New October 2011 releases from ACFW authors!

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.

A Wedding Invitation by Alice Wisler -- General Fiction from Bethany House; When Samantha Bravencourt receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart.

Attracted by Fire by DiAnn Mills -- A Thriller/Suspense from Tyndale. When a Secret Service Agent is assigned to the Vice President's rebellious daughter, danger lurks in every corner - and her heart.

Deeply Devoted: A Novel; The Blue Willow Brides Series by Maggie Brendan -- A Historical from Revell -- She is staking her future on a man she's never met. Can she learn to love him?

Freezing Point by Beth Goddard -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired. Casey Wilkes didn't realize her simple human-interest story would put her life at risk—again.

Lethal Remedy by Richard L. Mabry M.D. -- A Thriller/Suspense from Abingdon; A doctor discovers that the experimental "wonder drug" that offers the only hope of cure for a universally fatal infection can be attacking more than just bacteria.

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist, -- Historical Romance from Bethany House. Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Maggie's Journey by Lena Nelson Dooley -- A Historical from Rhealms (Charisma Media). Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she's adopted and her journey begins.

Recipe for Deceit by S. Dionne Moore -- Mystery from Barbour. The third LaTisha Barnhart mystery finds the sassy diner owner trying to figure out who put the hit on a hitman.

Rodeo Dust by Shannon Vanatter -- Romance from Barbour Heartsong; Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?

Southern Fried Sushi: A Novel by Jennifer Rogers Spinola -- General Fiction from Barbour; Ride the roller coaster of Shiloh Jacobs’s life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia.

Ten Plagues by Mary Nealy-- Thriller/Suspense from Barbour; A demon possessed serial killer pits himself against a former ego driven cop, who's found peace as a mission pastor and a tough lady cop with the spiritual gift of discerning spirits.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy-- Thriller/Suspense from Thomas Nelson; To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Chair by James Rubart-- Thriller/Suspense from B and H Publishing; If you were given an ancient looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe them?

The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight-- Romance from Love Inspired; When a battle weary cop and a Christmas crazy teacher join forces to care for an abandoned, mute boy in a small town, neither is prepared for the shocking revelations waiting...just in time for Christmas.

The Lady's Maid by Susan Page Davis-- Romance from Barbour; As a lady's maid, Elise will follow her mistress anywhere, even into the Wild West.

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell-- Young Adult from Barbour; Join conflicted sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield on her journey to hope and healing as she leaves her messed-up life behind and moves into home for troubled teens

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones-- Young Adult from Thomas Nelson; Grief brought Finley to Ireland. Love will lead her home.

When Love Gets in the Way by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Straight from the heart of the Old West, the Colorado Runaway series is full of adventure, humor, and romance.

When Two Hearts Meet by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Rachel Garrett finds that attaining her dream of becoming a nurse is fraught with peril, and a deputy sheriff with a wall around his heart doesn’t help matters,

Tristi Pinkston book tours presents Bloodborne by Gregg Luke (with bonus review)

About the book:

One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bioweapon or that her recent research hold a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.

 Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.

My review:

Gregg Luke is a new-to-me author I discovered through a blog tour that I agreed to participate in, and boy am I glad I did. The story was riveting. The plot was intriguing. Best of all, the book was suspenseful and kept me guessing a lot. I have to say there were some very funny parts, too, like when one of the characters is conversing with a native Hawaiian. Hilarious dialog! And there were parts that had me biting my nails, like the scenes where they were being chased, hunted down, etc. A few times I was pretty sure she was done for.

Anyway, without posting any spoilers I'll just say I liked this plot because it was well thought-out and intelligently written. There were a few places that had some sad situations, but that's just how life goes sometimes. The who Latin codes and phrases thing just made the secret order seem that much creepier to me. So trying to decide who was safe and who wasn't safe was a suspenseful challenge for me. I liked that. I would read more books by this author. There wasn't a dull moment in this story and it was well-written. I can't stand corny scenes, simplistic plotting, and cheesy dialog. Thankfully this book had none of those problems. I definitely recommend this book for suspense lovers everywhere.

Bloodborne was published by Covenant Communications and released in August 2011.

My review of Leonardo the Florentine by Catherine McGrew Jaime

About the book:


Who are the Medici brothers? And who is trying to assassinate them? Why was the Pitti Palace never completed? And what part did Leonardo play in all of this? Leonardo da Vinci is remembered as an artist and inventor. But who was he before anyone knew his name? This family-friendly novel explores the history and the legends of his early years in Florence. It also weaves a mystery of politics and power.


My review:

Leonardo the Florentine is the story of Da Vinci's early years as an apprentice to an artist/sculptor Verrochio. The story was well-written and set up more like a novel than a history lesson. I can see this being useful to home school parents who want decent stories for Middle grade students that reflect real history but are family friendly at the same time.

The plot was fairly interesting and the author did a good job placing the reader in the setting. I enjoyed the political aspects of the novel. Having recently read a novel about Catherine de Medici, this story was even more interesting to me because the Medicis were a major focus in this novel as well as Leonardo Da Vinci's life.

Political unrest was highlighted just like it happened in Italian history. In some ways the various families fighting each other from different cities reminded me of a modern day mafia-type situation. I find it intriguing how similar situations happened centuries ago (such as certain families wanted to rule and dominate certain areas or cities.) But that's an aside. Overall this was a rewarding read.

Leonardo the Florentine was published by the author and released in October 2010. I won this book on the Freado book promotion site.

Revell blog tour stop for Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan!

European Mail-Order Bride Finds Love Against All Odds

(Michelle says: Best Mail-Order Bride story EVER!)

Acclaimed romance writer Maggie Brendan’s latest offering from the “Blue Willow Bride” series, Deeply Devoted (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3462-6, $14.99, 336 pages, September), introduces readers to Catharine Olsen, a mail-order bride arriving in America from Holland. She carries not only the anticipation of her marriage to Peter Andersen but also the residual pain of a tragic past, her mother’s Blue Willow china, and has her two younger sisters in tow. The fact is, in Wyoming, the single men outnumber the women five to one, so Catharine’s surpassing beauty and willing spirit are priceless gifts for Peter.

In spite of initial culture shock and necessary adjustments, Catharine finds a love with Peter that enraptures both her heart and mind. She is greatly troubled by Peter’s mother’s endeavors to sabotage their precious marriage. Catharine becomes terrified that her haunting past will be discovered, as the story unfolds with tremendous detail and extraordinary characterization.

Brendan’s previous work has received high rankings and praise in the Romantic Times, and she has also received the Atlanta Persistence Award from the American Christian Writers.  Author Julie Lessman commented, “Maggie Brendan’s gentle style of prairie romance is reminiscent of Janette Oke, capturing the heart of both the Old West and the reader with romance that will make you sigh.”

Deeply Devoted is sure to captivate readers with its page-turning thrills and the hope of a deeply redemptive story. 

Maggie Brendan is the author of No Place for a Lady, The Jewel of His Heart, and A Love of Her Own. A member of American Christian Writers and the American Fiction Writers Association, Maggie lives in Georgia.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For my complete review go HERE

A copy of Deeply Devoted was provided by Revell books for the purpose of review for this tour. The opinion expressed in my review is entirely my own. This book was the best mail order bride book I've ever read... and I've read about forty or fifty of them (at least) in the past ten years!

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen.

To enter for a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment that answers this question... Have you ever been jealous of someone else's life only to discover that all wasn't what it seemed when you got to know them better? I will choose a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Have a great week!


About the book:

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood play dates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

My thoughts:

Never got this book to review so I don't have an opinion to share.

My review of True Love Begins with God by Bob Claycamp.

About the book: 

We have all been created to give and receive love. But the search to find that special "someone" who will be our true soul mate can seem so elusive. Within the pages of True Love Begins With God, we will explore what God has to say about this very important subject of LOVE.

My review: 


I really don't like to read non-fiction. Maybe one out of every ten books I start that are non-fiction actually get read to the end. This book is one of the few that I can say truly inspired me. It made me think. It made me laugh at times. And yes, I even got a bit tearful on occasion. There were so many nuggets of truth to digest. This is the perfect Bible study book for singles, couples, and families. Seriously, there is so much to glean from this book.

Honestly, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading something this much that had to do with studying a particular book in the Bible. Now starting out I wasn't sure how I'd feel since I know the pastor personally. He did my oldest son's baby dedication nearly 20 years ago. So I bought the book to support him, but it was with a bit of trepidation I began reading. I mean, who wants to give someone they know and love a bad review, right? I'd rather not review it at all. At least not publicly. Thankfully this wasn't an issue.

The funny thing is that I enjoyed the examples and stories so much I found myself grabbing my husband frequently and saying, "Hey listen to this." Then I'd read the part that inspired me or made me smile. Seriously, I am very glad I read this book. I highly recommend it and think it would be particularly inspiring for home groups to study. I hope sales take off because if Christians all understood that true love begins with God, and studied what 1 Corinthians teaches in such depth (as the author does in this book) then it would overhaul our families, our country, and even touch the world.

Seriously, I found it quite convicting in some places, so it's not for those living in denial or who want to believe they have already arrived. Be prepared for a little heart surgery when you read this, but if it results in a healed and restored heart and better relationships, then it would be worth it, right?

True Love Begins with God was published by Intermedia Publishing Group and first released in December 2010.

My review of The Tudor Throne by Brandy Purdy

About the book:

In the wake of King Henry VIII's death, England's throne is left in a precarious state—as is the peculiar relationship between his two daughters. Mary, the elder, once treasured, had been declared a bastard in favor of her flame-haired half-sister, Elizabeth, born of the doomed Anne Boleyn. Yet the bond between the sisters was palpable from the start. Now reinstated, Mary eventually assumes her place as queen. But as Mary's religious zeal evolves into a reign of terror, young Elizabeth gains the people's favor. Gripped by a tormenting paranoia, Mary is soon convinced that her beloved Elizabeth is in fact her worst enemy. And the virginal Elizabeth, whose true love is her country, must defy her tyrannical sister to make way for a new era. . .



My review:


I'm a big fan of Tudor era novels...usually. There were some excellent portrayals in this novel, like the characterization of the two sisters' beliefs and how they saw the world through varied lenses, that made it compelling at times. I had to admire Elizabeth's love for England and pity Mary for being fooled by Prince Philip into thinking she actually meant something to him. What a sad thing to say in your last days... "All I ever wanted was to be loved." The portrayal of their differences when it came to England's salvation or ruin was compelling too. So many people died needlessly and with such cruelty done to them for worshiping God in their own way. Many people were persecuted for their faith in those days and it always saddens me when leaders crush their own people for reasons such as this. 


Now on to the stuff I didn't like. I had a hard time buying all of the sexual stuff. The cakes and ale guy was annoying and disgusting. I don't know if what he had done in this story actually happened to Elizabeth in real life, but if it had then he was even more of a scum than this story portrays. The way this was written reminded me of a Middle Ages version of Lolita and that sordid tale. Ick is all I have to say about that. 


If the editor had cut the explicit sex scenes that didn't add to the story but made it seem cheap, then this novel would have ranked higher in my mind. The author has a real knack for writing the first person point of view. It's clearly her strength. But adding so much erotic content to make it feel like a lewd novel with modernized debased behavior in the story left a lot to be desired for me. Thankfully that wasn't the entire book. 


Sometimes I'd be reading along and think the story was a great portrayal of history, then something nasty or erotic happened and I lost my enthusiasm for the story. This is a great example of how explicit sexual content in a book can ruin it for me. The three star rating is for the parts of the story that were insightful and in good taste. The rest...yuck. I would rather read Elizabeth Chadwick or Philippa Gregory's novels, which are done in better taste. That's my two cents.


The Tudor Throne was published by Kensington and released in July 2011.

Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in the Windy City 2012... here I come!

FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE WINDY CITY

Inspirational fiction is one of the 16 genres covered extensively in our agenda. Learn how to write and get published, find out how to break into this ever-expanding market and how to transition from secular to inspirational fiction. Tyndale House Publishers (located in Carol Stream, Ill.) and oody Publishers will be on hand to lend support to the program as well as meet authors

Check this out... I'm on a panel! CHRISTIAN FICTION FINALLY GETS REAL! Living in faith is not about never stumbling, never leaving the straight and narrow, never making a mistake, never wanting more than we’re supposed to have. It’s what we do about it. Join us in an open discussion about the evolution of Christian romance, reflecting the imperfections of life and the choices we make. Leave behind the prairie bonnet and rose-colored glasses for reality-based Christian fiction. HOSTS: Michelle Sutton, Roxanne Rustand, Michelle Levigne, Shawna K. Williams, Gail R. Delaney (Editor-In-Chief, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.)

My review of The Unforgivable by Tessa Stockton

About the book:


Accused of the worst war crimes in the history of Argentina, Carlos Cornella is despised by a wounded nation... "I'm in love with a monster. That's what people call him anyway: monster, murderer, kidnapper, torturer, sociopath, even the devil. His crimes are so terrible that he may be unforgivable. But I have come to know him as something else. I know him as God's Treasure. And I'm not sure what to do about that. So, here's my story."


My review:


I adore books that makes me think, and love them when they make me feel something deep inside my heart. This novel does even more than that. It challenged my faith and my beliefs and made me wonder how I would act in a similar situation. How far am I willing to go to obey God's call for my life? It's a healthy question for all Christians to ask themselves. Are we willing to set the familiar aside and delve into the unknown, especially when it comes with insecurity? I loved how the author tied Christ's love into the whole story, and did so in a powerful, yet convincing manner.


Jesus was despised and rejected. The author took someone with a similar history to a Nazi and basically showed that yes, God loves even "those" people. He loved them enough to send Jesus to die for them too. While in theory this makes sense to people who follow Christ, but if coupled with someone who truly had a horrendous past like Carlos, then how do we see things? The Bible says all sin is equally repugnant to God. It's people that elevate some sins above others. But God's grace extends to us all. Now I won't say that there weren't things that were difficult to understand or to stomach in this story. I think the beauty of this book is that the author takes things that are vile and very difficult to understand and makes you think about them and how true forgiveness extends even that far.


The character Gen in this story was a strong woman in that she really heard from God and wanted to do what He wanted her to do. She wanted to follow God's path and His voice. So would she listen to man's pressure, or would she do what she knew God wanted her to do? I've felt that way at times with my writing. Should I buckle to pressure and not write what I know God wants me to write?


I personally admire people who write brave books like this one -- books that challenge spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. Books that expand our capacity for compassion and true Christian love. I can see how some readers may misconstrue the author's intent in this book. The heroine didn't think it was her love that would change Carlos, like many women believe when they hook up with a messed up man thinking he will change if he is really "loved." Gen believed God wanted to show His love to Carlos through her. That's a different perspective entirely. It comes with a lot of prayer. It's not for the weak Christian.


I loved how true-to-life the characters seemed as well as the strong spiritual thread in this story and how it was applied. Rather than spouting platitudes, the author showed through this novel how tough it can be to serve the Lord at times. What a wonderful story with a difficult, but rewarding message. Oh, and it's a bit edgy, too. That just gave it bonus points in my mind because the author addressed some ugly things in life that most Christians would rather ignore than deal with. I highly recommend it.


The Unforgivable was published by Risen Books (D&D) and was released in April 2011.

My review/endorsement for Rose's Pledge by Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford

About the book: 

 Step back into the early days of America, where Rose Harwood and her sisters become indentured to the highest bidders. When Rose’s new owner takes her deep into Indian Territory, a young frontiersman named Nate Kinyon tags along, hoping to save Rose from the machinations of a grubby trader and the appraising looks of young braves. How much is he willing to pay—in dollars and sense—to redeem the woman he loves? And how much is Rose willing to sacrifice for his protection?

 My review:

I have always enjoyed reading historical novels set in Colonial America. Plots where women had to rough it to survive on the frontier make those types of stories even more intriguing to me. Toss in the fact that the heroine was orignally from England and sold herself as an indentured servant along with her sisters to help keep her father out of debtor's prison, thus causing them all to be shipped off to the Americas... Well, I'll just say that makes for a intriguing plot with major potential. The authors pulled this concept off well and I learned quite a bit about the French and the Indian raids on traders' posts during that perilous period in time. The setting was so well done I was freezing right along with them while they were on the run. The authors' writing and "voice" were seamless, as if written by one person rather than two.

 Rose's Pledge was an enthralling novel with excellent pacing. It held my attention so well I wanted to do little else but read. The hero was charming and the spiritual thread in the story was gripping and believable. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and can't help wondering whose story will be next. I'm thinking it will be Mariah's story. I can't wait to read that one because I'm already intrigued with the setting she is in and her delusions of romance and grandeur.

I appreciated how the authors' used Rose's story to show how sometimes God uses the most unlikely circumstances to bring about our greatest joy in life. The authors also showed that sometimes God strips everything from us so that we'll depend on Him for everything and learn to see Him working in every situation in our lives. Peril will cause even the most unlikely people to seek God's protection and help, and sometimes they will even turn their hearts toward Him. Well-written, Rose's Pledge has a solid plot with great pacing, believable characters, and an intriguing setting. But most of all, it is a story of deep and abiding faith. I loved it!

This novel was provided to me by the publisher, Barbour, for the purpose of endorsement. The book officially releases in January 2012, but you can pre-order it on CBD, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble  right now! Go ahead and treat yourself to a great book. You will love it. Promise!

Revell Blog Tour stop for A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman (with bonus review!)

She Left Ireland And A Man Who Broke Her Heart...

Only To Find An American Who Could Restore It.

About the book:

Julie Lessman’s new novel A Heart Revealed (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3416-9, $14.99, 512 pages, September), the second offering in the “Winds of Change” series, opens in Boston in 1931, where thirty-one-year-old Emma Malloy has fled from an abusive marriage in Ireland.

Although her former husband has left her haunted and deeply scarred. Emma cannot help but develop strong feelings for her friend Charity’s brother, Sean O’Connor.

Described by his sister as very stubborn, Sean maintains that he is not the marrying kind. But as he and Emma draw closer and closer, will her strong, tender heart ensnare him and change his mind?

Transporting readers back to a time when the Empire State Building was brand new and the local speakeasy was a common destination, Lessman outlines the fascinating era and its citizens with deft precision.

Lessman, who has been hailed as a writer with noteworthy skill by Publishers Weekly has once again delivered an epic tale featuring vibrant characterization, wonderful thrills, sharp dialogue, and surprises both large and small. 


My review:


Wow, each of Julie's books is so compelling, but all for different reasons. The title of this story fit the content perfectly... because each person's true heart was revealed through the conflicts they faced. I love how these stories all tie together, both the last series and this one. I'm delighted that I don't have to say goodbye to the O'Connors even though they are a fictional family. I adore them. As I read this current installment in the series I felt like I was watching a whole season of One Life to Live--but a Christian version. At the same time there was no sappy drama in this novel like you'd find in typical soap operas. The conflict felt like real-life issues to me; issues that couples face every day.


People usually want to do the real thing but their flesh always gets in the way. And shame from the past tends to damage so much in each person's present. Sometimes without them even knowing it. I loved how this story showed that even someone as Christ-like and loving as Emma could still be shamed by a past that distorted every decision she made in the present. Knowing Jesus personally heals our hearts, yes, but it doesn't erase our pasts. The only way to heal the past is to work through the pain, the hurt, the lies, the shame... and this book does a great job of showing just that. It shows how dealing with things in our past heals, where avoiding those issues causes rifts in relationships and stifles our ability to be truly free to love others.


I loved how the author showed that Sean had an issue from childhood buried so deep in his soul that it caused rage in his heart in the present, and I loved how Father Mac helped him to dig up the root cause of his anger. Then he could deal with it's cause and heal. This is a really good, healthy message for people--especially the walking wounded--to hear. It brings hope that inspires, which is what Christian fiction should do. This novel inspired me, and for that reason (and because of the healthy message in the story) it's making my best fiction list for 2011.


A Heart Revealed was published by Revell and released in Sept. 2011. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for me to review for this tour. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own.

About the author:


Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose books give readers “Passion With a Purpose,” underscoring her intense passion for both God and romance. Julie is the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards. She was the winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series has recently released with A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.


Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.


“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”


Buy the book on Amazon.com

The YP Publishing blog tour stop for Seven by Paige Agnew!

Here is what the author, Paige Agnew, has to say about her latest book Seven...

"I guess what started my writing was a really strong desire to have a story of my own. I fall in love with others’ stories again and again and again and I really just wanted an experience like that for myself. I wrote my first book, Starless Sky at age 15 and published it in January of 2010. My second book, Seven, was published February 2011.

Seven is a thriller. This riveting tale takes the reader on a journey as the events unfold and their commonality comes to the forefront. The seven strangers soon learn that unity is greater than division. The story asks the question will the characters be able to set their differences aside long enough to free themselves from the grips of this jaded kidnapper. Seven will make you laugh even cry as it takes you on what seems like a heart-racing roller coaster ride by inviting you into the lives of these seven characters.

The book also has a spiritual aspect of it. It’s not entirely noticeable at first but its subtlety makes itself known by the end of the book. There are a few twists and turns in Seven that leave the reader trying to figure out what the end will bring.  Seven promises to end with a bang."

To read their story, go to the author's website, http://paigeagnew.com. You will find an excerpt of Seven; if you are intrigued to hear more, you can purchase her book there as well.

The book is also available at Amazon.com, Kindle and other retailers.

You can find out more about The YP Publishing virtual tours by clicking on the buttons below...


                

Some of my e-books will be in paperback in 2012! Check this out!

Great news for my fans who dislike e-readers. Some of my e-books will be available in paperback in 2012. They will start with the first book in a series. Not sure if my first print book with be Danger at the Door, or First Impressions, or both. I'll let you know when I get more details. Anyway, tell me this... are you more likely to read either one of these books now that they will be in print? Or did it not matter to you? Let me know your thoughts.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Cascade by Lisa Bergren!

Here is a "different" type of question for you this week. If you could go back to the 13th century through time what would you be most intrigued with? I will select a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Have a great week!

About the book:


Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead. But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

My thoughts:


I am still waiting for my copy to arrive so I can read it.

My review/endorsement of Yashua's Bridge by Sandi Rog.

This fantastic book doesn't release until November 1, 2011, but is now available for pre-order (as of Oct 23, 2011 - I updated this info.) But I can tell you that it's an excellent book. It's the second book in a series. I didn't read the first book, but you don't have to read the first book to totally enjoy this one. However, reading this novel does make me want to go back now and read The Master's Wall... but that's an aside. On to the description of the book on the publisher's site and my review and endorsement...

About the book:
An amethyst stone draws him to his past. An elusive maiden draws him to his future. Alexander is born into slavery under an abusive master: a master of his own flesh and blood . . . a man he will never call Father. Determined to break away from his master’s hold, Alexander devises a plan to purchase his freedom. But what’s he to do when he finds himself shipped off in shackles to Egypt, disappearing from the lives of everyone he knows and loves?


My review/endorsement:

Yashua's Bridge is a powerful story about forgiveness and loyalty to the Christian faith. There were well-drawn characters, both slave and free in this novel. A number of them made up the early church located in Rome, though not all. The story took place during the reign of Domitian, who was one of the Caesars that killed Christians who refused to worship him as a god. This novel follows the life of Alexander, who was born into slavery. His life's goal was to earn his freedom and to set his mother free. Unfortunately his father was also his master, and his father abused him and his mother.

Despite his painful childhood, Alexander followed Yashua's teachings and he had a special relationship with David's family. (David was the main character in the first book.) Some devastating things occurred that rocked Alexander's world. Similar devastation happened to David's life at a later date. They both dealt with bitterness, anger, and a hate severe enough to make them want to kill the offenders. Despite their justified anger, they are taught by the Lord through various situations that they must forgive. This story shows their struggle to forgive, but also the healing that took place in their hearts. I loved the theme that God loves us enough to allow whatever is necessary to bring about our spiritual good and to produce healing in our lives. Sometimes what He allows makes no sense to us at the time.

Yashua's Bridge reminded me of Francine Rivers's Mark of the Lion trilogy in that it was also set during the first century when Christianity was still growing, and when gladiators fought to the death for mere entertainment of Roman citizens. Sandi Rog draws you into the story so deeply that you feel each character's pain and you hurt along with them. Well-written and fast paced, Yashua's Bridge has the potential to heal hearts and touch many lives because it doesn't soft-step or minimize human suffering. The greater the darkness was, the more the light of Christ shone in this book. I loved it!

Yashua's Bridge is published by Deward Publishing and will release on Nov. 1, 2011.

My review of Tea for Two by Trish Perry.

About the book:

Counselor Tina Milano has been visiting Milly’s Tea Shop regularly for the past several months. She has many friends but no steady man in her life. Zack Cooper is a local farmer who provides Milly with fresh fruit and vegetables. As a single parent, Zack is doing his best to raise his teenage son and daughter on his own.
When the kids get in minor scrapes with the law, Milly gently encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before their rebellious natures land them in even hotter water. At first Tina sees the relationship in only a professional capacity, but soon her friends notice the luscious scent of romance in the air and decide to help things along.


My review:


Tea for Two was the sweetest romance! I enjoyed it a lot and read it quickly. The plot was endearing and the author managed to make something painful like abandonment, suicide, divorce, etc. into a story with healing potential for people who are dealing with those issues. I loved that about this story. I've done a lot of counseling in my career and the way the story was set up worked very well because it was ethcial and believable. It was cute, actually. 

The hero was awesome and dreamy, but also very much a "real" guy who happened to be a single dad dealing with typical teen problems. The author handled this very well and did a great job at showing how communication is so important as well as talking about loss rather than pretending everything is fine. I found the story very inspiring. I adored the heroine, too. 

Somehow the author snagged my heart with this novel and kept me reading to the end. She has a way with words and with tenderness in stories. Rather than feeling disappointed by the lack of physical contact between characters, I felt the tension between them was perfectly done and added to the romantic tension in the story. I loved that it was more tender and emotional. It just fit the plot and the characters. Well done!


Tea for Two was published by Harvest House and released in April 2011.

New giveaway! Enter for a chance to win Bridge to a Distant Star by Carolyn Williford

Sorry about the delay for the contest this week, folks. There was a snafu in the schedule. Back on track now...

For a chance to enter the drawing to win this book simply post a comment that answers this question... Do you like reading books that have more than one story in them, or do you prefer them separate? Again, combined installations in one book, or separate volumes in a series? And why do you prefer the stories that way? I'll pick a winner using the Randomizer program on Sunday. Best wishes to you.

About the book:

It All Comes Tumbling Down

As a storm rages in the night, unwary drivers venture onto Tampa Bay’s most renowned bridge. No one sees the danger ahead. No one notices the jagged gap hidden by the darkness and rain. Yet when the bridge collapses vehicles careen into the churning waters of the bay below.

In that one catastrophic moment, three powerful stories converge: a family ravaged by their child’s heartbreaking news, a marriage threatened by its own facade, and a college student burdened by self doubt. As each story unfolds, the characters move steadily closer to that fateful moment on the bridge. And while each character searches for grace, the storms in their lives loom as large as the storm that awaits them above the bay.

When these characters intersect in Carolyn Williford’s gripping and moving volume of three novellas, they also collide with the transforming truth of Christ: Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.

My thoughts:

I haven't read this book so I can't give an opinion. Sorry.

My review of The Edge of Grace by Christa Allen.

About the book:

In a matter of seconds her entire world shifted... 

An early morning call shatters Caryn Becker's world. Unable to cope with her brother’s news that he is gay, Caryn rejects him and disappears into her own turbulent life as a young widow and single mom. But when David is attacked and nearly killed, Caryn is forced to make hard choices about family, faith, and her own future; choices that take her to the very edge of grace. 

My review:

Christa Allen does a great job at drawing a reader in to someone else's world. I couldn't tell you how many times I paused to think about the main character's internal thoughts while reading this book. I really felt bad for her being widowed so young, and being a single mom of a son, and then feeling like she'd lost her brother, when in reality she hadn't. She just lost her image of him and had to reframe everything she'd believed about him. 

I loved how the character questioning her assumptions made me think about my own. Especially when it comes to stereotypes. That Lady Gaga reference even made me laugh out loud while I was reading. The weird thing is that this story hit a bit close to home for me because right after my kids went to college last year (like literally the first month they were there) some guys were beaten up pretty badly and two were put in the hospital just because they were gay. The attackers knew this because they caught them leaving a "coming out" type party. That was scary for me because it happened where my kids went to school, and in a pretty "liberal" college town. It can happen anywhere. Hate crimes still happen and they are always wrong. Just like rape is always wrong. Great points there. 

Also good points about how knowing something about someone shouldn't make you love them any less. Granted, no one wants to think about what people do privately, but it's true that one of the first things people think about is sex. But we don't think that about other people when we first meet them, right? Good thoughts. Also good ones regarding judging. Only God knows the persons heart and where they really stand with him. It's not our job to decide who He accepts and who he isn't. I still don't know how I feel about the whole faith thing in regards to sexual relationships, but I am sure many Christians sin in the area in heterosexual relationships, too. Does that mean they won't go to heaven either? I guess that depends on your faith slant. I lean more towards grace and that God is greater than any sin we can commit. He can handle us. Truly. Nothing we can do is new under the sun, right? 

Anyway, all in all this was a brave story and well-told. I applaud the author's courage. I like books that make me think and especially make think more about my faith and how I treat people. This book does exactly that. This is one story that needed to be told and she was the perfect person to tell it.


The Edge of Grace was published by Abingdon and released in August 2011.

My review of Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan!

About the book:

A Blue Willow tea set, a tragic past, a worn letter, and devotion to her two younger sisters, is all that mail order bride Catharine Olsen brings from Amsterdam to Cheyenne, WY to meet her future husband. Peter is a gentle, but hard-working wheat farmer, who doesn't realize the extent his meddling mother will go to in order to discredit his bride after he decides not to marry the lady she chose for him. Will Catharine's secret past threaten the idyllic life she has created with her new husband?

My review:

I can't remember the last time I stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish a book. I could NOT go to bed last night until I had read the last page and I started in the afternoon. You know it's a fantastic book to hold my attention for over 300 pages, make me skip dinner, and then make me unable to rest until I finished to whole thing. I think it was about 2AM by the time I went to bed. This story was awesome! It started out sweet like any other Christian book but kept intensifying with each chapter. Important elements of the story slowly trickled out over time and made it impossible to put down.

I had not read any books by Maggie Brendan before and figured this would be like any other typical Christian prairie romance, but I decided to give it a try anyway. Boy, was I wrong about that! It was anything but typical. I am so glad I joined the blog tour for this book because this is one of the few Christian fiction titles available that deals with mail order bride issues that doesn't make you wait for the entire book while they "get acquainted," if you know what I mean. I was thrilled about that. I always figured in real life it didn't work that way, only in Christian books, LOL! And unlike many novels that deal with secrets, this one had situations that were believable and worked for me. I absolutely loved the characters. All of them. Even the meddling mother/mother-in-law.

This novel is not only incredibly romantic with a hero that is swoon-worthy, but it makes you think about communication in marriage and makes you want to be a better spouse. Seriously. I loved Peter. Absolutely adored him. And when he got upset I understood it. Rather than getting ticked off at him I just hurt for him. Same for Catherine. She wasn't a petty wife with dumb issues that are supposed to carry an entire story. She was like a real person to me. I loved her and her sisters. I especially loved the scenes with her and Peter and their coming together as husband and wife. Tastefully done, yet enthralling at the same time.

I wish all Christian historicals were this yummy and inspirational. I think more people would switch over from secular fiction if they found more books like these on the inspy shelves. The scriptures all fit perfectly, too, and there was nothing sappy about the faith element. It wasn't heavy-handed, but was clearly present. I can't say enough good things about the book. The writing was stellar, too. I highly recommend it. It's making my best fiction list for this year!

Deeply Devoted was published by Revell and released in Sept 2011.

My review of Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger.

About the book:

The American debut of an award-winning novel about a lady’s maid’s awakening as she journeys from the confines of Victorian England to the uncharted far reaches of Egypt’s Nile Valley.

When Lady Duff Gordon, paragon of London society, departs for the hot, dry climate of Egypt to seek relief from her debilitating tuberculosis, her lady’s maid, Sally, doesn’t hesitate to leave the only world she has known in order to remain at her mistress’s side. As Sally gets farther and farther from home, she experiences freedoms she has never known—forgoing corsets and wearing native dress, learning Arabic, and having her first taste of romance.

But freedom is a luxury that a lady’s maid can ill afford, and when Sally’s newfound passion for life causes her to forget what she is entitled to, she is brutally reminded she is mistress of nothing. Ultimately she must choose her master and a way back home—or a way to an unknown future.

Based on the real lives of Lady Duff Gordon and her maid, The Mistress of Nothing is a lush and compelling story about the power of race, class, and love.



My review:

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would when I first started reading it. Things really picked up around chapter six and then I couldn't stop reading until I finished the book. It had a happy-sad sort of ending, but it was satisfying to me. There were definite pros and cons to Sally's life and the decisions she made as Lady Duff Gordon's ladies maid. The same went for Lady Duff Gordon and Omar, her loyal servant. The story was thoroughly engrossing and I found myself living in Egypt back in the mid 1800s. It was quite an adventure. I found the cultural aspects of the story fascinating and the romance quite intriguing.

The Mistress of Nothing was a love story for certain, but it had a bittersweet feel to it that I found quite addicting. Sometimes those stories are the best kind because in real life everything isn't peaches and cream, plus every decision made has ramifications that are far-reaching. I loved the part where Sally discovered that part of the problem was that she didn't "think" about what she was doing. She just gave herself over to it, reveled in it even. That type of impulsive behavior is often most destructive because usually it's not until the consequences are right in front of us that we realize things didn't have to go that route in the first place. But by then it was too late.

It sounds like I'm talking in code, I know. But it's the only way to share my thoughts without giving a spoiler. All in all I really enjoyed this book. It started out a bit tedious, but once I became engrossed in the story I had to keep reading until I finished it. It had a unique feel to it sort of like "The English Patient," but not as tragic. Very compelling story and well worth the read.

The Mistress of Nothing was published by Touchstone Books and released in August 2011.

ECFL presents - What a Character on the Christian Book Blog Festival blog tour!

Here is the question I have posed to Tony, one of my most complex characters who appears in both Never Without Hope (Sacred Vows, book 1) and the sequel Their Separate Ways (Sacred Vows, book 2.) He will make a final appearance in the third book in the series that will release in 2012. The title is Decision to Love (Sacred Vows, book 3.) 


So here is the question...

Tony, are you a womanizer or just a man who has trouble saying no to beautiful women?


Tony: I do not know why people think because I make mistake and have sex with a beautiful woman who is not my wife (okay, I do this more than one time, but still...) that I am womanizer. I am red-blooded Italian man and in my home country we are pleased with beauty. It is part of my culture, so is hard for me to say no, but I try very hard to be faithful. Is not easy to do in this in United States but I know that faithfulness is important to American women, so I try my best to do this. I cannot help that some women find me attractive. I do not see why this is true, but my accent has gotten me in trouble many times. I hear from many women that a man with accent, especially European, is "hot." When I am nervous around beautiful woman my accent is more strong than when I am just with friends. Is not intentional for me, but is just how it is. I am proud to say I have said no to many beautiful women. So I am not womanizer. I do not look for chance to have sex with someone who is not my wife. This problem finds me, and it is true that sometimes I have hard time saying no when a beautiful woman wants to be with me, but I do say no. A lot. Just not with Hope and someone else who has hurt me so much that I cannot speak her name right now. If you read Their Separate Ways you will find out why this is my problem. My wife, she is crazy, so this makes it much harder to say no to woman who has needs, if you know what I mean. That is all I am saying for now. I do think change is possible for me. I just do not know how to make this change. I think maybe faith in God helps, but this is not for me.


To read more posts on the tour go here... http://christianbookfestival.blogspot.com/

Here is an excerpt posted on Romantic Times book reviews... Read the excerpt HERE

Here is an article about the story behind the book and its relevance to marriage also posted on Romantic Times book reviews... Read that column HERE


To find out more about Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers please check out the site and consider joining. You won't regret it... http://edgychristianfictionlovers.ning.com

My review of The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C. W. Gortner.

About the book:

The truth is, not one of us is innocent. We all have sins to confess. 

So reveals Catherine de Medici, the last legitimate descendant of her family’s illustrious line. Expelled from her native Florence, Catherine is betrothed to Henri, son of François I of France. In an unfamiliar realm, Catherine strives to create a role for herself through her patronage of the famous clairvoyant Nostradamus and her own innate gift as a seer. But in her fortieth year, Catherine is widowed, left alone with six young children in a kingdom torn apart by the ambitions of a treacherous nobility. Relying on her tenacity, wit, and uncanny gift for compromise, Catherine seizes power, intent on securing the throne for her sons, unaware that if she is to save France, she may have to sacrifice her ideals, her reputation, and the secret of her embattled heart.


My review:

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici was fascinating to say the least, and extremely well written, much to my delight. The prose was almost lyrical at times. I was impressed with how much I learned about the historical queen and her family. The author made that era come alive without boring me with the many details that are needed to describe what took place in history. He really brings her trials and triumphs to life and did so in a way that made sense to me. I kept forgetting that the author was a man. He portrayed a woman's mindset so well in his description of Catherine's life and in her inner dialog. The queen regent's desire for peace was admirable, but her many compromises along the way caused nothing but further heartache. Being a regent in those days was a formidable task as so many lives depended on every decision made. Again, a fascinating and engrossing tale all around.


I've always found the time period in European history when religious persecution took place very intriguing. It seemed like there was an endless need for killing which flipped from one side to the other on a regular basis. It was a crazy generation to live in and a very bloody time as well. It's amazing that Europe survived it. The Protestant Reformation has always fascinated me because despite persecution in both directions it managed to survive and leave a legacy that exists to this day. The author did a great job at showing how complex the politics of the day were and how betrayal occurred on so many levels. I found it sad that Catherine believed her son Henri would be the one to keep the dynasty going only to discover that he would never have an heir for reasons she never saw coming. So many in her family died or were murdered. Again, quite sad. By book's end I felt like I understood a character in history that I knew very little about prior to reading this novel. I highly recommend it.


The Confessions of Catherine de Medici was published by Ballantine Books and release in May 2011.