It's Faith in Fiction Saturday again!

The Question:

Christian fiction is growing as a market, but there are still many unexplored storylines and under-represented genres. What issues or ideas would you like to see tackled from a Christian worldview? Or, what setting would you like to see? Which genres would you like to see more books?

My answer:

I would love to see some Christian fiction written by African American MALE authors. I would also love to see more fiction where Christians make the wrong choices and have to deal with the consequences rather than just stopping themselves short of doing bad things all the time.

My review of Single Sashimi by Camy Tang

About the book:

Venus Chau is a high-powered video game developer. Now she might be working for the man she’s always hated … but what if he’s no longer the man she thought she knew? The third book in the Sushi series offers romance with the spice of ginger.

My review:

Of the three books in the Sushi Series I think this was my least favorite. I identified most with Trish in Only Uni, then Lex in Sushi for One? I think maybe because Venus was so stand-offish and SO not cuddly or feminine. She always got angry and sort of revengeful like a man would instead of sad...when things went wrong, anyway, and that would be the female emotion. I suppose that speaks for the author's well-done characterization because she made sure that Venus was tough and man-like all the way through. I don't like cold, insecure women and even though she was successful, that's how I saw Venus. SO on that note, moving on to Drake...

Drake was pretty romantic at first, but not much was going on from his perspective for most of the book so it was hard to get to really know him. What I did know I liked, but he didn't make me swoon or anything. The one thing that the author is especially good at, though, is making things really gross, like by using words such as throw up and puke, and by showing the character getting attacked with dog slobber, falling in the mud, etc. Ick, ick. I have to say that I felt like it was real every time so she did a great job with describing that stuff.

The other thing that annoys me is the overuse of creative metaphors and similies. Lightning bolts shooting from eyes, worms in the stomach, jumping six feet in the air, pasty like some Chinese dessert, stuff like that. A little is okay, but several on every page is a bit too much for me. So while I for the most part enjoy a Camy Tang type story, this one was my least favorite for all of the above reasons. But it was never boring.

However, I did set it down for about four months. I decided to finish it since I'd already gotten halfway through the book. There was little to no romantic element for the second half of the novel. I did enjoy reading about the video gaming part of the story and the software development. I didn't buy the fact that both Venus and Drake ended up working at the same church with the same youth group, especially since Drake wasn't even a Christian.

For what it's worth (probably not much) those are my thoughts--and most likely more than you wanted to know. I loved Only Uni. This book...not so much.

My review of Illusions by Wanda Campbell for her blog tour! Plus contest giveaway!

Illusions Book Blog Tour - Final Week

It’s been a month-long tour! This week we are winding down the “official” tour, but there will be more to come in March with Wanda B. Campbell .

WEEK 4 - What Readers Are Saying

Feb 23rd

Linda Beed
WrittenVoicesPodcast.com

Feb. 24th
Paulette Harper

Feb. 25th
Deena Peterson

Feb. 26th
Shana J. Burton
Something to Talk … Shawneda Marks (9:00 pm EST)

Feb 27th
Jenny Blake
Michelle Sutton



Buy the book HERE

About the book:

After three years of marriage, Denise Hightower discovers that her husband, Pastor Bryce Hightower, has a secret addiction that not only jeopardizes his marriage, but impairs his ability to effectively preach the gospel.

Yielding to pressure from her mother and her husband, Denise agrees to keep his addiction a secret, although her self-esteem plummets. Her life as the perfect First Lady is falling apart at the seams.

Self-centered and determined to uphold his pastoral image, Bryce is oblivious to his wife’s emotional state. He’s convinced that he can overcome his “little problem” on his own, so he rejects the spiritual help God sends him. But when his secret is discovered, will he be able to come clean with himself, God, and his congregation?


My review:

I love an honest story told with passion and conviction. Illusions has that. I also love a story with rich dialog and believeable characters. Illusions has that as well. The characters literally jump from the page. I felt like I knew them all by book's end. The storyline was very compelling, but I did get a bit lost a third of the way through the story due to a lot of head hopping. In some scenes you knew what everyone was thinking. I find that hard to follow. Plus, sometimes the characters' inner thoughts seemed more like the author instructing the reader than what the character would really be thinking. Not one to give up easily, I started reading again and tried to focus on the heart of the story.

So back to the good points...Illusions was at times so gut-wrenchingly honest it moved me to tears. I loved Bryce and I loved Denise. I wanted to see them happy together. I also wish more books told the truth like this one. The author did a fabulous job of exposing hypocrisy and lies in the church. The story also made me think. There are so many people who get respect by their leadership position in the church, but are they really serving God, or merely hiding behind Him? That's something to ponder. Also, the theme of digging down to the root of the "ivy" as the only way to completely heal was a powerful lesson.

The ending scene at the church also made me cry. It was beautiful and so true. If more people would allow themselves to trust and be transparent, God could do so much more with His people. So, bottom line is I loved the story...but the writing style? Not so much. Regardless, I highly recommend this book to people struggling with addiction and who are too ashamed to deal with it. This novel clearly shows how sickness only spreads when it's kept hidden.

Illusions was released in February 2009 and was published by Urban Christian Fiction.

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

This week's winner will receive -

An autographed copy of First Sunday in October, The Midnight Clear, Illusions and a coupon for a FREE print design (choose a bookmark, postcard or business card) courtesy of Tywebbin Creations. Winner are responsible for printing.

Check Wanda B. Campbell's blog for the winners.

And last, check out this cool video about the book...

Illusions video

Blog tour stop for Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court by Chuck Black!

Tour Information
Book: Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court
Dates: February 23-27
Author Bio:
Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of eight novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.
Summary for the book:
This second installment in Chuck Black’s Knights of Arrethtrae series tells the tale of Sir Bentley, an honorable knight who abandons all to seek the truth of the Prince. Eirwyn, a mysterious young woman who brings food to the poor, teaches Bentley the power of compassion to overcome evil. Together, they save the people of Holbrook from poverty and despair.
Sir Bentley’s quest for the truth of the Prince finds him battling Shadow Warriors, a powerful lord, and a terrifying creature. Will greed destroy Holbrook? Or can Bentley and the mysterious Eirwyn restore prosperity to the kingdom through the compassion of the Prince? Intended for family read-alouds and Christian teens, this fantastic story will entertain and edify parents and kids alike.
My review:
Chuck Black really knows how to captivate the reader with his story telling. Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court will please readers who enjoy action, romance, adventure, knights, sword fights, damsels in distress, a hero who fights for the people, and wicked lords who try to destroy them. Toss in a hideous beast that nearly kills the hero and heroine and you've got a fascinating read. I adored Sir Bentley's story even more than the first book, which is saying a lot, because it, too, had me riveted until I finished.

Also, readers who love the Scriptures will see many parallels between this novel and the life of Paul who also left the life he knew after helping to kill many Christians. Sir Bentley, like Paul, realized that he was on the wrong side when he listened to the voice that called out to him. Many of the things that Sir Bentley said were things that Paul also said in the New Testament, and I found that incredibly inspirational. This was an exciting, thought-provoking read. I felt the intense peril of the hero and heroine many, many times. And the theme of sacrificial love warms the heart.

I thought it was great how the book stayed in the hero's point of view for the entire story. That perspective was fitting, just as it was in the last book. I truly felt Sir Bentley's desperation and determination to help the people of Holbrook. I especially loved how he shared with them the story of the Prince. He told the children and the peasants about how the Prince had been murdered, but that He was alive again and that He would return someday. It gives me goosebumps. I can't wait for the next installment.

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court was published by Multnomah and released in February 2009.

Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Daisy Chain
Zondervan (March 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

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

My thoughts:

I'm only on page 67, but I totally love this author's voice and the feel of the story. Then again, I love everything Mary DeMuth writes. No surprise there. Anyway, I signed up for too many tours this month and several were outside of CFBA, so I wasn't able to finish the book in time to do a whole review. One is coming, though, I promise.

My review of Suspicious Minds by Christy Barritt!

About the book:

Rock and roll may never die, but the King is definitely dead . . . again. To pay off some bills, crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire takes a job doing mold remediation, but she finds a surprise in the dilapidated home's crawlspace: Elvis, dead as a doornail and still wearing his blue suede shoes. How could she possibly keep her nose out of a case like this? A sequel to the popular novel Hazardous Duty.

My review:

Have you ever read a book that was so funny you wanted to read it out loud to your friends? Have you ever found a book with such original inner dialog and snappy attitude that you think, "Wish I'd thought of that." Ever have a story that is so intricately put together that everything is important and every detail is necessary? No words wasted? Well, if you haven't discovered a treasure like that yet, then I suggest you go to the store and order this book now.

Suspicious Minds is brilliant, funny, intense, witty, romantic and downright awesome. I totally loved this book even more than Hazardous Duty, and that's saying a lot because I thought it was the best! And ironically in the midst of all the other stuff going on in Suspicious Minds , there is also a deep spiritual thread that is meaningful, and a kiss or two that would make even the stodgiest reader swoon. Did I mention I loved this story? I don't want to spoil things by giving away important details, so just trust me on this one. It's like a comedy-suspense-mystery and definitely worth buying. Christy Barritt has created a whole new genre.

Suspicious Minds was published by Kregel and released in July 2008.

1 in 10 Americans is a 'Tweeter' and you have to love book bloggers!

Book Bits and Bites
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And Mom's a Tweeter, Too: Apparently Twitter, the microblogging site, is so popular that 1 in 10 Americans is a 'Tweeter,' according to a new survey. We use another yardstick to measure relevance in American society: does Mom know about it? Does she use it? (Yes on both counts!).

Book Fairs Get Beyond Books: Scholastic is under fire from a consumer group for making its merchandise for kids less about books and more about "stuff." While the company sees the non-book offerings as a good tactic to help sales, does it cross the line into conspicuous consumption? Some parents think so.

Thou Shalt Covet: OK, it's considered a sin, but is it really bad to get excited about some new books on the block? USAToday continues its interactive great reads format to announce hot titles for Winter 2009.

Wondrous Words: You have to love book bloggers. They invest so much time into books - reading and writing about them - and find even more ways to make their blogs interesting, timely and relevant. Check out Bermudaonion's weblog and test your vocabulary. We flunked, but that's OK, we learned a few new words!


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.

Here is a new survey from the Bethany House publicist.

Bethany House Publishers

Cover Survey

Hello Reader,

We at Bethany House Publishers appreciate our readers' opinions about the books we publish. Occasionally, we seek your input about upcoming products.Currently, we are conducting a short survey about possible covers for an upcoming book.

Click here to take the survey, which should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation.

Thanks for your time and your opinions. We value your feedback.

Sincerely, Jim Hart

Internet Marketing Manager, Bethany House Publishers

At Home With Books: Blogger Followers Problem

I'm linking to this post that explains why the amount of followers is down on everyone's blog. Mine only dropped a few people but for others it was more than that. Here you go...

At Home With Books: Blogger Followers Problem: "Blogger Followers Problem"

For all of you who use blogger, you may have noticed that you have lost some followers in recent days. I thought maybe my reviews were getting too dry or something, but evidently it was just technical problem.

Here is the explanation that I am borrowing from Jennifer at Rundpinne (who borrowed it from someone else):

'If you use Blogger as your platform, I'm sure you've noticed that your follower count is down. Apparently Blogger has changed everybody's followers to 'anonymous' and anonymous followers don't show. If everyone can do these simple steps, we can all get our followers back:

Go to dashboard, you'll see 'Blogs I'm Following'

Scroll down to the bottom of that list and click on manage.
Then you'll see that all the drop down menus have been changed to anonymous. You just need to change them back to public.
Hopefully we can get the word out, so everyone can take these steps. I hope this doesn't happen again!'
I checked and my settings were already set to 'public,' but you may want to check yours just to be sure. Thankfully two of my followers have already reappeared. I'm looking forward to seeing the other fourteen who disappeared come back soon!"

Top 5 mistakes authors make DURING the interview

Top 5 Mistakes Authors make DURING the Interview
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You've written the book, perfected your pitch, scored the interview and now it's your time in the spotlight. As a producer my top 5 "Don't Screw It Up" suggestions for the actual interview are:

- Not being prepared. Know your topic, your host, your purpose. Be so ready that nothing can throw you. Your answers should just flow and be conversational. Pretend you're sharing a cup of tea or a glass of wine with your host and just enjoy. If you're having fun so will everyone else!

- Fidgeting, chewing gum, cracking your knuckles and other annoying stuff. Sit still: breathe. Relax and enjoy your moment. You're the expert - the star. Enjoy!

- Never assume anything. The interviewer may not have read your book, know your topic or have even looked at the materials you sent. Be prepared to answer basic questions, explain why your book benefits viewers, direct the interview back on focus if needed and be polite no matter what.

- Yes or no answers are never a good idea. Always elaborate. You don't want to be a Chatty Cathy but yes or no answers can be the kiss of death in an interview. This is the time to make use of those well thought out and practiced sound bites.

- Don't direct people to a page or chapter in your book instead of answering a question outright - EVER!

So remember: be prepared, answer questions completely, don't just "Sell" your book. As a guest you need to be engaging, likeable, entertaining and informative, and of course you need to - Sit Still!

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

Win a copy of Inside Story by Susan Page Davis!

To enter for a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment about why you love suspense, and if you have a favorite suspense novel, by all means share with us.



About the book:

Following up on the adventures of men in uniform in Frasier Island and Finding Marie, Susan Page Davis offers readers another suspenseful novel of international diplomacy and romance.

Claudia Gillette, an upscale magazine correspondent, will go to any lengths for a good story. Bill White, a navy lieutenant, performs secret missions all over the world. Attraction sizzles between them, but these two can't synchronize their globe-trotting watches long enough for a date. Claudia also has more than romance in mind...she wants the inside story on Bill's exotic assignments.

When she goes over his head and obtains permission to join his outfit on a sensitive mission in the Philippines, Bill is both angry and afraid for her. Will her presence endanger his team? When things go badly, only faith in God can give them hope for tomorrow...but even if they both make it, what's the inside scoop on Bill and Claudia having a future together?

My thoughts:

I loved the first two books in the series so I know I'll love this one, too. Susan Page Davis is an excellent suspense writer and always keeps me on the edge of my seat. And if you're not sure about the pulse pounding action, check out the video trailer of her book on Barnes and Noble's site. Just click on the overview tab if you don't see the video right away. Here is the link.

Inside Story book video trailer

Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays discusses Biblical fiction.

Today's Topic

One of areas of Christian fiction that is thriving is Biblical Fiction. Biblical fiction, in case you don't know, is when an author takes a story from the Bible and imagines more of the details. Tosca Lee's Havah would be a recent example of Biblical fiction.What I want to know today is how you feel about Biblical fiction. Have you ever read any Biblical fiction? Did you enjoy it? Do you think Biblical fiction helps us to understand people who lived during Biblical times better or do you think that it's unnecessary? Have you ever read any Biblical fiction that offended you?

My answer

I love Biblical fiction especially if it makes me appreciate the scriptures more. It does bug me if it's not Biblically sound, though. Some great examples of Biblical fiction that is inspiring and accurate is Havah by Tosca Lee, The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Jeanette Oke, the Lineage of Grace and the Sons of Encouragement series - both by Francine Rivers, The Heavens Before by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, all Biblical fiction by Brock and Bodie Thoene, etc. I just received Michal by Jill Eileen Smith in the mail a few days ago. I read the beginning of this story about three or four years ago before it had been sold to Revell. This is going to be a fabulous read, at least from what I remember.

You can preorder a copy of Michal at Barnes and Noble here...

Pre-order Michal by Jill Eileen Smith

I've never read The Red Tent and don't care to read it.

One book that did bug/offend me was written by Ann Burton and titled, Women of the Bible: Abigail's story. While interesting, the gist of the story came across unlike how David (later King David) is actually portrayed in the Bible. It seemed like she took too many liberties filling in the blanks and just didn't sit right with me. That's the only one I've come across that way.

Aren't these video trailers cool? Wish I'd thought of this!

Like thrillers? Want to win a copy of Daniel's Den?

To enter this contest DO NOT post a comment here. Instead, click on the following link, read Brandt Dodson's interview, then post a comment telling him Michelle Sutton referred you to the post. It's dated Feb 21, 2009 and titled Portal to another dimension?

Win a copy of Daniel's Den HERE

Peace!

Check out Age Before Beauty by Virginia Smith. Tour stop here!

About the Author:

Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker with the release of her first novel Just As I Am. Since then she has contracted ten novels and published numerous articles and short stories. She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including Murder by Mushroom, Stuck in the Middle, and her newest releases, A Taste of Murder and Age before Beauty.

In March of 2008 she was named "Writer of the Year" at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. An energetic speaker, Virginia loves to exemplify God's truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, "Biblical Truths in Star Trek." Visit Ginny online at www.virginiasmith.org.



About the Book:

Age before Beauty (Book 2 in the Sister-to-Sister Series)
Desperate to stay home with her baby, Allie Harrod launches a new career. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but makeup is different, right? She'll do anything to make enough money to cover her share of the household bills, but how can she focus on her business when her list of problems is growing? None of her pre-baby clothes fit, her checking account is dwindling, and her mother-in-law has decided to move in! To top it off, her husband's attractive coworker suddenly needs his help every weekend. Middle sister Joan insists that God has the answers to all her problems, but Allie isn't so sure. Can she really trust him?


My review:

Delightful and funny on the one hand and serious on the other, Age Before Beauty deals with issues that all new parents face. I could relate to everything that came up from Allie wanting to look good in pre-pregnancy clothes to not wanting to return to work and leave the baby with a sitter. The way Allie's husband responded to her insecurities was heartwarming at times, and at other times frustratingly true. He often withdrew rather than confronting the issue. And his mother moving in to their home was classic! I loved how Allie brought the woman around from the dark side. This developing relationship illustrates how important it is to love the unlovely. In the case with Allie, the rewards went beyond anything she imagined. Also, the characters were interesting and quirky. I love that. Finally, the spiritual arc of the characters was gratifying. I loved how the story ended.

Age Before Beauty was published by Revell and released Feb 1, 2009.

Watch the book video trailer!

Tender Grace by Jackina Clark is up on CFBA

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Tender Grace
Bethany House (February 1, 2009)
by
Jackina Stark


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I have also spoken nationally and internationally at many retreats and seminars and enjoy running into many readers and former students. I have written frequently for both Christian Standard and Lookout, periodicals of Standard Publishing. Years ago I wrote two non-fiction books, published by College Press, but currently out of print. These days, I’m exploring fiction. My first novel, Tender Grace, will be released by Bethany House January 30, 2009, and a second, Things Worth Remembering, will be released in October, 2009. I’m working on new projects, including a third novel, as time permits. Whether speaking or writing, I love the opportunity to tell about Him whom Jesus called “Holy Father” and “the only true God.”

She lives in Joplin, Missouri with her husband, and she spends most of her free time doing is reading and writing. That is what she usually do when she's not teaching, enjoying the children and grandchildren, or sitting on the back porch drinking a Diet Coke and watching her husband till the garden!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Audrey Eaton awakes at three in the morning and gets up to retrieve her husband, Tom, from the recliner where he has fallen asleep watching a ball game. But when she enters the living room and looks at his gentle face in the soft lamp light, she knows their time together is over. Grief attacks her until all she can think about is how much she wants her old life back. Determined to find healing, she embarks on a journey to the one place Tom and she always intended to visit but never did. Along the way, she discovers, through shared experiences with friends old and new, the meaning of the "tender graces" God provides each and every day.

I've quit reading--even bestsellers, even the newspaper, even my Bible. I've also quit listening to music. This lack of appreciation for things I once loved is beginning to define me. More mornings than I can count, I say to myself before I open my eyes, "I don't want to do this." In the days shortly following Tom's death, that made sense, but what does it mean now? That I'm in trouble? One of the best qualities of the former me was thankfulness. As I was trying to sleep last night, needing Tom to be curled up behind me, his left arm slung across me, I realized to my horror that I couldn't remember the last time I was truly thankful. I think of a line from an old hymn: "Awake, my soul, and sing." I miss Tom. I also miss me. Determined to find healing, Audrey Eaton embarks on a trip to the one place she and her husband always intended to visit but never did. When things don't go as planned, will she embrace the unexpected graces that guide her journey?

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

My thoughts:

Haven't read this yet but hope to soon.

Here is another chance to win a copy of my book!

Plus an interview is posted if you want to read it. This one has different questions.

Enter to win a copy of It's Not About Me HERE

My review of The List by Sherri Lewis

About the book:

Single and satisfied? Not Michelle, Angela and Lisa. These saved but sexy, successful black women think they're getting too old to keep waiting on God to send their soul mates. Under the protective eye of their more spiritual sister-girlfriend, Vanessa, and the scrutiny of newly saved but still sarcastic manhater, Nicole, the ladies go on a hilarious adventure to "be found" by their husbands.

Armed with their list of essential must-haves, would-be-nices, icing-on-the-cakes, and deal-breakers, they start their search . . . but soon encounter issues specific to the saved woman on the dating scene. Is online dating okay for Christians? How long do you wait before you tell the hottie you just met that you're celibate and plan to stay so until married? He's too fine to pass up; how saved does he really need to be? And of course, how do you keep things holy when he's oh-so-sexy?

It's not long before they realize they still have to trust God to know what's best for them, and that He loves them enough to send them everything on The List.

My review:

The List is about four friends who are all too busy or timid to even think about dating. They have different backgrounds and experiences but they really care about each other and support one another. I found Michelle's story inspiring. It shows that sometimes when we are seeking God's will the answer is right under our noses. It also is a great illustration of how to seek God's best and actively seek the answer rather than waiting for God to send everything our way.

Filled with great advice as part of the storyline, The List could really help single ladies with careers who are desiring a husband and family. With plenty of humor and some tender moments, The List stirs hearts and makes the reader see how God wants to meet our needs...if only we'll let Him.

The List was published by Urban Christian and will be released in March 2009.

I'm giving away a copy of Dead Boys by Richard Lange

To enter to win a copy of this book simply post a comment. You can either tell me about someone you know who tried to rise about their troubled past or you can simply mention what intrigues you about the book. I will pick a winner next Sunday. Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you win! Peace!




About the book:

These hard-hitting, deeply felt stories trace men-- straight arrows and outlaws, have-it-alls and outcasts-- as they take stock of their lives and missteps and struggle to rise above their troubled pasts. A salesman considers his tenuous relationship with his sister after she has been brutally attacked. A house painter looks forward to moving his family out of their seedy neighborhood as he plans his last bank robbery. A drifter finds a chance at love when he delivers news of a barfly's death to the man's estranged daughter.

These are hard-boiled tales of life on the edge in a city where the sun hurts your eyes and dreams die more often than they come true. Full of heart and heartbreak, Dead Boys is the debut of an astonishingly talented new writer.

My thoughts:

I don't have the book, but it sounds interesting. :)

Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Gingham Mountain
Barbour Books (February 1, 2009)
by
Mary Connealy


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary's writing journey is similar to a lot of others. Boil it down to persistence, oh, go ahead and call it stubbornness. She just kept typing away. She think the reason she did it was because she was more or less a dunce around people—prone to sit silently when she really ought to speak up(or far worse, speak up when she ought to sit silently).

So, Mary had all these things, she want to say, in her head; the perfect zinger to the rude cashier, which you think of an hour after you’ve left the store, the perfect bit of wisdom when someone needs help, which doesn’t occur to you until they solve their problems themselves, the perfect guilt trip for the kids, which you don’t say because you’re not an idiot. She keep all this wit to herself, much to the relief of all who know her, and then wrote all her great ideas into books. It’s therapeutic if nothing else, and more affordable than a psychiatrist.

So then a very nice, oh so nice publishing company like Barbour Heartsong comes along and says, “Hey, we’ll pay you money for this 45,000 word therapy session.” That’s as sweet as it gets.

Mary's journey to publication is the same as everyone’s except for a few geniuses out there who make it hard for all of us. And even they probably have an Ode to Roast Beef or two in their past.

There are two other books in this Lassoed In Texas Series: Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon


ABOUT THE BOOK


All aboard for a delightful, suspense-filled romance, where a Texan is torn between his attraction to a meddlesome schoolmarm and the charms of a designing dressmaker. When Hannah Cartwright meets Grant, she's determined to keep him from committing her orphans to hard labor on his ranch. How far will she go to ensure their welfare?

Grant Cooper is determined to provide a home for the two kids brought in by the orphan train as runs head-on into the new school marm, who believes he's made slave labor out of eight orphaned children. He crowds too many orphans into his rickety house, just like Hannah Cartwright's cruel father. Grant's family of orphans have been mistreated too many times by judgmental school teachers. Now the new schoolmarm is the same except she's so pretty and she isn't really bad to his children, it's Grant she can't stand.

But he is inexplicably drawn to Hannah. Can he keep his ragtag family together while steering clear of love and marriage? Will he win her love or be caught in the clutches of a scheming seamstress?

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

Slide show of Ripley's Aquarium and Myrtle Beach's boardwalk plus aquarium videos

Sharks and scary stuff!






Aaron slips into the aquarium - FUNNY!

Wedding highlights!

First, I want to share a slide show of a variety of pics from my nephew's wedding, not in the correct order but just random. Then I have several video clips posted. Enjoy!

Going for the garter here



Tossing the bouquet tradition



Lighting the unity candle



Cutting the cake

Love this "reflective" review of INAM!

Indulge me and not only check it out but comment on the blog post. The blog is relatively new so I'm sure the blogger would love that, too!

http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/2009/02/book-reviewmichelle-suttons-its-not.html

Isn't it fab?

A few random pics from the "Stupid Factory" on Myrtle Beach's boardwalk

Autographing a table in a restaurant while on vacation.

Check this out. I'm on vacation and the restaurant we ate in at Murrell's Inlet (just south of Myrtle Beach) actually encourages you to write on everything. This is a picture of what I wrote on the table. Always the author. Hee hee.



And just in case you didn't believe what I was saying, here are some up close views of the graffiti and writing literally



Last but not least, you can watch us in the act! Check this out...

A Cry in the Night by Colleen Coble is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Cry In The Night
Thomas Nelson (February 3, 2009)
by
Colleen Coble


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Colleen Coble's thirty novels and novellas have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award, the Holt Medallion, the ACFW Book of the Year, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best awards. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending.


AWARDS:
2004 More Than Magic winner for Best Inspirational Romance
Without a Trace, Thomas Nelson
2004 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year

ABOUT THE BOOK

The highly anticipated novel that delivers what romantic suspense fans have long awaited-the return to Rock Harbor.

Bree Nichols gets the shock of her life when her husband-presumed dead-reappears.

Bree Nichols and her search and rescue dog Samson discover a crying infant in the densely forested woods outside of Rock Harbor, Michigan. Against objections from her husband, Kade, who knows she'll become attached, Bree takes the baby in. Quickly she begins a search for the mother-presumably the woman reported missing just days earlier.
While teams scour the forests, Bree ferrets out clues about the missing woman. But she soon discovers something more shocking: Bree's former husband-long presumed dead in a plane crash-resurfaces. Is he really who he says he is? And should she trust him again after all these years?
An engaging, romantic suspense novel from critically-acclaimed author Colleen Coble.

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


My thoughts:

Didn't get a chance to review this one yet.

Against All Odds by Irene Hannon is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Against All Odds
Revell (February 1, 2009)
by
Irene Hannon


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon is an award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut.

Since then, she has written more than 25 romance and romantic suspense novels that have sold more than 1.5 million copies. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA award from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), the HOLT Medallion and a Reviewer’s Choice award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full. She is happy to say she has no regrets! As she points out, leaving behind the rush-hour commute, corporate politics and a relentless BlackBerry that never slept was no sacrifice.

In her spare time, Irene enjoys hamming it up in community musical theater productions. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She also regularly performs with a six-person musical review troupe and is a cantor at her church (where she does NOT ham it up!).

When not otherwise occupied, Irene loves to cook and garden. She and her husband also enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.


ABOUT THE BOOK

For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Monica Callahan isn’t making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father, who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East, she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States…until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real—and escalating. As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, David Callahan continues his work—triggering an abduction that puts his daughter’s life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever managed to breach the walls around his heart are dropping. Because terrorists aren’t known for their patience—or their mercy.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Against All Odds, go HERE


WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

4 ½-star, “Top Pick” rating from Romantic Times BOOKreviews!

"Brava! Award winner Hannon debuts the heroes of Quantico series with a wonderful
array of believable characters, action and suspense that will keep readers glued to each page. Hannon’s extraordinary writing, vivid scenes and surprise ending come together for a not-to-be-missed reading experience.”
~Romantic Times BOOKreviews~

“I found someone who writes romantic suspense better than I do. I highly recommend Against All Odds as one of the best books I've had the privilege of reading this year. This is a captivating, fast-paced, well written romantic suspense destined for my keeper shelf. I loved this book, and highly recommend this author."
~Dee Henderson~ Author of the O’Malley Family Series

My thoughts:

I hope to post a review soon! I used to read a lot of Irene's LI books and enjoyed them.

My review of Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Romance Is In the Air, Word Gets Around. Lauren Eldridge thought she'd wiped the dust of Daily, Texas, off her boots forever. Screenwriter Nate Heath thought he was out of second chances. Life's never that predictable, though. Cajoled by her father, Lauren is back in town helping train a skittish race horse set to star in a Hollywood film. But the handsome screenwriter gives her more trouble than the horse. And Nate is realizing there's a spark of magic in the project--and in the eyes of the girl who is so good with horses. Daily, Texas, has a way of offering hope, healing, and a little romance just when folks need it most.

My review:

Lisa Wingate did a fabulous job creating complex characters with very believeable internal conflicts. When I read a story I want to be emotionally invested in it. Not only is the cover of Word Gets Around gorgeous, but the story is beautiful as well. I was so caught up in their storyworld that several times tears welled in my eyes. I love it when I feel so connected that I cry with characters when they overcome something they have battled for years. That makes this one powerful book, IMHO. And while the spiritual component was very subtle, when it did come out in the story it was deep and meaningful.

All that Texas lingo and those hilarious sayings like "Well butter my backside and call me a biscuit" made for interesting reading as did the funny tales the relative shared about Lauren when she was a kid. The author did a great job getting in a man's head, too. The hero, Nate, was incredibly hot and his crazy internal thoughts made me laugh. And Lauren's reason for keeping her heart closed from others was very realistic. I totally understood her.

I also loved how Lauren's friendship with Nate slowly developed. It was refreshing to experience the emotional bonding between them that began with friendship and mutual admiration. I can't stand it when conflict feels contrived. In Word Gets Around everything made sense and felt natural to me. The character arcs were exquisitely done, and this romance sizzled even though it was based on friendship and not just chemistry.

I'd encourage any writer who wants to understand how to make a character come alive on a page to read this book and see how it should be done. I can't think of a time when I've read a story that rang so true when it came to internal conflict. I loved everything about this book including the well-done dysfunction crafted into the minor characters, like "The Shay". Did I mention the hero, Nate, was hot? Oh, and the kisses they shared were amazing, but even better than those were the kisses that never happened. Made my heart pound! And even though you know there will be a happy ever after because it's a romance, I still enjoyed experiencing the emotional journey with them.

Word Gets Around was published by Bethany House and published in February 2009.

I'm giving away a copy of The Proposal by Lori Wick

To enter your name to win a copy of The Proposal simply post a comment about how your spouse (assuming you're female) proposed to you. If you don't want to do that then tell me the title of your favorite Lori Wick novel.

To be fair, I'll do both. My hubby caught me by suprise one day in the church parking lot. We were sitting in the truck and he asked me to marry him. As for my favorite Lori Wick novel, I'd have to say Pretense.



About the book:

A captivating tale of Christ's love at work. When Frank and Lydia Palmer discover Lydia's brother is the guardian of three children, they're horrified because he is well-known for his tyrannical nature. William, relieved to have a male heir without having to succumb to marriage, sets about raising the boys and hires a nanny for the girl. The brothers tolerate their gruffly kind superior, until they discover the cruelty of their sister's caretaker. When the situation erupts, Jennings goes to the Palmers for guidance. While there, he meets Marianne - who turns his beliefs about women and God upside down with her gentle reasoning and Christ-honoring lifestyle.

Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Word Gets Around
Bethany House (February 1, 2009)
by
Lisa Wingate


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lisa Wingate lives in central Texas where she is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out ten printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its tenth printing.

The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, The Language of Sycamores, Drenched In Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa’s Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Café, which was awarded a gold medal by RT BOOKCLUB magazine and was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “A charmingly nostalgic treat.” The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.

Lisa is now working on a new set of small-town Texas novels for Bethany House Publishers. The series debuted with Talk of The Town and continued with Word Gets Around. A new series is also underway for Penguin Group NAL, beginning with A Month of Summer (July 2008), and continuing with The Summer Kitchen in July, 2009. Lisa’s works have been featured by the National Reader’s Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, The Literary Guild, American Profiles, and have been chosen for the LORIES best Published Fiction Award.




ABOUT THE BOOK

When Romance Is In the Air, Word Gets Around Lauren Eldridge thought she'd wiped the dust of Daily, Texas, off her boots forever. Screenwriter Nate Heath thought he was out of second chances. Life's never that predictable, though. Cajoled by her father, Lauren is back in town helping train a skittish race horse set to star in a Hollywood film. But the handsome screenwriter gives her more trouble than the horse. And Nate is realizing there's a spark of magic in the project--and in the eyes of the girl who is so good with horses. Daily, Texas, has a way of offering hope, healing, and a little romance just when folks need it most.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Word Gets Around, go HERE

What people are saying:

"Lisa Wingate writes engaging stories that strike the heart. God has gifted her with a marvelous talent and I, for one, am most grateful."
—Debbie Macomber, New York Times #1 bestselling author

My thoughts:

Love, love, love this story. It's hilarious! I just wish I had more time to read because then I would have finished it already! I will definitely post a review of this one.

Tips for Using Twitter!

Reprinted with permission (see end of post.)


Tips For Using Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you've pondered using Twitter, but aren't sure how to use it effectively or if you've been on Twitter for a while and aren't sure if you're maximizing it as you should be, here are some quick tips to give you some great twittering-ideas:

· Teach stuff - teach a little mini-lesson on Twitter. Delve into your area of expertise or just talk about book publishing and how to get published.
· Share sites or blogs that your followers would be interested in. Be their "filter" to new and exciting information.
· Use Tweetlater.com to post tweets to your account for later posting so you don't have to be sitting on top of Twitter every minute of the day.
· Use Twitter as a news source: you can easily announce news both from your world (as long as it relates to your topic) and from the world of your expertise. So for example I've done tweets on book industry stuff, breaking news, etc.
· Widen your network - follow other Twitter folk, this will not only give you some ideas for your own "tweets" but it's a great way to network with other writers or professionals.
· Offer advice: use Tweetdeck.com or Twitter Search ( search.twitter.com) to see who's asking for info on your area of expertise and then offer them some help/insight. This is a great way to build relationships.
· It's ok to market yourself but be careful about pimping your stuff too much.· Be Original, useful and helpful.
· If you're on tour with your book or doing an event, tweet on that and invite your local followers to attend.
· Tweet any good reviews your book gets, it's always fun to share the good stuff!· Every Tweet counts (don't tell people you're washing your cat) don't just tweet on useless stuff or you'll lose followers.
· It's not all about you (again, back to the cat) people want to know useful stuff, I know, it's getting repetitive but there's a reason: it's important.
· Promote your Twitter account in your email signature line and on your blog.
· Network: don't expect your followers to grow if you're not following other people. Network, search for others in your area and follow them.
· Personal is ok. Even though I said not to post useless information it's still not a bad idea to (from time to time) post a personal Tweet or two. Provide value and twitter-followers will beat a path to your door.
· Follow everyone who follows you. You can use sites like Socialtoo.com and Tweetlater.com to autofollow everyone who follows you. These services can also send a nice welcome message to your new followers.
· There is a lot of noise on Twitter, the sooner you get comfortable with that the better. It's like being at one massive cocktail party, you have to find ways to filter out the noise. Sites like Tweetlater can help you do that.
· Embed a link or some other sign up in your welcome message, this is another great way to capture emails for your newsletter (assuming you have one).
· Use sites like Tweetlater or Twitter Search to see who's talking about you and then follow them too or comment on their tweet.
· It's ok to repeat your tweets. With the volume of messages people get your followers will often miss some of your posts.
· Feed your blog through Twitter using Twitterfeed.com.
· Join Help a Reporter out @skydiver for tweets on media leads (it's a great service!).
· Don't feel like you have to respond to every tweet, but I generally try to respond to all tweets that are replies to mine (you can find these under @replies on your Twitter home page).
· Want to stay on top of your market and find stuff to Tweet about? Then go to Alltop.com and search for your category. There are thousands of them up there. Here are a few to consider: socialmedia.alltop.com, twitter.alltop.com and publishing.alltop.com.
· Review a product or book on Twitter.· Follow big names in your market on Twitter: this will often bring in their followers too and you want to see what the "big guys" are up to.
· Get a good picture: don't leave your avatar blank. Personalize your page if you can but a good Twitter picture is a must.· Tweetbeep.com is a lot like Google alerts. You can plug in your keywords and you're pinged each time they are used.
· Are you ready to add pictures to your Tweets? Then head on over to Twitpic.com, this site will let you upload pictures and tweet to them.
· Videos can also be shared on Twitter and 12seconds.tv is a great way to record a video (12 seconds long, hence the name) and share it with your followers.
· Music on Twitter is also possible thanks to TwittyTunes: This site is great for sharing music and it has a simple Firefox add-in that lets you Twitter on music you're currently listening to!
· Keep Twittering, followers will come if you keep updating your Twitter account.

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

The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Desires Of Her Heart
Avon Inspire (February 10, 2009)
by
Lyn Cote


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lyn Cote married her real-life hero and was blessed with a son and daughter. She loves game shows, knitting, cooking, and eating! She and her husband live on a beautiful lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Now that the children have moved out, she indulges three cats: V-8 (for the engine, not the juice), Sadie, and Tricksey. In the summer, she writes using her laptop on her porch overlooking the lake. And in the winter, she sits by the fireplace her husband installed with the help of a good neighbor during their first winter at the lake.

Lyn's inspirational novels feature American women who step up to the challenges of their times and succeed in remaining true to the values of liberty and justice for all. The story of America is one of many nationalities and races coming together to forge our one nation under God, and Lyn's novels reflect this with accurate historical detail, always providing the ring of authenticity. Strong Women, Brave Stories.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A New Orleans lady and a half-breed frontiersman become unlikely allies as they travel the wilds of texas.

In 1821, when circumstances make it impossible for her to remain in New Orleans, Dorritt and her family head west to join Stephen Austin's settlement and recoup their fortune in Texas.

Quinn is a man of the frontier who has made a name for himself as a peerless scout. But as he and Dorritt's party begin a grueling trek across untamed Texas, the success of their journey is in grave doubt. Mexico has broken with the Spanish Crown, and armies from both countries—plus marauding Comanches—roam the pine forests and prairies. And one of the party is plotting destruction.

Now, with their lives joined in a virgin land fraught with peril, can Dorritt and Quinn put all their trust in God and receive the desires of their hearts?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Desires Of Her Heart, go HERE

My thoughts:

This story kind of ebbs and flows. Sometimes I felt nearly breathless wanting to find out what happens next, then other times it slowed down and it was harder to get back in to. I'm at a slow spot right now about halfway through the book. I hate slow spots. The romantic tension is yummy, though. I'm wanting to know how the woman ends up with the guy who society says she can't love because she's white and he is only half white. And her dad is horrible. So is her sister. Sheesh. Anyway, the author's writing is a bit clunky at times, too, so I have to reread some sentences. And there is a bit of head-hopping here and there, but not a ton like in some romance novels. At any rate, I hope to finish this one. It's good, but not great. We'll see. I will post a review when I can if I finish it.

Picture tag! This is a new twist on tag and it's easy to do. Have fun!

The rule is you have to go to the fifth photo folder on your computer and then pick the fifth picture you find. After you post the picture, you tag five friends to do the same and blog it just like I'm doing now. I am starting my own game of picture tag based on a post I found on this blog that I follow. Here is the original post. Write by Faith - I was tagged post


So here is the picture I found when I followed the directions. It was taken at a booksigning at Hastings. The guy next to me is holding a copy of my book. He's a high school student and he was interested in reading it. He looks like he just ate sour grapes, or maybe he doesn't like his teeth. Hehehe. The next picture taken with him shows us hamming it up, but that isn't the fifth picture so it doesn't count. You can still see it on my website though. :)

I am tagging...

Angela Breidenbach http://www.godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/
Debra Ullrick http://christianromancewriter.blogspot.com/
Andi Newberry http://frommipov.blogspot.com/
Dawn Kinzer http://www.dawnkinzer.blogspot.com/
Georgiana Daniels http://georgianad.blogspot.com/

An event you won't want to miss. Trust me on that!

Link to more information about the Illusions tour HERE!