Grace Awards finalists here. Two of my books are among them!

I had four books published in 2010 and of the four, two finaled in this contest. The cool thing is it's reader drive so you don't even know who is voting for you or what they are saying. You can't vote for yourself or nominate yourself. So I had no idea until today that I'd finaled. Anyway, here is the info...


Grace Awards

The Grace Awards 2010 first round of readers choice voting for excellence in faith-based fiction has come to an end. Reader votes have been counted and we have our finalists. Readers who voted were required to give a reason why they voted for a particular novel. We've chosen from what readers had to say and you will see a sampling below.

Some of our judges are finalists. However no author, including judges, was allowed to cast a vote for his/her own novel. The Grace Awards made every effort to generate reader voting by reaching out to readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.



Women's Fiction: (serious women's issues, can have humor and suspense elements)

Never Without Hope ~ Michelle Sutton, Sword of the Spirit**

Rachel's Contrition ~ Michelle Buckman, Sophia Institute Press**

Sensible Shoes ~ Sharon Garlough Brown, Westbow**



Romance/Historical Romance: (the primary element is love, courtship, marriage, be it then or now)

Meander Scar ~ Lisa J. Lickel, Black Lyon Publishers**

No Other ~ Shawna K. Williams, Desert Breeze Publishing**

Road to Deer Run ~ Elaine Marie Cooper, iUniverse**



Suspense/Thriller/Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Detective Novel: (crime fiction, there's probably a body)

Back On Murder ~ J. Mark Bertrand, Bethany House**

In Plain Sight ~ Michelle Sutton, Desert Breeze Publishing**

K-I-L-L FM 100 ~ Teric Darken, Westbow**



Speculative Fiction: (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.)

Future Savior Book One: Conception ~ Jennifer Hartz, Desert Breeze Publishing**

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider ~ Ellen C. Maze, Treasureline Publishing**

Seasons of the Mist ~ Deborah Kinnard, Sheaf House Publishers**



Action Adventure/Western/Historical Epic Fiction: (exploits/quest, a fee of wide open spaces, expansive)

Alpah Redemption ~ P.A. Baines, Splashdown Books**

The Manor of the Ghost ~ Tina Pinson, Desert Breeze Publishing

Wounded Spirits ~ April Gardner, Vinspire Publishing**



Young Adult Fiction: (appeals to ages 14 - 21ish)

Kestrel's Midnight Song ~ J. R. Parker, Flaming Pen Press**

Knight of Glory ~ Nicole Zoltack, Desert Breeze Publishing**

Secrets Under the Midnight Sun ~ Elisa Maria Crites, Westbow**

I'm participating in The Priest's Graveyard blog tour!

Special giveaway mid week for an autographed copy of The Map Across Time by C. S. Lakin!

Special giveaway here! Enter to win a copy of C. S. Lakin's The Map Across Time! I haven't read this particular book but I have read Someone to Blame by C. S. Lakin, and not only did that book make my best fiction list for 2010, but it was at the top of the list! This author knows how to write intriguing plots. For a chance to win simply post what intrigues you about the book description below. I will select a winner sometime in the next week!

Publisher's Weekly says about The Map Across Time:

“fast-paced and tightly plotted, which means that the reader will be quickly drawn into the complex twists and turns of the story and, in fairy tale tradition, led toward a surprising yet satisfying conclusion.”

About the book:

An ancient curse plagues the kingdom of Sherbourne, and unless it is stopped, all will fall to ruin. The King, obsessed with greed, cannot see the danger. But his teenage twin children, Aletha and Adin, know they must act. A hermit leads Adin to a magical map that will send him back in time to discover the origin of the curse. Once back, Adin must find the Keeper, who protects the Gate of Heaven, but all he has is a symbol as a clue to guide him. Unbeknown to him, Aletha follows her brother, but they both arrive in Sherbourne’s past at the precipice of a great war and there is little time to discover how to counteract the curse.

Once unexpected disaster after another forces the twins to make difficult choices. Adin’s only hope for saving his kingdom is to return to the future to manipulate events so his quest can succeed. Through his trials and failures, Adin learns that nothing can stop heaven from accomplishing its goal, and that all events work for the good of those who trust heaven.”

TitleTrakk.com blog tours presents - Bound by Guilt by CJ Darlington!

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Bound by Guilt
by C.J. Darlington 
Published by Tyndale House 

     
    Shuttled between foster homes, Roxi Gold will do anything to fit in. Soon she’s traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society—and not just at work. One fateful night, both their lives are changed forever. One searches for justice, the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free?


Great job! You kept me turning the pages. 
--Francine Rivers, Internationally best selling author 

C.J. is a wonderful, talented writer . . . extraordinary . . . 
--Bodie Thoene, best-selling author of the A.D. Chronicles 

This one engages your senses and reaches your heart. 
--Jerry B. Jenkins, NY Times best-selling author & owner of The Christian Writers Guild 










About the Author:

C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site www.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com

QUICK LINKS: 

• The 1st chapter of Bound by Guilt 
• Buy at Christianbook.com
• Buy at Amazon.com
• Buy at Barnes & Noble 

My review:

Bound by Guilt is the perfect title for this book. The cover is also stunningly beautiful! It's hard to post a review without giving away spoilers, but I'll try. There were some things at the end of the first book in this series that had me wanting more. Well, in this story I got to see what I wanted, then wham! My heart ached and the tension just kept building from there. I could picture the traumatic event because it was so well done. Every time the situation was remembered I had a flashback myself. The description of the horrible event was superb. The author did a great job showing a variety of situations that tugged on this reader's heart strings. I love how the author showed rifts in families and relationships in both books and showed how important it is to always keep a clean slate. What a great lesson.

The thing that intrigued me about this book the most was the foster care situation. I've worked with foster children for years as a child protective services worker and this author did a great job showing the inner turmoil that foster children go through. I loved how the author paired Roxi with a dog who needed someone and who had no one just like she did. Wonderful analogy and critical to her healing. The rest of the book continued in a similar manner until God hooked Roxi up with someone who truly cared. I was inspired by the themes in this book and loved the ending. I also love how the author isn't afraid to hurt her characters--a lot-- but that always makes for a better story. Great sequel!

Bound by Guilt is published by Tyndale was was released March 1, 2011. A copy of this book was provided to me by Titletrakk to review for this tour. The opinion expressed regarding this book is completely my own.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho by Angela Ruth!

For a chance to enter the drawing to win this book simply post a comment answering the following question. Have you ever met someone and assumed they would be one way, but after getting to know them you found out they were nothing like you thought they would be? In other words, have you ever had a bias against someone and found out you were way off base? I will pick a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Best wishes to you!



About the book:

Actress Emily Van Arsdale has returned to her Idaho hometown - with an entire film crew in tow! With its stunning scenery and reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily’s newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. But Tracen is surprised to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley - and Tracen - behind?

My thoughts:

I don't have this book so I can't give an opinion. Sorry!

Revell blog tour stop for Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews. Plus book review!

Contact: Donna Hausler, Publicity Assistant dhausler@bakerpublishinggroup.com

                                                                                                                                                           

How Could Job Explain to His Wife That The Life They Once Knew Was Gone?

“No, not my children! El Shaddai, Al-Uzza, by the gods, not my babies!”

“Come, wife,” said Job with a sudden and unexplained calm. 

“Only one God can help us.”

About the book:

Drawing characters directly from the Bible and others from historical texts, Mesu Andrews, author of Love Amid the Ashes (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3407-7, March 2011, $14.99) weaves new threads into Job’s story, creating a novel that breathes new life into an ancient tale of suffering and redemption. Andrews began her research at Multnomah University and expanded her studies to include rabbinic traditions, giving readers of Love Amid the Ashes a unique understanding of Hebrew customs during Biblical times.

Readers often think of Job sitting on the ash heap, his life in shambles. But how did he get there? What was Job's life like before tragedy struck? What did he think as his world came crashing down around him? And what was life like after God restored his wealth, health, and family?

Through painstaking research and a writer's creative mind, Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of this well-known story told through the eyes of the women who loved him. Drawing together the account of Job with those of Esau's tribe and Jacob's daughter Dinah, Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.

My review:

The premise for this book was fantastic. The delivery of it, however, was fairly convoluted.

This is a tough review for me to write because I really wanted to love this book. There were parts of the story that I really liked, and then there were parts that I found myself skimming through (closer to the end.) I really loved the beginning when Job's plan was for Dinah to marry his son. It seemed like he and Dinah were overly fond of each other, though. Not sure how I felt about that, so the verdict is still out on that one. I also loved the rehashing and remembering of Dinah's experience with the Prince of Shechem. That was very well done. I felt the horror of it all. I also felt like I was there and suffered along with her. The disdain she received from others for twenty years and being despised was sad, but well done and believably presented in the story. Then things in this novel got a bit muddied for me.

There were too many players and points of view for me to really connect with the majority of the characters like I wanted to. I wasn't fond of Dinah's relationship with the Cushite servant. It seemed like their relationship was not typical for the time period, plus their friendship seemed a bit juvenile. I also felt like they pulled me out of the story and the time period on a regular basis.

There was simply too much content involving Dinah and the other girl, the Cushite. I loved the tension between Sayyid and Sitis. His obsession with her was creepy, but very well done. Job's suffering was well done, too. His wife's issues were well presented. I felt like I understood her. At the same time I wasn't particularly fond of how things turned out for Job with his new family because it seemed wrong after all that happened in the first three quarters of the book. In short, I wasn't feeling the love.

The author's strength as a writer (in my opinion) is writing gut-wrenching scenes. Those were awesome. But the other things like dialog, friendships, and relationships in the story didn't work for me. The book seemed overly long and it meandered a lot. I had a hard time tracking with it and was tempted to skim many times. I wish I could say more good things but I really struggled with this book. It took me longer than most books to read. I'm sure the author is a fabulous person. Her writing style just isn't for me. But that doesn't mean it won't highly regarded by other readers.

Love Amid the Ashes was published by Revell and released in March 2011. This book was provided for review by Revell's publicity department for the purpose of this blog tour. The opinion expressed in this post is entirely my own.

About the author:

Mesu Andrews is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her readers in this debut novel. She lives in Washington.

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 more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Their Separate Ways is coming soon! E-book in May, paperback in July!

Here is the video trailer about the book...




And here is the book description. What do you think???

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing when you experience it in marriage... But what if you don't? 

What happened in the hearts of Tony Perotta and Hope Williams after the affair was exposed and they went their separate ways? Did they struggle with memories from their past relationship, or with wishing things would've turned out differently? Was trust ever restored in their homes after their lives crashed and burned around them? Did they ever heal enough to enjoy their marriages as before, or were they even worse off after their sin was revealed?

Their Separate Ways continues the saga the year after the exposure of Tony and Hope's extramarital affair. It's an honest and close-up look at the inner workings of each of their hearts as they reflect on the painful memories resulting from that devastating choice. Experience with them the vast difference between couples who know true forgiveness and who have hope, and those who don't.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas by Pamela Griffin!

To enter for a chance to win this book simply post a comment that answers the following question... If you were childless, would you marry someone with six kids? Why or why not?
I will select a winner next Sunday using the Randomizer program. Best wishes to you all!



About the book:


Fashionable Easterner Alison Stripling is shocked to receive a letter from her deceased sister’s husband in Hope, Kansas, pleading for help with his six children. The letter gives Alison a chance to escape her troubles in Boston, and the name of the town seems like a sign from God. But when she arrives at a rustic cabin on the prairie, she’s in for a bigger shock: Rafe Munroe didn’t write the letter at all! Realizing the children are determined to pair them off, Rafe and Alison join forces to prove the idea would never work. Can Hope’s cupids - all six of them - strike love’s arrows into the hearts of their pa and Miss Alison?


My thoughts:


I don't have this book so I can't say anything about it. However, I have read a few of Pamela's Heartsong stories years ago and enjoyed them. 

Revised the video trailer for Their Separate Ways!

Come to find out the save didn't work right on my computer so I redesigned the video tonight. I like the revised version better. It looks smoother. What do you all think???

Check out the book video trailer I made for Their Separate Ways (coming soon!)

Blog tour stop for The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert - hosted by Booksparks PR - with bonus review.

About the book:

Mama takes thirteen-year-old Serena and her sister to the US in search of fortune, leaving behind their multicultural family, stability, and the colors of the Caribbean. After driving from Miami to Hollywood, their money and luck run out and a 1963 Ford Galaxie becomes their first American home. Guided by the memory of her native Curacao and the words of her wise grandmother, Serena confronts unimagined challenges and grows up quickly. What gifts will this new country bring, and at what price?

About the author:

Patricia Selbert grew up on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao. Educated in three countries and four languages, she immigrated to California at age 13, inspiring her first novel, "The House of Six Doors". She represented the Netherlands Antilles in equestrian events at the World Championships and Pan American Games. She currently lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband, two sons and three dogs, and blogs about lifestyle, parenting, travels and the delicious recipes she discovers at www.journalbytheseas.com

My review:

For starters, let me say this isn't a Christian novel. I found the mother and grandmother's superstitions quite intriguing, if not a bit disconcerting at times. The House of Six Doors is a coming of age story is truly hard to put down. I just wanted to keep reading until I finished the book. I liked the part early on where they traveled through Tombstone, Arizona in 1972 looking for ghosts because it was labeled a ghost town at the time. I found that funny - I live near Tombstone, so that was a plus for me.

I was intrigued by how they survived at first and how they sacrificed to help each other, sometimes to their detriment. The mother's manipulation and her guilt inducing behavior is not uncommon in families. It was intense at times and the way the author showed the negative impact on the daughters was powerful. The story really picked up for me and grabbed my heart when Serena met Sandu. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved the occasional flashbacks where Serena remembered things from the past (before she went to live in California) that made up who she was. I found Serena to be a strong and wise girl in then end even though she started out fearful and insecure as a young teenager. Her struggles to fit in and make friends in a country where she didn't read and write English was well done. I loved the illustration of her life and how it matched the strangler-fig tree. Her older sister gave her perspective when she needed it most and her Oma provided her with the encouragement she needed to mature over time. Everyone needs an Oma in their lives who makes sense of the world and loves you regardless.

I found the ending bittersweet and yet empowering. Serena did find her place in the world and it was rewarding to see her grow once she decided to make something of her life. She did the right thing in many situations despite the obstacles she came up against. I disagreed with how she dealt with several things early on, but the author did a wonderful job of showing her intense pain and fear. She was only fifteen and felt desperate and she grieved with Sandu because it was not something that could be easily healed or taken back. I don't agree with the religious beliefs of the people in the book - like the souls and spirits reentering people and reincarnating, etc., but I still found this novel intriguing. I loved reading about their culture and how they saw the world.

Bottom line... I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to people who aren't squeamish about reading stories that involve superstitious beliefs -- knowing that is not a Christian book. Some stuff was sadly funny like the get rich quick schemes that existed back in the 1970s. I remember some of them and since I grew up in the 70s and 80s I found some of the descriptions nostalgia-inducing. There are a lot of things that can be learned from this story, and for that reason I enjoyed it. This novel made me think about life, and I cared about the characters. That always makes for a powerful read, in my opinion. Your emotions will get involved while reading this story. The book was very well written, too, and makes you think about all of the things in your life and in the past that make up who you are today.

The house of Six Doors was published by Publishing by the Seas and was released in February 2011. The book was provided to me for review by Booksparks PR. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own. I was not compensated in any way for my review.

My review of Nightingale by Susan May Warren. This is a five star read!

About the book:

Esther Lange doesn’t love her fiancé—she’s trapped in an engagement after a mistaken night of passion.

Still, she grieves him when he’s lost in battle, the letters sent to her by the medic at his side giving her a strange comfort, so much that she strikes up a correspondence with Peter Hess, an Iowa farmboy. Or is he? Peter Hess is not who he seems. Indeed, he’s hiding a secret, something that could cost them both their lives, especially when the past comes back to life. A bittersweet love song of the home front war between duty and the heart...a battle where only one will survive.

My review:

Wow. Wow. Wow. This was one of those books that is both tender and gut-wrenching. It was romantic and suspenseful. It was filled with historical detail and characterization that was rewarding to read and planted me firmly in that time period. I especially loved the letters. And the romance was breath-taking. It totally swept me away. Seriously.

Nightingale holds so much spiritual truth and depth. I found the novel to be not only entertaining, but insightful, complex and rewarding to read. It loved it not just because it was a good story, but like Sons of Thunder, it was a story that went way beyond the surface. It was a story that touched me deeply. I am totally in love with Susan May Warren's historicals. I just wish I'd read this sooner, like when it first released in November so it could have made my favorites list. This is the kind of story that has the potential to be life changing. It really stirred my heart and left me with a glow at the end that was hard to shake.

I love having a lump in my throat and feeling my heart ache because I care so much about the characters. This story made me feel like I was sitting at the edge of my seat several times. I didn't want to do anything else. I had to see what happened. Will she or won't she? Could she or shouldn't she? Does he or doesn't he? Lots of questions and very rich in detail. Also, the answers that were given weren't pat answers, but ones that were true to life. I really loved this story. I can't say too much because many of the key points that spoke to my heart would also be spoilers if I shared them. Guess you'll just have to read this one yourself to find out why I loved it so much. Oh, and Peter Hess is one hot hero, not to mention very heroic. I fell in love with him, too. 

Nightingale was published by Summerside Press and released in November 2010.

NOTE: The description of this book is accurately described above. Some other online sites have the old summary with the wrong name... just in case you get confused. The hero is Peter Hess as I noted above, not Wolfgang. 

This book was provided to me for review by Wynn Wynn Media. :) This review is completely my own. I was not compensated in any way for my opinion of this book.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson!

To enter for a chance to win this novel simply post a comment regarding what you think about an Amish story set in the 1920s. I think 99% of all Amish stories are cast in the present day. This one isn't. So what intrigues you about that fact? I'll pick a winner using the Randomizer program next week.



About the book:

When his partner is murdered, 1920s detective Rollin Wells goes into hiding. Taking refuge in an Amish home in Sugarcreek, Ohio, he works to discover who in the police force is collaborating with Cleveland's notorious mob. But when he befriends a young Amish mother named Katie, will he unearth an even more shocking secret?

My thoughts:

I am a huge Melanie Dobson fan. I am sure I will enjoy this book. I just wish I'd had time to review it prior to this giveaway. Look for one in the coming months, though. :)

Revell blog tour stop for Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith! Excellent book!

Can She Ever Find Redemption After One Night of Passion with the King?

“As the last word dried on the page, Bathsheba read the message through blurred vision. ‘I am with child’. She would not sign her name or address the message. He would know by the press of her husband’s seal on the wax...”

 

Bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the Bible’s most famous story of passion, betrayal and redemption in the conclusion of The Wives of King David series, Bathsheba (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3322-3 $14.99, March 2011). Smith draws from Scripture, in-depth historical research and her vivid imagination to unveil the story of David’s most famous wife - Bathsheba. Bathsheba is told in rich detail and drama, creating a riveting page-turner that will keep readers engaged to the conclusion of the book.

Bathsheba is a woman longing for love. With her devout husband, Uriah, away fighting the king's wars for many months at a time, discontent and loneliness dog her steps--and make it frighteningly easy to succumb to King David's charms. Though she immediately regrets her involvement with the powerful king, the pieces are set in motion that will destroy everything she holds dear. Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God--and David--forever?

Bathsheba reveals the depth of God’s grace and forgiveness. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.

“A rich tapestry of an era filled with love and longing that rings true across the centuries.” – Siri Mitchell, author of Love’s Pursuit

Jill Eileen Smith has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has garnered acclaim in several competitions. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Smith is the author of the bestselling Michal and Abigail and lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

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 more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A copy of this book was provided for me to review for this blog tour. The reviews expressed below are entirely my own.  


My review: (for the full review go HERE)


Bathsheba, the third book in the Wives of King David series, is a compelling end to a great trilogy. It's not an easy task to take something that happened in the Bible that is complex but true in all of its shameful detail, like the story of David and Bathsheba, and then make it believable so that the reader can see how it may have happened.

I have to admire the author for writing this book and making it compelling. I couldn't stop reading and I already knew what happened from reading the Bible. I loved the other two books in the series, but I think this last one was the best. It had to be tough to write.

The story of David and Bathsheba is a great example of God making beauty come from ashes and joy from mourning. Not because the sin committed was of no consequence, but the Grace of God is powerful enough to cover all sin and restore any life if there is true repentance. There are always consequences, though, and this story shows that while God had forgiven them, there was still a plethora of long-lasting repercussions that existed. The ramifications resulting from their transgression had to be dealt with on a regular basis, but God saw them through it when they called upon His name. 

My review of Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith! Excellent read!

About the book:

Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her devout husband away fighting the king's wars for many months at a time, discontent and loneliness dog her steps--and make it frighteningly easy to succumb to King David's charm and attention. Though she immediately regrets her involvement with the powerful king, the pieces are set in motion that will destroy everything she holds dear. Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God--and David--forever?

With a historian's sharp eye for detail and a novelist's creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David's most famous--and infamous--wife. Smith uses her gentle hand to draw out the humanity in her characters, allowing readers to see themselves in the three-dimensional lives and minds of people who are often viewed in starkly moralistic terms. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.

My review:

Bathsheba, the third book in the Wives of King David series, is a compelling end to a great trilogy. It's not an easy task to take something that happened in the Bible that is complex but true in all of its shameful detail, like the story of David and Bathsheba, and then make it believable so that the reader can see how it may have happened. 

I have to admire the author for writing this book and making it compelling. I couldn't stop reading and I already knew what happened from reading the Bible. I loved the other two books in the series, but I think this last one was the best. It had to be tough to write. 

I found the way everything was set up very compelling. It makes more sense to me now why there was such a rift in David's life after that event. Yes, Nathan the prophet had said that the sword would never be taken from David's house, which meant there would be strife in the king's home and death. I understood that fairly well, but now it makes more sense to me given the entire story. People lost faith in David because of the adultery he'd committed and as a result his followers and the military were more easily persuaded by Absalom to go against their king. 

The particulars regarding how everything transpired was brought to life for me through Ms. Smith's fictionalized account of this famous couple's story. Sin is never rewarded even if God redeems it and uses it for His glory in the end, like the fact that Jesus descended from David and Bathsheba's second child. 

I could see David was in an emotional place where he was vulnerable to temptation when he saw Bathsheba. He was restless and wanted a wife he could be close to after his favored wife's death. He stayed back to grieve the loss of Abigail when he should have joined his men in battle, and did this several times. There are so many details that contributed his bad decision to commit adultery. Then once he had done it, the ramifications continued to pile up until someone's death was the only way to resolve the situation. He didn't want Bathsheba to be stoned as the law required because of what he'd done. At the same time, even that desperate attempt to cover up his sin hadn't fixed the problem. 

David's sin was always before him and made him sick from the worry and guilt. Fear sapped both of them of strength and robbed any peace they'd had. Anxiety about what could be done if they were found out permeated every thought. The consequences of his sin were far-reaching. Even though Bathsheba had agreed to be with David that night, she had been reluctant to do so, yet she still fell. David was a very handsome and charismatic king and many people were drawn to him. 

When David had Uriah killed I really identified with Bathsheba's conflicted emotions and pain. I understood--wrong as it was-- why he thought Uriah's death in battle was the only solution. I felt for Uriah because he was truly a good man and trusting servant. He was innocent and his only real fault was being a warrior with a beautiful wife. I could see how David's men lost even more respect for him when everything came out. 

The grieving that David did over his sin was well done. I felt his agony. I could almost see him stealing away to write some of the Psalms as a way of dealing with his guilt and sorrow. I loved how he truly recognized the calamity he had brought on his family by following his fleshly desires. 

I also loved the way the author showed Bathsheba's anger and conflicted emotions about the situation she'd found herself in. I could see how she hated what happened and her life at that point, yet at the same time she worked through the pain and loss. She was a strong woman and I could see why she was David's favorite wife. She was also beautiful on the inside. 

The story of David and Bathsheba is a great example of God making beauty come from ashes and joy from mourning. Not because the sin committed was of no consequence, but the Grace of God is powerful enough to cover all sin and restore any life if there is true repentance. There are always consequences, though, and this story shows that while God had forgiven them, there was still a plethora of long-lasting repercussions that existed. The ramifications resulting from their transgression had to be dealt with on a regular basis, but God saw them through it when they called upon His name. 


Bathsheba was published by Revell and released in March 2011.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Nightingale by Susan May Warren!

To enter for a chance to win this book simply post a comment answering these questions. Have you ever strongly disagreed with someone you love (like your parents or spouse) regarding a political issue? How did you resolve it, or is it still looming?

I'll pick a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Best wishes to you!



About the book:

Peter Hess has found himself on the wrong side of a world war. Esther Lange is trapped inside a war of her own. Can loving their enemies set them both free? Peter Hess grew up in Mason City, Iowa. So, what’s he doing fighting for the Germans? If only his parents hadn't moved back to their native Germany when they believed Hitler to be a hero. It’s almost a relief when he is captured by the Americans and sent to a Wisconsin POW camp.

When the darkness turns to nightmare and Peter is accused of murder, can he stand firm in his faith - and snatch the woman he loves out of the mouths of lions?

My thoughts:

I really enjoy Susan's historical novels. This premise sounds awesome! Bummer is I haven't been able to start the book yet but I'm giving it a shot this week. We'll see. I've got a lot to do.

My review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver. This story was amazing!

About the book:


There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found the cure. Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable...


My review:


Delirium is a compulsively readable novel where the world is "Logan's Run" meets the Nazis. It was a complex and fascinating look into a world where people merely exist and play the roles laid out for them by the society they live in. There is no crime and divorce, but there is also no passion or love. Love is seen as a disease that must be cured, and emotional joy in life must be suppressed. Each chapter began with a rewritten proverb, principle, or rules about their society that fit that belief system. Even the story of original sin in the garden of Eden was rewritten to fit their government's twist on the truth.

How would anyone survive a in world without love? Delirium uses a variety of fictional scenarios to take the reader there and give them a taste while entertaining at the same time. In the story people are told what they must think and who they must marry, or they will be exterminated or imprisoned in the crypts for life. The premise of the story is compelling and I instantly connected with the characters and their longings.

This is the kind of book that makes you think. Situations in the story were an eerie, yet subtle allusion to what is really happening in the world today. They show how close we are as a society to getting where the people in the book were if we become complacent about our freedoms. Some things in the story were similar to the book 1984, but modernized. I found it fascinating.

Delirium skillfully showed how freedom can be restricted or removed under the cloak of protecting the people, when in reality it killed who they were as individuals. People who wanted to keep their emotions would rather die than be stripped of who they were as individuals through the cure, which was a surgical procedure on the brain that short-circuited the part of the brain that felt love. The story made me think of what it would be like to live in a country in the Middle East where you have to be Muslim or you are seen as an infidel and you die. Only this took place in the United States in the future. Kind of scary, but oh so possible.

Last, I was drawn into the main character's quest for meaning and for love. I was impressed with how the author planted the love in the Lena's heart by her mother when she raised her children and how she showed that it never left even after her mother was gone and she was only eight. That seed of love in her heart never died, but it was squelched by fear and brainwashing by the government until someone dared to show her that love is not a disease, but in fact it was worth sacrificing everything for. Reminded me of the salvation story and the sacrifice of Jesus, and this isn't even a Christian book.

I could not stop reading this story because I was on Lena's journey with her as she discovered the lies she'd been taught since her mother disappeared, and as she learned the truth about love. My heart broke for her and yet there was a bittersweet and beautiful ending to the story that left me wanting more, yet satisfied at the same time. I will definitely be looking for the second book in this series.

Delirium was published by Harper Collins (Harper Teen) and was released in February 2011. This novel was provided to me for review through NetGalley. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

New fiction releases from ACFW authors for March 2011!

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

1. A Bond Never Broken by Judith Miller -- A Historical from Bethany House. For many years, Ilsa Redlich has helped her parents run a hotel in South Amana, but as the United States enters the Great War, she can feel her world changing.

2. A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. Will the secrets Abigail Jones brought with her to Moose Creek, Montana separate her from Wade Ryan, the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

3. A Gentleman's Homecoming by Ruth Axtell Morren -- A Historical Romance from Love Inspired (formerly Steeple Hill). It's been six years since Luke Travis has seen his native England...and his son, Sam. But his hopes for a joyful reunion are shattered when he learns that Sam wants nothing to do with him. There's one ray of hope--Luke's former sister-in-law, Bobbie Gardner.

4. A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell -- A Historical from Bethany House. Three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times.

5. Among the Magnoilias by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver -- A Historical from Barbour Heartsong Presents. In spite of the love she sees between her parents, Abigail LeGrand is determined never to marry. Nathan Pierce is desperate to hide his past. Will Abigail and Nathan accept each other's love and respect, or will they stubbornly cling to the fears that threaten to keep them apart?

6. Bathsheba: A Novel; The Wives of King David Series, Book 3 by Jill Eileen Smith -- General Fiction from Revell. Will one night of unbridled passion destroy everything Bathsheba holds dear? Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God—and David—forever?

7. Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris -- A Thriller/Suspense from Zondervan. Deep in the heart of Africa, two American lives are about to change forever.

8. Code of Justice by Liz Johnson -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired (formerly Steeple Hill). Heather Sloan is willing to risk her life to find her sister's killer—but her code of justice could cost her the chance to win Jeremy Latham's love.

9. Face of Danger by Valerie Hansen -- Mystery from Love Inspired (formerly Steeple Hill). Giving murder victims a face is forensic artist Paige Bryant's speciality. She can always put the pieces together. But her work turns dangerous when Texas Ranger Cade Jarvis brings her a special project related to the notorious Lions of Texas gang.

10. In The Shadow of Evil by Robin Caroll -- A Thriller/Suspense from B & H Publishing. Amidst the layers of unethical practices, supply shortages, and excess murders, a top Louisiana homicide detective loses his heart to a charitable contractor while uncovering a secret about his tragic past.

11. Jersey Brides by Laurie Alice Eakes -- A Romance from Barbour. Riches Become the catalyst for love in New Jersey. Issues of wealth and status have three nineteenth-century women tied in knots.

12. Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews -- General Fiction from Revell. When scandal and murder rock Dinah’s life, the daughter of the great patriarch Jacob is sent away to Job’s household. After Job’s own world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?

13. Secret Place by Leslie J. Sherrod -- General Fiction from Urban Christian (Kensington). When desperation leads to homicide, can healing, freedom - and faith - be found?

14. Springtime of the Spirit by Maureen Lang -- A Historical from Tyndale House. The winter of an unjust war is over. A springtime of the spirit awaits.

15. Surrender the Night by MaryLu Tyndall -- Romance from Barbour. A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . . A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . . Both are about to change the course of history forever.

16. The Artist's Grandmother by Robin Bayne -- General Fiction from White Rose. When Megan bids on her grandfather's painting, the last thing she expects is to be outbid by Michael Kirk, her first love.

17. The Map Across Time; Book 2, Gates of Heaven Series by C. S. Lakin -- Fantasy from AMG-Living Ink Books. An epic fairy tale that shows how God uses the simple, weak, inconsequential of the world to accomplish his great purposes.

18. The Proper Wife by Winnie Griggs -- A Historical from Love Inspired (formerly Steeple Hill). Eli Reynolds knows what he wants in a wife, and the flighty Texas girl couldn't be further from the mark.

19. Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West -- Romance from Oak Tara. Set in the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Kristin Taylor and Luke Maddox must decide if they’re willing to set aside selfish ambition for the love that seems to have ambushed them and captured their hearts.

And the winner of the cruise is...

Melinda Todd!

Yay, Melinda!

What a great way to celebrate your anniversary, eh?

Blog tour stop and giveaway for Starless Sky by Paige Agnew!

This is one of the best YA books I have ever read. If you win it you will see what I mean. I will pick a winner using the randomizer program a week after this contest opens March 1st. To enter simply post a comment as to why you want to win the book based on something I said in my review. If you tweet about the contest you'll get an additional entry. Good luck to you all! Happy reading.

About the book:

Life is funny sometimes. Little kids drop ice cream cones, people in general often run in to screen doors, there's even the occasional moment when one might trip going up the stairs. Kahlen could expect those things, deal with them even. But what she didn't expect, not even in her wildest, horrific nightmares, that just as something so terrible could happen, something so wonderful could follow after it.

When Kahlen Thomas has a difficult time dealing with the lost of her best and only friend, she has hopes that the new boy at school, Kennley Morgan, will be the perfect distraction from her pain. She slowly realizes that Kennley doesn't as much distract her from her problems as much as he adds to them because of his own interesting past.

My review:

Wow! It has been awhile since I've read a YA novel that had me so captivated that I kept thinking about the book even when I was supposed to be doing other things... like working. And the moment it came time to take lunch I was reading. As soon as I got home I was reading until I went to bed at night. I dare say I was pretty obsessed with this story. It was powerfully written and I was emotionally captivated through to the end. My heart even pounded at times when I was reading. It was like the story was my reality while I was reading it. The fact that the author is so young and is incredibly talented makes the novel even more amazing.

I rarely feel so connected to characters that I get anxious and breathless and fall in love right along with them. But this wasn't a typical teenage story. I was deeper in so many ways. Things were brought up that really make you think about life and what's important. I loved the message about dealing with fear and taking risks because in the end it's always worth it, even if you get hurt in the process. Pain causes growth and that is always a good thing.

I have to say the ending was absolutely perfect. I got choked up a number of times. When I read the epilogue I realized that this novel had just the right amount of tension. It also had a fantastic character arc, and the plot was simply enthralling. I fell in love along with Kahlen and I grieved with her, too. I felt her confusion and her continual teenage angst. It was perfectly done young adult fiction. The author had the voice down perfectly and all the drama that goes with being a teenager. I can't recommend this highly enough for people who love YA fiction and want to experience some realistic,and often intense emotion. I have found a new favorite author. This book is making my best fiction list for 2010 even though I read it in January 2011.

Starless Sky was published by Trafford Publishing and was released in January 2010.

Here is a book video trailer about the novel.

Blog tour stop for Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress by Megan van Eyck here that includes a detailed review!

Product Description (taken from Amazon.com)

Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress is a cautionary tale about the causal relationship between marital emotional neglect and questionable choices. It is a warning for the spouse who wants to dismiss an affair as just sex or for any woman who thinks love is enough to keep a man that isn't really hers.

"You never know what happens between two people when they are alone" is a common sentiment reserved for married couples who appear to have relationships that defy the odds. The same can also be said for couples involved in long-term adulterous affairs.

Many people believe that infidelity is only about sex: two people, one hotel room, and a few hours to spare. And Megan van Eyck's extramarital affair began just like that, with lusty hours spent between hotel sheets. But within a few months van Eyck realized she had found what she and her lover did not know they were both looking for: true love.

Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress offers an honest look behind closed doors. It is a forthcoming, sometimes steamy, account of both the passion and the heartbreak associated with being a mistress; about the futility of sharing a love while not sharing a life. Van Eyck is reflective as she addresses her compelling and unusual personal history, which made being the other woman an acceptable option. She makes no excuses for herself, her mistakes, or her betrayal of her husband as she recklessly pursues love. She wants everything, unabashedly.

But her priorities shift when Carlos, her lover, is diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare blood disorder. Her concerns shift for hoping for a life with him to hoping that he'll be able to live through treatment for this rare and incurable disease. In the end, van Eyck must not only come to terms with her loss, mistakes and regrets, she must come to terms with herself.

Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress is must read for anyone that has struggled with love, intimacy or self-acceptance. Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress will captivate supporters, surprise critics and change the perspective of those that have ever considered having an affair

About the Author:

Megan van Eyck lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband and children. Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress is her debut effort as a memoirist.

My review:

I have to fully agree with the product description above. This memoir totally blew me away. It was gut-wrenchingly honest, insightful, and very well written. Yeah, this book was published by the author through Create Space, but the memoir is a perfect example of how someone can publish a good story that delivers a powerful message and do it themselves rather than going through a traditional publisher. Oh, and the cover is beautiful, plus the back cover information is compelling and well put together. That said, I'd like to focus on the story rather than how it was published. As I said, it was a powerful book for a number of reasons.

For one thing, I couldn't stop reading it. That says a lot right there. It seems there are a lot of the same old same old formulaic books available to read, but few that pack such a powerful punch as this one. It's a real heart-tugging story that delves into a lot of forbidden areas. Since I also wrote a book about a woman who had an affair--though my main character happened to be a Christian--I decided to check this book out and review it. I wanted to see what commonalities I could find with my book. There were many, much to my surprise. However, this memoir contains many more sexual situations than I had in my book, plus  more description regarding their sexual encounters. I experienced the trauma along with Megan and totally empathized with her situation even though it is obvious that adultery was wrong choice to make. Her relationship with the man who was not her husband clearly had an impact on her life and changed her for the better. Her need for love and validation drove her poor choices. It's that simple, and also that complex.

As the author said on the back of her book... Call it what you like--illicit, forbidden, even wrong--but falling in love outside of marriage happens every day.

Now before you say, WHOA to the above statement, I have to agree with it. It's wrong, yes. It's immoral and forbidden, but as this memoir shows very clearly, people commit adultery for a reason. People who have affairs have a distinct purpose in having them. When they fall in love there is a whole lot more going on than just a romp in the sack. There is an emotional connection that develops, and complications that arise from the illicit love. To continue the affair there must be cover ups, secrets, and lies to maintain the relationship. This memoir chronicles a long-term affair that spans over five years. The many encounters they had as lovers gave their affair time to grow beyond just the sex. The "love" part of the story was complex, but I found it fascinating. All of the intense emotion such as jealousy of the "real" spouse, the irrational anger at times, and the need to be number one in the lover's eyes were well delivered. The competition to be the best showed why affairs can be so exciting and romanticized by the parties involved. But in the end, the illicit lover still ranks second in the scheme of things. That's just how it is.

The way the author tied the driven need for love and the promiscuity that resulted from Megan's insecurities were based on painful situations in her life. The author made a compelling case to show how they are all interconnected. How childhood pain can drive dysfunctional adult behavior. I've worked for two decades in various child protective services capacities. I've seen up close what emotional abuse, rejection, and chronic neglect like the main character in the memoir experienced can do to cause a deep void in someone's heart. It can create a love tank in the heart that leaks, that never seems to get filled. Couple that with rejection from the spouse who is supposed to take care of you and be the champion in your relationship, and you've got a disaster waiting to happen. Even Christians are capable of such betrayal and poor judgment despite the fact that they have been spiritually reborn. Emotional abandonment by the person who is supposed to love you and be there for you (your spouse) can affect anyone.

There were a lot of things I found fascinating about this story and some things that disturbed me. The crude sex language was one of them. But since this wasn't an inspirational book, I wasn't shocked to see the author writing everything like she experienced it, f-words and all. Even though I hate that word, it seemed to fit the story when she used it. Of course, I was so into the memoir that I felt like I was an observer to every scene and every emotion. It was so well put together. I can't say that enough. As an author myself and someone who reads a lot of books, I can vouch for the quality of this one regardless of the cussing. That's why this memoir is making my best fiction list for 2011. It's not a Christian book, but it's real life. I appreciated that and honestly, I admire anyone who can tell their story with so much vulnerability and honesty. I was truly impressed.

I have to say I didn't like the fact that there was no spiritual element to this book, but it was a memoir, so that wouldn't make sense given that the author is not a person with faith in God or a personal relationship with Jesus that would contribute another dimension to the story. I felt the hopelessness the author must have experienced as she wrote about what happened without any faith to cling to, so it felt very dark at times. However there was a beautiful ending to this story that I was pleasantly surprised by. It totally redeemed Willem, the husband, in my eyes. That was very moving and I dare say it was packed with powerful truths. His response gave them a chance for redemption. And while the affair was clearly wrong, the author made a compelling case for how she justified everything in her mind. It worked because what she believed was true in many ways. I understood both sides.

The thing I loved most about this book was how the author delved deeply into the topic of love. She also dove deeply in to what it feels like to doubt someone's love. To never quite believe them. To be insecure and totally dependent on that next contact for your personal happiness. Well done! The author showed what love is and what it isn't. She analyzed all aspects of her life and her experiences with love, even the dysfunctional relationships that brought her to the place where she was so hurt she was willing to risk everything to chase the love she desired. Like the character Hope in my novel, Megan loved her family, but her intense need for love seemed to overshadow everything else. I appreciated how everything came out in the end. Though not perfect, it was so believable in the way it was presented (probably because it was true...this is a memoir.) More than anything, I appreciated the honesty in this book. For people who want more insight into how adultery happens and to see up close what the highs and lows of that experience contains, this is a powerful memoir that shows it all. While some people might see this as the author justifying what she did and trying to get revenge in the end, I don't see it that way at all. Do I agree with the affair? No way. But I can see how it did change her as a person and changed her marriage for the better in the end. In my opinion, that's the heart of this book. Yes, it is heart-wrenchingly true in all of it's ugliness. I think it takes guts to share something like this with the world and the husband Willem is an exceptional husband and man for allowing this memoir to be in print and supporting his wife's efforts to tell her story.

Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress was published through Create Space and released in January 2011. This book was provided to me for review by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. The above opinions expressed are completely my own.