First reader review posted today for It's Not about Him!!!

Check out my very first book review from a reader for It's Not about Him! This reader bought a copy as soon as they were printed. Technically they are not available yet but I saw her at a writer's meeting. All of my other reviews were endorsements. :)

Seed Thoughts: It's Not About Him ~ Book Review#links#links#links

Any Minute by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford is up on CFBA this week!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Any Minute
FaithWords (June 30, 2009)
by
Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, I Dare You, the entire Battlefield of the Mind family of books, her first venture into fiction with The Penny, and many others. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.


Deborah Bedford is a career fiction writer who began her professional life as a journalist in a Colorado mountain town.

A Rose By The Door, Deborah's first with Warner Book (name changed to FaithWords in 2006), hit bookstores in November 2001. A Morning Like This was released by Warner Books in 2002. Deborah's short story, “Connor Sapp's Baseball Summer,” is included in Multnomah Publisher's The Storytellers' Collection, Tales From Home, alongside stories by Chuck Colson, Terri Blackstock, Randy Alcorn and Karen Kingsbury.

Deborah and Jack have two children, Jeff and Avery. When she isn't writing, Deborah spends her time fly-fishing, cheering at American Legion baseball games, shopping with her daughter, singing praise songs while she walks along the banks of Flat Creek, and taking her dachshund Annie for hikes in the Tetons where they live.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves--especially children and her husband, Joe--but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family.

One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah's car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is presumed dead by those on the "outside," but Sarah's spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah's view of life--past, present, and future.

When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Any Minute, go here!

My thoughts:

Didn't read this one. Not sure if I will.

First official review of Danger here!

http://tarasviewonbooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/danger-at-door.html

Here it is! Book video trailer for It's NOT About HIM!

It has a different feel than the first book, but then again, so does the story!

FINALLY tweaked my book video trailer for INAM.

So what do you think? I had to find the right music and it wasn't easy.

My review of Worth a Thousand Words by Stacy Hawkins Adams

About the book:

Life has always gone Indigo Burns's way. She's smart, pretty, and talented, and she knows exactly what she wants. A photography internship at her hometown's local newspaper is the next step in her well-laid plans for her future. But her long-term goals are put to the test when her boyfriend Brian proposes--two years before he's supposed to and in front of all the guests at her college graduation party. Too concerned about his feelings to say no, she heartily agrees, but inside she's cringing....


My review:

Ms. Adams has an amazing ability to make the reader see a variety of perspectives without straying from Biblical truths. She doesn't always wrap things up in a tidy manner. I love that. I also love that every book Ms. Adams writes gets me thinking about people I know or situations I am familiar with and may even be struggling with myself. Her stories are solid and emotionally deep without being manipulative of the reader's feelings. They confront important decisions that young people need to make and challenge the reader to look at all angles.

I loved how this story dealt with the reasons why couples say yes to marriage when they should stop and evaluate where they are in life first. All angles are explored. I also love how the motivations of the heart come in to play here. Does real love give up something it wants for the betterment of the other person? What does that look like? Does healing mean that everything works out the way you want it to? Should you tell personal things that might hurt someone else when it's not your place to tell? How important is prayer in deciding when to speak and when to hold your tongue? What is most important to God in each situation? Should we allow ourselves to be defeated by doubt? What is the best way to make a decisions? What does God have to say on the subject?

All of those above questions come in to play in this story. Slowly (and throughout this story) my heart really connected with the characters and the lessons they learned. The conflict is believable and the drama is there but doesn't feel forced. Best of all, I enjoyed that this story was not predictable in any way. Each new issue that emerged surprised me. That's great plotting! I loved this story and the truths tucked within its pages. I highly recommend it.

Worth a Thousand Words was published by Revell and released July 1, 2009.

Offworld by Robin Parrish is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Offworld
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
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 with Bethany House Publishers. They contracted 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 2008.

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

"Every Person on This Planet Has Disappeared."

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity's greatest explorers. They've finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home. But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth.

Everyone...everywhere...is gone.

It's not a dream. It's not a trick. Now Burke and his team have one mission:find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.

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

Watch the book trailer:

My thoughts:

Looks good. I haven't had a chance to get to this one.

Now I'm giving away Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle

To enter this giveaway simply post a comment about the war in the Middle East. Do you have a loved one in Afghanistan right now serving in the US military? What about Iraq? How do you feel about the occupation of American troops in that part of the world? Do you think it will do any good?

I'll go first. My nephew is serving in Iraq. Pretty much every enlisted person I've ever met has served somewhere in the Middle East. Do I think it will pay off in the long run? Probably. Will our world look different ten or twenty years from now because of our intervention? I sure hope so.

I will select a winner by random drawing next Sunday, August 2, 2009.


Synopsis

Land of the Free . . . Home of the Brave

Kabul, 2001...American forces have freed Afghanistan from the Taliban. Kites have returned to the skies. Women have removed their burqas. There is dancing in the streets.

Eight years later, Afghanistan is a far cry from those first images of a country freed from Taliban rule. When Special Forces veteran Steve Wilson returns to Kabul as security chief to the minister of interior, he is disillusioned with the corruption and violence that has overtaken the country he fought to free. Relief worker Amy Mallory arrives in Afghanistan ready to change the world. She soon discovers that as a Western woman, the challenges are monumental. Afghan native Jamil returns to his homeland seeking work, but a painful past continues to haunt him.

All three are searching for truth and freedom when a suicide bombing brings them together on Kabul's dusty streets. But what is the true source of freedom...and its cost?

My thoughts:

I'm really enjoying this story. I'm about halfway through it and will post a review when I finish.

My review of Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson

About the book:

In a divided town during a dangerous era, who can be trusted? Liberty, Indiana, is home to a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by Anna Brent and her father, covert abolitionists who harbor runaway slaves traveling toward freedom. The Brents must be very careful; anyone caught aiding runaways is subject to imprisonment under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. So when Anna begins to write columns denouncing slavery in the local newspaper, she must adopt a pen name. Even the newspapers editor, Daniel Stanton, does not know the authors true identity. Daniel takes a risk publishing the columns. His job, his newspaper, and his very life might be in danger. When Anna's work on the Underground Railroad is threatened, can she turn to Daniel, a man she barely knows, to ensure the safety of the slaves so dear to her? Will she and Daniel be willing to risk everything for their beliefs including their personal liberty?

My review:

Melanie Dobson is a diverse and talented author. It's crazy, but I love every book she's written that is on the market. Every single one. Love Finds you in Liberty, Indiana is no exception. It's interesting, compelling, emotional and gripping. I didn't want to do anything except read this book. I finished it a few days ago but didn't have time to post a review until now. The characters are strong and yet realistic. The attraction makes sense and goes deeper than just a pretty face. The element of danger will leave you a bit breathless. Every time those slave hunters showed up I swear I held my breath! And not only is the story compelling, but it was well-researched.

I would highly recommend this to parents who homeschool their teens. The story is clean and wouldn't make your grandma blush, but it's also jam packed with content that will teach youth to have greater compassion on people in less fortunate situations. It also teaches the value in self-sacrifice and loving God and people enough to sacrifice your own freedom so that others may benefit and experience it as well. I even learned about about the Fugitive Slave Act and how much it negatively affected everyone at the time. It reminded me so much of the Holocaust. And in reality, it was America's Holocaust. The reader can easily see how this issue propelled the country into the Civil War.

Bottom line, this was an awesome story and I totally loved it. While not edgy, it was top notch writing and compelling enough to keep me reading. I cared about the characters...every last one of them.

Love Finds you in Liberty, Indiana was published by Summerside Press and released in June 2009.

My Christian Writers of the West sisters from our chapter meeting

Aren't we a nice-looking bunch! We had one camera shy participant today.

It's Not About Him is #19 right on now of YA fiction on Amazon!

This is a first for me (to be this high on the list.) So if you plan to order a copy of my book PLEASE do it today. It'll keep me on the list a little while longer. I've moved up almost 20 spots since yesterday. We can do it!!! When I get back tonight from Phoenix (late) I'll check and see if it's moved. Love y'all!

Oh, and if you order a copy today let me know by emailing me at michelle@michellesutton.net and I will send you a couple of free bookmarks!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/17506/ref=pd_ts_pg_1?ie=UTF8&pg=1

My books have arrived! They are beautiful!

Here is a pic of me holding my latest title, It's Not About Him! I love it!

Rev Up You Site's Searchability by Penny Sansevieri

Five Quick Ways to Rev up Your Site's Searchability

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1) Content is king, so are keywords. Find the keywords that people are searching on for your market and then create content around those words.

2) Don't abuse keywords. Have you ever seen those sites that seem to use keywords over and over again (i.e. keyword stuffing)? That's an abuse of keywords and while it might temporarily inflate your search engine ranking, it won't last. Once Google figures out what you're doing (and trust me they will) your site ranking will drop drastically. It's not pretty.

3) Google runs the world. Well, not really but they certainly do run the Internet. If you're going to optimize your site for ranking, make sure that it shows up high on Google; in the end it's the main search engine we default to and the one that matters to your consumer. Studies show that an average web site gets 61% of its traffic from search engines, 41% of that from Google alone.

4) This stuff takes time. Nothing happens overnight, especially online (unless you're a dancing pancake video that gets sent out to a billion people in a 4 hour time span). Ranking and searchability takes times. If you have a book launching in the next 3-6 months, start this work now. You'll be glad you did.

5) Update your site. While updating your site in principle might seem like an easy thing, it can be one of the biggest obstacles for a site owner. Why? Because often our web site people are overseas and once that 12 year old from Lithuania goes back to school it's anyone's guess how to find him. So here's a tip: get a blog - a blog (if updated frequently) will ping the search engines and let them know you have fresh content on your site. Oh, and seriously, fire the 12 year old and hire someone locally. You'll be glad you did.

Reprint permission ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like this newsletter? Pass it on!We never rent or sell subscriber lists to any third party. Your privacy is very important to us.

Always.

To subscribe to this newsletter, click here: subscribe@amarketingexpert.com.
Copyright 2009 Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

The Enclave by Karen Hancock is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Enclave
Bethany House (August 1, 2009)
by
Karen Hancock


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Hancock has won Christy Awards for each of her first four novels--Arena and the first three books in the Legends of the Guardian-King series, The Light of Eidon, The Shadow Within, and Shadow over Kiriath. She graduated from the University of Arizona with bachelor's degrees in biology and wildlife biology. Along with writing, she is a semi-professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of national juried shows. She and her family reside in Arizona.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly. The Enclave is characterized by adventure, intrigue, spiritual analogy, and romance, all set in an unusual but fully realized world--one that may have its foundations on earth but which, the more one learns of it, doesn't seem much like the earth we know at all.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Enclave, go HERE

My thoughts:

Haven't had time to start this one yet. It looks great, though.

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Things Left Unspoken
Revell (June 1, 2009)
by
Eva Marie Everson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eva Marie Everson taught Old Testament theology for six years at Life Training Center in Longwood, Florida and has written numerous articles for Crosswalk.com (including the acclaimed Falling Into The Bible series), and has had articles featured in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Evangel, Christian Bride, Christian Retailing, The Godly BusinessWoman and Marriage Partnership magazines. Eva Marie has been interviewed by radio, television, newspaper, and Internet media outlets. In 2002Eva Marie was one of six Christian journalists sent to Israel for a special ten-day press tour.

Eva Marie’s work includes the award-winning titles Reflections of God's Holy Land; A Personal Journey Through Israel, Shadow of Dreams, Sex, Lies and the Media, and The Potluck Club series.

She is married, has four children and five grandchildren, and lives in Central Florida.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family--and every house--has its secrets. Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family manse in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. And it's the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends.

Beneath the dust and the peeling wallpaper, things are not what they seem, and what Jo-Lynn doesn't know about her family holds just as many surprises. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will her own marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn't sure she wants to know the truth--but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Things Left Unspoken, go HERE

My thoughts:

I haven't started this book but recall someone telling me that it was not all that interesting. I don't know if that is true or not but it made me less inclined to open the book. Word of mouth definitely influences behavior. At least for me. I may still try it, though, as Eva seems like a nice lady and I want to give it a chance.

Now I'm giving away Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson

To win a copy of this book simply post a comment regarding freedom. Specifically, what you would do to preserve your own freedom and to assure the freedom of oppressed people in other situations? Would you harbor fugitives and lie to their pursuers if they arrived at your door? Would you do whatever was necessary to protect the lives of the people being persecuted? I'll go first.

One of the mini-series on television that impacted me the most as I was growing up was "Roots." The other series was "The Holocaust." I also read Alex Haley's novel Roots and his second novel, Queenie. They were both excellent stories. I visited Harriet Tubman's home when I was in high school. I have always admired people who offered their lives to help free others.

I am fascinated by WWII stories of people who risked their lives to save the Jewish people being persecuted. I've visited the Holocaust Museum, too. One of my favorite non-fiction books was called The Hidden Children. It was a collection of short testimonies from people who were hidden from the Nazis as children. Some were raised in convents, others hidden in barns for years, or worse, sewers. It's a miracle many of them survived. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. So let's get talking. Tell me what you think about this topic. I will pick a winner next Sunday, July 26th.


About the book:

In a divided town during a dangerous era, who can be trusted? Liberty, Indiana, is home to a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by Anna Brent and her father, covert abolitionists who harbor runaway slaves traveling toward freedom. The Brents must be very careful; anyone caught aiding runaways is subject to imprisonment under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. So when Anna begins to write columns denouncing slavery in the local newspaper, she must adopt a pen name. Even the newspapers editor, Daniel Stanton, does not know the authors true identity. Daniel takes a risk publishing the columns. His job, his newspaper, and his very life might be in danger. When Anna's work on the Underground Railroad is threatened, can she turn to Daniel, a man she barely knows, to ensure the safety of the slaves so dear to her? Will she and Daniel be willing to risk everything for their beliefs including their personal liberty?

My thoughts:

I have read every book Melanie has written to date. They are all excellent. I started this story today and will post a review when I'm finished. I am not very far into the story and already it's non-stop action. Good stuff!

***An update. I can hardly put this book down. Drat that day job! I'm halfway through it already. I am busy all day and tonight so finishing will be difficult even if all I want to do is read this book!

Throught the Fire by Shawn Grady is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Through The Fire
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
Shawn Grady


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. Through the Fire is his debut novel.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood. The son of a fireman, O'Neill has a sixth sense about fire and often takes dangerous risks. When one act of disobedience nearly gets a rookie killed, O'Neill is suspended. His weeks off are supposed to be a time to reflect but instead he escapes to Mexico, where another rash act of bravery actually kills him. But only for a few minutes.

Called back to Reno, he's now haunted by visions of hell and paralyzed in the face of fire. And at the worst time, because an arsonist is targeting Reno. With a growing love interest with one of the investigators complicating everything, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the fires creep ever closer.

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

My thoughts:

I just got this book the other day so I haven't had time to crack it open other than to glance at the first chapter this morning. Looks like a hot one!

My review of Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill

About the book:

Welcome to the world of Skylar Hoyt, a high school senior whose exotic Hawaiian looks have propelled her to the height of the "in" crowd, but who's no longer sure that's where she really fits. New friends, old friends, a reluctant romance, and a family crisis swirl around Skylar as she tries to keep it together and figure out who she really wants to be.

My review:

Me, Just Different was well-written, insightful, and impossible to put down. It's the real deal in that it's an authentic representation of some serious issues. I zipped right through it. There was one point in the story where I cried real tears. That, for me, is a great sign that I cared about the characters. I was so into the story world that I felt something strong enough to be sad over. But it wasn't a depressing sad. It was a healing sad. Sometimes when your life is falling apart, that's when you know who your real friends are. And I loved that in this story the hero doesn't give up but continues to be honest with Skylar. Sure, she hates it at first, but doesn't every woman really want to know the truth from someone you think is an enemy rather than being lied to and wounded by a so-called "friend?" I also adored the subplot involving her sister, Allie.

This was a high-quality story which rang true to me. Don't many of us fear turning out like our parents when we are young? How about dating someone because you loved the idea of being with him and that all of the other girls wished they could be with him, and yet he wanted you. Wasn't that a heady, powerful feeling? What about avoiding a decent guy because he wasn't considered "cool enough" to be acceptable to your friends? Even worse than that, what about the stupid rule that says you can't date your friends' ex-boyfriends (I had a friend who did that when I was in high school. She'd tell me not to let my current boyfriend use me, so I'd be careful and then she would do the ultimate betrayal and have sex with him when I wasn't looking! At least I was smart enough not to "go there" but still... I know now that she wasn't a true friend, but at the time it felt good to hang out with someone beautiful like her.) But I digress...

Bottom line, this book is awesome and hits on all of the important things that teens often deal with. However, I didn't feel like I had to be a teen to read it. You just have to remember feeling that way and most grown people remember their high school years. Sure, we'd like to forget a lot of the stuff we did. Like lying to our parents to sneak out of the house to see our boyfriends, for example. And going to parties and getting stupid drunk so that you put yourself in a vulnerable position with someone you may not even like. Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a must-read as far as I'm concerned and it's making my best of 2009 fiction list.

Me, Just Different was published by Revell and released July 1st, 2009.

It's Not About Me gets 4 cups from Coffee Time Romance site!

What do 4 cups represent, you ask? Here is the definition posted on their website. I highlighted the parts of the cup description rating that I found particularly exciting.

4 Cups - Outstanding Great Read. It is not excellent, but it is certainly worth reading. You'll enjoy this book very much. This book should be at the top of your list.

To read the review simply click on the Coffee Time button in this post.

I've been interviewed again for It's Not About Him.

Check the interview out. Read it here...

http://sharonball.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/author-spotlight-on-michelle-sutton/

If you enjoyed the interview make sure to post a comment on Sharon's blog post. :)

My review of Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

My review:

Love's Pursuit is a unique story of love lost and love found; a truly heart-wrenching combination that plays out beautifully in this novel. It's also about the holiness of love and the beauty of forgiveness and of understanding God's grace. It's a tragic story in many ways as well. A minor character, small-Hope, had a horrific past that slowly came out in the course of this novel. There were many people afraid to deal with the issues in their Puritan community and so they did nothing, thus perpetuating the pain for the victims who were powerless. I'd love it if there was a sequel to Love's Pursuit that focuses on small-Hope.

And while this story is by no means a suspense, there are some suspenseful moments in it when you don't know what Susannah is going to do. She seems hopelessly trapped and with no way to escape the future she doesn't want, and in fact fears. I loved that about this story because as I got to know the characters I ended up feeling their pain.

What I found a bit confusing at first was the way the point of view scenes would change between Hope and Susannah, and because they were both in first person POV it took me awhile to be able to figure out who was who since they were not introduced by name prior to or at the opening of the scene. However, that was not a big deal and I quickly adjusted.

While not my favorite book by Siri, it still slowly builds until the romance became stoking hot, which is so signature Siri. I love that about her stories because she knows how to show love developing over the most minor things, like picking nits and lice out of someone's hair (of the opposite sex.) Interesting how she did that so well that I looked forward to the event. The dialog was also very convincing and I could hear the characters speaking in my head as I read along. I would highly recommend this story to history buffs. It's certainly not the same-old, same-old formula for historical romance. But I like that.

Love's Pursuit was published by Bethany House and released in June.

Podcast/Pulsecast is now on The Chrisitan Pulse - posted with bonus giveaway.

My podcast was finally posted (I did it back in May or June) so now you can listen and enter to win a free copy of my book. Here it is. Just click on the gray button that looks like a little speaker.

http://www.thechristianpulse.com/index.php/PulseCasts/The-Inkwell/Michelle-Sutton.html

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Pirate Hunter
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
Tom Morrisey


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section.

He has launched, edited or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.

His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of six novels, including Wind River and In High Places. In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK

High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom.... Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he's as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold...The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men's quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

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

My thoughts:

Bummer that I just got this book today. No way can I read it that fast. However, it sounds like an amazing story so I'll probably give it a shot later.

Who Made You a Princess by Shelley Adina is up on CFBA with Bonus review!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Who Made You a Princess

FaithWords (May 13, 2009)

by

Shelley Adina


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Shelley Adina wrote her first teen novel when she was 13. It was rejected by the literary publisher to whom she sent it, but he did say she knew how to tell a story. That was enough to keep her going through the rest of her adolescence, a career, a move to another country, a B.A. in Literature, an M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, and countless manuscript pages.

Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She writes books about fun and faith--with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes.

The All About Us book series has its own home over on the Hachette website. Stop by and see what the five fabulous girls at Spencer Acadenmy are up to! Series Website.

Her other books in this series includes book one, It's All About Us, oook Two, The Fruit of my Lipstick, and book three, Be Strong & Curvaceous. This present book is book four.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Shani Hanna returns to SpencerAcademy for her senior year after an amazing summer spent with her friends Lissa, Gillian, and Carly. But the best part about summer was meeting Danyel Johnstone. Danyel is cute, smart, cool, and super nice. All Shani has to do is get him to see her as more than just one of the gang.

But when the girls return to school, they find a new addition to the distinguished student body: Prince Rashid al Amir of Yasir, an oil-rich desert kingdom in the Middle East. Prince Rashid moved to California to prepare for an eventual MBA at Stanford...and to romance his future wife: Shani Hanna!

It turns out, Shani's family and the prince's go back for generations, entwined in tradition, obligation, and family honor. In each generation, members of the two families have expanded their business interests through arranged marriage. Will Shani put aside her feelings for Danyel to pursue her family's wishes? Or will God answer her prayers for an intervention?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Who Made You a Princess , go HERE

My review:

This was a decent story, but I found myself skimming a bit at the end. Maybe because it seemed a tad unbelievable - the characters were sort of like people in 90210 only richer. Then again, I have no clue about how wealthy people live. Maybe their lives really are exactly the way they were portrayed in this story. The teens seemed a bit mature for their ages, too. I kept thinking they were in college by the way they acted until I realized they were in high school. I did enjoy the female characters and the minor romantic elements. Shani was believable and so was Rashid. (I could even hear his accent when he spoke.) The relationship with Shani and Danyel seemed a bit surprising to me in regards to how it came together. It's hard to say too much without posting a spoiler so I'll just say this was a nice story but not one that I'll be raving over and telling people to run out and buy. I must add that I was impressed with the author's knowledge of fashion, couture and shoes. Maybe this is just one of those books that would have been more enjoyable had I read the prior books in the series first.

Now I'm giving away How Do I Love Thee by Nancy Moser

To enter the contest to win this book simply post a comment about poetry. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Do you have a favorite poet? I will pick a winner next Sunday, July 19th. Thanks everyone for your creative answers every week!

I'll go first. I do like poetry, but not a lot. If it's well done and emotion-packed then, yeah, I'd love it. I don't find many poems like that. However, I am embarrassed to say that I've never read any poetry by Elizabeth Barret Browning (at least that I'm aware of.) So this book should make me more cultured, yes?



About the book:

The year is 1845. Elizabeth Barrett is a published poet—and a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. She has resigned herself to simply existing. That is, until the letter arrives...

"I love your verses with all my heart," writes Robert Browning, an admiring fellow poet. And as friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert's love is not for her words alone. Could it be that God might grant her more than mere existence? And can she risk defying her father in pursuit of true happiness?

My thoughts:

Ooh la la. I will be reading the book this week or next. I will say for certain that if it's anything like Mozart's Sister then it will be AMAZING!

My first Danger at the Door interview for Desert Breeze

Please check it out and leave a comment.

http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-with-michelle-sutton.html

Thanks so much!

Here are the Christy award winners!

I have to say that I totally agree with most of them.

http://ajast.com/ChristyAwards2009WinnerPR.pdf

Books I loved that made the winner's list (because they truly rocked) were:

Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky

Dogwood by Chris Fabry

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

You can find my reviews of the above books posted on this site if you put the title of the novel in the search bar on the top left hand side of my blogger page.

Videos from our family vacation

My review of Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

About the book:

Maggie lives life on the edge, seemingly unafraid of anything. But the image she so carefully constructed is coming undone.

When a secret from her past resurfaces, Maggie gets a call that sends her home. Her dad desperately needs her help. Her estranged sister has run off, leaving 10-year-old Riley in his care. She returns reluctantly, hoping to help her niece.

There she reconnects with Connor--a once awkward and shy, now handsome, veterinarian. Her feelings skyrocket when she's with him, but she's afraid if she shows him her true self, he'll reject her. Worse, she is terrified of loving him.

An honest, hilarious journey will transform Maggie--if she will just learn to trust more and fear less.

My review:

Jenny B. Jones is one of those rare novelists who writes a fantastic story--every time. I have yet to be disappointed with one of her books. In fact, I know I can expect a deep, emotionally insightful, and compelling story when her name is on the book. Just Between You and Me could very likely be one of my favorite books penned by Ms. Jones, but it's so hard to choose just one.

I loved how this entire story played out. The emotional landscape was rich and thoroughly plowed. The hero was incredibly dreamy and yet realistic and believable. The heroine's issues were compelling, interesting, and clearly well-researched. The minor charactor, Riley, was probably the best portrayal of a screwed up kid that I've ever read. She was totally real and perfectly developed. Everything about her issues rang true. Even the sister, Allison, was shown in a believable fashion. I've worked with numerous mentally ill and drug abusing people in my lifetime and Allison's issues were spot-on as well as her way of dealing with them.

This story really tugged at my heart strings because each character was well-done and could easily be people I've known and loved. On top of all of those high praises I have to add that the romantic tension was delicious and the emotional and spiritual arcs were perfectly done. I can't stand contrived tension or plastic faith inserted into a story to make it fit the Christian label. Worse, it really bugs me when a book is labeled Christian and there is no mention of Christ anywhere in the story.

Everything in this book rang true to me. Just Between You and Me was so good, in fact, that it's making my best of 2009 fiction list. I highly recommend this story.

Just Between You and Me was published by Thomas Nelson. It will be available for purchase in August, but why wait when you can pre-order it now?

Blog tour stop for Sunset Beach by Trish Perry!

Hello, and welcome to Trish Perry’s Sunset Beach Social Media Tour stop!

I just adore Trish Perry's characters and her writer's voice. She always makes me laugh no matter what she writes. Here is more info about the book and my review of Sunset Beach.

About the book:

Meet Sonata Miller, a recent college graduate with plans to get her master's degree in psychology. With the intention of resolving some family drama and putting her academic interests to the test, Sonny cleverly invites her mother, Teresa, and her mother's estranged twin, Aunt Melanie, to the quiet and quirky beach house. They both show up...and with surprises of their own. Teresa, a successful opera singer, brings her latest protige, Irina, and Melanie brings along secrets about Teresa and the identity of Sonny's long-gone father.

My review:

Sunset Beach is a sweet romance between two young people who are recent college graduates. But it's more than just a romantic tale. It's a story of healing and revealing secrets. It's a story of wounded people learning to love and support each other...and learning to trust and be honest about how they feel. There are many beautiful, Biblical themes in Sunset Beach that make it well worth the read. The hero was yummy, and the heroine was loveable. You couldn't help but want to see things worked out in her family. I found the conflict to be very realistic and well-done. The character arcs were gradual and satisfying as well. I didn't cry my eyes out like I did with Trish's last book, Beach Dreams, but I managed a satisfied sigh at the end of this one. This is a great beach read. For real. Check it out!

Sunset Beach was published by Harvest House and released June 1, 2009.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Buy Sunset Beach on Amazon:

Trish Perry’s Website and Blog

Trish Perry’s Facebook Profile

Follow Trish Perry on Twitter

List of all participating bloggers

The Sunset Beach Flickr Group

Fatal Illusions by Adam Blumer is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fatal Illusions
Kregel Publications (March 5, 2009)
by
Adam Blumer


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adam Blumer lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia.

He works full-time as a freelance writer and editor. A print journalism graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), he served in editorial roles for fourteen years at Northland Baptist Bible College (Dunbar, WI) and Awana Clubs International Headquarters (Streamwood, IL).

He has published numerous short stories and articles. Fatal Illusions released by Kregel Publications (Grand Rapids, MI) is his first novel.



ABOUT THE BOOK

An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands.

The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they know that they are about to become part of Haydon's next act. Time is running out and already the killer has spotted his next victim. Who will escape alive?

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

“Fatal Illusions is an engaging, fast-paced read with a captivating storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Highly recommended!”--Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman

“An awesome ride!”--Rosey Dow, Christy Award winning author of Reaping the Whirlwind

“Adam Blumer tells a fast-paced story that weaves together a serial killer, a physically wounded pastor and his spiritually wounded wife. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing.”--Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers

My thoughts:

Just got back from being on vacation for a week and didn't have time to even pick this story up, but I like the premise and plan to review it.

Now I'm giving away A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist!

To enter the contest to win this novel simply post a comment about whether or not you agree with the whole idea of mail order brides or not. Do you enjoy reading stories about people who don't know each other but have an arranged marriage anyway? Any favorite authors who write about these topics? I will pick a winner next Sunday, July 12th. I'll go first. I think with the shortage of women in the early west it made sense. I really like the mail order bride series written by Al Lacy. I've read all but two of them.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wedding Is All Planned...
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride
In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

My review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, A Bride in the Bargain. There isn't a single book Deeanne Gist has written that I haven't totally adored. In fact, this may very well be my favorite book that she has written thusfar. It wasn't as "edgy" as several others, but was a truly fabulous love story with a deep emotion theme and powerful choices each character had to make. For me that makes any story a real page turner. I found the conflict 100% believable and I was so involved in the stories I felt the characters' emotional pain. Tears literally welled in my eyes on several occasions. The attraction between the characters sizzled, but it wasn't merely physical in this story. I think that is what I enjoyed most about A Bride in the Bargain. The hero and heroine fell in love with each other as individual people, too. My heart pounded as they discovered each other and felt a real sense of loss when things went awry. My heart also got all warm and fuzzy inside as they worked things out. Isn't that why we ladies read romances to begin with? We want to smile and feel breathless and fall in love while reading a great romance. This story delivers on all counts. I highly recommend it.

Slide show of 4th of July parade and sites in Ely

Note that the pics are not necessarily in order they happened. Enjoy!

Short video clip of Nothing, Arizona. It's a real place.

Here is a video of Nothing, Arizona. Yes, it does exist.

Pics from yesterday. Just wanted to share a few.

Rock formation between Wikieup and Wickenburg

Sahuaro cacti near Wikieup

A "mesa" in the distance (in Arizona)

Lake Mead

Hoover Dam

Man sculpture at Hoover Dam