Wednesday, July 18, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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


Sunday, July 15, 2012

Road to the Christys 2012 - And the nominees are....


Congratulations to all the Christy Award nominees for 2012.

The nominees will be recognized and winners of the 13th annual Christy Awards for Excellence in Christian Fiction announced via live blog TONIGHT!

Contemporary Standalone



Dry as Rain - Gina Holmes (Tyndale House)
Promises to Keep - Ann Tatlock (Bethany House)
Words - Ginny Yttrup (B&H)

Find out more on the web:
Gina Holmes
Ann Tatlock
Ginny Yttrup


Contemporary Romance



My Foolish Heart - Susan May Warren (Tyndale House)
Larkspur Cove - Lisa Wingate (Bethany House)
Wolfsbane - Ronie Kendig (Barbour)

Susan May Warren
Lisa Wingate
Ronie Kendig


Contemporary Series/Sequel/Novella



The Amish Midwife - Mindy Starns Clark/Leslie Gould (Harvest House)
Dancing on Glass - Pamela Binnings Ewen (B&H)
The Touch - Randall Wallace (Tyndale House)

Mindy Starns Clark
Leslie Gould
Pamela Binnings Ewen
Randall Wallace


First Novel




An Eye for Glory - Karl Bacon (Zondervan)
Southern Fried Sushi - Jennifer Rogers Spinola (Barbour)
Words - Ginny Yttrup (B&H)

Karl Bacon
Jennifer Rogers Spinola
Ginny Yttrup


Historical



Forsaking All Others - Allison Pittman (Tyndale House)
Mine is the Night - Liz Curtis Higgs (Waterbrook Multnomah)
Wonderland Creek - Lynn Austin (Bethany House)

Allison Pittman
Liz Curtis Higgs
Lynn Austin


Historical Romance



A Lasting Impression - Tamera Alexander (Bethany House)
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall - Julie Klassen (Bethany House)
To Die For - Sandra Byrd (Howard)

Tamera Alexander
Julie Klassen
Sandra Byrd


Suspense




Over the Edge - Brandilyn Collins (B&H)
The Queen - Steven James (Revell)
Pattern of Wounds - J. Mark Bertrand (Bethany House)

Brandilyn Collins
Steven James
J. Mark Bertrand


Visionary



The Chair - James Rubart (B&H)
Forbidden - Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee (Center Street)
Veiled Rose - Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House)

James Rubart
Ted Dekker
Tosca Lee
Anne Elisabeth Stengl


Young Adult




How Huge the Night - Heather Munn/Lydia Munn (Kregel)
The Merchant's Daughter - Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)
Waterfall - Lisa T. Bergren (David C. Cook)

Heather Munn/Lydia Munn
Melanie Dickerson
Lisa T. Bergren


Find out more on the web:
Christy Awards
B&H Publishing
Barbour Publishing
Bethany House - A Division of Baker Publishing
Center Street - A Division of Hachette Publishing
David C Cook Publishing
Harvest House Publishing
Howard Books - A Division of Simon & Schuster
Kregel Publishing
Revell Books
Tyndale House Publishers
WaterBrook Multnomah Press
Zondervan Publishing


Friday, July 13, 2012

Road to the Christys 2012 - Dancing on Glass by Pamela Binnings Ewen


Dancing on Glass by Pamela Binnings Ewen is a nominee in the Contemporary Series/Sequel/Novella category at this years Christy Awards. Stay tuned as the winners will be announced via live blog on Monday, July 16th.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the steamy city of New Orleans in 1974, Amalise Catoir sees Phillip Sharp as a charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she has known. A young lawyer herself, raised in a small town and on the brink of a career with a large firm, she is strong and successful, yet sometimes too trusting and whimsical. Ama's rash decision to marry Phillip proves to be a mistake as he becomes overly possessive, drawing his wife away from family, friends, and her faith. His insidious, dangerous behavior becomes her dark, inescapable secret.

In this lawyer's unraveling world, can grace survive Ama's fatal choice? What would you do when prayers seem to go unanswered, faith has slipped away, evil stalks, and you feel yourself forever dancing on shattered glass?

Watch the book trailer:


MY THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed this engaging book set in the intriguing Crescent City. I find New Orleans and the bayou country a fascinating place to read about.

The author does a wonderful job giving depth to each of the characters...to the naive but trusting Amalise, the maniacal Phillip, and the loyal and balanced Jude. My emotions were warring with each other with the character Amalise...sometimes I just wanted to hug her and offer her comfort as she endures a volatile relationship with Phillip while at others times I wanted to wring her neck for her thinking she and her love could change the man whose irrational personality was making her life a prison.

This story sucked me in from the first page, and I stayed up two nights in a row to read this book (actually falling asleep with it in my hands one of those nights) because I just had to know would happen on each successive page. I'm not giving away anything of the ending but I will say that it left me more than satisfied. If you are looking for a book with a touch of romance, suspense, excellent characterization with a backdrop of the beautifully described Crescent City and Louisiana Bayou country, then don't let Dancing on Glass pass you by.

Find out more on the web:
Christy Awards
Pamela Binnings Ewen

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Deposit Slip by Todd M Johnson

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Deposit Slip

(Bethany House Publishers - July 1, 2012)

by

Todd M. Johnson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer.

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong.

The Deposit Slip is his debut novel. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife Cathy, and children Ian and Libby.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

$10,000,000 Is Missing.


Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper--a deposit slip--with an unbelievable amount on it. Only the bank claims they have no record of the money, and trying to hire a lawyer has brought only intimidation and threats. Erin's last chance is Jared Neaton.

How Far Will One Lawyer Go to Find the Money?

When Jared wearied of the shady ethics of his big law firm and started his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big loss has pushed him to the brink, and it's all he can do to scrape by.

And How Far Will Someone Go to Stop Him?

He's not sure if Erin's case is worth the risk, but if the money is real, all his problems could vanish. When digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats, both Jared and Erin must decide the cost they're willing to pay to discover the truth.

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

Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Inescapable

(Bethany House Publishers - July 1, 2012)

by

Nancy Mehl


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband Norman and their dog, Watson. She’s authored thirteen books and is currently at work on her newest series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

She and her husband attend Believer’s Tabernacle in Wichita.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, Kansas, with plans never to return.

But five years later, the new life she built is falling apart. Lizzie knows she's being followed, and she's certain the same mysterious stranger is behind the threatening letters she's received. Realizing she'll have to run again, the only escape Lizzie can manage is a return to the last place she wants to go.

Once she arrives in Kingdom, Lizzie is confident she'll be safe until she comes up with a new plan. In reacquainting herself with the town and its people--especially her old friend, Noah Housler--she wonders if she judged her hometown and her Mennonite faith too harshly. However, just as she begins to come to terms with her roots, Lizzie is horrified to discover the danger she ran from is closer than ever.

No longer sure who to trust and fearful for her life and the lives of those around her, Lizzie finds she has only one place left to run--to the Father whose love is inescapable.

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

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Nothing to Hide by J Mark Bertrand

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Nothing to Hide

(Bethany House Publishers - July 1, 2012)

by

J. Mark Bertrand


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Mark Bertrand lived in Houston, where the series is set, for fifteen years earning an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. But after one hurricane too many he left for South Dakota. Mark has been arrested for a crime he didn't commit, was the foreman of one hung jury and served on another that acquitted Vinnie Jones of assault. In 1972, he won an honorable mention in a child modeling contest, but pursued writing instead.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A grisly homicide. An international threat.
The stakes have never been higher for
Detective Roland March.


The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue--but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.

In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose--and nothing to hide.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Nothing to Hide, go HERE.