Three book interview for new releases by moi.

Hey everyone! Make my day and read about my new releases, then leave a comment for me telling me which story intrigues you the most. Thanks!

Promotion in Motion Tuesdays: Michelle Sutton – Prolific Authoress « Reflections In Hindsight

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June 2011 new releases from ACFW authors.

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

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. Trouble may follow Lucy wherever she goes, but with the help of God and the rugged, reclusive David Wolf, she'll never face adversity alone.

Behind the Badge by Susan Sleeman -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Can a rookie sheriff's deputy find a killer before the killer takes the lives of the people she loves?

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love -- General Fiction from Thomas Nelson. Unless she can let go of her fears and learn to trust again, Ada may lose the heart of a good man.

Broken Wings: A Novel by Carla Stewart -- General Fiction from Faith Words (Hachette). One woman clings to her memories. The other wants to erase hers. A story of an unlikely friendship birthed in providence and bathed in grace.

Forever After (A Hanover Falls Novel) by Deborah Raney -- General Fiction from Howard (Simon & Schuster). A series of arson fires at Hanover Falls rebuilt homeless shelter threatens its residents and casts new suspicions about the original fire.

Home Sweet Home by Kim Watters -- Romance from Love Inspired. Finding a home is all Abby dreamed about, until she discovers the man she falls in love with has a less permanent agenda.

Idaho Brides by Erica Vetsch -- Romance from Barbour. Experience the Wild West through the eyes of the three McConnell brothers who long to overcome their troubled childhood as drunkard’s sons.

Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa by Melanie Dobson -- Romance from Summerside Press. As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace—until now.

Protecting Her Own by Margaret Daley -- Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Protecting her own father when an assailant targets him, bodyguard Cara Madison with Connor Fitzgerald, an ex-boyfriend, searches for a would be killer while fighting her feelings toward Connor.

Purple Knot by Raquel Byrnes -- Romance from White Rose. With her faith shaken and her world cast in shadows, can Reyna trust the God she believes abandoned her?

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. How could a marriage possibly work when the couple has only exchanged a few letters?

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo -- Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House). Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott -- A Romance from Love Inspired Historical. If Chase Dearborn, the powerful Earl of Allyndale, found Meredee Price's family in Scarborough, surely he'd continue his quest to challenge Meredee's stepbrother to a duel. Meredee is determined to avoid the earl at all costs.

The Story in the Stars, Gateway to Gannah, Book 1 by Yvonne Anderson -- Fantasy from Risen Books. The inhabitants of the planet Gannah are known as bloodthirsty savages who once tried to conquer the galaxy. Now a plague has ravaged the planet and only one survivor remains.

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser -- General Fiction from Bethany House. The Sweetest Thing is the story of two girls--opposites in every way--fighting for the same thing: survival amidst tumultuous change.

The Wedding Season: The Gentleman Takes a Bride by Louise M. Gouge -- Romance from Love Inspired Historical. Surely Elizabeth Moberly was born to be a nobleman's bride. She can't possibly be attracted to the untitled stranger who interrupts her cousin's wedding.

Under a Desert Sky by DiAnn Mills -- General Fiction from Summerside Press. A race from danger...straight into the arms of love.

Litfuse Publicity blog tour stop for the Missions of Mercy series by Susan May Warren!

To celebrate the series, Susan is giving away a Missions of Mercy Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new FLIP HD Camera

* The entire Missions of Mercy series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. You may enter once per email, facebook, and twitter. The contest ends on May 31st. Tell your friends! Winner will be announced on June 1st at the Litfuse Publicity site and at Susan May Warren's website. (While you're there, check out her rockin' new website!)

  

BIG NEWS: Susan has a brand new shiny website! Check it out and drop her a note! http://susanmaywarren.com

About Missions of Mercy

Saving the day is all in a day's work Book 1: Point of No Return  An American boy and a warlord's engaged daughter have disappeared-together-in an Eastern European border country. Only one man can find them in time to prevent an international meltdown-Chet Stryker. But Chet is taken aback when he realizes the boy is the nephew of Mae Lund, Chet's former flame. When Mae insists on rescuing her relative herself, Chet knows he has to protect her from the enemy on their trail. Yet can he protect himself from falling for Mae again? Book 2: Mission: Out of Control  Brody "Wick" Wickham is a former Green Beret turned security agent-with a 100 percent mission success rate. No way is his new assignment changing that. Even if it's protecting a diva American rock star while she's on tour in Europe. Except Veronica "Vonya" Wagner isn't just a beautiful celebrity used to having her way-she's the daughter of a U.S. Senator. And she's hiding a dangerous secret. When Wick discovers what's at stake, how far over the line will he go to keep them both alive?                                                                                                                      Book 3: Undercover Pursuit The only way to get security agent Luke Dekker to a wedding? An undercover mission as groomsman. He'll bust the groom, a drug cartel heir, before anyone can say "I do." Then Luke can escape all this love and romance nonsense—and the too pretty bridesmaid/agent assigned as his "fiancée" for the weekend. Until Luke discovers that sweet, vulnerable Scarlett Hanson isn't his contact. Isn't an agent. Isn't trained for the high-stakes mission now trapping them both. And worse, Luke's falling for her—which is not part of the assignment.

About Susan May Warren

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota's beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church. Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women's events and retreats speaker, she's a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer's workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.  My review for Point of No Return: The Point of No Return is an exciting romantic suspense novel that has great pacing and intrigue. I read the book straight through and it held my interest the entire time. I loved the twists and turns and the international setting. The hero was complex and his history fit his current issues and behavior. The same went for the heroine. The romantic tension sizzled between the hero and heroine and I found myself wanting them to work through their insecurities and find a way to make a long-term relationship work. The author did a great job providing barriers, then allowing the characters to apply faith and hard work to see things through and overcome obstacles to success. Bottom line... this was a well-rounded book with suspense and intrigue that contained characters who learned from past mistakes and how to take calculated risks, and sometimes risks that didn't make much sense, but were the right thing to do. I loved the sacrificial love theme in the story, too. That always gets my heart pounding. Great read! My review for Mission: Out of Control: Another satisfying romance from Susan May Warren. Loved the Vonya character and the real Ronie underneath the stage makeup and the fear. The hero--her bodyguard--was very manly and heroic. I could picture him in my mind's eye as he worried for her and protected her from the unknown threat to her safety. And those kisses...wow!  I loved the insight both characters gained as they got to know each other and faced their fears together. Sparks flew when they first met, and those sparks never let up. One of the things I love most about Warren's romantic suspense novels is the layering of her characters. I love how she used their common affection for blues music to knit their hearts together.  Warren's characters are always so complex, easy to empathize with, and exciting to root for. The twists and turns in this novel were well done. Nothing is easily overcome, and that always makes her stories a delight for me to read.  My review for Undercover Pursuit Great conclusion to the series. I really enjoyed all three books. This one was fun because of the whole wedding theme mixed with the danger of the drug cartel. I loved Benito and Lucia's story even though they weren't the main characters. I found the whole supermodel sister and Duncan, the ex scenario quite enjoyable, too. There was a lot going on, but not so much that it was hard to follow. Last, the relationship between Scarlett and Luke was quite endearing. The whole set up was a blast to follow, not to mention the confusing line between them acting their parts versus their real feelings developing. This was a fun, yet suspenseful read and right on par with the other books in the series. I have enjoyed all of the LI Suspense novels that I've read by Susan May Warren (four total) and this was no exception. I feel like the couples at Stryker International are my friends, and I've enjoyed getting to know them through each of their stories. Undercover Pursuit was a delightful, if not somewhat implausible scenario, but the author pulled it off and made it believable enough so it was a fun escape for me. I wanted to keep reading, and that's not usually the case with LI books.

My review of Undercover Pursuit by Susan May Warren.

About the book:

The only way to get security agent Luke Dekker to a wedding? An undercover mission as groomsman. He'll bust the groom, a drug cartel heir, before anyone can say "I do." Then Luke can escape all this love and romance nonsense—and the too pretty bridesmaid/agent assigned as his "fiancée" for the weekend. Until Luke discovers that sweet, vulnerable Scarlett Hanson isn't his contact. Isn't an agent. Isn't trained for the high-stakes mission now trapping them both. And worse, Luke's falling for her—which is not part of the assignment.

My review for Undercover Pursuit

Great conclusion to the series. I really enjoyed all three books. This one was fun because of the whole wedding theme mixed with the danger of the drug cartel. I loved Benito and Lucia's story even though they weren't the main characters. I found the whole supermodel sister and Duncan, the ex scenario quite enjoyable, too. There was a lot going on, but not so much that it was hard to follow. Last, the relationship between Scarlett and Luke was quite endearing. The whole set up was a blast to follow, not to mention the confusing line between them acting their parts versus their real feelings developing.

This was a fun, yet suspenseful read and right on par with the other books in the series. I have enjoyed all of the LI Suspense novels that I've read by Susan May Warren (four total) and this was no exception. I feel like the couples at Stryker International are my friends, and I've enjoyed getting to know them through each of their stories. Undercover Pursuit was a delightful, if not somewhat implausible scenario, but the author pulled it off and made it believable enough so it was a fun escape for me. I wanted to keep reading, and that's not 

usually the case with LI books.

Undercover Pursuit was published by Steeple Hill (Love Inspired) and released in May 2011. A copy of this book was made available to me for review by Litfuse Publicity group.

My review of the DVD - Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury.

About the movie:

In a quiet Florida town, life is idyllic for Jack and Molly Campbell and their young son, Joey. But one day a phone call shatters their peace. Joey's biological father, newly released from prison, wants his boy back. Who will love him enough to let Joey go? From the novel by Karen Kingsbury. Starring Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Kate Levering, Maxwell Perry Cotton, and Cole Hauser. Rated PG-13. Widescreen. Approx. 100 minutes.

My review:

I haven't read the book that this movie was based on, so I can only comment on the movie itself. I thought it was well done. The acting was believable and I loved the message. Parents (both adoptive and biological) would do just about anything for their child. Now, having done a ton of adoptions myself (I was like the social worker in the movie) I felt that the premise was a bit far fetched. Most states would not allow a situation like that to occur, so I can only assume that Ohio law was researched in this case to make such a situation legally plausible. In Arizona, where I live, that scenario wouldn't happen. There are too many laws to prevent such a messed up situation from happening. Now if Joey had been a foster child and not yet adopted, that would be a different situation.

Regardless, this movie tugs at the heartstrings and for me the message was good that birth mothers who place their children for adoption are "loving them enough to let them go" like the actress in the movie stated toward the end. Having worked with a lot of birth mothers in similar situations I can say that scene was very believable. It's hard, but rewarding to know that the birth mother did the right thing. She may have been with an abusive man, but she was still strong in her own way. She made choices, and her choice was to stay with him. I've seen that happen over and over as well. That said, I appreciated how the movie resolved at the end and how things were handled. And that poor social worker... I felt for her. She had a situation that was very hard to deal with, but she handled it well. I appreciated that, too. Sometimes it's a thankless job to be the one caught in the middle of custody situations. Been there, done that.

Overall, this movie was worth seeing, in my opinion. I really enjoyed it even if it did make me cry as expected. Again, I haven't read the book to compare the two. I don't know how close the novel was to the movie, so I can't comment on that. The spiritual message in the story was weak, but I'm not surprised. On the flip side, it's good to show that people who aren't Christians love their children enough to sacrifice for them, too. And this adoptive couple was willing to give up everything. That showed their heart for their child, even if their way of handling things was misguided. Desperate people aren't rational.

Revell blog tour stop by A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad (with bonus review.)

Lake Manawa: The Bloomer Girls Play The Owls and Suffragists Speeches Heard at Pavilion

 “So sad.  Almost a spinster.” Aunt Millie shook her head. “If we don’t do something soon, no man is going to want a woman that advanced in years.”

Author Lorna Seilstad delivers another wonderful novel for summer with A Great Catch (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3446-6, $14.00, May 2011).

About the book:

It is the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa Resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When 22-year-old Emily Graham's meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.

Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer at Lake Manawa, Iowa, before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.

When Emily crashes into Carter at a roller skating rink, neither could guess what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?

My review:

This book not only has an adorable, spunky cover, but the story inside is adorable, too. The heroine is stubborn to a fault, but then again, the hero is, too. Together they make sparks fly for a number of reasons. The romantic thread in this story is delightful. What I loved about this book was how it deal with the topics of assumptions, loyalty, and speaking the truth in love.

Not only did I find this love story endearing, but was delighted to discover that it had quite a bit of depth to it for such a light-hearted storyline. Emily believed things about herself that over time turned into self-fulfilling prophesy. Carter felt the need to prove his worth to the world as well, but for different reasons. Both had struggles with their ability to trust. I loved how they learned from each other.

I found Carter to be an endearing hero. Emily was easy to identify with as well, especially if you bury yourself in work to avoid dealing with the pain in your life. She kept finding herself too busy to spend time with God and to read the Bible. Ouch. But isn't that true for many of us? We get so consumed with tasks and getting things done that we forget to spend time with the Lord.

All in all I enjoyed this story. I've read about four or five novels dealing with women's right to vote and working toward that goal. I've also read a few stories about baseball at the turn of the century. This story was intriguing because it contained both. I would definitely recommend it. Plus, I really enjoyed the Lake Manawa setting and seeing characters again from the first book in the series. This novel could easily be read as a stand-alone title.

A Great Catch was published by Revell and released in May 2011. A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher to review for this blog tour. The opinion posted above is entirely my own.

Lorna Seilstad is the author of Making Waves and is a fresh voice in historical fiction with spirited and entertaining writing. She is a history buff, antique collector, and freelance graphic designer. Seilstad draws her setting from her home state of Iowa. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing awards and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Endorsements:

"A Great Catch weaves humor, history, romance, and spiritual truths into a delicious story that will delight readers' hearts. What a fun, relaxing read! I'd like to remain at Lake Manawa forever."--Laura Frantz, author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little

"A Great Catch is a grand slam! In a story as refreshing and invigorating as lemonade, Seilstad raises deep questions about a woman's relationship with God, her dreams, and the people in her life--while making me laugh so loudly my kids came running to get in on the joke."--Sarah Sundin, author of the Wings of Glory series

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

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Operation Bonnet by Kimberly Stuart!

For a chance to enter the drawing to win this book simply post a comment about whether or not you know any people who are "odd ducks" and then post what it is about them that makes them "odd." I will select a winner using the Randomizer program. However, due to my being out of town for my father's funeral next weekend it my not happen exactly on Sunday as is normally planned. But I will choose a winner ASAP after that date. Best wishes to you all. (Oh, my answer... My kids are odd. They like to do weird things like study, clean, organize things, and help out when asked. And they are 18 and 19 year old boys. Need I say more?)



About the book:

Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients.

Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind. So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish.

But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case. Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.

My thoughts:

I don't have this book and though I have a few books by this author I haven't read any of them yet. (I really need to get on the stick and read one.) At any rate, I hear she's good and her stories are entertaining. You can decide for yourself if you win.

Litfuse Publicity group's blog tour stop for How Huge the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn!

Welcome to the blog tour for Heather and Lydia Munn's debut novel! The Munns are mother and daughter and have teamed up to pen their first YA fiction story. How Huge the Night is a compelling, coming-of-age drama that will keep teens and adults alike turning the pages as they learn about a fascinating period of history and consider more deeply their everyday choices. 

To celebrate the release, Kregel Publications is giving away a $50 Amazon.com gift card. All you have to do is send a tweet (using #litfuse) about How Huge the Night or share about it on Facebook!

If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use the hashtag (#litfuse), if you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let us know (info@litfusegroup.com). Easy. (All Litfuse bloggers who post a review are automatically entered and do NOT need to email us.)

Not sure what to say when you tweet/post? Try this.

TWEET THIS:  How Huge the Night - Wow! Compelling & intriguing drama that will keep teens and adults alike turning the pages! #litfuse http://ow.ly/4RBXc 

FACEBOOK THIS: How Huge the Night by Heather & Lydia Munn is a compelling and dramatic story that will keep teens and adults turning the pages late into the night! http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13181161

~~~

Praise for How Huge the Night:

"The Munns have written an engrossing historical novel that is faithful to the actual events of World War II in western Europe during the tumultuous year 1940. But How Huge the Night is more than good history; it is particularly refreshing because the reader sees the conflict through the lives of teenagers who are forced to grapple with their honest questions about the existence and goodness of God in the midst of community, family, and ethnic tensions in war-ravaged France." --Lyle W. Dorsett, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

"Seldom have the horrors of war upon adolescents--or the heroism of which they are capable--been so clearly portrayed. I loved this coming-of-age story." --Patricia Sprinkle, author of Hold Up the Sky

"The book expertly weaves together the lives of its characters at a frightening moment in conflicted times. As we read of their moral dilemmas and of their choices, we too wonder, Would I do has these in the story have done?" --Karen Mains, Director, Hungry Souls

About How Huge the Night:  Fifteen-year-old Julien Losier just wants to fit in. But after his family moves to a small village in central France in hopes of outrunning the Nazis, he is suddenly faced with bigger challenges than the taunting of local teens.Nina Krenkel left her country to obey her father's dying command: Take your brother and leave Austria. Burn your papers. Tell no one you are Jews. Alone and on the run, she arrives in Tanieux, France, dangerously ill and in despair. Thrown together by the chaos of war, Julien begins to feel the terrible weight of the looming conflict and Nina fights to survive. As France falls to the Nazis, Julien struggles with doing what is right, even if it is not enough-and wonders whether or not he really can save Nina from almost certain death. Based on the true story of the town of Le Chambon-the only French town honored by Israel for rescuing Jews from the Holocaust-How Huge the Night is a compelling, coming-of-age drama that will keep teens turning the pages as it teaches them about a fascinating period of history and inspires them to think more deeply about their everyday choices.

About the Munn's:

Heather Munn was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in southern France where her parents were missionaries like their parents before them. She has a BA in literature from Wheaton College and now lives in a Christian intentional community in rural Illinois, where she and her husband, Paul, host free spiritual retreats for the poor, especially those transitioning out of homelessness or addiction. When not writing or hosting, she works on the communal farm.

Lydia Munn, daughter of missionary parents, grew up in Brazil. She received a BA in literature from Wheaton College, and an MA in Bible from Columbia Graduate School of Bible and   Missions. With her husband, Jim, she has worked in church planting and Bible teaching since 1983, notably in St. Etienne, near the small town in the central mountains of France which forms the background of How Huge the Night. The Munns now live in Grenoble, France.

My review:


More like 4.5 stars.

How Huge the Night is a different take on some aspects of WWII that aren't commonly written about in Christian fiction. There is a movie called Charlotte Gray (one of my favorites) that was based on a book about Vichy France and the resistance movement during the Nazi occupation. The fact that the French turned against their own people by aligning with Hitler is similar to when slaves were put in charge of other slaves and this was seen as a betrayal. What difficult times they were. The authors capture this theme very well.

One of the themes in this book that was uniquely different and inspiring compared to most WWII novels set in Europe was the fact that the story was told solely from the perspectives of the teenagers involved. The fight to survive and to escape persecution on the one hand and the desire to do the right thing and not cower to political pressure on the other. I found the story inspiring because of the way Julien realized that prayer would make a difference and that while his position was morally right, he was not doing the right thing by hating the person who was the "enemy" and antagonizing him. Instead he should be praying for his enemies while at the same time protecting the innocent and doing the right thing. This was very well done.

Another theme I appreciated was the message of hope and how Nina needed to know that someone else had understood her pain. She needed to know that there was hope. That people could be trusted. She had to learn how to fight to live and not just give up. She had to change the way she viewed her world. Very well done. Overall, I found this story to be very inspiring and compelling. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to anyone. The harsh realities of the time period were not smoothed over, and at the same time the twisted things that happened in those days wasn't elaborated on to the point of grossness. Again, well done. I am a big fan of WWII fiction set in Europe and have read several dozen novels (at least) during this time period. This novel was better than many I've read and is, in my opinion, of the same quality as novels written by the Thoenes.

How Huge the Night was published by Kregel and released in March 2011. If you have a kindle it looks like the kindle version is currently selling for only $5.00 and this book is well worth that price. :)

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away When All My Dreams Come True by Janelle Mowery (with bonus review!)

For a chance to win a copy of this book simply post a comment telling me who your favorite "western romance" author is (if you have one) and leave me a way to contact you if your name is drawn by the Randomizer program. A winner will be chosen next Sunday.




About the book:

Bobbie McIntyre dreams of running a ranch of her own. Raised without a mother and having spent most of her time around men, she knows more about wrangling than acting like a lady. The friendship of her new employer awakens a desire to learn more about presenting her feminine side, but ranch life keeps getting in the way.

Ranch owner Jace Kincaid figures the Lord is testing his faith when a female wrangler shows up looking for work. Bobbie has an uncanny way of getting under his skin, though, and he's surprised when she finds a home next to his heart. But when his cattle begin to go missing and his wranglers are in danger from some low-down cattle thief, can Jace trust God, even if it may mean giving up on his dreams?

An adventurous novel of faith, hope, and love in the Wild West.

My review:


This was a very enjoyable book with a sweet romance thread in it. I liked how the author used the fact that the ranch hand was female to enhance the tension in the story, but did it in a subtle way. I also loved not knowing who the bad guys were for a majority of the book. The faith thread was strong, and most likely would be understood best by Christians, but I loved how the author made it clear that doing good things isn't what saves you. Well done.

The hero in this story was pretty awesome. The tone felt almost like a "Lori Wick" novel, but without the point of view issues her books have. Harvest House is known for their tender romances and this definitely fits that scenario. I loved everything about Jace, the hero, and how the author showed him slowly succumbing to his feelings for Bobbie.

The heroine Bobbie was tough, but very female and tender emotionally as well. I loved her spunk, but I also loved the fact that she was portrayed as flawed and very human. I found her faith journey to be believable. It wasn't too heavy handed, but it was clearly present. You'd have to be blind not to notice the importance of faith regarding relationships while reading this story.

Last, there was plenty of action and mystery to the story. The cattle rustling theme was a bit cliche (seems like every western I've read lately has that as part of the story) but it really worked for the novel. All in all this tender-hearted romance was an engaging read. I'd recommend it to anyone and I definitely plan to read more books by this author.

When All My Dreams Come True was published by Harvest House and released in January 2011. A copy of this book was provided for me to review by Janelle Mowery, the author. The copy for this giveaway is provided by Wynn Wynn Media. Great read!

Michelle Sutton | Q&A: Michelle Sutton | FamilyFiction.com

Family Fiction magazine contacted me and asked me to answer a few questions for them about my latest Tombstone book. How did I do?

Michelle Sutton | Q&A: Michelle Sutton | FamilyFiction.com.

B & B Media Blog tour stop for The Lightkeeper's Ball (with bonus review.)

About the book:

What do I have to offer this world?  Can I really be loved for who I am on the outside and not for how others view me?  Where does my true significance come from?  In her third installment of the Mercy Falls series, The Lightkeeper’s Ball, award-winning author Colleen Coble will answer these questions while leading her readers down a path of betrayal, desire and ultimate fulfillment. 

The Mercy Falls series centers on a small town in California and its lighthouse.  Coble uses the lighthouse as a reminder that Jesus is our lighthouse always leading us home.  In her latest addition to the series, the main characters must wrestle with their desire to find fulfillment in more than their work and money while being hunted by those who are holding on to resentment and unforgiveness. 

Olivia Stewart’s family is one of the Four Hundred—the highest echelon of society in 1910.  Living in New York with her mother, Olivia is twenty-five and unmarried, and her mother is threatening an arranged marriage if she does not pick a suitable match soon.  But Olivia wants someone who will love her for more than her name.

Her sister Eleanor has headed to the Wild West of California to meet and marry Harrison Bennett.  Harrison is the son of her late father’s business partner, Claude.  Olivia’s father had specified in his will that the Bennett and Stewart families be joined in order for his family to receive half of the rights to the Bennetts’ diamond mine. 

But when Claude Bennett arrives in New York to inform Mrs. Stewart and Olivia that Eleanor has drowned, everything changes.  Now Olivia must marry Harrison, or her family will be left with no income.  But Olivia is not convinced that her sister’s death was an accident.  So she heads to Mercy Falls, California, under her formal title, Lady Devonworth, in order to seek the truth and to hide her identity from Harrison.  But the truth she finds may not be what she expected.

Harrison Bennett is full of dreams.  His father insists he run their business, and his mother tells him that he should not waste the gift God has given him.  But all Harrison really wants to do is build and fly aeroplanes.  And it doesn’t help any that his fiancé drowned and now the nosy Lady Devonworth keeps asking him questions about something so private and hurtful.  Yet there seems to be something more than skin deep with her, and he would like to discover what it is.

Can Olivia and Harrison both find the meaning in life that they desire?  In her last novel in the Mercy Falls series, Coble does not disappoint.  With murder, suspense and desire, readers will enjoy peeling back the layers and discovering that this is more than your average romance novel.  They will be perched on the edge of their seats trying to solve the mystery of Eleanor’s death while discovering that the true worth of an individual never comes from a name or accomplishments.  True worth can only be found in Christ.

The Lightkeeper’s Ball by Colleen Coble

Thomas Nelson/April 19, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-5955-4268-7/304 pages/paperback/$14.99

www.thomasnelson.com

www.colleencoble.com

My review:

Of the three books in the series this one had the coolest premise and the most beautiful cover art. The story itself seemed much slower paced to me than the others. The characterization was good, but it seemed to take time to build. I did feel grounded in the time period the story was set in. The Gilded Age is always fun to read because of the arranged marriage themes that occurred in that era. I liked the fact that I wasn't sure whodunit and all that, but at the same time it wasn't until the last one hundred pages that the story really picked up pace and had me enthralled enough to want to keep reading without stopping. 


The hero in this story was more dashing and likable than in the other two books. I loved that he had a thing for aeronautics and flying, and so did the heroine. The scandal that happened when they ended up stranded was pretty intriguing. That camp out was probably the most romantic part of the story. I loved how neither the hero nor the heroine were sure if their feelings were love, since neither had experienced that emotion before. I could buy the deception to an extent, though dragging it out for as long as she did made the heroine seem more deceptive, which wasn't necessarily a good thing. But I still liked her regardless. 


I appreciated how this book had characters from the two previous books in the series. That made it worth reading all three books in a row. I'm really glad that I did. All in all I enjoyed this series. Ms. Coble has a gift for writing historical fiction with intrigue and a bit of mystery. I loved the whole Haley's comet concern and what people thought about what could happen when the earth passed through its tail. I always love reading historicals where there is joking about how something (like income tax) is ludicrous and will never happen. Ha. Anyway, great series. This book was not my fav, but it was still enjoyable, especially toward the end. I'd definitely recommend it.

A copy of this book was provided to me to review for this tour by the B & B Media Group.

For review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings

Senior Media Specialist

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