Range: Young Adult

From the Publisher:

The second Faith Thomas novelzine sparkles with the trend—setting features of the first—a fascinating fiction tale for teens in a dynamic magazine layout, full—color photos, and faith—building sidebars, prayers, Scriptures, and blog quotes from teens around the world.

Author Stephanie Perry Moore weaves another great tale with 14—year old Faith Thomas, daughter of a popular Christian musician. She and friends Nellie, Hope, and Kendal face struggles that test their beliefs and their sense of worth. Through it all, Faith learns to trust God with everything from the trials of friendship to feelings for boys to the pressure of a beauty pageant. This unforgettable journey through a calendar year leads Faith and teen readers to discover the unique way God wants them to shine!

My review:

God Want You to Shine is the first novelzine for Young Adults that I'd ever read and it was FABULOUS! The author may be an adult, but she has the perfect teen voice in this story. Very convincing inner dialog and situations. I loved it! Faith is a new Christian and battling the temptations kids face today. Her friends are having serious problems, many of which affect her. Everything in her life ebbs and flows with the tide of life until an occasional emotional hurricane blows through and disrupts her world. But Faith ends up growing closer to God in the process and her friends all watch everything she does. Because of her attitude and relationship with God through the hard times, she makes an impact on the people around her and essentially shines her light in this dark world. Beautifully written, while this novelzine is for young adults, I think anyone would benefit from reading it. You will feel uplifted and encouraged. I guarantee it.

God Wants You to Shine was published by Harvest House and released July 1, 2007.

Now I'm giving away a copy of Nefertiti by Michelle Moran!

This time I'm not only giving you a description of the book, but a copy of my review as well. This is a gorgeous hardcover book that is so beautiful you will want to put it on a display! To win a copy of the book all you have to do is post a comment on this blog. Thanks!

Product Details
ISBN: 0307381463
ISBN-13: 9780307381460
Format: Hardcover, 480pp
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group

From the Publisher:
Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma is matched only by her husband’s perceived generosity: Amunhotep showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the military, are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person wise enough to recognize the shift in political winds—and brave enough to tell the queen—is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet.

Observant and contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister’s desire for power. She yearns for a quiet existence away from family duty and the intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman in Egypt—while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family.

Love, betrayal,political unrest, plague, and religious conflict—Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.

My review:

Nefertiti is an unforgettable novel. It's one that draws you into another world as long as you are reading it, and lingers in your thoughts after you are done. Brilliantly revealed through the eyes of Nefertiti's only sister, the rich history of ancient Egypt comes to life. The culture, art, food, clothing, and other details make for an authentic setting as well. I haven't read a novel that has gripped me as much as this one has in a very long while. The portrayal of Nefertiti's rise as co-regent and Pharaoh, her greed, lust for power, the jealousy between wives, and the agonizing pain of her many losses all seemed incredibly real to me.

At first I felt bad for Mutnodjmet because she had an obligation to serve her sister, but she was truly the most loyal and honorable person in her family. I could imagine what her life would have been like and I developed an emotional connection to the fictional character Mutnodjmet. Her only sister, queen Nefertiti, was a powerful but also self-absorbed and demanding ruler. And yet, over time I came to pity Nefertiti and understood Mutnodjmet's torn feelings toward her family. I could sense the fear of abandonment that dictated much of Nefertiti's rash decisions.

I grieved along with Mutnodjmet the loss of her first child, felt her longing for another, and experienced her pain at seeing her sister give birth to six children, all princesses, while seemingly barren herself. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more intense, the story picked up more suspense as the turn of events became more frenzied. The precariousness of the royal family's rule became evident and eventually crumbled as Pharaoh made one poor decision after another.

I also found the spiritual portion of this book fascinating. In fact, reading this story has made me want to break out my video of The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston! In so many ways Amunhotep/Akenhaten reminded me of Ramses in regards to his stubbornness. I sensed the hopelessness the Egyptians had because of their slavery to the gods. The politics in this novel were also incredibly well done and in some ways aren't much different than what we see in many governments around the world today. I highly recommended this book to any audience of readers as the language is not offensive and there is no graphic sex in this story, though many things are obviously implied. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Nefertiti was published by Crown Publishing Group and released in July 2007.

This made me cry so I had to share....

My sister sent me this and it made me cry because most of my memories of my mom were of her body ravaged by Multiple Sclerosis, so all but two of these pictures are of my mom before she got sick, and they are in progressive order. She was the middle child of the girls in the early photos, and she's also the nun in the picture with all the kids. I just thought I'd share. I haven't seen most of these pictures in years. What a precious gift! Thanks, Anna.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My review of Am I Forgiving? by Jeannie St. John Taylor...

Product Description:

Gold Medallion finalist Jeannie St. John Taylor returns with her engaging character, Erik. Erik is afraid that he has lost his best friend when Chuck ignores him and plays in the snow with Todd. To make things worse, Erik breaks his arm when his sled swerves into a tree after trying to avoid their snowballs. Even though Erik thinks he will never forgive them, he learns that forgiving feels better than trying to get even . . . and it makes his friends feel better, too.

My review:

While geared toward children ages 4-8, Am I Forgiving? is an engaging story with an important lesson for kids of any age. It deals with emotional reactions to teasing and the games kids play (like ignoring you when they are with other kids) that hurt feelings. I remember having two friends when I was five and six. We could never all three be friends at the same time, but it was me with one of them or them leaving me out. Must be things kids do at that age. I would've loved to have learned a similar lesson about forgiving or I wouldn't have spent so much time being mad at them for not including me.

Developmentally this is a perfect story to read to any child before they start school or to prepare them regarding friendship problems and how to deal with rejection and teasing. The core lesson in the story is about what true forgiveness is and what it isn't. Having worked with abused kids for many years, I found this particularly beneficial.

There is a parents' guide at the end that gives parents suggestions on how to explain the lesson to their children. It says this... Forgiveness does not require that you to trust or become good friends with the person who you. Excellent advice! This should prevent victimization due to ignorance of the meaning of true forgiveness. And some of the words are hard enough that the story will expand the kids vocabulary, too. But beyond the storyline, the best part of the book is the adorable pictures. The author has inserted random cute animals throughout the pages and some illustrations are downright hilarious!

Am I Forgiving? was published by Kregel Kidzone and is being released August 2007.

Now I'm giving away a copy of Mothering Mother by Carol D. O'dell...

From the Publisher:
Compelling and heartrending, this personal memoir chronicles the author's decision not to put her mother, who has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, in "one of those homes" and relays the far-reaching consequences this choice has on her entire family. Detailing the challenges of reversing roles and learning to mother one's own mother, this refreshing and entertaining autobiography will help those struggling with their own decisions on elder care in the home. It touches on the importance of relationships—such as how they impact our souls and beliefs about ourselves and the quality of life—and explores the larger questions of faith, hope, and ultimately death.

My thoughts on this book:

SO FAR....
I love it!
I love it!
I love it!

Talk like a pirate contest! Check it out!

Press release:

Contact: Dave Bartlett, Harvest House Publishers

Phone: 877-307-0662

Fax: 541-302-0732

Email: dave.bartlett@harvesthousepublishers.com

Web: www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Talk Like a Pirate Contest—Reach Out to a Pirate and Win!

Eugene, Oregon—August 15, 2007— Most pirates routinely plunder and pillage and all that nasty stuff, and have earned the reputation of being an overall mean and grumpy lot with bad teeth. However, pirates are people, too!

Harvest House is pleased to announce the Talk Like A Pirate Contest—Reach Out to a Pirate and Win! Winners will receive copies of The Trophy Chase Trilogy by George Bryan Polivka, and other pirate-related books! Arrgghh! *The rules are simple me hearties! Write a short essay/message (200 words or less) on how you would positively impact a pirate’s life through one or more of the following actions:

a) Friendship/Fellowship (invite a pirate to an activity, outing, concert, church)

b) Prayer

c) Persuasion (as in persuading them to consider another line of work altogether!)

Arrgghh! All you have to do is write up yer message, and submit it between August 20 and Sept. 17 to: talklikeapiratecontest@harvesthousepublishers.com. Make sure to include yer email address and a good phone number (for verification and contact purposes only). Savvy?! We’ll make ye walk the plank if ye submit more than one entry, so if ye wants to avoid an untimely visit to Davey Jones’ Locker, pay attention ye land lubbers and follow the orders o’ yer fearless captain!

To effectively reach a pirate, you need to speak their language. So, your essay must be written in Pirate-speak! (hint: humor is good!) You can even choose a character from George Bryan Polivka’s Trophy Chase Trilogy to write about, or make someone up! Characters include: Fishbait McGee, Skewer Uttley, Conch Imbry, and/or Belisar the Whale—all notorious pirate captains of Nearing Vast (for ideas on pirate-speak, look up National Talk Like A Pirate Day, which is September 19).

Three winners will be selected, with the three winning essays to be posted on author George Bryan Polivka’s blogsite www.nearingvast.com/capspub on September 19. The winners (chosen by a scurvy band of judges whose honor and character are questionable) will receive a veritable pirate’s treasure chest of plunder, including: The Trophy Chase Trilogy (The Legend of the Firefish and The Hand That Bears the Sword, as well as the third book in the series, **The Battle for Vast Dominion). Other titles include When It's Fourth and Long by Josh Bidwell (punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arrgghh!), and Captives and Kings by Craig and Janet Parshall.

*Official Rules (NOT just guidelines):

One entry per contestant. Three winning essays will be chosen by a panel of judges based on humor, level of persuasion, and overall creative writing skills. The three winning essays will be posted on author George Bryan Polivka’s blogsite on Sept. 19, 2007. No purchase, entry fee, donation or any other type of payment necessary. Must be a resident of the lower 48 Continental United States to enter (residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada or elsewhere not eligible). Employees and/or family members of Harvest House Publishers not eligible. Must be 14 years or older to enter contest and be able to provide proof of age. Retail value of winning entry: $67.95. **(The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka releases in January, 2008, and will be shipped to the winning contestants at that time).

Print quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: cover art, author photos, Harvest House logo.

Off the Record by Elizabeth White is up on CFBA...

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

OFF THE RECORD

(Zondervan August 15, 2007)
by

Elizabeth White

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth White is the author of Fireworks and Fair Game, as well as the critically acclaimed Texas Gatekeepers serie from Love Inspired Suspense.

In her own words, she appreciate her most valued roles as wife and mom. Beth is also a second-grade Sunday school teacher, church orchestra member (She plays flute), and artist. She loves to read, crochet, sew, go on mission trips and avoid housework.

Beth lives in Mobile with her minister husband, and is currently on staff at First Baptist Church of North Mobile (fondly known as NoMo), in Saraland, Alabama.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ambition is on a collision course with a secret from the past.

Judge Laurel Kincade, a rising political star, is announcing her candidacy for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Her aristocratic Old South family, led by her judge grandfather, beams as she takes the podium. Then her eyes light on a reporter in the crowd…and suddenly her past becomes a threat to her future.

Journalist Cole McGaughan, religion reporter for the New York Daily Journal, has received an intriguing call from an old friend. Private investigator Matt Hogan has come across a tip…that Laurel's impeccable reputation might be a facade. Matt suggests that Cole dig up the dirt on the lovely judge in order to snag his dream job as one of the Journal's elite political reporters.

There's just one problem: Cole's history is entangles with Laurel's and he must decide if the story that could make his career is worth the price he'd have to pay.

A sensational scoop becomes a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Can Laurel and Cole find forgiveness and turn their hidden past into a hopeful future...while keeping their feelings off the record?

My thoughts on this book...

It started out okay, not bad, but was not a super-grabber beginning, IMHO. When I came to the end of chapter one and read the last line...

And what did you say to the man who'd taken your virginity as if it were a free sucker at the bank?

Well, let's just say that's when I decided the book would be interesting and worth finishing. :)

My review of Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell...

From the Publisher:

Author Siri L. Mitchell (The Cubicle Next Door) invites readers to an exotic and mysterious land on a tender journey of self—discovery.

Though reporter Allie O'Connor has lived in Japan for two years, she still barely copes as a foreigner. After an office romance ends badly, she prays in her loneliness one moonlit night for a friend. Just a friend.

Soon after this prayer she runs into Eric Larson at church, an old classmate from high school. Eric has been assigned to the U.S. embassy and lives in Allie's district. In school he had been a young Republican. Allie had been a liberal Democrat. He is not the friend she was looking for. And yet...here she is. Here he is.

Will Allie risk their fledgling friendship to find out if it can become something more?

My review:

Once again Siri Mitchell has taken me as a reader to a foreign culture. An exotic place. Tokyo, Japan. And with that excursion came site seeing, food, religion, economics, and a fascinating interpretation of things in nature as seen through Japanese culture. Siri has a gift for making the reader transport to another location somewhere in the world. Whether it's Paris, like in Kissing Adrien, or Colorado, like in The Cubicle Next Door, or traveling Europe as in Chateau of Echoes and Something Beyond the Sky. That is one of the things I enjoy the most about her books. And she always has strong heroines with passion and convictions about something whether it's the use of drinking straws, or the perils of politics.

What I enjoy most about Siri's books as evidenced in Moon Over Tokyo as well as her other novels, is her amazing ability to draw out the tension in a first person POV romance. I always feel like I know the heroes even though they are only known through the heroine's perspective and the actions she sees. She also takes friendship between a man and a woman and draws it out until they fall in love. Her novels are always so romantic and charming that way. She also shows the heroine growing through her experiences and ending up deciding to trust, to risk her heart, to try love. I've yet to read a book Siri has written that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. While this one had more detail than the others, I didn't find it annoying at all, but it did distract a bit from the tension in the story. She has her own brand, distinctly Siri. It's always exotic, fun, deep, and littered with every possible food unique to the culture. I'll never need to travel Europe or Japan because I've fully experienced them already through Siri's novels.

Moon Over Tokyo was published by Harvest House and released in July 2007.

Now I'm giving away When the Cat's Away by...

Gilbert Morris. Doesn't this sound interesting? I'm going to read a few chapters tonight and give my take on it before I pick a winner. :)

From the Publisher:

Readers of mysteries and cat lovers alike will devour this third whodunit in theJacques & Cleo, Cat Detectives series by bestselling author, Gilbert Morris.

When White Sands, Alabama, is chosen as the location for an international cat show, cat lovers from all over the world flock to the beach. Jake Novak is disgusted at the idea of people fawning over cats, but his downstairs housemate, Mary Katherine Forrest, is delighted. And when the favorite pedigreed cat is kidnapped, however, the cat—loving world is shocked. Then other favored contestants disappear and Jake is hired to solve the catnapping.

As the plot thickens, the friends of Jake and Mary Katherine are drawn into the chase—Beverly Devon—Hunt, Enola Stern, and Oceola Plank join forces to run the catnapper to a blazing finish—aided of course, by Jacques the Ripper...

I'm finished with my book! Doing the happy dance!

33 chapters, 90,741 words, and it's all mine, baby. I think it's my best, edgiest book yet. I retitled it Intimate Chasm (because Lulu says it has a 69% chance of becoming a best-seller with this title.) I wish!!! Seriously, the teaser is on my website under My Unpublished WIPs if you want a look-see. Here is the link...

Intimate Chasm

Some thing(s) beautiful and something totally freaky!

First I thought I'd show you a picture of the sunset last night. I totally love where I live. It's so beautiful here. The weather is awesome. But sometimes it has it's moments - and it's not-so-great points.

Here is a sunrise picture. I love the mountain ranges that surround us. The mountains looked more purple then they do in this picture, but I tried to capture it with my cheapo digital anyway.

Now here is the freaky part. My husband took the following pictures today. Our neighbor noticed this black cloud hanging from one of the trees on the back of our four acres of property. What do you think the black cloud is? Well, we called a bee removal expert from Tucson and found out they were killer bees! No kidding. The bee guy said he kills them for a living and what he saw in our tree was three times the normal size. They are not clinging to a nest or anything. They are suspended, mid-air and buzzing/humming as they cluster together in a semi-sleeper state. Once those puppies broke from their huddle, they would swarm into a house, shed, or another enclosed area (like under a porch, in a garage, etc.) He said once they made their way inside they would build a hive and getting them out would be a difficult and expensive task.

So our neighbors paid half (since the bees were right by their garage, but on our side of the property) of the $500 bucks it cost to eradicate this swarm of killer bees. The reason it cost so much was the bee guy is a scientist and he lures the bees using female bee pheromones until he lulls the bees to sleep. Then zap! He killed them all (only three bees got away) and they fell into a net and were disposed of. My husband said it was the freakiest thing he'd seen in a long time. I'm just glad I missed the excitement and was at work at the time.

Now I'm giving away a Bible study for women!

Between Friends: A Woman's Look at Mentoring God's Way (2006)

Join mentoring expert and author Kristi Neace as she explores the definition of a true godly mentor.

In her warm, informal style, Kristi makes you feel as though you are sitting in a quiet café, sipping coffee and chatting with a close friend. You will feel her passion for Women's Ministry and be challenged to make a difference in another woman's life through friendship.

This three-week study not only is rich in Scripture but also covers the very basics of mentoring. Each day's thoughts and insight offer a complete picture of how a mentoring relationship was originally designed to be and offers practical solutions to bridge the gap between generations.

Regardless of whether you are a women's ministry coordinator who would like to start a mentoring ministry in your church, a godly woman who would like to invest in a woman that needs some encouragement, or a young woman who could use some pointers from a more seasoned friend, this book will equip you and motivate you to jump right in to real, purposeful relationships.

***All you have to do to win the book is post a comment!***

My review of A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick...

From the Publisher:

Emma Giesy, a strong-willed German-American, believes her young family will thrive in the light of their newfound freedom, after she and her husband branch off from their close-knit and repressive religious community in the spring of 1856.

Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. With loss and disappointment as her fuel, she kindles a fire that soon threatens to consume her, making a series of poor choices that take her into dangerous relationships.

As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.

Based on a True Story

My review:

A Tendering in the Storm is a must-read for historical fiction lovers. If you want insight into the hardships from the 19th century pioneers who left everything to move west hoping for a better life, then you'll love this story. If you find oppressive religious groups intriguing, you'll want to check this story out. If you'd like to reflect on how few rights women had in the mid-1860s then this is the book for you! To quote a cliche, We've come a long way, baby!

After finding the author's bio and reading that she is a certified social worker, I now see where she got her insight for this book. No dysfunction is easy to understand. All people are complex. But there are certain truths that exist in human nature and the author insightfully captured them all. Her illumination of the human heart and certain domestic issues is superb. I can't say what those issues are or I'll blow part of the storyline, but I will say that the subtly of how people are lured from their good senses--because of sometimes desperate situations--is expertly shown in this novel.

I loved this story. It's real. It's deep. It's edgy...and it's not at all boring.

A Tendering in the Storm was published by Waterbrook and released in April 2007.

This week And If I Die by John Aubrey Anderson is up on CFBA...

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

AND IF I DIE

(Faithwords August 2007)


by

John Aubrey Anderson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John grew up in Mississippi cotton country. After graduating from Mississippi State, he received an Air Force commission and has recently retired after flying twenty-eight years for a major airline. He lives in Texas with his wife, Nan.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

AND IF I DIE is the third book in the Black and White Chronicles. The first was Abiding Darkness (August, 2006), the second was Wedgewood Grey (February, 2007).

In 1945, a spirit voice told Mr. A. J. Mason to “Be ready.”

In 1960, the spirit drew near and said the same words to the same man. “Be ready.”

On both occasions Mason ended up in bloody battles with the forces of evil. On both occasions, he saved the life of a young girl named Missy Parker. And on both occasions good people died.

It’s 1968.Missy Parker has been married to Dr. Patrick Patterson for nine years; they live in Denton, Texas. Missy plays tennis and golf; Pat is chairman of the philosophy department at North Texas State University.

Mose Washington, a black man Missy refers to as her almost-daddy, is hiding behind a new name—Mose Mann. Mose and the young black man who poses as his grandson have spent eight years successfully evading the FBI, a murderous congresswoman, and creatures from the demonic realm. They now live in Pilot Hill, Texas—fifteen miles from Pat and Missy. Mose is committing the autumn of his life to the pursuit of the knowledge of God and the protection of his “grandson”. His “grandson” is interested in honing his skills as a bull rider.

Close friends see portents of danger in events of the early summer and converge on Pilot Hill to warn the two black men that yet another confrontation with malevolent beings may be looming.

In the pre-dawn hours, on the second day of the North Texas Rodeo, the voice of an invisible being speaks to Missy Parker Patterson. The voice warns her that it is now she, not A. J. Mason, who has been chosen as the person who needs to “Be ready” . . . and Missy doesn’t want the job.

My take on this series!

The first book was riveting. The second also (but I haven't finished it yet because the demon thing was creeping me out, but I do plan to finish this series.) I haven't started the third book because I still need to finish the second. But these characters that John writes are so real they seem like friends and you grieve when the story is over. I'm not kidding you. Take a chance on this series. You'll be glad you did. (One last comment...my husband zipped through all three books and LOVED them! He doesn't have a stack to read like I do, though, so he can swing it.)