Fall into Reading 2012 Wrap Up

It's hard to believe that fall has come and gone and Fall into Reading 2012 has come to a close. I had high expectations of myself with my list this time and my goal to finish reading 120 books this year. I did fairly well on both and still have about 9 books to meet my yearly goal.

I'm a bit of a political junkie and keeping up with the election slowed down my progress somewhat between late September and the first week of November. I did pick up some steam throughout the rest of November, although all the December activities with my school-aged girls tied me up for most of this month.

I opted to read a few more books with my girls rather than finish my own list, and that's okay, since I know my girls enjoy reading as much as me.

I did find a couple of books that I thought were really enjoyable on my list from a couple of new authors. Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport and Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates-Gilbert were both really good. Brandilyn Collins' Double Blind and Bill O'Reilly's Killing Kennedy were so enthralling I read each of them in one day. I would have loved to have gotten through all of my books, but I guess not doing so just guarantees some extra reading over these next chilly months.

Here's my FIR wrap up:

Books to read on my own - I had 35 on my original list. I finished these 21 from my original list, plus 2 extras.

A Season for Tending - Cindy Woodsmall

Mother of Pearl - Kellie Coates-Gilbert
Accidentally Amish - Olivia Newport

Beyond the Storm - Carolyn Zane
The Yellow Packard - Ace Collins
Double Blind - Brandilyn Collins
The Heart's Journey - Barbara Cameron

The Bridesmaid - Beverly Lewis

Queen of the Waves - Janice Thompson
Full Disclosure - Dee Henderson
Abducted - Janice Cantore
Trauma Plan - Candace Calvert

*Escapement - Rene Gutteridge
*Teardrop - Travis Thrasher
*Rearview - Mike Dellosso

#Love Finds You at Home for Christmas - Annalisa Daughety & Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
#The Hope of Christmas - Jack Countryman
#A Wreath of Snow - Liz Curtis Higgs
#Prayers of a Stranger - Davis Bunn
#The Christmas Pony - Melody Carlson
#The Little Amish Matchmaker - Linda Byler

Extras:
Killing Kennedy - Bill O'Reilly
A Wild Goose Chase Christmas - Jennife AlLee

(* - 7 Hours Series)
(# - Christmas)

Books to read with my 6th Grader - I had 7 on my original list. We finished 6 plus 5 extras.

Flutter - Erin E Moulton
The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann
Vanished - Sheela Chari
What a Pair! - Wanda Brunstetter
Mister Ray - Adam Perry
Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact - A J Hartley


Extras:
Sparrow Road - Sheila O'Connor
Beyond Lucky - Sarah Aronson
R My Name is Rachel - Patricia Reilly Giff
The Cheshire Cheese Cat - Carmen Agra Reedy/Randall Wright
The Underdogs - Mike Lupica

Books to read with my 1st Grader - I read my original 5 plus 3 extras.

Miss Fox's Class Shapes Up - Eileen Spinelli
Mary and Her Little Lamb - Will Moses
Princess Kim and Too Much Truth - Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Too Shy for Show and Tell - Beth Bracken
Wiener Wolf - Jeff Crosby


Extras:
Bugtown Boogie - Warren Hanson
Cock A Doodle Dance! - Christine Tricarico
Mission: Addition - Loren Leedy

I hope the rest of you Fall into Reading participants did well with your lists, and I'd love to hear recommendations from your list in the comments below. Hope you all have a wonderful winter and a blessed CHRISTmas! See you in the spring...

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Wild Goose Chase Christmas
(Abingdon Press - November 2012)
by
Jennifer AlLee
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Jennifer:

As I look back on my life, it's interesting to see where God's taken me, and where I took myself that God pulled me out of. I finally got back to writing, the dream of my heart. Since 1996, I've published numerous short stories, devotions and plays. I've also been active in church drama ministries, another passion of mine. My first novel, The Love of His Brother (November 2007, Five Star Publishers), was followed by The Pastor's Wife (February 2010, Abingdon Press) and The Mother Road (April 2012). A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is book two in the new Quilts of Love series.

Besides being a writer, I am a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, my family has learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets here without severely impacting our waistlines. God is good!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure.

Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about the "treasure map," they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. And, if that weren't enough, Max Logan, a local museum curator, contacts Izzy and says that Grandma Isabella promised him the quilt.

What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Christmas novels. I could read them all year long. I've had A Wild Good Chase Christmas on my wish list for quite some so I'm excited it's finally reached publication.

I love reading about the history of quilt patterns and I love how Jennifer AlLee tied the Wild Goose Chase theme into the fabric of this story, not just with the quilt itself. Grandmother Isabella makes a great unseen character in this book with all her pre-mortem planning to make the search for the clues an adventure that Izzy could hardly resist. Romance blossoms as Max and Izzy are thrown together in search of the answers behind the quilt's making, much to the chagrin of Izzy's family. Will Max and Izzy's relationship be ripped beyond repair by the tension this family friction creates, and if so, will they be able to patch things up in time to find the true treasure her grandmother has left behind? To find out, be sure to pick up a copy of A Wild Goose Chase Christmas to enjoy this holiday season.

My thanks to Abingdon Press for generously providing a copy for review.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, go HERE.

Shattered Silence by Margaret Daley

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Shattered Silence
(Abingdon Press - September 2012)
by
Margaret Daley
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.

Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.

On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A serial killer is targeting illegal aliens in southern Texas. Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with a local police officer, Liliana Rodriguez, to investigate the murders.

While the case brings Cody and Liliana ever closer, the tension between Americans and Mexican Americans heightens. As Cody and Liliana race to discover who is behind the murders and bring peace to the area, what they uncover isn't what they expected. Will Cody and Liliana's faith and love be strong enough to survive the storm of violence?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Shattered Silence, go HERE.

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Change of Fortune
(Bethany House Publishers - November 1, 2012)
by
Jen Turano
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jen grew up in the small town of St. Clairsville, Ohio, where she spent an idyllic childhood riding her purple spider bike, ice-skating on a little pond and reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon books in her tree house. High School was, surprisingly enough, fabulous as Jen spent time with her girlfriends. She headed off to college with no idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up, but settled on pursuing a career in fashion because she thought it sounded glamorous. Her parents thought she’d lost her mind, but they resigned themselves to her choice and after earning a BA degree in Clothing and Textiles, Jen set off to take the fashion world by storm, only to discover retail was certainly not the glamorous career she’d imagined it would be. She moved to Buffalo, New York to take a job in the buying office of a large department store, learning all there was to know about cookware, which again, was hardly glamorous, especially to a girl who did not have a knack for cooking. She met her future husband, Al, a few months after taking this job and eight months later, they were married. After moving into management at another department store and working that for a few years, the company went out of business and Jen decided she’d had enough. One year later her son was born and Jen hung up her heels for good and concentrated on being a mom.

She began dabbling in writing when her son, then in elementary school, said he liked her made up stories as much as those in his books. It was then that she fired up the computer and never looked back.

Jen loves to write humorous stories with quirky characters and a dash of intrigue and finds historical romances especially appealing, seeing as how she’s been reading them since she was a teenager. Her mother gave her a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss, The Flame and the Flower, and Jen was hooked on the genre. When not reading romance, she loves to read mysteries, young adult and her favorite series of all time, Harry Potter.

Besides writing, Jen enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission. Her fortune was the last thing she had left after losing her father, her fiance, and her faith. Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner governess-at-large, she's determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London.

Mr. Hamilton Beckett, much to his chagrin, is the catch of the season, and all the eyes of New York society--all the female ones, at least--are on him. He has no plans to marry again, especially since his hands are full keeping his business afloat while raising his two children alone.

Eliza's hapless attempts to regain her fortune unexpectedly put her right in Hamilton's path. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces and, before she knows it, Eliza has a whole retinue of people helping her. Eliza's determination not to trust anyone weakens when everyone's antics and bumbling efforts to assist her make her wonder if there might be more important things than her fortune and independence.

When all of Hamilton's and Eliza's best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Change of Fortune, go HERE.

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Courting Cate
(Bethany House Publishers - November 1, 2012)
by
Leslie Gould
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Even though I knew I wanted to write fiction by the time I was in the sixth grade, as I grew older I pursued other things instead, such as majoring in history and communications, and then working as a museum curator, then a public relations specialist, and finally as a magazine editor. Once I finally started writing fiction, it was another ten years until I sold my first novel. By that time I’d been married for nearly 20 years and had four children of my own to read to.

In the decade since my first contract I’ve written fifteen books, from Beyond the Blue, a story about international adoption set in Vietnam, to Courting Cate, a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. No matter what I write, I aim to reveal truths about God’s love, beauty, and redemptive work in our lives. My goal is to connect more deeply to God, family, and friends through my writing. My hope is that my stories encourage readers to deepen their own connections too.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Amish farmer Pete Treger moves to Paradise Township, Pennsylvania, seeking a better life, he meets sisters Cate and Betsy Miller. Both are beautiful, but older sister Cate is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Betsy, on the other hand, is sweet and flirty--and seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County!

However, the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard and fast rule: elder sister must marry first, before the younger can even start courting. Unfortunately for poor Betsy, and for the men who want to court her, her older sister, Cate, doesn't have any suitors--until Pete comes to town, that is.

Though he finds both sisters attractive, something about Cate's feisty demeanor appeals to him. Soon the other bachelors in the district convince Pete to court Cate. She hardly seems receptive to his overtures, though. Instead, she's immediately suspicious of his interest.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Courting Cate, go HERE.

A Thousand Sleepless Nights by Michael King

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Thousand Sleepless Nights
(Realms - October 16, 2012)
by
Michael King
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When Mike Dellosso won a one-year battle with colon cancer he set out to help readers of his books discover it before they had to go through what he experienced.

“I want others to avoid what I had to go through,” he says. “It was an experience that taught me a lot about myself, others, and God, but one I wouldn’t want to repeat. If I can help even one person battling this disease, it would have been worth it.”

Mike set about writing a novel quite different from what his fan base had come to expect from him. Not a thriller, but a character-driven novel, so he wrote it under a pen name, Michael King, and entitled it A Thousand Sleepless Nights. His publisher, Charisma Media, went for it and the first copies went on sale in October.

Mike’s next step was to determine whether a partnership between him, Charisma Media, and the Colon Cancer Alliance was possible. This month both announced their cooperative fundraising venture, with Charisma Media making a significant contribution to CCA and Mike committing a portion of the proceeds from the book through December to CCA.

Speaking about A Thousand Sleepless Nights Mike says, “I want people to see colon cancer (and all the other cancers) for the monster it is, but also to show it does not need to defeat us. There is hope, there is strength, and there is courage and love. And though cancer may rob us of our physical vitality, it has no power over our spirit.”

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the 1970s, escaping a home where he knew nothing but violence and hate, Jim Harding found work, and love, on the largest horse ranch in Virginia. The object of his affections, Nena St. Claire, is the daughter of the owner—a man who ruled his ranch with an iron fist and would do whatever it took to keep Nena and Jim apart.

Against the wishes of her family, Nena marries Jim, and after her father dies, she sacrifices everything—including her family—to keep the ranch alive. Now their three grown children have lives of their own and want nothing to do with Nena. She was never the mother they needed.

When cancer strikes and Nena is given a devastating diagnosis, can Jim reconcile the family before it is too late?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Thousand Sleepless Nights, go HERE.

Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beyond the Storm
(Abingdon Press - October 2012)

by
Carolyn Zane
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author of 35 books, wife, mother and yes…hot (flasher) lives with her fabulous husband, Matt and their 5 children and 3 dogs in the scenic Willamette Valley in Oregon. When asked to describe her family, Carolyn likens her crowd to the
Brangelia Bunch saying modestly, “Only we’re better looking.” Right now,Carolyn is back in the saddle with her new title: Beyond The Storm, coming out in October 2012! In the mean time, be sure to catch her on the critically acclaimed TOOHOTMAMAS Blog where Carolyn and Wendy tackle Marriage, motherhood and menopause: How to do all three and stay out of prison! They are hilarious! You'll wet yourself, guaranteed! Visit them at: www.toohotmamas.wordpress.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After a tornado rips through her town, store owner Abigail comes across a piece of fabric from a wedding dress among the devastation. Abigail is moved to start collecting other swatches of fabric she finds – her neighbor’s kitchen curtains, a man’s necktie, a dog’s bed – which she stashes in shopping bags. As she pursues her seemingly absurd quest, horrible realities spark the question, “What kind of a God would allow such tragedy?”

As she struggles to reconcile her right to happiness amidst the destruction, Abigail begins piecing together a patchwork quilt from the salvaged fabric in hopes it will bring some peace. But a new relationship with Justin, a contractor, may require too much of her fragile heart. Will her pain and questions of faith give way to the courage to love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Beyond the Storm, go HERE.

Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Accidentally Amish
(Barbour Books - October 1, 2012)

by
Olivia Newport
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word From The Author:

I’m imagining you. You walk past as I water my front flowerbeds and we wave. You check the time as we both stand in a long line at the grocery store. You sit in front of me in church. I’m at my table in the coffee shop and you’re at yours.

We may smile politely and move on with our separate lives. Or one of us may speak, a simple invitation to conversation, and the words flow between us.

Here the adventure begins. When we meet someone new, we never know where it might lead.

I’ve been married for over thirty years and have two twenty-something kids. We live in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where the day lilies in my back yard grow as tall as I am. (No short jokes, please.)

Not every piece of my life is pretty, though. Some days I want to throw out whole chunks. But I am living each day looking for the grace of God to me, in me, and through me. Having your companionship along the way will help uncover a lot of great stories.

Thanks for stopping by my site, where conversations and adventures begin with a click. I hope we’ll run into each other often.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Escape the helter-skelter of the modern culture and join software creator Annie Friesen, hiding at the home of an Amishman. With her high-tech career in jeopardy, Annie runs from fast-paced Colorado Springs—and straight into the hospitality of San Luis Valley’s Amish community. There she meets cabinetmaker Rufus Beiler, and the more time she spends with him, the more attracted she becomes. When Annie finds she shares a common ancestor with Rufus, she feels both cultures colliding within her. But is her love for Rufus strong enough for her to give up the only life she’s ever known?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Accidentally Amish, go HERE.

Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Against the Tide
(Bethany House Publishers - October 1, 2012)
by
Elizabeth Camden
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Elizabeth:

I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.

I married relatively late in life, which turned out to be an odd kind of blessing. I had gotten very good at leading a solo life, and although I was not particularly content being alone, I had become reconciled to it. Most importantly, it taught me never to take my husband for granted. I give daily thanks for the blessing of being able to share a life with my favorite person on the planet.

As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden's Latest Offering

As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.

Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Against the Tide, go HERE.

Still Life in Shadows by Alice Wisler

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Still Life in Shadows
River North; New Edition - August 1, 2012
by
Alice Wisler
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice was born in Osaka, Japan in the sixties. Her parents were Presbyterian career missionaries. As a young child, Alice loved to walk down to the local stationer's store to buy notebooks, pencils and scented erasers. In her room, she created stories. The desire to be a published famous author has never left her. Well, two out of three isn't bad. She's the author of Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation (all published by Bethany House).

Alice went to Eastern Mennonite University after graduating from Canadian Academy, an international high school in Kobe, Japan. She majored in social work and has worked across the U.S. in that field. She taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Japan and at a refugee camp in the Philippines. She also studied Spanish at a language institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.

She has four children--Rachel, Daniel, Benjamin and Elizabeth. Daniel died on 2/2/97 from cancer treatments at the age of four. Since then, Alice founded Daniel's House Publications in her son's memory. This organization reaches out to others who have also lost a child to death. In 2000 and 2003, Alice compiled recipes and memories of children across the world to publish two memorial cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It's been fifteen years since Gideon Miller ran away from his Amish community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as a boy of fifteen. Gideon arrives in the Smoky Mountains town of Twin Branches and settles in at the local auto mechanic's garage. He meets a host of interesting characters -the most recent acquaintances are Kiki, an autistic teen, and her sister Mari. Known as the "Getaway Savior" he helps other Amish boys and girls relocate to life in modern America.

One day the phone rings. On the other end is his brother Moriah calling from Florida. Of course Gideon welcomes his brother to stay with him and offers him a job. But Moriah is caught in a web which ends in his death and forces Gideon to return to the town of his youth, with his brother's body in the back of a hearse and Mari and Kiki at his side. He must face not only the community he ran away from years ago but also his own web of bitterness. Will he be able to give his anger over to God and forgive his father?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of Still Life in Shadows, go HERE.

Fall into Reading 2012

It's that time of year again...when we break out sweaters, start raking leaves, and snuggle in the bleachers at a local football game. But alas, let us not forget something we can do in the coziness of our favorite chair with a warm beverage by our side. Raise your hand if you're more than ready to Fall into Reading!

Set some goals, get a list together, and join in with host Katrina at Callapidder Days, myself, and many others who are looking to spend some time this fall season with our noses in a book. It all starts on September 22 and I'd love to see you join in. You can find all the pertinent info about the challenge here.

I've got a few books by new authors (or new to me) on my list, as well as a few Christmas books. I'm still trying to keep pace with my 120 book goal this year and still need to read 42 books, so I'm hoping having a goal will help me reach it.
Books to read on my own:

A Season for Tending - Cindy Woodsmall
Sandwich with a Side of Romance - Krista Phillips
Road to Mercy - Kathy Harris
Mother of Pearl - Kellie Coates-Gilbert
Accidentally Amish - Olivia Newport
Still Life in Shadows - Alice Wisler
Against the Tide - Elizabeth Camden
Beyond the Storm - Carolyn Zane
The Yellow Packard - Ace Collins
Double Blind - Brandilyn Collins
The Heart's Journey - Barbara Cameron
Organized Grime - Christy Barritt
Death of the Couch Potato's Wife - Christy Barritt
The Bridesmaid - Beverly Lewis
Almost Amish - Kathryn Cushman
Violet Miracle - Christina Li
Queen of the Waves - Janice Thompson
Full Disclosure - Dee Henderson
Abducted - Janice Cantore
Trauma Plan - Candace Calvert
Starring Me - Krista McGee
With Every Letter - Sarah Sundin
*Escapement - Rene Gutteridge
*Teardrop - Travis Thrasher
*Rearview - Mike Dellosso
*Recollection - Tom Pawlik
*All of our Dreams - James Andrew Wilson
*Whole Pieces - Ronie Kendig
*The Last Night of Alton Webber - Robin Parrish
#Love Finds You at Home for Christmas - Annalisa Daughety & Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
#The Hope of Christmas - Jack Countryman
#A Wreath of Snow - Liz Curtis Higgs
#Prayers of a Stranger - Davis Bunn
#The Christmas Pony - Melody Carlson
#The Little Amish Matchmaker - Linda Byler

(* - 7 Hours Series)
(# - Christmas)

Books to read with my 6th Grader:

Flutter - Erin E Moulton
The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann
Vanished - Sheela Chari
What a Pair! - Wanda Brunstetter
Mister Ray - Adam Perry
Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact - A J Hartley
Wonder - RJ Palacio

Books to read with my 1st Grader:

Miss Fox's Class Shapes Up - Eileen Spinelli
Mary and Her Little Lamb - Will Moses
Princess Kim and Too Much Truth - Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Too Shy for Show and Tell - Beth Bracken
Wiener Wolf - Jeff Crosby

Happy Fall Y'all...and Happy Reading, too!

To see what others are reading during the challenge, go here.

The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Bridesmaid
(Bethany House Publishers - September 11, 2012)
by
Beverly Lewis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beverly's first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, The Heritage of Lancaster County, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author's maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly's work to be "a primer on Lancaster County folklore" and offers "an insider's view of Amish life."

Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly's tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, "Beverly's books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don't run across writing like that every day. I hope she'll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time."

A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction "book worms."

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Latest in Chart-Topping Amish Fiction from Beverly Lewis

Twenty-seven-year-old Joanna Kurtz has made several trips to the altar, but never as a bride. The single young Amishwoman is a closet writer with a longing to be published something practically unheard of in her Lancaster County community. Yet Joanna's stories aren't her only secret. She also has a beau who is courting her from afar, unbeknownst even to her sister, Cora, who, though younger, seems to have suitors to spare.

Eben Troyer is a responsible young Amishman who hopes to make Joanna Kurtz his bride--if he can ever leave his parents' farm in Shipshewana, Indiana. Yet with his only brother off in the English world, intent on a military career, Eben's hopes for building a life with his dear Joanna are dimming, and patience is wearing thin. Will Joanna ever be more than a bridesmaid?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Bridesmaid, go HERE.

Found by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Found
(Avon Inspire; Original Ed. - September 4, 2012)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A murder is solved and a quiet Amish community must deal with the repercussions. Amid the surprising revelations, can a newfound love survive?

As the search for Perry Borntrager's killer continues, Jacob Schrock feels like his world is about to crumble. Right before Perry went missing, he and Jacob got into a fistfight. Jacob never told anyone what happened that terrible night. He's good at keeping secrets—including his love for Deborah, Perry's sister. But when Deborah takes a job at his family's store and their friendship blossoms, Jacob senses everything is about to be revealed.

Deborah has been searching for a slice of happiness ever since her brother's body was discovered. When the police start questioning Jacob, Deborah can't believe that the one person she's finally allowed in could be the one responsible for her brother's death. Will she believe what everyone seems to think is the truth . . . or listen to her heart, and hope there is still one more person who is keeping secrets in Crittenden County?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of Found, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:

At the end of the second book in this series, The Search, we are left with the idea that Luke Reynolds has figured out the person who ended Perry's life. I felt certain that I had come to the same conclusion. As this book starts Luke knows that he must find proof to link the evidence to the killer. But as he finds out, there are still plenty of secrets in Crittenden County.

This has been by far, the most intriguing of Shelley Shepard Gray's series' that I've read. I mentioned above that I was sure that Luke and I had the person pegged. Well, the author is even better at keeping secrets than the characters in the book, since my guess didn't match Luke's, but I was still holding out hope that I was right. I wasn't correct with my initial guess, but as the story progressed I determined who it was before the end of the book.

This whole series would be a great choice for any reader who enjoys books about the Amish, especially if they like mysteries with a light touch of romance.

My thanks to CFBA and the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Living in Harmony
(Harvest House Publishers - August 1, 2012)
by
Mary Ellis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Ellis is the author of many books, including A Widow's Hope, Sarah's Christmas Miracle, and A Marriage for Meghan. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.

She was a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards for A Widow's Hope in
2010, and the winner of the Award of Merit in the Holt Medallion Awards for A Widow's Hope in 2010.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis's New Beginnings series. It's about fresh starts and love...and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.

Amy King--young, engaged, and Amish--faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.

John's brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling.

During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.


Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?

Watch the book trailer for Living in Harmony:

If you would like to read the first chapter of Living in Harmony, go HERE.

Over the Edge by Mary Connealy

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Over The Edge
(Bethany House - August 1, 2012)
by
Mary Connealy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.

Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.

The Sophie's Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.

She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she's one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.

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.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Over The Edge, go HERE.

Chasing the Wind by Pamela Binnings Ewen

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Chasing The Wind
(B&H Books - August 1, 2012)

by
Pamela Ewen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Until recently retiring to write full time, Pamela Binnings Ewen was a partner in the Houston office of the international law firm of Baker Botts, L.L.P., specializing in corporate finance. She now lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, James Lott.

She has served on the Board of Directors of Inprint, Inc., a non-profit organization supporting the literary arts in Houston, Texas, as well as the Advisory Board for The New Orleans Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans; Pamela is a co-founder of the Northshore Literary Society in the Greater New Orleans area. She is also a member of the National League of American Pen Women.

Pamela’s first novel, Walk Back The Cat (Broadman & Holman. May, 2006) is the story of an embittered and powerful clergyman who learns an ancient secret, confronting him with truth and a choice that may destroy him.

She is also the best-selling author of the acclaimed non-fiction book Faith On Trial, published by Broadman & Holman in 1999, currently in its third printing.

Although it was written for non-lawyers, Faith On Trial was also chosen as a text for a course on law and religion at Yale Law School in the Spring of 2000, along with The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel. Continuing the apologetics begun in Faith On Trial, Pamela also appears with Gary Habermas, Josh McDowell, Darrell Bock, Lee Strobel, and others in the film Jesus: Fact or Fiction, a Campus Crusade for Christ production.

Pamela is the latest writer to emerge from a Louisiana family recognized for its statistically improbable number of successful authors. A cousin, James Lee Burke, who won the Edgar Award, wrote about the common ancestral grandfathers in his Civil War novel White Dove At Morning.

Among other writers in the family are Andre Dubus (Best Picture Oscar nomination for The Bedroom; his son, Andre Dubus III, author of The House of Sand and Fog, a Best Picture Oscar nomination and an Oprah pick; Elizabeth Nell Dubus (the Cajun trilogy); and Alafair Burke, just starting out with the well received Samantha Kincaid mystery series.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At 8:47 A.M. on Wednesday, October 12, 1977, new-to-town businessman Bingham Murdock flew his small plane into New Orleans, banking it in such a way that a ray of sunshine shot through the city at light speed.

Amalise Catoir saw the flash from her sixteenth floor law office window. Finally feeling alive after the death of her abusive husband, she imagined seeing the plane was a fate for her eyes only; a special connection between the unknown giver and she, the recipient of light.

But someone else saw it, a six-year-old Cambodian refugee in foster care for whom a sudden burst of brightness reminds him of artillery fire.

Destined to cross paths with the man and the child, Amalise doesn’t yet know the deeper spiritual lesson she will learn: that we are responsible not only for the things we do, but also for the things that we don’t.

If you would like to read an excerpt of Chasing The Wind, go HERE.

Look Out Middle Grade Mystery Lovers...

...have I got some great news for you!

If you are like my middle grade daughter and devour books so fast that you run out of Christian fiction books catered to your age group, I am pleased to share that Colleen Coble and Robin Caroll are teaming up to write a series for your reading pleasure. If you like mystery, adventure, suspense, and animals...be sure to keep your eyes open for book one set to hit shelves in April 2013.

About Rock Harbor Search and Rescue:

Emily O'Reilly is obsessed with all things Search and Rescue. She volunteers with the team and goes on rescue missions with her stepmom. She is even selling homemade jewelry to save up for her own Search and Rescue puppy. But when an expensive necklace is stolen from a renowned jewelry artist at Rock Harbor's fall festival and Emily is accused of the crime, it looks like she'll never get her puppy and be able to join the Rock Harbor Search and Rescue team.

Emily isn't willing to give up on her Search and Rescue dreams that easily, and she sets out to find the real culprit and to restore her reputation. With a few suspects in mind, Emily is determined to uncover the truth, but she isn't prepared for the secrets she and the Search and Rescue dogs sniff out in the process. This exciting mystery is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and have them pining after a Search and Rescue puppy of their own.

Published by Thomas Nelson
For ages 9-12/Grades 4-7

Find out more on the web:
Colleen Coble
Robin Caroll
Thomas Nelson Publishers

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Almost Amish
(Bethany House Publishers - July 1, 2012)
by
Kathryn Cushman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, but all her life she knew that she wanted to write a novel “some day”. For her, “some day” came in 2003, when she started writing and never looked back.

Her first two manuscripts remain firmly ensconced in the back of her closet (the dust bunnies tell her they really are terrific!). Her third attempt became her first published novel.

A Promise to Remember and Leaving Yesterday were both finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.

On the homefront, she has been married to the wonderful and handsome Lee for nearly twenty-five years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of high school and college.

They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for over twenty years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feel blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)

When she's not writing or reading or braving seventy degree holidays, you’ll find her trying her best to keep up with her daughters in their various theater, softball, dance, and filled-with-activity lives.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Proving the Simple Life Isn't So Simple After All

Overcommitted and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife--but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It's just the break Julie needs.

But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it's cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications...and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Almost Amish, go HERE.

Christy Award Winners 2012

Thanks for joining us on the blogosphere in our Road to the Christys 2012!

We congratulate the 2012 Christy Award Winners

Contemporary Standalone

Ann Tatlock

Promises to Keep
Bethany House Publishers

Ann Tatlock is a two-time Christy Award winner. Her novel, All the Way Home, won in the 2003 Contemporary Fiction category.

Contemporary Romance

Ronie Kendig

Wolfsbane
Barbour Publishing

Contemporary - Series/Sequel/Novella

Mindy Starns Clark
Leslie Gould

The Amish Midwife
Harvest House Publishers

First Novel

Ginny Yttrup

Words
B & H Publishers


Historical

Lynn Austin

Wonderland Creek
Bethany House Publishers

Wonderland Creek makes the 8th book by Lynn Austin to receive the distinguished Christy Award.


Historical Romance

Julie Klassen

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
Bethany House Publishers

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall gives Julie Klassen a total of three Christy Awards.

Suspense

Steven James

The Queen
Revell Publishing

The Queen gives Steven James a total of three Christy Awards to his credit.

Visionary

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Veiled Rose
Bethany House Publishers

Veiled Rose is the second Christy Award winning book by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Her novel Heartless won in the First Novel category in 2011. She is the first author to have both her debut novel and successive novel win the award.

Young Adult

Lisa T. Bergren

Waterfall
David C. Cook Publishing