GERM by Robert Liparula is up on CFBA this week!

About this book GERM... Some of you recall my dasterdly confrontation with our new psycho pooch eating my first copy of this book that UPS delivered and left inside the yard! Duh! I returned the chewed up mess to UPS and hopefully they reimbursed the publisher (as promised) for their irresponsible delivery resulting in the complete distruction of this novel the first go-round. Anyway...I got a replacement copy and I do have some thoughts on this book if y'all want to hear them...

First off, my son snagged the book first and read it straight through. I picked it up after he finished and told myself I'd just read a chapter before bed. 70 pages later I forced myself to shut the thing and go to sleep. I do have a job to go to in the morning. I strongly suggest reading this sucker on the weekend. Oh, and it's not for the faint of heart. While I haven't finished the book yet I'll just say the author has DESCRIPTION down so well as a technique that the story will totally gross you out in the beginning (at least if you're female.) The beginning is disgusting! I specifically asked my son if it got less gross (after chapter 1) and he said yes. HE LIED! Or his memory was poor. Or his taste is different than mine because I'm a woman. While I did bear children, some things are just hard to stomach before bed, like this book!

I suggest reading it in broad daylight and on the weekend. It's a real page turner, but NASTY! As in slimy, oozy, bloody, gross nasty, not dirty nasty. Also, there is some serious adrenaline stuff going on here. It reads like a full action movie with the car chase, shot out windshields on the freeway and the works... I am not sure if I like this book or not yet. I couldn't stop reading it the first night, but now I'm worried about picking it up again on either a full stomach or before the weekend (in case I can't stop.) It's a real "man's" book if you know what I mean. The gore is WAY up there on the scale from one to ten. I do want to add that the author does a fabulous job getting you inside a crazy person's mind. One of the characters actually felt like he was doing people a favor by killing them. Great characterization. Scary, but well done. I'm impressed with this author's talent. Truly!



Here is a......
Link to buy Germ

and a..... link to Liparulo's website

Robert Liparulo

Another computer cartoon to make you smile...

My review of Merely Players by Kathleen Kovach...

Boy these Heartsongs just keep getting better-er and better-er... I'm having such a fantastic reading week. Everything I've read over the past few days has been awesome, so don't think I just love to rave about everything I read. NOT SO! Merely Players is fantastic. I can see this novel as a movie!!!

Book description:
Bethany Hamilton followed her father to Florida to escape the star-studded and invasive culture of Hollywood. Now, training dolphins and working with challenged kids, she finally feels safe--until she comes face-to-face with the man who abandoned her love for the big screen. Brick Connor has changed. He's no longer young Ricky O'Connell, at the mercy of his father's vile temper. Now he's a star, and his movies are major hits. When his latest project brings him to an aquarium in Florida, he learns that some things have not changed--namely, his love for Bethany Hamilton. But to her, the Lord must be the main attraction, and Brick cannot give that kind of headline to the God who failed him as a youth. Can wounded hearts join together on a common stage to participate in a perfect romance penned by God?

My review:
Reading this Heartsong novel was like delving into a delectable dessert. Delicious. The romantic element was fabulous...every reader's fantasy. Who wouldn't want a hot Hollywood movie star to be in love with them? I enjoyed every minute of this savory romance. The tension was great and the storyline...exciting! I felt like I was on a movie set and worked at the aquarium with Bethany. The dolphin scenes were great, too. The characters were very well-developed and believable. My emotions were totally tied in to their relationship. Bang up job for a debut novel. I can see this going into movie production. And the spiritual thread in the story was the best part, IMHO. A must-read! Very high quality writing and storyline. Made me smile at the end and sigh. I'm not kidding. Did I mention the fabulous kissing? Not just a peck at the end! I loved it!!! (I just had to say it one more time.)

My review of Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy...

Book Description:

Sophie Edwards is doing just fine, until a strange-yet oddly familiar-man rides into her life, insisting on rescuing her and her four daughters. Can she find a way to love a headstrong mountain man? When Clay McClellan discovers his brother has been murdered, he's bent on finding the killers and seeing them properly hung. But first his Christian duty demands that he marry his sister-in-law. After all, Sophie needs someone to protect her - right? Faith and love help unruly wed newlyweds find common ground and a chance at love on the Texas frontier.

My review:

This story starts out with a bang...as in non-stop action. I had to laugh at the girls fighting all the time and poor Clay not knowing how to handle all the woman "stuff" because he'd never been around them much. Ironically that primitive mentality made him all that more attractive as a hero. He's a real man's man and as such, the very tomboyish girls and his new wife go out of their way to perpetuate that belief...by acting incompetent when they are just as good with a gun and lasso as any man on the frontier. Many of the scenes made me smile. Connealy is very witty and her caveman humor is to-die-for funny! Plus, she has the dialogue down to a science...even had me thinking like a western yokel. :) And the man-thoughts were superbly done. Just like a man! Hilarious!

A lot of times romantic tension in novels feels contrived and the animosity forced. Not so in this one. Sophie had every reason to want to chokehold the man and kiss him senseless all in the same breath. Wow. I loved that. She's feisty and lovable without feeling forced by the author. Did I mention that I love marriages of convenience stories? The only thing in this one that made me snicker is the hero kisses her breathless a few times and later on she's feeling faint! I had no idea they'd consummated their relationship. Made me go back and search for what I was missing. Must've been that warm snuggling Clay referenced in his thoughts that got her "in the family way." I know, you're snickering, too. Maybe it was the publisher's idea to skip that, but it made me smile regardless. :)

The most satisfying of all was the culmination at the end. Without giving away the details I'll just say that it reminded me a lot of the Home Alone movies. One exciting event after another. Tough girls who know how to survive and a momma who taught them well. In the end I felt just as proud of them all as if I'd been there myself. I'd totally bought into the plot and my heart was with the couple through to the last page. Tender and sweet, tough and calculating, adventurous and passionate...this story has it all. It's now at the top of my list of favorite historical westerns. It's the best one I've ever read, bar none.

Petticoat Ranch was published by Barbour and will be released February 1, 2007.

Another hilarious cartoon. Hope your bladder doesn't burst when you read this one...

What I'm reading this week in January 2007...

I have SUCH a pileup of books. Now I'm like a shopper. I peruse the shelves, admire the covers, read the backs, and pick what appeals to me at the time. :) Still haven't finished A Pagan's Nightmare by Ray Blackston. I'm exactly halfway through and have no urge to pick it up. At all. Hmmm...I started two of his other books and never made it past the first chapter on either so that's good that I got halfway on this one. I know I'll finish it eventually and if I don't I'll tell you why. I'm reading If the Shoe Fits by Marilynn Griffith and am on chapter 7 or 8. So far it's holding my interest. I'm not sure if I like Made of Honor better or this one. I'll let you know as I near the end. Merely Players by Kathleen Kovach (Heartsong) is totally awesome and my favorite book right now. Plus, it's a little edgy. I am totally putting it up there on the top of my Heartsong favorites list with Nancy Toback's books. I haven't had a chance to finish it with all of these other books coming out and due dates, but right now it's my personal favorite. I hope to finish it tonight or tomorrow. I've also started Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy. Now that's a real peach of a story. I can't wait to find out who the guy really is. Very intriguing beginning. :) Oh, and I just started Frazier Island by Susan Page Davis. It's a galley and the release date is March 1, 2007. So far it's holding my interest. How will those two get together!?! :) Next up on my list is The Reliance by Marylu Tyndall, Germ by Robert Luparillo and another title that I can't think of right now, but I think it's called Abiding Darkness. So many great books, so little time!!! Did I mention I write my own stuff as well. What ever will I do if I sell something soon? :) Eek! Would be a nice surprise, if not slightly overwhelming...in a good way, of course.

Hey, I'm featured on another blog!

Check out my published list of...

10 things I wish I'd known about writing.

It's up on Tricia Goyer's It's Real Life blog.

So I haven't sold a book yet, but someone enjoyed my list. :)

Comes with a picture of my mug and the works. LOL!


It's Real Life blog



***

Marilynn Griffith's If the Shoe Fits is up on the CFBA tour this week!

Marilynn is back with a fun sequel to Made of Honor. Check out If the Shoe Fits. The first chapter starts out with her kicking a guy in the face, on accident, of course. Hilarious!

Buy a copy of the book!
If the Shoe Fits

Go to Marilynn's blog...
Rhythms of Grace


***

My friend Annette's first book came out this week...

Here is a picture of the cover and the book description.

Follow the link below to the website and order your copy of the story. It's only $3.50 so it's a great value for the price. I plan to read it very soon myself. The description of the story intrigues me. I love a good romance!

Order Love Letters here!

***

Another computer cartoon to make you smile...

Movie being released today about the Mountain Meadows massacre. Check it out!

I find this movie particularly fascinating because my husband has been an ex-Mormon for three decades now and his ancestry goes back to Brigham Young's bodyguards. For the record, my husband's father's father's father arrived in the Salt Lake Valley with the Edward Hunter Company on 10-13-1850. EEK! Watch the trailer...

http://www.septemberdawn.net

Is that compelling, or what!?!

...

What's a snow day? Check out my slide show from the weekend...

I just have to say that in all of my 15 1/2 years of living in Arizona today is the FIRST snow day that my kids have had from school. Amazing. It NEVER snows like this. We're lucky to see flakes stick for more than a few hours and that only happens a couple of days each year. Just to show you the contrast in weather I'm starting with pictures from Saturday and Sunday (in that order) for your perusal. Enjoy!!!

Pictures from The Rage festival and me with the HOT band Nevertheless!

Here is a picture of me with Nevertheless. I'm the blonde chick with the beanie cap. The guy in the light gray shirt is A.J. and he's my favorite band member. He plays electric guitar and he really jams on that thing! Plus, he has gorgeous eyes and loves the Lord. What more can you ask for? I am old enough to be his mother, but we won't go there right now. I have to laugh because I'm such a groupie, but these guys are so hot that even this 40-year-old woman (me) thinks they are totally awesome. Because they are! I even have one of their songs featured on my MySpace profile so check it out!

www.myspace.com/joyfulhutch

Here is a picture of Paul Wright jamming on his guitar!

The guitarist is from StellarKart. The band is from Glendale. Go Arizona!

My review of Original Sin by Brandt Dodson...

Product Description:

After being fired from the FBI, Colton Parker tries to make it as a private investigator. His first client, Angie Howe, has enough money to pay him only one day's wages, but she's desperate to get her boyfriend cleared of murdering his aunt. Will Colton be able to defeat local crime bosses, street thugs, and shifty accountants to get to the truth?

My review:

Original Sin by Brandt Dodson is a real page turner. In some ways I couldn't even tell it was a Christian book. I don't mean that in a bad way. The subject matter (internet pornography) is just one subject that most publishers don't want to touch. I thought the author did an excellent job developing a riveting plot, believable characters, and situations that leave you on the edge of your seat. What impressed me most about this book was how the author took the reader to a deeper place; delving into the meaning of life and a sense of purpose that everyone seeks. He had the main character taking an honest look at his own life, and I was moved by the things Colton learned about himself and his own sinful heart. This story ranks high on my list of favorite mystery/suspense novels and I highly recommend it. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel Seventy Times Seven. If it's anything like this debut novel, it'll be worth every minute of my time.

Original Sin was published by Harvest House and released in March 2006.

The Reliance by Marylu Tyndall will be released in just a few weeks, and I'm already getting pirate fever.

The contest to win The Reliance begins now! I played a game on www.piratequiz.com and this is the name they gave me. What a hoot!

My pirate name is:

Calico Ethel Kidd

Often indecisive, you can't even choose a favorite color. You're apt to follow wherever the wind blows you, just like Calico Jack Rackham, your namesake. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

My review of How to Study the Bible for Yourself: Youth Edition

Tim LaHaye has crafted an easy-to-read guide to learning the scriptures. The content is interesting and reader-friendly. He makes some pretty profound, yet true statements about the importance of learning the scriptures—especially for young people, or new believers. Unlike many books that provide cute stories and activities that are hard to duplicate, this guide provides a doable outline and clear direction for studying the Bible. I plan to use it to guide our family devotions and Bible study for years to come. He has developed a variety of outlines and strategies to make this one of the most useful Bible studies I’ve seen not only for youth, but adults as well. I highly recommend it to youth pastors, parents with pre-teens and teenagers, and for new Christians.

What I'm reading this third weekend of January 2007...

The next five days will be hard for me to get much reading done because my dad is visiting from NY and he's going on 70 years young in March. I don't want to assume he'll always be with me, so I'm up early doing my blog thing while he's still recovering from jet lag. :) It's rainy out today and I'm off work (for once) and have a cozy fire going in the fireplace. Very nice.

Now about those books...
I'm reading Merely Players by Kathleen Kovach. This is an awesome story and very addicting. I'm exactly halfway through the story. The only reason I haven't finished it is because I had a deadline on something else. I think I'll wrap it up today or tomorrow. I'm also reading Original Sin by Brandt Dodson. I'm 3/4 of the way through this one. Great stuff! Next up (can you believe I'm only in the middle of two books? That's an all-time low) is Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy, The Reliance by Marylu Tyndall, and If the Shoe Fits by Marilynn Griffith. Oh, and I can't forget GERM! That'll be a thrill a minute. :)

I'll be having a contest to win The Reliance so watch for that one. I will draw the winner's name from any future posts referencing the book and also comments when I finish it and post my review. Go ahead and comment on as many posts containing The Reliance as you want and you'll be entered into the contest for each post. However, you won't be entered for multiple comments on the same post. Example, if I post five topics containing The Reliance and you comment on each one, you'll be entered five times. Get it now?
So many books, so little time. Peace!

Here is a little cartoon to make you smile!

Is this hilarious or what?

My review of Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren...

Book Description:

Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren follows 21-year-old Eliza Jane Meriwether from Boston to Little Hickman, Kentucky in the year 1895. Naïve, but full of confidence and zeal, Eliza will assume the job as Little Hickman’s schoolteacher. But when she first rides into town on a ramshackle buckboard, her initial thought is, “Oh, Lord, what have I done?” Kentucky is nothing like her native Boston. Will she ever grow accustomed to its rolling hills and wide open spaces, not to mention the lack of modern conveniences? Although filled with doubts, she is convinced God has led her to this point, and soon the new schoolteacher is beloved by all, including Benjamin Broughton, a handsome widower with two young children. The trouble is that her contract implicitly states, “marriage or any other unseemly behavior by women teachers is improper and will thereby result in immediate dismissal”. Liza has a lot to learn about God’s perfect plan for her life.

My review:

I love this author's writing style and enjoyed her first book. When I first received Loving Liza Jane I thought it would be just another prairie romance novel. Typical characters... Attractive, single, schoolmarm, and hunky widower with young children who is suddenly in need of a wife. However, this was not the typical story at all, and though it contained the basic sketch of characters, it strayed from the usual outline. I enjoyed the variation from typical plot scenarios and experienced more than a few surprises in this one!

The author made this novel shine and I love the author's voice. She uses metaphors and similes with finesse--not to many and not too often--and they enhanced the story even more. Ben is the ultimate hero, and Liza, the ideal, strong heroine. They had flaws, but lovable ones. The romantic tension between them was divine, and thankfully it wasn't one of those one-kiss-at-the-end stories. This one sizzled! I loved all of it. While tastefully done, the first kiss was too-die-for and the subsequent ones perfectly orchestrated to enhance the plot. The child characters and bullies were very believable. I also enjoyed the spiritual arc. The hero starts out the spiritually strong one, but the heroine quickly overtakes him in the faith department as the Lord stretches her through her trials. Wonderful story! I can't wait for the sequel!

Loving Liza Jane is published by Whitaker House and will be released in April 3, 2007.

Tricia Goyer's Arms of Deliverance is up on the CFBA blog tour!

Here is a gorgeous picture of Tricia. In case you are wondering why there are duplicates of her book covers on my blog this month, that's because she has been featured on both CFRB and CFBA blog tours within close proximity of each other. That said, scroll down to my review of Arms of Deliverance posted on January 10, 2007 so I don't have to post it twice. Here is a link to Amazon to buy the book.

Buy Arms of Deliverance now on Amazon!

About the author...
TRICIA GOYER is the author of three other WWII novels, From Dust to Ashes, Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights. Night Song, the second title in Tricia’s World War II series, won ACFW's Book of the Year for Best Long Historical Romance. Tricia and her husband, John, live with their family in northwestern Montana.

About the book...
The fourth and final novel in this exhilarating series capturing
the tales of men and women swept into World War II. Two
friends, Mary and Lee, land similar reporting jobs at the New York
Tribune on the eve of the war’s outbreak and soon they become
competitors. Mary’s coverage of a bombing raid over Germany
leads to a plane wreck and an adventurous escape attempt from
across enemy lines. And when Lee hears of Mary’s plight, she
bravely heads to war-torn Europe in an effort to help rescue her
friend. Will there be enough time for diplomacy or will war get
the best of everyone?

Here is a copy of the book cover...

My CWOW crew. Christian Writers of the West...Write on!

We met in Mesa on Saturday from 1-3 PM. I enjoyed the meeting and officially joined the group that day. In case you can't tell, I'm the chick with the blonde hair on the far left. Since I was the tenth member to join this start-up group, we can now become an official chapter! YES!

I'm back! Drum roll....and my favorite band from The Rage music festival is...

Nevertheless!!!

Are these guys cool, or what? To listen to their music just go to:

Michelle's MySpace profile

My favorite band member is A. J. He's the guy to the far right with the shredded jeans and green striped shirt on. What an amazing guitar player!!!
I love this band.

Also, check this out! I'm the featured blogger on MyCCM.org this month!

My CCM.org

So drop by and tell me what you think!

Bookfair coming up. Books needed!

The Cochise County Chapter of Sisters in Crime in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in conjunction with the Friends of the Library, will host 50-55 authors of mystery and suspense for adults and children. There will be rotating panels throughout the day and authors will be available to sign their books.

In addition to the author panels, the winners for the Children's WritingContest will be announced and cash prizes awarded. This is definitely an event you will not want to miss.

Gift baskets will be raffled during the book fair. The baskets will contain books by local and national authors plus other "goodies". Tickets will be$1.00 each or six for $5.00. This link takes you straight to the Book Fair page.

High Desert Crimes Bookfair

Plus, if you wish to donate your mystery/suspense/thriller or apply to participate in the book fair, just leave a contact with your e-mail and I'll contact you. Peace!

What I'm reading this second week of January...and I'm going to The Rage Music Festival in Phoenix!

Yep, the music festival of the year is coming up and I'll be there supervising some great, rowdy, Jesus-lovin' teens, including my own. I'm totally pumped about seeing Thousand Foot Krutch. It's one of the few bands I haven't seen that I've been dying to experience live. :) So I'll be offline from Friday night until Monday afternoon, early evening. I'll probably have a gazillion email messages, too.

As far as what I'm reading, I think I'll pack light and take three Heartsongs with me. They are That Wilder Boy by Kim Vogel Sawyer, A Daughter's Quest by Lena Nelson Dooley, and Merely Players by Kathleen Kovach. Maybe I'll get to read them all, but I doubt it. Plus, I'm going to the Arizona writer's group meeting on Saturday. I figured I'd be close by so I'm making it a point to attend. Very cool!

I'm currently reading Original Sin by Brandt Dodson. Great story! Very interesting! I'm still hung up on A Pagan's Nightmare by Ray Blackston, so I'm taking a little rest from it. I'm enjoying Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren. I've been so busy I haven't gotten that far into the story, but I totally love the dynamics between the hero and heroine. Plus the outhouse scene...OY! I really need to crack open Germ by Robert Liparulo now that my son finished it. I'll let you know how that one is coming along as I read it. Next in line are Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy and The Reliance by Marylu Tyndall. Watch for my giveaway on that last one. Peace!!!

I've been 40 for three full days now...

and I've concluded that I feel just as young as always. So what was the big deal? I think it just sounds old when you're used to being thirty-something for so long. I think it's great when people say I look nowhere near forty, then I think...hey, is that bad (forty) because it's implied that it's old by the nature of the compliment. Sigh. Back to the real world..

Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer is up on the CFRB blog tour!

Here is a copy of the review I posted after I finished the book in August 2006. Every time Tricia writes a book I snatch it right up and devour it. :)

Arms of Deliverance is a powerful and fascinating tale portraying the evil of the Nazi regime and the heroic people who resisted by refusing to conform. And, as usual, Tricia's storyline and writing is as gripping as the Thoene's, and I've read all of their books. One character's plight I found particularly gripping. Rebecca Lodz, a Czech Jewess, had to change her name to Katrine and pass herself off as Aryan to survive, only to end up in the Lebensborn project, where German babies were bred for the Reich.

Two female reporters were sent on dangerous missions (at their request) to report tales of heroism to inspire Americans and boost morale. Unfortunately, they both encountered terrors of war that made them question their judgment, but they "hung in there" despite their fear. They experienced things that imbedded in their minds and changed their hearts forever. (I love how Tricia always has strong female heroines in her books. Yes, even Rebecca had incredible strength.)

The Destiny's Child navigator, Eddie, is incredible and handsome--the ultimate hero, and of course, a Christian. He bonds to one of the female reporters during their plight and he proposes a plan that has Mary afraid--the title's name sake, yet she agrees to trust God. (I don't know how she does it, but Tricia always has me sighing over the guys in her stories.) The author also does what most excellent authors do...she takes the characters' worst fears and makes it happen, then adds even more trials to their load.

Great writing. Excellent twists and turns. Incredible plot. Strong faith element. Enthralling story. I don't want this series to ever end. What a great way to teach young people today about true heroism in the midst of a cynical society obsessed with self-preservation.

A Pagan's Nightmare is up on the CFBA tour!

Buy A Pagan's Nightmare on Amazon.com

Product Description:
Larry Hitch's screenplay about the last unbeliever in a Christian world is a hit with his agent, but not with Ned's devout wife---who is unimpressed with a world where non-believers pay $6.66 a gallon for gas! Is Larry in for even more trouble when his girlfriend discovers she's the supposed heroine?


Go to Ray Blackston's website

My thoughts on A Pagan't Nightmare:

It starts out pretty interesting, but then I fizzled in my interest about halfway through. Not sure why. Maybe because some of the stuff is too strange to be believable, or maybe a bit irreverant? I dunno. I'll keep reading and tell you what I think when I'm through. For certain I can say that it IS very different. Almost like fantasy in the sense that it's so NOT real. It's set up like Angela Hunt's book The Novelist, but I liked Angie's book better. However, I did ask my son (who read it straight through in a day) if he thought I should finish it and he said yes. He said I needed to read the whole thing and get to the end of the story to really appreciate the book. That said, I press on. :)

Announcing the WINNER of Hell in a Briefcase by Phil Little with Brad Whittington...

Imagine a drum roll here.....

My husband is shaking the container and digging out a name...

and the winner is.... KATHLEEN FULLER!!!

Made it through Jim's favorite song!

It was tough, but I did it. This morning our worship team sang our former worship leader's favorite song, How Great is Our God, written by Chris Tomlin. Jim used to play the piano and lead the vocals, so it was hard, but I finished with tears streaming down my face. The Lord was with us and comforted us with the words of the song and fond memories of Jim, who we all loved. He was taken home to be with the Lord Friday night. We'll miss him very much.

My review of Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt...

Product Description: She always wanted to be a forensic pathologist. But when circumstances force her to drop out of school, Gabby St. Claire starts a crime scene-cleaning business. Suddenly a routine job turns up a murder weapon, and Gabby and her neighbor Riley realize that the wrong man is behind bars! Will they catch the real killer?

My review:
I didn't know you could make such a difficult subject so funny. I guess it would be like writing comedy from an undertaker's perspective. You'd have to find something amusing about your icky job to make it bearable. Gabby begins the story cleaning a crime scene and picking up fragments of the murder victim's skull while mentally composing jingles to promote her business. Then she discovers evidence that the crime scene investigators missed and everything goes downhill from there. She keeps feeling ignored by the people who were supposed to be solving the crime and thus decides to figure it out herself, making matters worse for herself with each new discovery.

The romantic tension in the story is fabulous as well. I felt for Gabby when she finally started feeling close to a man and then a monkey wrench was thrown in. Poor Gabby felt like a "project" and not a person when her hopes were dashed. And that near-kiss was amazingly-well done. The best part of this story (besides the amazing sarcastic humor and hot guys) was that I wasn't any more sure of the true killer's identity than Gabby was. Her conclusions made sense, but then little tidbits of evidence detracted from her conclusions and made her more confused. Then when the killer is revealed, it makes sense, but I never suspected the person whodunit!

So though this story had suspense/thriller moments, it also had a cozy chick-lit feel to me because an amateur was trying to solve a murder. The author did a fantastic job engaging the reader and thickening the plot. This was a top-notch suspense, in my opinion. It had all of the elements of the perfect novel. The fact that I kept feeling drawn to read it and stayed up to the wee hours last night to finish the story tells me it's at the top of my list. In fact, I dare say I enjoyed it even more than Hell in a Briefcase. If you like murder mysteries and suspense with a chick-lit feel, you'll want to read this one!

Hazardous Duty was published by Kregel Books and released in November 2006.

It's also the featured book of the month on my website! http://www.michellesutton.net/

Our worship team leader Jim died last night and my aunt Mildred died this morning...

Pray for us, Jim's family, his friends, our church, and my dad. We will all miss Jim very much! I've also agreed to sing at his services and I may not be able to squeak a word out. I don't know when his services will be but my schedule is so tight up through Wednesday I don't know what I'll do. I'll just have to trust the Lord for His perfect timing. Jim is no longer suffering and that's a blessing to us all.

Regarding my aunt...I haven't seen her in years and she had Alzheimer's, so it's not very sad to see her go since her suffering will also come to an end. I think she was in her 80s and I'm sure she missed her husband, who died several years back. Anyway, two losses in two days. Whoa.

A tribute to Barbara Johnson...

If you have ever been blessed by author/speaker/just-plain-great-lady Barbara Johnson (now 79 and living in an assisted living facility) and would like to contribute a fond memory or tribute to her newest and soon-to-be-launched website www.barbaraspatulajohnson.com with the possibility of having your memory included in her newest book as well, please send your contributions to Kathi Macias at alandkathi@ca.rr.com. Kathi will keep you updated on the project’s progress, and can answer any questions you might have about it.

Here is my memory (for the record.) I heard Barbara speak more than ten years ago when I lived in Phoenix, Arizona and she was touring with Women of Faith. Some of the other speakers were Becky Tirabassi and Sheila Walsh. Anyway, I remember being very moved by Barbara's testimony and I bought her book. She gave away little glass "Splashes of Joy" and I kept one for years to remind me that our lives can have moments of joy even in the cesspools of our life experience. Barbara Johnson has suffered greatly and yet has blessed so many women with her testimony. So go ahead and contact Kathi and bless Barbara today with something God places on your heart to say. :)

So excited about this!

This is so cool! Tomorrow Thr3e comes out in the theaters. I loved this book! I wish I could have my husband take me to see this for my birthday, but it looks like it's only playing in Tucson, which is 80 miles from my house. Guys, that's just plain wrong! I'm gonna protest, and if all else fails, I'll get the DVD when it comes out. It's such a cool thriller with a twist. Ted Dekker's mind is psycho, and I love it!

About grief and loss...

Our worship leader Jim is getting worse. In fact, he's not expected to live out the week. The good news is that his death will not be wasted. God used it to bring his friend to salvation. A friend Jim had tried to reach for years. Jim's favorite song is How Great is Our God. The main theme of the song is God's awesome power and majesty and how He's in control of it all. We're supposed to sing it as a worship team in tribute to him this Sunday. There won't be a dry eye in the place. Though he will be leaving a wife and two teens behind (as well as two young adult children) he's ready to meet his maker. Of course, he doesn't want the heartache that comes with his passing, but he's exciting about meeting the Lord soon. I don't blame him. Someday all of those who believe will see Him face to face and we'll worship our Lord together. All of the heartaches of this life will melt away. What an awesome day that will be.

Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith is up on the CFBA tour, and I've posted my review, too...

Link to Marilynn's webpage



Buy Tangerine on Amazon now!



Book Description:

Fans of Pink and Jade will eat up Tangerine, the third book in the cutting-edge Shades of Style series. Jean Guerra, a designer at Garments of Praise design firm, doesn't like surprises. These days though, the unexpected meets her everywhere. Since Jean's return to the church a year ago, her God-encounters occur with increasing frequency, along with thoughts of her husband-the one she vowed to divorce and gave up on long ago. The one nobody at work knows about, not even her best friend, Lily, or her boss, Chenille. But when the designer assigned to work with Jean on a line of men's suits shows up, her heart flips. It's her husband, Nigel Salvador. Jean is finally rendered speechless. Can her bruised heart become whole enough to love again? Or will she remain in the trenches of loneliness forever?

My review:

Let me first say that I think the premise behind the novel is fabulous and unique. The couple is married, yet they were separated for such a LONG time that they lost touch with each other. The setup is very believable. Plus, they aren't young anymore (though I suppose that is a matter of opinion) and they even have a teenage granddaughter. Side note**The author still makes them sound attractive, so you tend to forget they are getting gray hair. Also, I love the morality and guilt issues woven into the plot regarding the hero's relationship with Carmen. That made for some great tension. I also loved those Murphy's Law moments interspersed through the story. It makes for some page-turning reading.


The cultural dynamics were also very well-done as were the many things these friends learned from each other during their journeys. There were so many wonderful sub-plots and resolutions that revealed the depth of each character that I was amazed at times with how the author brought out the life in them. These people seemed real; like they were my friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. And the romance between the hero and heroine was downright delectable. Yummy! The love scenes and the gentle humor and camaraderie between the couple were a delight to experience. Now I'll have to go back and read Pink and Jade.

Eek! Almost forgot an important one!

I'm reading Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren for possible endorsement, so I should've included that one on my list! I'm taking it to work with me today and starting it at lunchtime. :)