Now I'm giving away Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell!

To enter your name for a chance to win this book simply post a comment below that answers this question... Have you ever had a difficult choice to make that involved an important relationship? Feel free to elaborate or leave it at that. I will go first. I had to decide back when my husband wanted to date whether to get to know him better or remain friends. He was 41 and I was 23. So the decision was to either ignore the age difference and allow the Lord to lead us, or stay friends. We've been married almost 20 years so, a-hem, you can see the decision I made was the right one. Yes? Who will be next?




About the book:

Amidst a backdrop of thievery and murder in historic Bridal Veil, Oregon, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future. Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel, but he left town six years before. Now shes giving love another chance, but her decision to build a new life with Andrew is shaken when Nathaniel steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill. When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

My thoughts:

There is a blog tour for this book mid February. I'll be reviewing it for the tour so stop back later and read my review. I love the sound of this story.

Blog Tour stop for Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

BLOG TOUR FOR

BEAUTIFUL – Author Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

January 25 – February 2, 2010

My review:

Beautiful stirred my heart several times. I found my eyes welling with tears of both heartache and joy as Ellie discovered herself for the first time while she healed from the accident. The author did a great job with character development and making them three dimensional. I loved the interaction between the heroine and the guys in her life. There were some amazing heroes and secondary characters in this book. Even the parents were genuine and believable. I didn't see any plastic characters or artificial faith.

This story had depth and heart. It in no way trivialized the trauma this girl went through and did a great job pointing out how sometimes what people say in awkward situations just hurts people more (God has a plan - true, but grieving people don't necessarily want to hear that when they are hurting.) I, too, felt her pain and the grief she went through. Everything she experienced made sense and was totally fitting her situation. In short, I was this girl. I went through the valley with her, which explains its profound impact on my heart.

I can totally see this novel opening the eyes of many girls who have taken the good things in their life for granted. And like Ellie's sister, Megan, this story should change them. After going through something like Ellie experienced, most things do seem awfully petty and stupid. I highly recommend this book, which was provided by Thomas Nelson for me to review.

About the Author:

Now a bestselling author, Cindy launched into her writing dream in 1988, developing story ideas and writing plays for her church. Her first novel was contracted in 1998. Since that time, Cindy has published 9 novels, 2 nonfiction books and over 100 articles, short stories, and curriculums.

Her critically acclaimed novels have been finalists for the Christy Award and Reader’s Choice Award (Romantic Times) and chosen for the List of Best Books by Library Journal.

Her novels have been translated into Dutch, German, and Norwegian.

For the past ten years, Cindy has been speaking and teaching in different locations nationally and internationally. Her roles include conference leader, featured speaker and workshop leader at numerous women’s gatherings, retreats and writers conferences most notably Litt-World 2004 in Tagaytay City, Philippines, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and Oregon Christian Writers Conference.

Cindy understands small town America and continues to live near her childhood home (where her parents still live). She regularly hangs out with friends she’s known since elementary school. Home for Cindy is in Northern California with her husband, three children, and their singing dog.

FREELANCE WRITER & NOVELIST
Author under the name of Cindy Martinusen or Cindy Coloma:

Y/A NOVELS:
CALEB + KATE (To be released May 2010 Thomas Nelson Publishers) BEAUTIFUL (Released November 2009 Thomas Nelson Publishers)
RUBY UNSCRIPTED (May 2009 Thomas Nelson Publishers)

NOVELS:
ORCHID HOUSE (2008 Thomas Nelson Publishers)
THE SALT GARDEN (reprint 2007 Thomas Nelson Publishers)
EVENTIDE (2006 Thomas Nelson Publishers)
THE SALT GARDEN (2004 Tyndale House Publishers)
NORTH OF TOMORROW (2002 Tyndale House Publishers)
BLUE NIGHT (2001 Tyndale House Publishers)
WINTER PASSING (2000 Tyndale House Publishers)

NONFICTION:
RENTING LACY: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children (2009 co-author with Linda Smith)
THE BEST IN TENT CAMPING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (2008 Menasha Ridge Press co-author)

Over 100 articles, plays, curriculums and short stories focused primarily on parenting, family, spiritual matters, and travel. Includes publications: Focus on the Family, HomeLife, ParentLife, Light & Life and others.

RECOGNITION & TRANSLATIONS:
o Winter Passing, Blue Night, and North of Tomorrow translated and distributed by Dutch, German, and Norwegian publishers. The Salt Garden and Eventide in Dutch.
o Orchid House -- ECPA bestseller in 2008.
o The Salt Garden listed on Library Journal’s Best Books of 2004.
o Winter Passing finalist in The Christy Award and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award 2001.

WORKSHOP LEADER
Co-founder Quills of Faith Writers Group since 1997 – open to community -- offers free workshops, accountability, market help, and weekend seminars, etc.

SPEAKER & WORKSHOP LEADER
Radio & Television guest. Conference Leader and Workshop Leader – numerous retreats and writers conferences most notably Litt-World 2004 in Tagaytay City, Philippines and Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference, among other groups, classroom guest, and public events.


cindycoloma@gmail.com http://www.blogger.com/www.cindycoloma-ya.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.cindycoloma.com

Blog tour stops here...

January 25, 2010

Katie at Katie’s Book Shelf

http://www.katiesbookshelf11.blogspot.com/

Becky at In The Pages

http://www.inthepages.blogspot.com/

January 26, 2010

Deborah at Books, Movies, Chinese Food

http://www.books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

Tricia Goyer, Author

www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com

Amy at Girlfriends Get Real

http://www.girlfriendsgetreal.blogspot.com/

Debbie at Genre Reviews

http://www.genrereviews.blogspot.com/

Interview (Review posted Jan. 22)

January 27, 2010

Nikki at YA Reads

http://www.yareads.com/

January 28, 2010

Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

http://www.aleapopculture.blogspot.com/

Molly at Books Reviews By Buuklvr81

http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com/

January 29, 2010

Cindy at Princess Bookie

http://www.princessbookie.com/

January 30, 2010

January 31, 2010

Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author

http://www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

February 1, 2010

Michelle at http://www.michellevsblog.blogspot.com/

Amber at http://www.foodforthoughtwithasideoflaughter.blogspot.com/

February 2, 2010

Amy at My Friend Amy

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

My review of Selling My Soul by Sherri L. Lewis!

About the book:

Returning from a two-year missions trip in Mozambique, Trina Michaels plans to ignore the sensational headline that screams from the front page of the Washington Times. Her heart is still in Africa, the place that feels more like home than anywhere she's ever lived-and the place where the love of her life still is.

Her dream of a quick return to Mozambique fades within hours when Trina discovers that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. The cost of treatment is expensive, and Trina is forced to return to her career in public relations to pay for it.

She is assigned a damage control client-the bishop whose church made headline news when an associate pastor and deacon were accused of sexually abusing young boys. To complicate matters, the young boys are now men, and one of them is married to Trina's best friend. Representing Bishop Walker could cost Trina her most valued friendship, her reputation, and a future with her new love. As she plows deeper into the scandal and the bishop blackmails her to cover the church's secrets and lies, Trina realizes it could cost her soul.

My review:

Selling My Soul was a powerful story for several reasons. I loved how the author contrasted the simple life of someone living in Africa where every day was a blessing, to the frenzied life in America where things are wasted and people live in luxury without thinking about it. But that was just a side reason for why I loved this book. I also adored the hero. He was amazingly heroic and genuine. The relationship Trina had with her younger sister Tiffany reminded me of some people I know... and the whole moms thing just cracked me up. I felt Trina's joy and frustration with her mother. That characterization was fabulous, too. Her "moms" was a great illustration of "stubborn fool". Yet in the end love wins, and that's what matters most. The epilogue made me smile.

Back to the story. I found the whole PR job situation and the conflict with the Bishop Walker case to be very believable. I've seen stuff like that first hand because I worked for CPS for more than a decade. It was clear to me that the author did her research because the information she shared was accurate and convincing. I loved how the reality of the situation even got to her hard-hearted boss. The message was so powerful. This was such a wonderful story. I loved how justice prevailed and how the truth won in the end. It didn't minimize the pain or consequences, but it showed that when people step forward with the truth that good things can happen from what was intended for destruction. Awesome, awesome story. It's making my best of 2010 fiction list!

Selling My Soul was published by Urban Christian and releases in February 2010.

A place to win free books for bloggers. Pass it on!

February 1^st Tyndale will be introducing a newly designed, more user friendly, and information packed site. As a blogger and social media user here are some exciting features that can benefit you:

Links to all of Tyndale’s social media sites.

A list of all Tyndale authors and their blogs, Facebook and Twitter accounts, etc.

A place where you can share stories about Tyndale products that have had an effect on your life.

Under product details you can post reviews with a link to your own blog so others can see the exciting other books you’ve been reviewing.

To celebrate the launch of this new site, Tyndale is giving away four books a day in the following categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Bibles, and Kids.

All you have to do is visit the site to sign up. If you don’t win one day, keep coming back to sign up!

Feel free to pass this information along to your friends, family, blog readers, Facebook friends, or Twitter followers. Don’t feel obligated to pass this information along, but please visit www.tyndale.com starting on February 1^st for a chance to win!

Becca by the Book by Laura Jensen Walker is up on CFBA!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Becca By The Book

Zondervan (January 1, 2010)

by

Laura Jensen Walker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.

Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.

Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.

Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.

To learn more about Laura’s latest novels, please check out her Books page.

A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.

She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver...

At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.

And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.

This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Becca By The Book, go HERE

My review:

Cute, snarky main character. So far it's interesting and keeping my attention. I haven't been able to completely finish the book so my review will have to come later. I loved Turning the Paige so I anticipate liking this one, too, barring some unforeseen turnoff. :)

My review of Woman of Honor by Nicole Zoltack

About the book:

Aislinn of Bairdhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparing classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

My review:

This novel was so emotionally moving my heart literally ached. I loved medieval stories that are well told. And this one has a fantasy twist that makes it that much more fun. Reading about knights and castles are always enjoyable novels for me. Bottom line...Woman of Honor is a well-told, emotionally gripping story. I was literally swept away into the battle scenes, the romance, the fierce loyalty and honor even if it went against matters of the heart. I nearly cried several times while reading this story and was so engrossed a bomb could have gone off outside and I would've kept reading. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. And anyone who has a computer can read this book. While it may not be a print book yet and can only be read in e-book format, it's well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. My heart is still pounding. And don't let that sweet rating fool you. There was some serious passion in this novel, but if you were to compare it to most romances I guess it was sweet since the characters honored each other's purity. But it still sizzled. And talk about an ending that leaves you begging for more. Sheesh! But it was more than satisfying. I'm just glad that April is only a few months away.

Woman of Honor was published by Desert Breeze and released in April 2009.

10 Fun and random facts about edgy Inspirational author, Michelle Sutton

This was fun to do. I think you'll enjoy reading it, too. I'm a bit crazy, but you all knew that already.

10 Fun and random facts about edgy Inspirational author, Michelle Sutton

Posted using ShareThis

Just a thought about book reviewing. Feel free to comment.

This seems to be a trend for me. I only end up finishing two out of every three books I start. Example. Last year I read about 90 books but I actually started about 150. The year before was the same. I read 97 books and started about 150. Anyone else have this problem? I used to finish every book I started but quit doing that about three years ago because it was starting to make reading a chore instead of an activity I loved. So I never promise I'll finish a book. Usually I lose interest or become bored. Not sure why. I need a story that makes me curious or where the plot continues to build or the character suffer enough to make me wonder what will happen next. That said, I'd like to hear other readers/ reviewers comment on their experiences, too.

Now this is good news for e-authors. :)

Amazon reports their kindle book sales were higher than their print books this Christmas!

Now I'm giving away The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry!

To be entered in the drawing for a chance to win this book, simply post a comment. This will be a fun, random question.

Do you know anyone who looks like you? Have you ever been mistaken for them? I've been told I look like Izzy from "Grey's Anatomy" but since I don't watch television I'm not sure how true that is. I also had a man approach me once in a grocery store and ask me to stand still. He said with tears in his eyes that I looked like the wife he'd met during the war. She died and I guess he was trying to recapture the moment. He was really old so it was kind of endearing.

So what is your story?

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Craig Littleton's decision to end his marriage would shock his wife, Denise . . . if she knew what he was up to. When an accident lands Craig in the ICU, with fuzzy memories of his own life and plans, Denise rushes to his side, ready to care for him.

They embark on a quest to help Craig remember who he is and, in the process, they discover dark secrets. An affair? An emptied bank account? A hidden identity? An illegitimate child?

But what will she do when she realizes he's not the man she thought he was? Is this trauma a blessing in disguise, a chance for a fresh start? Or will his secrets destroy the life they built together?

My review:

The Familiar Stranger was a real page turner. It was written so well that it wasn't until I was three quarters of the way through the story that I realized the point of view for each person (titled his and hers respectively in the novel) was written in the first person past tense. This was very well done and flawlessly executed, IMHO. The Familiar Stranger is also the perfect title for this incredible tale. It was an intriguing and a profoundly mysterious story that kept me guessing until nearly the end.

At first I was thinking something was occurring like what happened in Rekindled by Tamera Alexander. Then I thought it could be like "The Man in the Iron Mask" starring Leonardo Dicaprio. Then I thought of the movie "Summersby" starring Jodie Foster. Long story short, this delightfully romantic and emotional tale was one of the most amazing debuts I've read in a long time. It was well thought out, excellently plotted, and the characterization was so believable that it left me breathless. Yeah, I even got choked up several times, especially toward the end.

I found the resolution in The Familiar Stranger more satisfying and believeable than if the story had been taken a different direction. The unique spiritual perspective was also truly inspirational, which is why this book is making my best fiction for 2009 list. I highly recommend it.

The sequel to Danger at the Door is releasing soon!

Check this out. The back cover blurb for In Plain Sight is up and more info about the book is also posted. All that is missing is the cover art, which will be showing up soon. If you like the excerpt and blurb feel free to post a comment and tell me why you like it. :)

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-71/In-Plain-Sight/Detail.bok

Win a copy of First Impressions...

For a chance to win click here and following the directions

Blog tour stop for Thicker Than Blood by CJ Darlington (with review)!

About the Author:
C. J. began writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood (her first novel) when she was a fifteen-year-old homeschool student. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over a decade, scouting for stores similar to the one described in the novel before cofounding her own online bookstore. Thicker than Blood was the winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel.

C. J. co-founded the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website http://www.cjdarlington.com/ for more info.

QUICK LINKS:

• The 1st chapter of Thicker than Blood
• The "Story Behind the Story" of Thicker than Blood
• More endorsements from Jenny B. Jones, James Scott Bell, Susan Meissner, and more!
• Our interview with C.J. at TitleTrakk.com
  
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Christianbook.com
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Amazon.com
• List of the other 85+ Thicker than Blood blog tour participants!

About the book:

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. Shes putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn't commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents untimely deaths. Soon, Christy's fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could Mays Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven shes searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before its too late? A stunning debut from the latest Christian Writers Guild winner.

My review:

Thicker than Blood was a great debut. The voice of the author is smooth-flowing and believable. There was nothing clunky or hard to understand. I loved the theme about collecting and selling old books and the story surrounding the sisters. I also loved how realistically domestic violence and alcoholism is portrayed. That was very well done.

There are some great themes in this book and it has a solid message. I had difficulty putting it down because everything progressed in the story at a good pace. Also, when it comes to torturing her characters, CJ is a master. I felt so bad for these ladies. I enjoyed watching how God worked through their difficult circumstances to make something beautiful happen that would change their lives in the end. I really enjoyed this story.

Here is the book video trailer about the story:

I made the Cornhusker Academy's top 9 YA fiction for 2009 list!!!

http://cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com/2010/01/top-9-young-adult-books-of-2009.html

Now I'm giving away The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble! With bonus review!

To enter your name for a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment about a time when you did something for your family's approval that you probably shouldn't have done. If you can't think of anything then post a comment about inheritance. Do you think if someone is a blood relative but had nothing to do with the family (ie: they were adopted into another family and didn't know they were heirs) do you think they should get the inheritance due them because of their blood relationship? I will draw a winner's name by random selection next Sunday!



About the book:

In her quest to discover the truth about her family, Addie finds danger-and quite possibly the love of her life.

It's 1907 and Addie Sullivan has found work at a lavish estate in Mercy Falls, California. She hopes to discover the truth of her heritage. But when she arrives at Eaton Hall, nothing is as it seems. Not the idyllic family she dreamt of, not the child she was hired to help, not even the aloof man she's immediately attracted to. The danger she'd hoped to escape follows her, however, and she soon finds she must turn for help to a man who views her with suspicion.

If Addie realizes her dream, she'll deprive the man she loves of HIS dream--his right to the wealth and power of the Eaton name. She must come to realize that God is sufficient even in the hard times, and no familial approval is worth her integrity.

My Review:


The Lightkeeper's Daughter was an incredible story and I loved it. Full of romance and mystery, it kept me reading and I couldn't put it down. Seriously. John was the dreamiest hero ever! I loved him and how he treated Addie. She was a great heroine, too. She loved the Lord and it was evident in her life. The spiritual thread in this book was excellently inserted and made the book just that much better. It didn't feel forced, but very natural. I loved how Addie's respect for the hero made him want to be a better man. Shouldn't our lives and love for the Lord attract people? This story shows that very well. It makes me want to show my husband even more respect and that is what good fiction should do, IMHO. It should inspire us to be better at loving others.

The coolest part of this story was that you just never quite knew who the bad guy was. I changed my mind several times (and my theories) and honestly, it surprised me at the end to find out who the culprit was, yet it also made total sense. The foundation was very well laid and prepared me to accept that twist. This book was so full of surprises, but they were all believable and worked well for the story. This was the perfect historical mystery with enough warmth to make romance lovers like me sigh with pleasure. I truly enjoyed this story and it's making my top fiction for 2010 list. While I've read other books written by this author, this is definitely my favorite book by Colleen Coble. I think she has a real knack for historical fiction with mystery and romantic elements. I plan to read the next book in this series and can't wait for it's release.

The Lightkeeper's Daughter was published by Thomas Nelson and released in Jan. 2010.

The Judas Ride by Peggy Sue Yarber is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Judas Ride

Tate Publishing (December 8, 2009)
by

Peggy Sue Yarber

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD in psychology, lives in central California with her husband, two daughters, six turtles and two dogs. She works in the field of education.

The Judas Ride was inspired by her current and previous students. She has seen and experienced and seen similarities between the students and Jesus’ traitor, Judas Iscariot. She has always been fascinated with Judas. Yarber went to a catholic school when she was young and Judas was always portrayed like a mysterious rebel.

She ventures to say, “I guess he was my James Dean of the Bible. But in a good way! In the way that…he did something so wrong so that the entire world could be saved. He had to betray Jesus in order for the rest of the story. I have always wondered what it would be like to not do that one bad thing that would lead to that one great thing. So I had the Vader character sort of run through the paces of Judas.”

Redemption and reality are the two distinguishing features about Yarber’s writing. Not all teens find redemption in The Judas Ride. Yarber considered trying to show the negative outcomes as much as the positive. She wasn’t thinking in terms of positive and negative but she did try to balance the two sides. Yarber says she often sees people daily that , “…have even more screwed up lives than these characters.” Yarber admits sometimes there is not an ending to the madness unless someone dies and then even after the death the ripples still linger. She has written another novel TARE and a children’s book Rocketships to Heaven and the SOS Fuel Station. She loves to run, read, shoot guns and watch her daughters play soccer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unwed (and unwanted) teen pregnancy with two possible fathers. Abusive relationships. Drug and alcohol addiction. Rape and molestation. The struggle to understand grace, forgiveness, and free will versus predestination. The Judas Ride hits the road running in the opening pages, where Sonia and Xavier argue explosively about whether Sonia should have their unborn child and about who the father is: Xavier, a struggling Christian, or Vader, an abusive and abused drug dealer. As the pages turn, readers continue to meet a hodgepodge of troubled teens and eclectic characters, including Pastor Manny, a quirky immigrant pastor infatuated with John Wayne. Pastor Manny desires to help the tortured souls in his community but finds that it takes more than unconditional love to reach them. Secrets literally kill in The Judas Ride, an edgy, in-your-your face Christian novel that boldly explores the struggles of modern-day young people.

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

My thoughts:

I posted a review last week. I have a lot of thoughts about this book and I tend to be blunt in my reviews regardless if the author is a Christian or not. I would hope that the review I've written is read for it's intended purpose and not as a personal attack on the author. I don't know this author and I'm not one to slam others since I'm an author myself, but this book truly needs an overhaul to be readable. If I said anything other than how I truly saw it I would lose credibility with people who read my reviews. The concept of the story is good but the delivery and a lot of other things left a lot to be desired. I would not recommend this book for many reasons. If you want to read my complete review click here... Review of The Judas Ride

My review of The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee

The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed The Pastor's Wife. It was a powerful story of healing and restoration, and of dealing with things the very things the heroine had tried to avoid. I totally understood her pain and found her inner dialog to be appropriate and believable. Without giving away any spoilers, there was one thing that kept it from being a five star book in my estimation. But if I tell you exactly what that is it will spoil the story. I can say it has to do with someone's response to news that I found to be a bit over-the-top to where it bugged me as opposed to inspiring me. Other than that issue I found this to be a very powerful and healing story. I even got a bit teary eyed when the head of the board at the church softened toward the heroine. The plot continually moved forward and had no slow spots. The tension kept building and in so many ways was a very beautiful portrayal of how love for your spouse is supposed to last a lifetime. Obviously, that is not always the case and sometimes for very valid reasons. The message in this story was excellent and I highly recommend it.

View all my reviews >>

Worst book I've ever read. I hate to say that but it's true.

The Judas Ride by Peggy Sue Yarber


My rating: 1 of 5 stars
While I love an edgy story (and this book has lots of edge) it bugs me when the point of view switches so often that you barely feel what the one person is going through and then you are out of their head. Plus the author does not resist the urge to explain. While some of that info may be good info, it needs to be shown through the book, not explained and told. It's like taking a basic math class and having the professor explain about numbers and then branch into calculus. I was like, "huh?" The author has major potential when it comes to setting, description and quirky characterization, but the technique she uses is severely lacking especially when it comes to characterization and dialog.

The way the characters think and the words they use in their internal thoughts don't fit either. And I've worked with many, many domestic violence victims and none of them have begged to be hit or said they loved it. Now I understand when people have death wishes, but that wasn't how it was portrayed here. And there wasn't anything to like about Sonia so having two guys pining for her was weird. I just had a hard time liking any of the characters. Some of the sickest ones had the most spiritual thoughts. You don't beat someone half to death and talk about Jesus like you know him. Strange personality switches, everyone yelling a lot and telling people to shut up. It was like everyone was tense all the time. At first I thought I liked the pastor and even he ended up being strange. He shoved one of the guys he was supposed to be ministering to and it just seemed over the top and inappropriate.

Bottom line, I think the content in this book was interesting, but after reading 100 pages I still didn't get the point of the story. Then when I turned the last page, rather than thinking I felt a sense of completion like you should feel when you finish a book, I felt a lack of worth. It was like "why did I just waste a lot of time reading this story?" I hate to say that because it's not nice, but honestly, I wouldn't know where to begin to fix this book if I were editing it. It also had a dark theme. I wouldn't call it a Christian book, but a book of theological fiction. They debate theology, but I didn't see real faith in any of the characters, many of whom died by the end or were maimed for life.

On the good side, I loved a few of the scenes because they were so realistically done, like the scene where the boys went fishing and one was attacked in the bathroom and watched the worms die from the floor. I was "there" for that scene--including the ride home. Most of the others were very abrupt and frenzied-feeling. I don't like feeling negative tension. I did like the way each title began with a phrase from Ecclesiastes. That worked well. Unfortunately by books end, I had to agree. It was utterly meaningless.

View all my reviews >>

Now I'm giving away Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater

This story sounds awesome. I don't have the book, but I'd like to read it. This story is about a cowboy who was in the military and did two tours of duty. But they changed him. To enter this contest for a chance to win this book simply post a comment answering this question...

Has anyone you've known served in the military and gone off to war, and because of what they experienced came back a different person than they were when the left? If so, how did that effect you?

Best wishes! I'll pick a random winner next Sunday!



About the book:

When Jenna Callahan's father sent Nate Langley away years ago, she never expected to see him again. But now he's back in town, and their attraction is as strong as ever. Will Nate be able to heal from the horrors he witnessed during two tours of military duty and become the man he believes Jenna deserves?

Does Your Blog Post Title Grab Attention? by Penny C. Sansevieri

When I'm in read-a-blog post mode, I'll patiently work my way through my feedreader - and every single time I've done that, I've been astonished again and again at how 'ho hum' the majority of blog posts are titled.
Seriously! I've missed a plethora of truly sterling information because the authors made their blog post sound as exciting as tooth-brushing one of my dog's teeth after their morning meals.

It is CRITICAL that you make your blog posts intriguing enough to stand out of the clutter and visually grab my eyes and say, you MUST read this!!

I would truly urge you to make it a New Year's Resolution to REALLY hone your headline content at the very least. And once you have that mastered, you should also learn how to infuse your posts with emotional hooks that cause your reader to simply DO what you want them to (buy your product, sign up for your ezine, etc.).

Writing in a sales copy fashion is very different than writing for a book and has great rewards after adding it to your online skill set.

Reprinted with permission. Author is Penny C. Sansevieri, Editor penny@amarketingexpert.com

NOTE: 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

Things That Drive An Editor Crazy

Check out this article about things that bug editors. I still see stuff like this in books and when I help someone else with polishing their manuscript I feel compelled to point this stuff out. You really can't shrug anything but your shoulders. It's simply not possible. Also, nodding is something you can only do with your head. Pointing is typically done with your finger... Anyway, have fun reading this.

The Blood-Red Pencil: Things That Drive An Editor Crazy

Love Finds you in Holiday Florida by Sandra D. Bricker is up on CFBA!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida
Summerside Press (November 1, 2009)
by
Sandra D. Bricker


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Author Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While writing in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant
and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

One of Sandie's passions revolves around the rights of animals. She's been involved in fundraising for Lost Angels Animal Rescue for several years now; in fact, a portion of the proceeds of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida will go to help the non-profit group with their expenses. And Lost Angels paid her back in a big way: They brought a free-spirited Collie named Sophie into her life after the loss of her 15-year companion Caleb.

It was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer.

In Sandie's words: "I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career. I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost, so it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line."

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lawyer Cassie Constantine has no plans to stay in Florida. She's here just long enough to sell her late husbands vacation house, a tacky bungalow she's always despised then she'll hightail it back to her gracious Boston brownstone.

But the place needs more work than Cassie bargained for. What's more, her widow status is like a target on her back and the elderly matchmakers around town manage to sidetrack her mission at every turn.

Holiday is a landmine of golf tournaments, ballroom dancing competitions, shuffleboard and day trips. But the biggest obstacle of all? Richard Dillon, the stuffed shirt she's paired with on the dance floor.

Cassie had always considered herself uptight but Richard won't take a walk on the beach without his socks and shoes! There's one little problem he makes her heart beat faster than the rhythm of the quickstep. Can Cassie and Richard let loose long enough to have a little fun?

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, go HERE.


Watch the trailer:


My thoughts:

I will post a review if I finish this book. Can't seem to get hooked by the story. Not sure why this is except that it has a slow start and is kind of depressing.

Sorta stupid video I made on Animoto.com

My birthday is the 8th of January. Hey, I was bored...

My review of Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful stirred my heart several times. I found my eyes welling with tears of both heartache and joy as Ellie discovered herself for the first time while she healed from the accident. The author did a great job with character development and making them three dimensional. I loved the interaction between the heroine and the guys in her life. There were some amazing heroes and secondary characters in this book. Even the parents were genuine and believable. I didn't see any plastic characters or artificial faith.

This story had depth and heart. It in no way trivialized the trauma this girl went through and did a great job pointing out how sometimes what people say in awkward situations just hurts people more (God has a plan - true, but grieving people don't necessarily want to hear that when they are hurting.) I, too, felt her pain and the grief she went through. Everything she experienced made sense and was totally fitting her situation. In short, I was this girl. I went through the valley with her, which explains its profound impact on my heart.

I can totally see this novel opening the eyes of many girls who have taken the good things in their life for granted. And like Ellie's sister, Megan, this story should change them. After going through something like Ellie experienced, most things do seem awfully petty and stupid. I highly recommend this book, which was provided by Thomas Nelson for me to review.

View all my reviews >>

Love Amish Fiction? Now I'm giving away The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher!

To enter your name for a chance to win this "bonnet" book provided by Revell Publishing House, simply post a comment about why you'd like to read this book. Also, to make the contest more fun, post a comment about whether or not you like storylines about an Englisher (non-Amish) character dating or marrying an Amish character. I have not read this book nor do I own a copy so I can't say what I think about this new author. Best wishes and have fun posting! I will select a winner next Sunday.



About the book:

With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves--or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement--and secrets that have been held too long. Filled with gentle romance, The Choice opens the world of the Amish--their strong communities, their simple life, and their willingness to put each other first. Combined with Fisher's exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in a series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.

89 book read in 2009! I also signed 8 contracts! 2009 was a good year!

Yep, I read and reviewed 89 books last year. I also endorsed numerous books for other authors and started about 40 books I never finished because I lost interest, or didn't review because I didn't like it and didn't want to cause a fuss by saying so. Because I was Editor-in-Chief of CFOM for most of 2009 it was hard for me to find the time to read, but since I've resigned from that position things are picking up speed again.

But...I also signed 8 book contracts divided between three different publishers. And that's not all, I also wrote two complete novels and revised two others. I even created four book trailers all by myself! This next year promises to be even more fun! I'm shooting for 100 novels read now that I have a little bit more time free, plus it looks like I may be signing two more books contracts (at least) to release in 2011 and beyond. I also have three other strong possibilities that are in the to-be-considered pile on three different publisher's desks. I'll let you know when these things are official so we can celebrate together.

Peace and have a great 2010!

So if you want to post a comment, tell me...what did you accomplish in 2009 that you'd like to share.

New January 2010 releases by ACFW authors here!

1. A Stray Drop of Blood, by Roseanna M. White from Whitefire Publishing. Born free, made a slave, married out of her bonds, Abigail never knows freedom until she feels the fire of a stray drop of blood from a Jewish carpenter.

2. A Deadly Wilderness, by Kelly Irvin from Five Star/Gale/Cengage. A family that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets and a drug cartel hit man are just two of the pieces to the puzzle Homicide Detective Ray Johnson must solve to find a murderer—and save his own life.

3. Becoming Lucy - The Winds Across the Prairie Series, by Martha Rogers from Realms Division of Strang Communications. An alleged murderer reclaims his life, but can he reclaim his beloved?

4. Burn, by Erin Healy and Ted Dekker from Thomas Nelson. A supernatural thriller about a woman who gets an unwanted chance to extinguish her fiery past.

5. First Impressions , by Michelle Sutton from Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. Playing the role of a saloon girl taught her how to flirt, but it makes a lousy first impression on the man whose heart she longs to win.

6. Jenna's Cowboy- Callahans of Texas, 1, by Sharon Gillenwater from Baker/Revell. Will Jenna's love enable Nate to put the horrors of war behind him and become the man she deserves?

7. Never Far from Home- 2nd in the Miller Family Series, by Mary Ellis from Harvest House Publishers. Emma's rebellious Rumschpringe may lead to her banishment as friendship turns to love with the English sheepfarmer.

8. Plain Jane, by Hillary Manton Lodge from Harvest House Publishers. Girl reporter Jayne Tate finds more than she bargained for when she goes to Amish Country to research a story.

9. Sworn to Protect, by Diann Mills from Tyndale. Danika Morales has sworn to protect our nation's borders. But that oath has come with a price.

10. The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth - All About Us #6, by Shelley Adina from Hatchette FaithWords. At exclusive Spencer Academy, Lissa Mansfield gains popularity when she replaces her nemesis, Vanessa, on the senior Cotillion committee, but graduation and major decisions about the future loom.

11. The Choice - Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1, by Suzanne Woods Fisher from Revell. A tender story of love and forgiveness, "The Choice" uncovers the sweet simplicity of the Amish world--and shows it's never too late to find your way back to God.

12. The Husband Tree - Montana Marriages, by Mary Connealy from Barbour. A tough lady rancher drags a reluctant cowhand on a cattledrive, along with her four daughters.

Interviewed about my book that releases today...

Want to know where the concept started? What actors the characters look like? What's coming next? Read my interview here! There is also a giveaway that goes with it!

Interview regarding First Impressions!