Blog tour stop for the Alaskan Adventures sweepstakes - with bonus review!

About the book:

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn’t satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn’t lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby’s position.

Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn’t the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He’s surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report.

Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they dig, the more Gage fears they’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.


My review:

Like the other two books in the series, this story is full of intrigue and exciting excursions. The subject matter is a bit different because it has to do with missing persons. Darcy, the heroine, is a fun heroine. She's spunky, but stubborn as well. That stubborn view gets her into a lot of trouble, but it also keeps her going even when things seem hopeless. Her faith also sustains her. 

I wasn't as satisfied with this romance as I was with the others. It seemed a bit more stilted and the hero's faith journey seemed a bit more random and less natural in the way he converted. I liked his character, though, especially when he couldn't resist the heroine even when he tried. That was romantic. I think my favorite aspect of this series had to do with the exotic setting. This one focused on a cruise ship and kayaking on rough water, plus some camping. I like the uniqueness of the setting because not many books are set in Alaska. 

I got the impression from the loose ends with Jake and Kayden that there might be a fourth book in the works. If there is, I'd read it. As with the other books, I was surprised and pleased when the mystery was solved because the situation made sense when they discovered who was behind the criminal activity. I like this family. They remind me a bit of the television family from Eight is Enough, but minus the parent. This was a good story and I enjoyed it and read it quickly.

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Cool code for the sweepstakes! Enter by clicking on the button below and following the instructions.

Litfuse blog tour stop for Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund (with bonus review)

"Unending Devotion" by Jody Hedlund | Nikon Camera Giveaway and 9/18 Facebook Party! Enter and RSVP today. Celebrate with Jody by entering to win a Nikon Camera Prize Pack!

See what folks are saying about Unending Devotion!

One “devoted” winner will receive:

• A Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera
• $25 Shutterfly gift certficate
• Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 17th. Winner will be announced at the “Unending Deovtion” Author Chat Facebook Party on 9/18. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Unending Devotion and join Jody on the evening of the September 18th for a chance to connect with Jody and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Michigan, 1883
In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?

Order a copy here.

My review:

This was a creative way to bring the issue of sex slavery in the sex industry to the forefront of our minds once again. While those situations and that industry did exist, this story showed that apathy about something that seems too big to impact (like changing an entire town) can be done if one person is brave enough to take a chance and fight for what is right. Lily saw them as victims, and more than that, people. She didn't reduce them to "whores" in her mind like many of the townspeople, which allowed for them to write the prostitutes off. But one of them was Lily's sister. She was the only family Lily had and she wanted to protect her younger sister who'd gotten caught in the devil's snare.

Though she annoyed me at times because of her impulsiveness, I loved how Lily inspired an entire town that had felt powerless to fight the evil in their midst, and how Connell also learned that apathy was as sinful as the people doing the sex trafficking. Doing nothing allowed it to continue. Great point and spiritual awakening for Connell. I loved how Lily realized that God could do more if she got out of the way and trusted Him more. Good stuff there!

As far as the romance went, this story was more yummy than most. The tension was delectable and I could feel the yearning on both ends. The best part was Connell actually thought like a man (imagine that) and it was not the typical feminine perspective often seen in Christian fiction. The scene where they were stranded for several days and he had to warm her up was very well done. It sort of forced an intimacy that may not have happened otherwise. And the brother Tierney, well he was just a pig. But I'll let you read the story to see why I felt that way about him. This story is definitely worth reading.

Unending Devotion was published by Bethany House and released in Sept. 2012.

Blog tour stop for Over the Edgy by Mary Connealy (with bonus review)

Celebrate with Mary by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!

See what folks are saying about Over the Edge!

One winner will receive:

• A Nook Color with GlowLight
• The entire set of Mary Connealy's The Kincaid Brides series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Over the Edge" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/29. Meet Mary, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!

So grab your copy of Over the Edge and join Mary on the evening of the August 29th for a chance to connect with her and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

About the book:

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he's never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he's gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever.

After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he's got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't happy to find out Seth doesn't remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she's come to the Kincaid family's ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.

Callie isn't a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She's not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.

Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth's pa kept for years. The Kincaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can't sort things out. It's enough to drive a man insane--but somehow it's all making Seth see things more clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way.

My review:

I started to read the previous book, but wasn't fond of the characters, so I went on to the third. I liked Callie in this story, though the plot seemed a bit strange. I did want them to work things out. Seth was likable at times and other times his inner dialog made me think of a five year old. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but if the author intended to portray him as a bit immature in his thinking, she did well on that account. Maybe I should have read the prior books to get a true appreciation of the cavern, but I didn't get the fascination.

I have to admit the romantic elements and their inner dialog regarding each other was at times heart warming and intriguing. I liked how the author showed their attraction to each other. The comments Callie made toward Seth at first were probably intended to be humorous, but I didn't find them very funny. All in all the book was okay. I had parts that I really liked and other parts that I didn't like so that's why I rounded it down. If it hadn't had good romantic tension I probably wouldn't have finished it. The ending was good, too. Conquering demons is always a nice way to wrap up a story, though there is no way to know if he was really better after that since the story ended.

A copy of this book was given to me for review by the publicist for this tour. The content of the review is entirely my opinion.

ECFL Blog Tour Stop for Michelle Sutton here!

Title and Genre: Decision to Love (Women's fiction)

Book Blurb: Love is a decision, or is it merely an emotion?

Eight years after Tony and Hope's affair ended, new problems arise. Jimmy has gone off to college, but returns home with a startling revelation that devastates his father and causes his final heart attack. Now Hope is grieving the loss of both her husband and their son. She tries to make sense of everything, and in the end she decides to love her son through the grief. More than that, she makes the decision to love whoever her son chooses to love, whether she agrees with his choices or not. Jimmy is confused about his faith, his life, and ultimately, whom he should love. After some severe trials knock him off what he thought was the right course for his life, he makes the decision to love himself enough not to be used by someone again. But will his decision protect him in the end?

What makes this a "hot" summer read? First of all, it's loaded with drama. So people who want to get lost in a book and forget themselves for a while will enjoy this story. Also, it's full of hot topics, deep spirituality, and steamy romance. When it comes to discovering true love, it's a real sizzler.

Buy it in paperback format or for your kindle on Amazon HERE

Title and Genre: Out of Time (Contemporary Romance)

Book Blurb: Bree Le Fleur moves to Arizona to heal from her past. She meets her neighbor Donny Garafalo Jr., race car driver and model. Unlike most, she's not impressed. After their disastrous introduction, Bree ends up needing Donny's help. They become friends and Donny decides Bree is the perfect girl for him. He won't inherit the family business unless he can change his ways. He believes dating Bree and attending church will persuade his father. While following his ruse, they fall in love and find faith. Things look promising until Donny hits the road again for his final racing circuit and Bree discovers a plot to harm him. She tries to tell him, but he won't listen, so she takes matters into her own hands. When he finds out, will he thank her for meddling or send her packing? Is their love strong enough to make it through the ultimate test?

What makes this a "hot" summer read? For starters, there is a hot hero in this book. Plus, in my opinion, there is nothing hotter than restrained passion because of true love. A former playboy type finds himself falling for an ordinary girl. At the same time he finds faith. The transformation is believable, but something to behold. And the romance is smoking hot. The tension will set your pages on fire. A perfect beach read for sure.

Buy it in paperback format or for your kindle on Amazon HERE

Title and Genre: It's Not About Her (Contemporary Romance)

Book Blurb: Deena Tyler's mother led an unsavory lifestyle with drugs and men prior to Deena being taken into foster care as a teenager by a pastor and his wife. Her dream is to become a pastor's wife so someday she'll have a family life similar to her foster parents.  She has secretly been in love with Tony Lane since he started dating her roommate during their freshman year of college and he talked about wanting to become a youth pastor after graduation. But when her roommate died, Tony left town and changed schools. Deena transfers to the college in his home town so she can provide him with moral support, only he just wants to forget the past and move on. Tony has always fallen for beautiful women. To complicate things further, his friend Deena, whom he has never been attracted to because she's fairly plain, starts looking really good to him. Can he handle a new relationship this time around without messing it up, or is he destined to remain single?

What makes this a "hot" summer read? This book is hot because it has been long overdue for its release. The original date was scheduled for 2010. Fans of the prior two books will look forward to this conclusion where bad boy Tony finally redeems himself and changes for the better. The romance is hot, yet emotional, and the series concludes on a sigh-worthy note. 

Buy it in paperback format or for your kindle on Amazon HERE

The next tour stops are...

• Sat, Aug 18: Tori Chase (THE SNAKE MURDERS) http://www.kvictoriachase.com
• Mon. Aug 20:  DEBORAH PICCURELLI   (HUSH, LITTLE BABY)   http://faith-fiction-friends.blogspot.com/
• Wed, Aug 22: Christine Lindsay (SHADOWED IN SILK) www.christinelindsay.org
• Sat, Aug 25: Michael Scott (THE LOST SCROLLS) http://MichaelJScott.wordpress.com.
• Mon, Aug27: Paul Baines (ALPHA REDEMPTION, ALPHA REVELATION)  http://www.pabaines.com
• Wed, Aug 29: Dale Amedei (THE ANVIL OF THE CRAFTSMAN, THE BRITTERIDGE HERESY) http://daleamidei.wordpress.com/

ECFL Summer Blog Tour schedule here! Tour starts July 11th!

Wed, Jul 11: Tammy Doherty (CELTIC KNOT, CLADDAUGH, CELTIC CROSS)  http://mystiqueofnaultag.blogspot.com/

Sat, Jul 14: Anita K . May (Red Rover, Red Rover and Amnesia Alibii)  http://anitamay.aegauthorblogs.com/

Mon, Jul 16: Jennifer H. Westall  (LOVE'S PROVIDENCE) http://westallsww.blogspot.com/

Wed, Jul 18: Nike Chillemi (PERILOUS SHADOWS, BURNING HEARTS, GOODBYE NOEL) http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/

Sat, July  21: Tina Pinson   (WHEN SHADOWS FALL, IN THE MANOR OF THE GHOST, TOUCHED BY MERCY) http://tinapinson.blogspot.com

Wed, July 25:  Tracy Krauss (WIND OVER MARSHDALE, PLAY IT AGAIN, MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER) http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com

Sat, July 28: BJ Kurtz (THE CURSE OF ATLANTIS, THE LORD OF NIGHTMARES)          www.bjkurtz.blogspot.com

Mon, Jul 30: Frank Creed (FLASHPOINT: BOOK ONE OF THE UNDERGROUND, WAR OF ATTRITION: BOOK TWO OF THE UNDERGROUND, UNDERGROUND RISING: TALES FROM THE UNDERGROUND)  http://blog.frankcreed.com/

Wed, Aug 1: Naomi Musch (THE BLACK ROSE, THE GREEN VEIL, THE RED FURY)    www.naomimusch.com/apps/blogwww.naomimusch.blogspot.com

Sat, Aug 4: Hallee Bridgeman (SAPPHIRE ICE, EMERALD FIRE, TOPAZ HEAT) http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee:

Wed, Aug 8: Heather Randall (WHEN CHICKS HATCH) http://heatherrandall.authorweblog.com/  ***Hey gang, this date is also Heather's birthday, so be sure to wish her a happy B'day when you stop by her blo***.

Sat, Aug 11: Christopher C. Starr (THE ROAD TO HELL) http://christophercstarr.net/

Mon, Aug 13: Shawna Williams ( NO OTHER, IN ALL THINGS, THE GOOD FIGHT)  http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/

Wed,, Aug 15: Michelle Sutton (DECISION TO LOVE, OUT OF TIME, IT'S NOT ABOUT HER)  http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

Sat, Aug 18: Tori Chase (THE SNAKE MURDERS) http://www.kvictoriachase.com

Wed, Aug 22: Christine Lindsay (SHADOWED IN SILK) www.christinelindsay.org

Sat, Aug 25: Michael Scott (THE LOST SCROLLS) http://MichaelJScott.wordpress.com.

Mon, Aug27: Paul Baines (ALPHA REDEMPTION, ALPHA REVELATION)  http://www.pabaines.com

Wed, Aug 29: Dale Amedei (THE ANVIL OF THE CRAFTSMAN, THE BRITTERIDGE HERESY) http://daleamidei.wordpress.com/

Rules of the tour go like this... 

Authors will showcase any novel they've got released ...up to three novels all on ONE TOUR DATE. The blog tour participant must answer the question... 

What makes this book a "hot" summer read. They will also post the following for each book featured.

Book Cover

Title and Genre:

Book Blurb:

Amazon and Barnes and Noble Purchase Links

Coming soon! The Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers Summer blog tour!

This year's blog tour will begin July 11th and end August 29th. The ECFL tour will have fourteen stops over a two month period. A list of the different blogs participating in the tour will be posted along with links as soon as the schedule is completed. I'm posting three of my 2012 releases for my portion of the tour. Those titles are Decision to Love, It's Not About Her, and Out of Time. I'll also be posting a little bit about each book to let you know why I think they qualify as hot summer reads. Other authors will be posting their books on the tour as well. Stop back later this month for a complete list of tour participants. See you there!

Litfuse Publicity blog tour stop for Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan! (with bonus review)

@AndrewKlavan's Crazy Dangerous $100 Visa Cash Card Giveaway! RSVP for #Facebook Party {5/29}! Celebrate with Andrew Klavan by entering his Crazy Dangerous giveaway and connecting with him during the Author Chat Party on 5/29!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A $100 Visa Cash Card
• A copy of Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan for YOU and 5 of your Friends!

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on May 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Crazy Dangerous" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/29. Andrew will be hosting an Author Chat, testing your survival trivia skills, giving away books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don't miss a second of the "danger"!

Grab your copy of Crazy Dangerous and connect with Andrew on the evening of 5/29/12 for an author chat and lots of giveaways.

 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 24th!

About the book: 

"You probably want to hear about Jennifer and the demons and how I played chicken with a freight train and—oh yeah—the weird murder and how I found out about it—you're definitely going to want to hear about that. But first, I have to tell you about the stupidest thing I ever did . . ."

Sam Hopkins is bored with his status as a preacher's kid. So when a group of guys notorious for being in trouble offers him friendship, he accepts. Before long, he has several new skills—including hot-wiring cars.

At school, there's an eccentric loner named Jennifer. When Sam defends her from being bullied, she begins to seek him out as her only friend. Her ramblings often seem illogical . . . but then start to contain grains of truth. One leads Sam to discover that one of his new friends has been killed. And then she tells him, "I'm looking for the devil." Sam doesn't know what that means, but he knows it's a matter of life and death that he figure it out.

Everyone else thinks Jennifer is suffering from schizophrenia. But Sam is starting to wonder if there could be something prophetic in her words. Discovering the truth is going to be both crazy and dangerous.

My review:

This novel was compulsively readable and I found myself lost in the story... and sometimes scared silly. So maybe it's not a good idea to read some of these scenes at night. Just sayin'. Anyway, I loved the mystery/suspense themes within the story and the insight into a PK's mind. I also loved how Sam was a bit nuts and how he did so many brave things as a result. At his core, he was a good guy who cared about others. You have to admire a hero like that, even if what he did sometimes seemed pretty DRAGNET (you have to read the book to get that insider joke.)

I read this story in two sittings. I had to know what was going to happen next and if I hadn't needed to sleep I would have read it straight through. It was pretty freaky being in Jennifer's head at times. When she hailed "Sam Hopkins" as her magic friend and when she got spooked, I got spooked, too. There was a scene where she was almost lucid and asked why God allowed her brain to have a mental disease that was quite touching. She really did have a true friend in Sam Hopkins. Everyone needs a "Sam" in their lives.

One of the things that I found most compelling about the story itself was the message that people aren't always what they seem. And to assume someone is a good person just because of the role they have in society and the way they act in public is not a good thing, because we all have our private lives and sometimes people who look "good" on the outside have ugliness inside of them that's hidden. It seemed to me that part of what Jennifer suffered from was exposure to demonic activity.

At any rate, this was an intense read, but I enjoyed it and I'm not one to love scary books. Being inside the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy was kind of fun too. This is making my favorites list simply because I couldn't put it down and I loved the message in the book. Klaven has a new fan in me, though I'm still easily scared. Just sayin'.

Crazy Dangerous was published by Thomas Nelson and released May 1, 2012. A free copy of this book was given to me by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for a review for this blog tour. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own.

Litfuse Publicity blog tours presents Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

About the book:

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter.

In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

Read an excerpt here: Sweeter Than Birdsong Excerpt

About Rosslyn:

Rosslyn Elliott is the award-winning author of Fairer than Morning, the first in the Saddler's Legacy series. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue writing fiction. Elliott lives in Albuquerque, where she homeschools her daughter and works in children's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com

Buy the book here!

Click on this link to read MY REVIEW (posted earlier this month!)


* A copy of this book was provided to me for review by Litfuse Publicity for the purpose of providing an honest book review for this tour. The thoughts expressed in my review are entirely my own.


In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."

So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
• Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
• Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced at Sweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, season 1 of DowntownAbbey, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.)

So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Lightning Book Promotions presents Rebirth by Dave Longeuay (with bonus review)

About the book:

How did a remnant of scattered Jews rise to build a mighty superpower in the Middle East? 

Fleeing his father’s anti-Semitic organization, Charles Devonshire journeys into the most volatile landgrab in history—Post WWII Palestine. Charles pursues a beautiful but mysterious librarian, Gladia, who introduces him to the elaborate Jewish underground. While joining their plight to reestablish a homeland, he falls in love with her and faces painful challenges in developing a relationship within their culture gap. And in the midst of battling the hostile inhabitants who also laid claim to Palestine, he searches for clues of his own troubled past. 

Can Charles pursue love, uncover his family secrets and avoid being trapped in the middle of the world’s longest feud? 

Rebirth draws you into 1948, into a world of intrigue, espionage and anti-Semitism. Witness how ancient prophecies were fulfilled against impossible odds as Israel built a nation and defied skeptics. Journey through the precarious events that led to Israel’s miraculous rebirth on May 14, 1948. Experience the unrelenting pursuits of the most persecuted race, and how their renewed strength reestablished their original language, customs and land cultivations after 2,000 years of desolation—an accomplishment no other nation can claim. 

Watch Rebirth's exciting book trailer:

My review:


I am enjoying this book so far! There are some seriously funny moments with the main character because he is so smitten with the librarian that he'll do anything -- even if it's stupid and dangerous -- just to spend time with her. His poor heart is so involved that I feel bad for him that he struggles so much with his feelings for her. Other parts are sad and sobering. I like how the author shows the struggle between the different political factions in Israel and how coming together made them stronger. I also like how occasionally factual situations and headlines at the time were included in the story. Some of the writing is a bit disjointed, but overall I have been please with the story and would recommend it. I don't think I'll be able to finish it tonight but I'm over halfway through the book. Life gets in the way of my reading sometimes. But I will have a full review soon, I promise. 


Here are some important websites...

 Dave Longeuay's website http://rebirthofisrael.blogspot.com  

...and the website hosting the tour is  http://lightningbookpromotions.com

Readers can buy this book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

*A complimentary copy of Rebirth was provided to me for review by the publicist for this tour. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own.

Revell Blog tour stop for The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson.

What if beauty is more than skin deep?

When Chelsea Martin's future stepmother helps her transform from gawky and geeky into the hottest girl at her new school, Chelsea is pretty sure it's the best thing that ever happened to her. But her hot new look has a downside. She's attracting lots of guys who all have one thing in common: they're jerks. And stealing the attention of all the guys in school doesn't endear her to the girls either. 

Chelsea finally finds a true friend in Janelle Parker, and a non-jerk, Nicholas, catches her eye. Janelle keeps telling her to be herself, but Nicholas is the only guy around who doesn't give her a second look. Can Chelsea and Janelle come up with a plan to get his attention? Or will Chelsea's new image ruin everything? 

Teen favorite and bestselling author Melody Carlson helps girls uncover the real source of beauty in this true-to-life story of young love, friendship, and being yourself.

Click here to see my full review!

About the author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career  Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

A copy of this book was provided for me to review by Revell for the purpose of reviewing it for the tour and giving an honest opinion. 


“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Blog tour stop for The Visionary by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

The author has generously stated that anyone who leaves a comment with their email contract info will be entered to win an autographed copy of this book (hey, I want one!!!) So make sure to comment as a winner's name will be chosen by 12-17-11 so that doesn't give you much time. The author will contact you if you won. 

  About the book:


A Visionary is someone who sees into the future, Taylor Forrestier sees into the past but only as it pertains to her work. Hailed by her peers as "a visionary with an instinct for beauty and an eye for the unique" Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant architect and gifted designer. But she and twin brother Trevor, share more than a successful business. The two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the kind of abuse that's disgustingly prevalent in today's society. Can the love of God and the awesome healing power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives?

Here is a link to my review! Fantastic story! 

It's making my best fiction list for 2011!

AUTHOR BIO:

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Bayou Writers Group: http://bayouwritersgroup.com  

  

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/n8as1b 

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/o3YrMq



EXCERPT: 


“Thank you for taking such good care of me.”


“I’m not through yet,” he mumbled, then slid off the couch and swung her up in his arms.


Fear snuck in, darkening her eyes. She stiffened and opened her mouth to protest. He brushed his lips over hers and silenced her objections.


“I just want to hold you,” he whispered and laid his forehead against hers. “That’s all. I promise,” he added, unable to camouflage the need in his voice.


***


He’d offered her another step to relinquish her fear and trust him. Triumph lit his expressive eyes when she wrapped her arm around his neck, smiled, and whispered, “Okay,” then snuggled her face against his shoulder and let him carry her to the bedroom.


With exquisite tenderness, he laid her on the bed, crawled up beside her, and took her in his arms. Taylor felt the strength of his need in the heat and tensed against the hardness of his body. He eased his grip and propped up on one elbow beside her. His eyes pleaded for grace when he stroked the hair off her face and said in a soft, husky voice, “Please don’t be afraid of me; please trust me. I will never force or even persuade you to give more than you’re ready to.”


They gazed at each other for a long, tender moment. She cupped his cheek in her hand, brushed her thumb over his mouth, then curled her fingers in his hair and urged his head down to fasten her lips to his. A low moan escaped his throat, yet he held himself taut.


Taylor ran her hand over his shoulder and back in a soft caress then wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold me, Alex, I trust you.”


The emotions reflected in his tone caressed her heart when he thanked her in that beautiful velvety-rough voice. He rolled onto his back, pulled the covers over her, and held her while she slept.

Lightning Book Promotions presents a new blog tour... Shadows From the Past by Ashley Dawn.

Brought to you by 

http://lightningbookpromotions

About the book:

“…It is the price you pay for choosing to be a cop. Your brother’s life…”

Those words haunt her dreams, and her waking moments. LAPD officer, Aurora Kavvan cannot rest until she finds her brothers killer. Digging into the past always brings back unpleasant things: memories, guilt…the hit man. Now she is in a race against time to find the murderer before he finds her.

“Kill her. I don’t care how, and I don’t care where, but I want her dead now!” 

Someone was trying to kill his dead partner’s sister. FBI agent, Jordan Reiley will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves. Even if it means going against her wishes; putting himself between her and the man who murdered her brother. 

Will God keep them alive long enough for them to find the truth? 

Ashley Dawn's website is...  

http://www.authorashleydawn.com/

Blog tour stop for Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West!

About the book:

She's after the story that might get her the Pulitzer. He's determined to keep his secrets to himself. Vietnam, 1967. Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother's wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he's hiding something. Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they're forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

My review:

This review is going to be difficult for me to condense into a few paragraphs. There were so many things I loved about this book. I was talking to my aunt about how I was alive during the Vietnam War, but it wasn't talked about much when I was growing up. It was like people wanted to forget it ever happened. I've met a number of Vietnam Vets and none of them wanted to talk about their experiences either. So while I wasn't sure if I'd like this book or not because of the subject matter, I decided to try it anyway because it was a debut novel. Well, I am so glad I did because it far exceeded my expectations.

I've read a few other books set during the Vietnam war era, but none of them were as detailed and compelling as this story. I felt like I WAS Kristin and that I was in Vietnam with her. I rarely have an experience that is so enthralling that I forget I'm reading and my mind goes to the place where I'm reading about. I felt that connection with this story. I read a lot of books so I know exceptional writing when I read it. Why was this story so amazing? I'll tell you...

When I read a book I want to get lost in the story. This book did that for me. When I read a book I want to care about the characters. This book did that for me, too. I loved the people and the relationships between them. I loved the emotion and the fact that the author wasn't afraid to let her characters deal with some difficult challenges. I got tearful a number of times and had to refrain from crying in the airport (I didn't want people to wonder why I had tears rolling down my cheeks.) All I wanted to do was read the book until I finished it, but I had to go out of town, so when I got a chance to finish the story I picked it up again and stayed up until I read THE END.

Did I mention that I loved this book? My emotions soared. I felt like I understood the characters when they had PTSD symptoms. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but toward the end I was practically biting my nails wondering what would happen to them. This novel satisfied me in every way. I never thought a love story set in Vietnam would have such a powerful impact on me that I would keep thinking about the story even after I finished it. There were so many good nuggets of truth in the story. The faith message was believable, and the love story was incredible!

I am definitely going to read another book by this author. Not only is her prose beautiful, but her pacing is perfect and her romantic tension is written exactly the way I like it. A very satisfying read, and just edgy enough to be compelling without being overly done.

Yesterday's Tomorrow was published by OakTara and released in March 2011.

About the author:

Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in March 2011 through

OakTara Publishers. Catherine’s next novel, Hidden in the Heart, will be available in the near future, also through OakTara.

Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com

OakTara Website: http://www.oaktara.com

Blog: http://www.catherinewestblog.blogspot.com

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVQUMRlYhkM