My first live autograph today and other fun facts!

I am learning so much about this book business every day. For one, even though my book officially releases tomorrow (actually midnight tonight - whoo hoo!) people have been receiving my book already. So whether the order came from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, my book has been shipped out. One such recipient approached me at church this morning and asked if I'd sign her book and write something in it that I haven't written in anyone else's book. Well, that was easy as her autograph was my first official one. :) But I have been autographing reviewer copies as I mail them out, however, they don't count, IMHO as they aren't "live" requests. Not that any of that matters, really. I am just stoked that people are reading my story and enjoying it. I'm also thrilled about my upcoming book signing schedule. Some of the ladies at my church said they plan to hit every one of them (in state, at least). Now if that doesn't give ya a warm fuzzy, nothing will, eh?

Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Back To Life
Avon Inspire (September 16, 2008)
by
Kristin Billerbeck


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristin Billerbeck was born in Redwood City, California. She went to San Jose State University and gained a bachelor's degree in Advertising, then worked at the Fairmont Hotel in PR, a small ad agency as an account exec, and then, she was thrust into the exciting world of shopping mall marketing.

She got married, had four kids, and started writing romance novels until she found her passion: Chick Lit. She is a CBA bestselling author and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year for What A Girl Wants in 2004, and again in 2006 for With this Ring. Featured in the New York Times, USA Today, World Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kristin has appeared on the Today Show. She is credited with jump-starting the inspirational chick-lit phenomenon. Most recently she has been names as a finalist for the Christy Award in the Lits category for The Trophy Wives Club.

Her other recent books include: She's All That.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Lindsey realized when she married Ron, a man 17 years her senior, that the odds were he’d see heaven before her, but she never expected to be a widow at 35. There’s too much of life left for her to just sit around in mourning. But she can’t seem to kick start the rest of her life.

That is until she gets some help from Ron’s first wife, Jane, who shows up unexpectedly at her door one day as the executor of her husband’s estate. Jane is everything Lindsey’s not… independent, stubborn… and a lot older. Plus she has one surprise after another… including a son named Ron Jr. (she insists he’s not “really” Ron’s son). But an unlikely friendship develops as each woman begins to reevaluate what is really important, and owns up to the mistakes they’ve made in the past.

Told in the alternating voices of Jane and Lindsey, and with the return of many of the witty characters of The Trophy Wives Club, this book is a lighthearted, relatable read for when life goes in a direction you never planned. With faith and friends, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

If you would like to read an excerpt of chapter 1 of Back To Life, go HERE

My thoughts:

I love everything Billerbeck writes, but I haven't been able to read/review this book because it hasn't arrived in the mail yet. When it does arrive I'll be reading it, but that might take me awhile to get to.

Now I'm giving away Looking Back Texas by Leanna Ellis

To enter your name to win a copy of the book simply post a comment. I will pick a winner on Wednesday. Thanks! (And please don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win.)


About the book:

Betty Lynne Davidson is planning her husband's funeral. But she's overlooking one thing: he's not dead.....he just wants a divorce.When Suzanne Mullins, gets the call from her father to come back home to Texas because her mother has gone off the deep end, she knows it will mean having to look at the faulty foundations of their marriage as well as her own. Suzanne hopes that trusting in God's love and mercy will set all of this craziness straight.

My thoughts:

Haven't had a chance to read this one yet, but I loved Elvis Takes a Back Seat so if it's even half as good it'll be fabulous!

My review of Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

About the book:

A generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution."

A growing movement of young people is rebelling against the low expectations of today's culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God. And Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge.

Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of an already-happening teen revolution challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

Here is a great link to a short video done by the Harris brothers about their book.

Do Hard Things interview video on Amazon.com

My review:

This is a fabulous book not only for teens but adults as well. Do Hard Things is so well written, I'm amazed (not to mention impressed) that it was penned by two eloquent young adults. It's clear to me that the authors have a great amount of insight and wisdom from personal experience that they have brought to the table with this book. Everyone wants their teens to do great things. So why not get a copy of this book for your church's youth group and start a rebelution at your church?

I loved the part of the book where a teen felt saddened when they overheard someone say something like, "Well at least they aren't on drugs." Isn't that so true how many people don't expect much, and they are happy to settle with the fact that their teens are passable in life, or say it could be worse? Our kids these days seem to think that they can just grow up and somehow survive and also afford the fun stuff they can buy now (while they live at home.) So NOT true. I remind my boys every day about how expensive life is. But even more than that, the culture we live in truly doesn't expect enough from our young people. This book is an encouragement and a launching place for young people to begin changing their lives so they can make an impact on our world today. I wish all teens would read this book. I would take it a step further and even suggest it be required reading for high school students and college freshmen. These kids need to hear that they can change the world.

Do Hard Things was published by Multnomah and released in April 2008.

My review of Saturdays with Stella by Allison Pittman

About the book:

Sometimes your best four-legged friend is also your best teacher

When you bring a new dog into your home, a wash of great joy can become a trial of perseverance as your furry pal chews, digs, yaps, and yes, piddles her way through every room in the house. Allison Pittman learned this all too well when she adopted a “tiny, shiny puppy of indefinable breed(s).” Stella wasted no time in turning her home upside-down as only a pup can.

As could be expected, six weeks of obedience school covered the much needed basics–sit, stay, come, and down. What Allison didn’t expect was the spiritual benefit she would receive as each Saturday lesson revealed a fascinating metaphor. In this heart-warming, thoughtful, and often hilarious tribute to her beloved Stella, Allison Pittman shares how she came to understand what it means to follow the ultimate Master, including how to:

Sit!–at the feet of Jesus and listen for His voice
Drop It!–and let go of personal agendas
Come!–when it’s time to run in the right direction
Stay!–in God’s presence

In Saturdays with Stella, a slightly neurotic yet curiously adorable canine will not only capture your heart–she’ll show you how captivating you are to God.

My review:

Saturdays will Stella is an easy, enjoyable read with some great lessons to learn in regards to not only training your dog, but obeying the Lord. :) I just wish I had this book when my dog Mattie was alive. She was a nervous piddler, too. We never figured out how to fix that except to have her become an outside dog. Then she stopped. At any rate, I loved this book and read it quickly. The pictures are cute, too. But the spiritual lessons are so good that I even read some out loud to my husband. There is a lot you can learn about obedience (and even more to ponder about God's ways) from reading Saturdays with Stella. I highly recommend it.

Saturdays with Stella was published by Multnomah and released in August 2008.

A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman is up on the CFBA with bonus review!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

A Passion Redeemed
Revell (September 1, 2008)
by
Julie Lessman


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:






Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write “Mainstream Inspirational,” reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God’s precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. A Passion Most Pure was her first novel.




ABOUT THE BOOK

No man can resist her charms. Or so she thought. Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. Her stunning beauty and flirtatious ways have always succeeded with men. Until Mitch Dennehy, that is.

Brilliant and dangerously handsome, Mitch is a no-nonsense newspaperman who wants nothing to do with her. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants--one way or another.

Or does she? Will her best-laid schemes win his love? Or will her seductive ways drive him away forever? Book 2 in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Redeemed will captivate your heart and stir your soul with a story of faith and redemption rising from the ashes of temptation, desire, and shame.

Praise for the first book in the series:

"Full of romance, humor, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page." --Historical Novels Review "Superb! Incredible!

"I loved Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure from the second I picked it up until the very last moment I stopped reading." --Armchair Interviews

"I devoured this book and loved every single page. . . . This is a thick, juicy read, and one I would pick up again in a heartbeat." --christianreviewofbooks.com

If you would like to read an excerpt from A Passion Redeemed, go HERE.

My Review:

Lessman has a knack for drama and angst with a heavy dose of passion. This story is no exception. And like a soap opera, you never quite know who will end up with whom and what will happen next. There is not a boring page in this entire novel. The tension rocks. There is a lot of pain and anger, as well as joy and deep sorrow. But the longing is what gets to me.

Don't we all long for love? And poor Charity was operating from a faulty point of view from the get-go. I found that quite profound, and well done. Charity had reasons for being sensual, complex, needy, and rejecting. She had deep-seated reasons for being manipulative as well. I've known so many girls and women like Charity, whose issues caused them to do insane things at times to try to get their way. But their behavior always stemmed from a profound fear of abandonment. I loved how the author portrayed this with such emotion.

I also loved how the romance between Charity's parents continued and enjoyed some of the profound talks--and interruptions--they had at night. In regards to the male point of view, Lessman does this well. They say the average man thinks about sex at least once every few minutes. If that is true (and I wouldn't know as I'm not a man) then she has that nailed as well.

While this story seemed more heavy on the physical attraction than a Passion Most Pure, it made sense given Charity's extreme beauty and seductive behavior that men would feel somewhat tortured around her. And like most women who've been hurt at a very young age, she blames herself for what happened with Rigan. While I didn't like it, that is so like real life situations.

Toward the end I was really hoping another relationship would work out, but I've discovered that with Lessman's Passion series, things don't usually change course and stay there, but the diversion still plays a large part in the healing. So even though I was a tad disappointed at the end, I know that means the third book will resolve that for me. I grew to care so much about one character that I wanted to see him happy. Not gonna happen in this book, but there is always potential in the next novel in the series. So I was still satisfied. But unfortunately, whenever I finish one of Lessman's books I am tortured by having to wait for the next installment.

Oh, and when it comes to sensual tension, this author does it better than anyone in the Christian fiction world today. And she has definitely extended the boundaries of what is "allowed" in the CBA, giving hope to other authors like myself, who see passion as being the spice of life and a true gift from God. :) Encore!

Here is another place to win a copy of my book. And this interview is...

very different from the others. I wrote the answers back in December so it was even fun to read it myself. So click on this link and leave a comment for your chance to win my book!

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-michelle-sutton-its-not-about-me.html

Peace!

Now I'm giving away Seasons of Love by Elizabeth Goddard.

To enter to win a copy just tell me why you want it by posting a comment. Make sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win.

About the book:

When Grandpa Sanderford asks Riley O'hare to give up her climb on the corporate ladder and take over the family cranberry farm in Massachusetts, she actually considers it. Her mind is made up when her brother dies and she becomes the guardian of his son. Riley hopes the move and her new roles will help her find the purpose and peace she desires. With the death of his friend and business partner, Zane Baldwyn's world is turned upside down, and his company is in trouble. As he looks to replace John, strange things begin to happen that makes Zane wonder if John's death was really accidental. Riley has a farm to save, and Zane has a mystery to solve. Somehow the two goals seem related. As Riley and Zane are drawn closer together, can they stay out of danger and discover a season of love?

My review:

Seasons of Love was a sweet romance like you would expect from the Heartsong Presents book club. There was some intrigue and a bit of danger here and there, but overall it was more about relationships (in my opinion) than what happened to her brother. The ex-boyfriend was a tad creepy and his motivations were suspect. Zane was a heroic hero, setting aside his own needs for his best friend's sister. Grandpa was a nice guy, though a bit behind the times, and her little nephew was simply adorable. I learned quite a bit about cranberry farming from this story. I sounds like hard work, but a lot of fun, too.

Seasons of Love was published by Heartsong Presents and released in 2008.

Site for listing book signing schedule and tours.

Check out this great new site for scheduling book tours and letting people know about events.

http://booktour.com/author/michelle_sutton

Isn't it awesome!

Win a copy of It's Not about Me here...by following this link!

Win a copy of my book here!!! Not too many of these giveaways left folks, so hop on it while you can. Plus, you can read ANOTHER interview. Thankfully they are all somewhat different!

http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/2008/08/michelle-suttons-interview.html

Peace!

Whoo hoo! I've arrived! I'm on Novel Journey! Hehehe...

Just to let you know, though, some of the info has changed since I answered the interview questions back in Dec. 2007. I no longer have my computer in my bedroom. Hubby didn't like that, so even though I said I could NEVER write in the middle of my house, guess where my computer is...um, yeah, never say never. Also, I no longer sing on the worship team because I now have too much going on with the online magazine. I can only do SO much!

Here is the link to read about my "novel journey". This interview has different stuff in it so you will learn some new things about me...I think.

http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/2008/08/debut-author-michelle-sutton.html

If you read it make sure to comment either on Novel Journey's page or here. Thanks!

Another somewhat "nutty" interview about me. This one includes chocolate.

Curious? Read this and find out what I'm talking about. Make sure to comment so Donna knows you stopped by, too. Thanks!

http://writebyfaith.blogspot.com/2008/08/spotlight-on-michelle-sutton.html

Peace!

Twice Loved by Lori Copeland is up on the CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Twice Loved
Avon Inspire (July 22, 2008)
by
Lori Copeland


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. Lance and Lori have three sons, two daughter-in-laws, and five wonderful grandchildren. They are very involved in their church, and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa.

Lori began her writing career in 1982, writing for the secular book market. In 1995 after many years of writing, Lori sensed that God was calling her to use her gift of writing to honor Him. It was at that time that Lori began writing for the Christian book market. To date, she has more than 95 books published including Now And Always
and Bluebonnet Belle.

ABOUT THE BOOK



Texas, 1865 Willow Madison and her friends, Copper and Audrey taught school in neighboring Texas communities until the Yankees rode into the area and burned them out. In the midst of fear and chaos, survivors banded together to fight for what remained of their homes. Then word reached the people that the terrible war was over.

Now penniless but still hopeful, Willow vows she will take care of her friends, Copper and Audrey, and her ailing uncle, in Thunder Ridge, Texas, even if it means having to marry wealthy Silas Sterling, a man thirty years her senior. But standing in her way is handsome sawmill owner Tucker Gray, with his enticing eyes and infuriating headstrong manner—the man Willow cannot get out of her head . . . or her heart. Even though her friends beg her not to give up her dream of happiness, Willow is determined to do the right thing for those who are dearest to her. But which path does God want Willow to take: a life of duty and commitment . . . or a life of everlasting love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Twice Loved, go HERE

Another great interview of moi on Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted.

http://ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/2008/08/25/michelle-sutton-and-sheaf-house/

Now I'm giving away Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh

To enter to win a copy of this book post a comment about why it intrigues you and I'll put your name in the hat. Please leave me a way to contact you if you win.



About the book:

All she wants is a job. All she needs is religion. How hard can it be?

Maizy Grace Stewart dreams of a career as an investigative journalist, but her last job ended in disaster when her compassion cost her employer a juicy headline. A part-time gig at a Nashville newspaper might be her big break.

A second job at Steeple Side Christian Resources could help pay the bills, but Steeple Side only hires committed Christians. Maizy is sure she can fake it with her Five-Step Program to Authentic Christian Faith–a plan of action that includes changing her first name to Grace, buying Jesus-themed accessories, and learning “Christian Speak.” If only Jack Prentiss, Steeple Side’s managing editor and two-day-stubbled, blue-jean-wearing British hottie wasn’t determined to prove her a fraud.

When Maizy’s boss at the newspaper decides that she should investigate–and expose–any skeletons in Steeple Side’s closet, she must decide whether to deliver the dirt and secure her career or lean on her newfound faith, change the direction of her life, and pray that her Steeple Side colleagues–and Jack–will show her grace.

My thoughts:

I loved Splitting Harriet. This story didn't grab me as much as Splitting Harriet had, but Faking Grace definitely has intriguing content for people who like to laugh at themselves and poke fun at cultural Christianity. :)

Sips 'n Cups Cafe: InterReview: Michelle Sutton ~"It's Not About Me"

Sips 'n Cups Cafe: InterReview: Michelle Sutton ~"It's Not About Me"

House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
House Of Wolves
Thomas Nelson (August 12, 2008)
by
Matt Bronleewe
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay, has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. His songs have recently been recorded by Disney pop sensations Aly & AJ, American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and more. Bronleewe has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Michael W. Smith, International pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.

To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. His first book Illuminated began the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within.

Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design and science.

ABOUT THE BOOK


A mysterious book with a dangerous secret.

An evil brotherhood out to conquer the world.

One man stands between them . . . with his family in the balance.

In the twelfth century, Henry the Lion collected the rarest relics in Christendom. And to protect his most precious acquisitions, he encoded the whereabouts in a gorgeous illuminated manuscript called The Gospels of Henry the Lion.

The manuscript has been showing up and disappearing ever since. No one knows where the relic has been hidden . . . or its ultimate power.

Only one man holds the key to the mystery.

He's carrying it in his briefcase at his son's school for show-and-tell, and he thinks it's a fake. But he's about to find out just how real it is.

Because the wolves are rapidly closing in. And if August Adams can't decode the secret in time, the world's balance of power will forever be altered.

If you would like to read an excerpt of House Of Wolves, it will be HERE


My thoughts:

I was trying really hard to get time to read this book and I couldn't even get half of it read in three days. Life has been BUSY!!! But what I've read so far is fabulous! I hope to finish it soon.

Now I'm giving away a copy of The Penny by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford.

To win a copy of this book simply post a comment telling me what intrigues you about this story and I'll enter your name into the drawing. Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win!


Synopsis

Jenny Blake has a theory about life: big decisions often don't amount to much, but little decisions sometimes transform everything. Her theory proves true the summer she's 14, when she makes the decision to pick up a penny embedded in asphalt and consequently ends up stopping a robbery, getting a job, and meeting someone who changes her life forever-Miss Shaw. Together they form a friendship that dares both of them to confront secrets in their pasts-secrets that threaten to destroy them.

Jenny helps Miss Shaw open up to the community around her, while Miss Shaw teaches Jenny to meet even life's most painful challenges with confidence and faith. This unexpected relationship transforms them both in ways neither could have anticipated, and the ripple effect that begins that summer goes on to bring new life to the people around them, revealing how God works in the smallest details-even in something as small as THE PENNY.

Complete list of authors for 127 author Mall of America Book signing scheduled for 9-20-08!

What: ACFW booksigning
Who: 127 Christian novelists
Where: Best Buy and Sears Rotundas and connecting hallway, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 1-3 p.m.
Why: To meet your favorite authors

Click here to go to the ACFW website and see the list of authors!

Merciless by Robin Parrish is up on CFBA

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Merciless
(Bethany House - July 1, 2008)
by
Robin Parrish


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist. In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book, Relentless -- but two sequels including Fearless and Merciless. A trilogy that unfolded in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and this year, 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin Parrish is a journalist who's written about pop culture for more than a decade. Currently he serves as Senior Editor at XZOOSIA.com, a community portal that fuses social networking with magazine-style features about entertainment and culture. He and his wife, Karen and son live in North Carolina.

ABOUT THE BOOK
The world as we know it has ENDED.
DEATH and CHAOS creep across the globe and only the POWERLESS can RISE UP to stop it.

But can anything stop the onslaught of the DARKWORLD

From the earth's depths crawls a figure with skin like granite, flames for eyes, and the face of Grant Borrows.
Oblivion has arrived.

Every clock around the world has stopped. Time has frozen.

The Secretum have fulfilled the prophecy, unleashing on earth the most powerful being to walk the earth in thousands of years. His name is Oblivion and his touch is death.

He can't be slowed.
He can't be stopped.
And he can't be killed.

But as long as any live who trust in hope and love and freedom, the fight is not over.

They have only one chance before he brings forth the Darkworld.

Oblivion is: Merciless

"Robin Parrish is the kind of writer who understands how to entertain from the word go. His stories are sure to shape fiction for years to come."
~TED DEKKER, author of ADAM

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merciless, go HERE


My thoughts:

I need to catch up on my reading! I will read this one but not until after I read the prior book, Fearless.

Now I'm giving away Tresspassers Will Be Baptized! by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock

To win a copy of this book, simply post a comment. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday. Don't forget to give me a way to contact you if you win.



Synopsis

Growing up Southern and Baptist in Eastern Kentucky, Elizabeth Hancock's world revolved around Sunday School, foreign missions projects, revival meetings and of course, the Kentucky Wildcats, who "glorified God through their goal-shattering, soul-shattering play." Hancock chronicles her childhood misadventures with sardonic wit, detailing her and her sister Meg's mischievous - if harmless - abuses of power (stealing Guess jeans from the Africa donation box, or hawking backyard swimming pool baptisms during her neighborhood's annual yard sale) and lovingly recalling the wisdom imparted by her long-suffering parents as they ministered to their unruly flock. TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED marks the arrival of a talented new voice in a coming of age story that is by turns comical and affecting.

My thoughts:

This book has some funny stuff in it, no doubt. If you like memoirs that poke fun at the religious foibles in our culture, you'll find this amusing for sure!

Cute niece and nephew pics...

My review of Seasons of Love by Elizabeth Goddard

About the book:

When Grandpa Sanderford asks Riley O'hare to give up her climb on the corporate ladder and take over the family cranberry farm in Massachusetts, she actually considers it. Her mind is made up when her brother dies and she becomes the guardian of his son. Riley hopes the move and her new roles will help her find the purpose and peace she desires. With the death of his friend and business partner, Zane Baldwyn's world is turned upside down, and his company is in trouble. As he looks to replace John, strange things begin to happen that makes Zane wonder if John's death was really accidental. Riley has a farm to save, and Zane has a mystery to solve. Somehow the two goals seem related. As Riley and Zane are drawn closer together, can they stay out of danger and discover a season of love?

My review:

Seasons of Love was a sweet romance like you would expect from the Heartsong Presents book club. There was some intrigue and a bit of danger here and there, but overall it was more about relationships (in my opinion) than what happened to her brother. The ex-boyfriend was a tad creepy and his motivations were suspect. Zane was a heroic hero, setting aside his own needs for his best friend's sister. Grandpa was a nice guy, though a bit behind the times, and her little nephew was simply adorable. I learned quite a bit about cranberry farming from this story. I sounds like hard work, but a lot of fun, too.

Seasons of Love was published by Heartsong Presents and released in 2008.

Another fun interview of moi with different information.

Interview on Carla's Writing Cafe

Win a copy of Life is a Gift by Bob and Judy Fisher (non-fiction)

To win a copy of this book share a comment about how you think this book might help you or someone else. Peace! And don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win!



About the book:

In candid interviews, terminal patients in the Alive Hospice program talked with authors Bob and Judy Fisher, addressing some of the most important questions we ask about our life and how we've made the journey. These end-of-life ponderings are collected into inspirational and provoking thoughts that will encourage each of us to live life fully. Each story is reflected in thematic chapters-priorities, family, simple pleasures, romance, integrity, regret, forgiveness-crafted into a series of "lessons learned," offering motivation to approach life with more vigor. These powerful stories deliver the clear message that if you wait to really live until you know you are going to die, you risk missing much of the joy life has to offer and the chance to leave a positive legacy.

Click here to get a smoking deal from a book seller online!

Barnes and Noble booksellers has a fabulous deal going on right now! No more wait time. You can order my book now and they will ship it to you within a few days. That's two weeks before the official release date and that's exciting! What's even more cool than that is you can get free shipping when you order $25.00 worth of books from them because my book is one of the products that qualifies for free shipping. So get one for you, one for your best friend, and one for your church library and you get free shipping. Whoo hoo! If you do this I will send you some autographed stickers to put in your books! So let me know if you order and I might even slip in an extra surprise for you. :)

Here is more info from the site...

We've made FREE Shipping better by getting it to you FAST.

Orders with eligible products will be delivered within 3 business days of leaving our warehouse, and when you spend $25 or more shipping is FREE.

So take advantage of this deal while you can. Plus my book is on sale and Barnes and Noble, too!

For more information on the book itself, check out the 16 reviews on their site. Plus, my book got 4 stars from Romantic Times and 4 stars from About.com. Exciting, yes?

That's (Not Exactly) Amore by Tracey Bateman is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
That's (Not Exactly) Amore
FaithWords (August 14, 2008)
by
Tracey Bateman


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracey Bateman published her first novel in 2000 and has been busy ever since. There are two other books in the Drama Queen Series, Catch A Rising Star (#1) and You Had Me At Goodbye (#2)

She learned to write by writing, and improved by listening to critique partners and editors. She has sold over 30 books in six years.
She became a member of American Christian Fiction Writers in the early months of its inception in 2000 and served as president for a year.


Tracey loves Sci-fi, Lifetime movies, and Days of Our Lives (this is out of a 21 year habit of watching, rather than enjoyment of current storylines.

She has been married to her husband Rusty for 18 years, has four kids, and lives in Lebanon, Missouri.


ABOUT THE BOOK


When Laini Sullivan lands a job designing Nick Pantalone's coffee shop, there are two problems: one, Nick's nephew Joe hates all of her ideas and two, Laini has to admit he's right--she's a disaster at design. Still, she can't risk losing the job. To compromise, Joe brings in help on the project, while Laini continues to bake the goodies that keep his customers lining up.
Their relationship is moving along, so when new guy Officer Mark Hall implies that Joe's family is tied to the mob, Laini doesn't want to believe it. But things spin out of control when she meets the family, including "the uncles," who seem to confirm Mark's suspicions. To make things worse, Nana Pantalone makes it clear Laini isn't the kind of girl she has in mind for her grandson. Laini's not sure if she should give Joe the benefit of the doubt or just set her sites on Mark and fuhgetaboutit.

"Tracey draws us into the world of family and friendship with a few surprising twists along the way Bravo!"
~RACHEL HAUCK, author of Diva NashVegas and Sweet Caroline

If you would like to read the first chapter of That's (Not Exactly) Amore, go HERE

My thoughts:

Didn't have time to read this yet... but I like Tracey's style so I'm sure it's a fun read.

Trish Perry's blog tour for Beach Dreams & contest

About the book:

Tiffany LeBoeuf recently lost her mother to cancer. Still grieving, Tiffany seeks rest for her body and soul at a cozy beach house in San Diego. A scheduling mix-up causes a double booking, and Tiffany ends up sharing the house with a woman named Eve. When Eve's boyfriend, Jeremy, arrives to surprise Eve, he's surprised to see Tiffany as well. He settles in at the beach house next door, and what happens after that surprises them all.

A fun, contemporary romance about how God uses even our mistakes to bring about His divine purposes. Beach Dreams is the perfect get-away read.

My review:

After having read Too Good to be True and The Guy I'm Not Dating, both written by Trish Perry, I was eagerly anticipating the return of her characters. I was thrilled to discover that Jeremy was back, and this time this hot Brit's the hero! I hadn't read the first two books in the beach house series by Sally John, but frankly that didn't matter because the characters in the story were from Trish's previous series. And let me tell you what I love about her writing. She really knows how to write about relationships.

I loved the setting and the activities that took place. The language used by the English was quite fun, if you fancy that sort of thing, LOL! Anyway, Tiffany, the mean girl from the first two books who was humbled and softened at the end of book two, returns in this story as the heroine. She still fights the urge to tell people off and resists the temptation to return to her old ways on occasion, but that made her more real to me.

There were two different times when I got choked up toward the end of this story. I can't tell you what those things were that emotionally moved me because it would spoil the story, but I'll just say that sometimes what you think people believed about you and what you think they meant is not always true. That's the beauty of learning to communicate from the heart. While this book is a great beach read and loads of fun, it's by no means shallow, and on occasion it contains excellent insight into spiritual matters. And those almost-kisses were pure torture! I'm just sad the story had to end.

Beach Dreams was published by Harvest House and released in July 2008.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Trish’s Website and Blog

Beach Dreams on Amazon

Read an excerpt

List of all participating bloggers

And now for the contest info...

For the next two weeks, we’ll be touring Trish Perry’s latest release, Beach Dreams. As a part of the tour, we’re hosting a little contest and inviting everyone to participate - even if you haven’t signed up to participate in the tour. THE PRIZE? A cute little beach tote, a signed copy of Beach Dreams, a beautiful necklace (read the book to understand why!), and a few other fun beachy surprises.

How has God used a mistake you made - big or small - for his purposes? The example may be serious or funny, complex or simple, and you may or may not have realized he was even using it at the time it occurred. If you have a blog, write a short post of your own and link to it using Mr. Linky. If you don’t have a blog, you can place your answer in the comments. Tell your story, reference that you are participating in this tour, encourage your readers to play along, and link to Trish’s book on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736924469). All entries must be received by 5pm CST on August 22. Trish will judge the entries and declare her favorite.

To get you started, here is Trish’s answer to the question:

I was deeply into adulthood when I went back to school to earn a degree. Rather than fretting over having waited so long, I focused on the fact that now I knew what I really wanted to be. A psychological therapist. You couldn’t have found a more attentive, diligent student, and I did well. So, when I neared graduation and realized I had developed an overwhelming desire to write fiction, I freaked out just a little. How could I switch gears yet again? Had I just wasted years earning a degree I wasn’t going to actually use? That felt like a huge mistake.

But God knew what He was doing. If you want to do an in-depth study of character goals, motivation, and conflict, you go on out there and earn a degree in Psychology. I may not be too quick in the plotting and scene-setting departments, but my psychological training comes in handy when creating characters and walking with them through life. I think that’s why God led me to get that degree, and now I know I didn’t waste a moment learning what I did.

Click here to go to the link where you can enter your information for the contest!

http://www.blogtourspot.com/2008/08/beach-dreams-by-trish-perry-blog-tour/

The Jewel of Gresham Green by Lawana Blackwell

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

The Jewel of Gresham Green
(Bethany House - August 1, 2008)
by
Lawana Blackwell


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A full-time author, Lawana Blackwell's books include her beloved Gresham Chronicles and Tales of London series.

"I had told myself long ago that three books in a series are enough for my attention span, and so after The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, I devoted myself to the trio of books in the Tales of London series, then wrote A Table By the Window, my contemporary novel. All along, I received letters from readers asking me to continue the Gresham series. Many, many wrote that the dairying village of Gresham and its people sent them back to a more peaceful time in the midst of their busy days.

"Prayerfully, I decided to return to Gresham, setting the story fifteen years after Julia Hollis and her children first left London for abandoned coaching inn which became Larkspur Inn. I believe readers would like to see how the children—Philip, Aleda and Grace, Elizabeth and Laurel—turn out as adults. But I like to inject fresh faces into every book, hence Jewel Libby and her daughter Becky find Gresham a haven from a bad man. Writing the book was like coming home, visiting old friends."

Blackwell lives in Louisiana with her husband, Buddy, a supervisor at an oil refinery. They are empty nesters who love to visit their three grown sons, Joseph, Matthew, and Andrew, and three lovely daughters-in-law, Kristine, Penny and Heather, granddaughter Madelyn, and grandson Chandler.

Her other interests include visiting her parents and siblings in Mississippi, vegetarian cooking, and naturally, reading.



ABOUT THE BOOK
To protect her precious daughter from the danger nipping at their heels, Jewel Libby must flee the only home she's ever known. Caring friends direct her to the vicarage in the peaceful dairy village of Gresham, but she arrives there to find Vicar Andrew Phelps and his wife immersed in troubles of their own.

The children of Vicar Andrew Phelps and Julia Hollis from the popular Gresham Chronicles series have grown up and are dealing with their own challenges. Philip Hollis, now a successful London surgeon, has a controlling wife who resents his close family ties.

Aleda Hollis lives in a cottage on the outskirts of Gresham, where she enjoys her privacy and a writing career. When Andrew becomes ill and in need of Philip's skills, and Aleda's quest for privacy unwittingly advances an evil man's schemes, it's Jewel Libby, a newcomer to Gresham, who becomes an unexpected support and source of strength to the family. An unlikely romance adds to the intrigue of this jewel in their midst.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Jewel of Gresham Green, go HERE

My thoughts:
At first I thought I'd like this story because there was a creepy old man that wanted to take kids to his cellar. Now that was different for a historica. But then after that intriguing chapter things got kind of blah...so I fizzled out on page 60. Not sure if I'll pick this one up again or not.

Review of Dogwood by Chris Fabry and BONUS giveaway!

I'm giving away a copy of Dogwood by Chris Fabry. It's a powerful story, and if you read my review and tell me what intrigues you about this book, I'll put your name in for the giveaway. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday. Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win. And if all you say is "sounds great, enter me" that isn't enough to get you into the contest so think before you respond. :)

About the book:

In the small town of Dogwood, West Virginia, Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance from her deep passions and conflicts leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt, she tries to raise three small children and "do life" the best she can.

Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved--only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn't survived the tragedy that knit those two together as well as tore them apart.

The trigger that will lay their pain bare and force them to face it rather than flee is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman who leads Karin so deep into her anger against God that it forces unexpected consequences.

My review:

What an amazing story! While there were several different characters and viewpoints, for the most part they were distinct enough where I could keep track of them. At any rate, this story was a page turner. I loved how the author dropped little clues on a trail which led to the culmination of the story. While not perfect or super-spiritual, the ending was still gratifying despite the tragic undertones. For the majority of the story, you aren't quite sure what the whole issue is with Karin, but begin to suspect a little bit more as the story moves along. It's so bittersweet, yet surprising. And beautiful.

This story left me wanting to mull over the the details even after I finished it. Kind of like I did with the movie "Summersby" starring Jodi Foster and Richard Gear. Yet Dogwood didn't leave me with a "bummer" feeling like some novels have. In fact, I grew more fond of Will as the story progressed, despite what had allegedly occurred before he went to prison. And kind of like in the movie "Dead Man Walking," I wanted to obsess over what could have happened differently to prevent the incident in the first place. My heart ached for him.

Then as the truth slowly came out, a tragic sense of loss hit me deep inside, but it mingled with rejoicing as things were revealed. There were some intense moments in the story when I thought for sure it was over for Will. The suspense was killing me as was his unrequited love and longing for Karin. The scenes that went back to that tragic year were particularly powerful. The emotion was totally gripping, and it was so precious to get to know Will's heart so much that he felt like a real person to me.

I can see this movie becoming a Hollywood feature film. In fact, it was so well done I felt like I was living in Dogwood as I read the story. Rarely does a novel strike such a deep chord in me like this one had. This story is not only well worth reading, but sharing with friends, too. It would make a fabulous book club selection because it was so thought-provoking and edgy. And I SO love edgy because I love anything that makes me think and feel things on a deeper level.

Dogwood was published by Tyndale and released in August 2008.

I'm giving away a copy of John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy!

To enter your name to win simply post a comment. Best wishes! Oh, and don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win!



About the book:

It's amazing how quickly life can change. Overnight, Monica Crawford finds her neatly organized world turned upside down. Her sister abandons her blind son, Scotty, leaving him on Monica's doorstep. Caring for a handicapped child brings unexpected conflict-but unexpected joy as well. When John French volunteers to tutor Scotty, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Monica. But John and Monica are very different. She is a strong believer, determined to live her life for Christ. John is an agnostic who wants nothing to do with God.Will John see the light? Will Monica realize that sometimes letting go of a dream is the way to achieve it? Only in full surrender will either of them be happy- whether they end up together or alone.

My thoughts:

I don't have a copy of this book, but I know Cecelia and she's an amazing lady!

Featured author and awesome review on About.com

Here is my featured author spot on the AllTheseBooks.com site.

Featured Author - click here to read interview

This is a fun interview of me with VERY different questions than most interviews.

Interview on Ane Mulligan's blog with fun questions


Exciting review for It's Not About Me!

Click HERE to read the review

Thanks for checking them out. They are all a bit different.

All Through the Night by Davis Bunn is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
All Through The Night
(Bethany House - July 1, 2008)
by
Davis Bunn


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Davis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than six million books in fifteen languages. His audiences spans reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings.

Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include My Soul To Keep, and Full Circle . A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was named Novelist in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.

He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write.



ABOUT THE BOOK


A loner, trying to forget. A community--and a woman--who need for him to remember...
Broken relationships and unfulfilled promises scatter themselves across Wayne's past like burned-out craters. His background in military special-ops is something he's trying to forget. But when he gets himself sweet-talked into helping a quirky group of seniors who've been scammed, he discovers it will take a lot more than muscle and nerve. Breach a conman's high-security estate to recover stolen money? No problem. Become part of community? Love again? Not on your life.

A lawyer with her own painful past is intrigued by Wayne and asks him to take on another unusual case--Tatanya's wealthy employer believes he's been visited by...an angel? Did a messenger from God in a pinstripe suit truly bring a divine warning, or is this merely another cruel hoax? Tatanya is willing to trust Wayne with her boss's life, but she's not sure she's ready to trust him with her own wounded heart.

With a financial analyst's skills and a warrior's tenacity, Wayne races to unmask dangerous forces hiding behind a corporate veil. But he will need all his resources--and then some--against an unseen enemy bent on destroying his fragile bid for a second chance at life...and love.

All he wanted was to put his past behind him. But now it's the only thing that will save them...

If you would like to read the first chapter of All Through The Night, go HERE

My thoughts:

I just finished The Falcon and the Sparrow last night and am working on finishing Dogwood so I haven't gotten to this one yet. But I love the author and the story intrigues me.

My review of The Falcon and the Sparrow by M. L. Tyndall

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Mademoiselle Dominique Dawson sets foot on the soil of her beloved homeland, England, she feels neither the happiness nor the excitement she expected upon her return to the place of her birth. Alone for the first time in her life, without family, without friends, without protection, she now faces a far more frightening prospect, for she has come to the country she loves as an enemy-a spy for Napoleon.

Forced to betray England or never see her only brother alive again, Dominique has accepted a position as governess to the son of Admiral Chase Randal, a harsh man, still bitter over the loss of his wife. Will Dominique find the strength she needs through God to follow through with the plan to rescue her brother? Will Chase find comfort for his bitter heart in God's arms and be able to love again?

And what new deceptions will they both find in France when they arrive to carry out their plan?

My review:

I really enjoyed The Falcon and the Sparrow. The story contained all of the distinct Tyndall elements of depth and mood that I've grown to love and expect from her books. Intrigue, romance, suspense, and passion are always part of Tyndall's plot, which makes them page turners for me. The author successfully tortures her characters by getting them into the worst predicaments, and that always makes for incredible tension. Plus the spiritual element was tightly woven into the story's theme and into characters' lives.

I love how people actually changed in the story because they were around Dominique. She was like a light in the house full of nothing by heartache and pain, which is what Christians are called to be--light. This aspect of the story was done amazingly well. The romantic tension rocked as did the kissing scenes! That's often my favorite part of Tyndall's novels. She does a great job of pairing up two very unlikely people with intense conflict between them, which makes for some serious electricity. I dare say the pages of this novel smoked with constrained passion and deep affection. I loved how the Admiral's heart began to thaw and how his son played a key role in the entire story. As usual, this was well done! I've never read a Tyndall novel I haven't thoroughly enjoyed!

The Falcon and the Sparrow was published by Barbour and released in Aug 2008.

More interview links, but these come with giveaways!

The Cross and the Cutlass blog (M. L. Tyndall)

Click here to read The Cross and the Cutlass interview and enter!

Shades of Romance blog (LaShaunda Hoffman)

Click here to read Shades of Romance blog interview and enter!

Dogwood by Chris Fabry is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dogwood
(Tyndale House Publishers - July 9, 2008)
by
Chris Fabry


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Chris Fabry has a variety of titles to his credit including At the Corner of Mundane and Grace, Spiritually Correct Bedtime Stories, Away with the Manger, The H.I.M. Book, and The 77 Habits of Highly Effective Christians. His latest work is a collaboration with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye.

Chris has recently completed the final book in the Left Behind The Kids series, available Fall 2004. Readers of all ages have followed the lives of Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and the others. Now read how their exciting stories culminate in book 40 of this beloved series. Dogwood is his first adult fiction.

Chris and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of nine children and make their home in Colorado. Chris has worked in Christian radio and now enjoys narrating audio books as well as writing. He believes his career as a husband and father is the real evidence of God's grace in his life.



ABOUT THE BOOK


In the small town of Dogwood, West Virginia, Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance from her deep passions and conflicts leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt, she tries to raise three small children and "do life" the best she can.

Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved--only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn't survived the tragedy that knit those two together as well as tore them apart.

The trigger that will lay their pain bare and force them to face it rather than flee is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman who leads Karin so deep into her anger against God that it forces unexpected consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dogwood, go HERE

My thoughts:

I'm on chapter 15. This book is FABULOUS! I am totally loving it. SO unless it takes a drastic turn for the worse, it's going to get a great rating from me.

Conference is coming!

The days are ticking away. Thankfully I have my volunteers all lined up and ready to work! My book is lined up for the signing and the buzz is already going on about this year's signing as well as the Genesis and BOTY finalists. We all want to know who is going to win, of course. I'm even getting a dress made for the banquet. This is a first for me. I'm not a fancy person. The dress was a good deal and the tailor is my friend so the rates were fab. But enough about me. This year's conference is going to be phenomenal. And to top it all off, we're having our fifth annual chocolate party. I'll be posting details the week of conference so make sure to check back Wednesday or Thursday that week as I'll post the room number. The time will be 8-11 PM and the day is Thursday night. See y'all then!

Now I'm giving away Brittan by Debra White Smith

To enter your name to win a copy of this book simply post a comment and I'll put your name in the hat. Make sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win.



About the book:

The Debutantes are three southern amateur sleuths whose faith, intelligence, and skills help them solve crimes...and get out of trouble.

When Brittan Shay meets Jose Herrera, she's found love for the first time. Even when she and her friends, Lorna and Heather, investigate a money laundering scheme and discover Jose's mother might be involved, Brittan's sure her new boyfriend isn't part of the plot. But when Chief Rob Lightly gets involved Brittan hesitates.

As suspicions and accusations fly, who should Brittan believe? And what will the culprit do when awareness of the Debutantes--investigation comes to light?

My review of The Other Side of Darkness by Melody Carlson

About the book:

Once again, I have kept the demons at bay.

As a wife and mother, Ruth knows her prayers are crucial to her family’s spiritual welfare. She stands between her precious children and the evil one, doing battle in prayer. She can’t afford to be careless. Thankfully, she has powerful allies: Pastor Glenn, New Life Christian School where her daughters Mary and Sarah attend, and the inner circle at Arbor Drive Fellowship. They all reinforce her careful nurturance of her children.

If only her husband, Rick, understood that. He’s exasperated about the money Ruth keeps spending for the church and school. Doesn’t he see that these are their best defenses in shielding their children from the dangers of the world?

But the forces that threaten Ruth’s faith, her family–-her very life–-are not the ones she expects. Ruth doesn’t realize that her heartfelt desire to obey God is mingled with dangerous currents of OCD–-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her own strategies for protecting her family may be the very thing that tears them apart.

My review:

The Other Side of Darkness is a powerful, but dark novel about a woman battling with mental illness. You as the reader are in her head, so you see the world the way she sees it. That makes the book a hard read because who wants to feel like they are going crazy? But it is good in other ways because it helps give the reader insight into people who suffer from severe OCD.

The troubling thing about this story is that it sweeps you away. And while that shows the author did a great job with characterization, you also start to feel the frustration and all that goes with it. Also, there are a lot of people who believe similar things who are Christians. How do you sort that all out? The main character seemed to be a Christian and she knew the Scriptures, but then she was influenced by her OCD.

I admired that Ruth prayed a lot, but then things took a dark turn and though she kept praying she only got sicker. So it makes you wonder if she was seeking the Lord with her whole heart, which it appears that she was, why did the cultish group gain so much power over her mind? I think it went back to her childhood issues. They made her vulnerable to compliments and needing to feel wanted, which this weird church was good at making her believe.

As the story progressed it almost seemed like rather than casting demons out, Ruth was bringing them home with her! Now I am not a person who believes there is a demon under every bush, but there is such a thing as opression. It was true that her church friends gave more attention to the enemy than the Savior, and that was a bad thing.

But it still bothers me that she was so sincere, yet it was wrapped up in her illness. So how does one know whether they are hearing from God, or just losing their mind? In this story Ruth spent most of her time listening to other people tell her about what the Bible said so they shaped her thinking. It seemed like whenever the Bible was read apart from the "cultish church" it worked to bring health and life to Ruth's family.

The bottom line is that this was an unsettling, but powerful read. I didn't feel much hope, however, or I'd rank it higher. In real life there are not always happy endings, but in this case that could've been elaborated on more so the reader isn't left feeling bummed despite the good things that happened. That's the tricky part about writing a story with dark themes. The light has to shine brighter so the reader feels hope. And yes, there is some hope offered, but I'm not sure it's enough, because I never got the sense that Ruth ever really heard from God by the story's end. Hope that makes sense. Read it for yourself and then you decide.

The Other Side of Darkness is published by Multnomah and will be released in Sept. 2008.

Links for more interesting interviews.

The cool thing is they are all different, so each reveals another tidbit about me. Oh, I feel so exposed. :) LOL!


The Queen of Edgy Fiction is Coronated

Interview with Michelle Sutton, author of It's Not About Me

Interview of author Michelle Sutton on Virtual Book Tour de Net

August 2008 New Releases from ACFW fiction authors

We've got 14 new Christian novels this month. Though technically summer lasts into September, August holds more hot, kick-back days to read to your heart's content! And we've got plenty of good choices to pick from!

1. A Lady of Secret Devotion, Ladies of Liberty series Book 3 (independent series where each book stands alone) by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers. Cassie Stover gets caught up in an intriguing mystery that may cost her her heart, if not her life.

2. An Irishwoman's Tale, First book of related books by Patti Lacy from Kregel Publications. A family crisis sends an impetuous Irishwoman and her chatty Southern friend back to the breathtaking cliffs of County Clare.

3. Bluegrass Hero by Allie Pleiter from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Farm owner Gil Sorrent has his hands full when bathshop owner Emily Montague's soaps clean up his farmhands.

4. Criminal Obsession by Tamara Tilley from Evergreen Press. The most terrifying part was she knew it was just a game to the killer.

5. Double Jeopardy Book 2 of The McClains: Bound by faith, honor and love by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Anne Jones witnessed a murder. Now she’s in hiding. But someone knows where—and who—she is. Her new handsome boss has vowed to keep her safe. Yet she will have to disappear again lest she put both their lives in jeopardy...

6. Hidden Deception by Leann Harrison from Steeple Hill. Haunted by the past, Elena struggles to trust God for the future.

7. Hidden Treasures Book Two of the McBride Sisters' series by Kathryn Springer from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.
Searching for a valuable painting on the Halloway's estate is risky business for photographer Meghan McBride . .but when she comes face to face with Cade Halloway, who's there to sell the former family vacation home, she discovers the real risk is losing her heart.

8. Love Starts With Elle Lowcountry book 2 by Rachel Hauck from Thomas Nelson. Elle Garvey loses everything to gain it all. Heath McCord heals from his painful past in order to find true love a second time.

9. Miss Aggie's Gone Missing The Misadventures of Miss Aggie: Book One by Frances Devine from Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents Mysteries. In attempts to rescue Miss Aggie Pennington-Brown from her many misadventures, Victoria Storm and her elderly boarders find hair raising and sometimes hilarious adventures of their own.

10. Quills & Promises Delaware Brides, book 2 by Amber Miller from Barbour/Heartsong Presents. Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison's integrity is questioned.

11. The Falcon and the Sparrow by M.L. Tyndall from Barbour Publishing. Against the European upheaval of the Napoleonic wars, a young timid lady is forced to betray her own country or watch her brother die.

12. The Flower of Grass by James E. Robinson from Monarch Books (Kregel in the U.S.). A classic love story framing deeper themes of mortality and passing time, the true nature of faith, and the delicate balance of human relationships.

13. The Fruit of My Lipstick All About Us series by Shelley Adina from FaithWords. Teenager Gillian Chang is prepared for anything boarding school can dish her--except love.

14. Unbridled Dreams by Stephanie Grace Whitson from Bethany House Publishers. Liberty Belle's dream to be a headliner for Buffalo Bill's Wild West has come true. . . so why isn't she happy?

Happy reading ~