False Pretenses by Kathy Herman

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
False Pretenses
(David C. Cook - March 1, 2011)
by
Kathy Herman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.

Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Zoe Broussard loves the life she and her husband Pierce have built in her beloved Louisiana hometown. She owns a thriving Cajun eatery in South Louisiana and is married to the love of her life.

But it’s about to become hell. One day, out of the blue, she receives a series of anonymous notes that sends her life into a tail spin. Five simple words, “I know what you did.” Zoe has a secret so terrible it could leave the business in shambles and tear her marriage apart. Unbeknownst to anyone, even Zoe’s husband, Pierce, she has a past—a past she had covered so well she never thought she would have to confront. How could anyone know what she did? Can she find the courage to face her past?

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

Spring Reading Thing 2011

I have definitely needed something to kick-start my reading this year and am so glad it's time for SRT 2011! Our host is Katrina at Callapidder Days, and everything you need to know to join in can be found here. The challenge runs from March 20 to June 20, 2011.

I've broken down my list into parts similar to the way I did in the Fall into Reading 2010 Challenge, so here we go:

Review Books:

1. False Pretenses by Kathy Herman
2. Faithful by Kim Cash Tate
3. Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze
4. Voyage with the Vikings by Paul McCusker & Marianne Hering
5. Attack at the Arena by Paul McCusker & Marianne Hering
6. Abigail's New Hope by Mary Ellis
7. He Said, She Said by Cindy Sproles & Eddie Jones
8. The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

Too Good to Pass Up (Recent releases by some of my favorite authors):

1. Lie Down in Green Pastures by Debbie Viguie
2. Unexpected Love by Andrea Boeshaar
3. The Judgment by Beverly Lewis
4. Glamour by Melody Carlson
5. The Journey by Wanda Brunstetter
6. Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

Finally off the Shelf (Books that I clean off my shelf during the challenge):

1.
2.
3.

Non-fiction (I have numerous NF books on my shelf as well, so I'll try to get a few of those finished):

1.
2.

I'm trying to give myself a bit of leeway since my reading habits haven't been the greatest of late...so check back to see if I fill up some of those empty spaces. Blessings y'all ... and happy reading!

The Caregiver by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Caregiver
(Avon Inspire; Original edition - March 8, 2011)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two lives converge one stormy night on a train headed to Cleveland

Lucy is traveling by herself via train to Jacob's Crossing to help care for her cousin Mattie, recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Trying to overcome the sudden death of her husband, she's glad to get away and focus on someone else for a while.

The only other Amish people on the train are Calvin Weaver and his little sister, Katie. When their train breaks down outside of Cleveland, Calvin and Lucy band together to face the outside world. But Calvin also carries the weight of past hurts. When an altercation brings both their wounds to light, they question whether they can trust each other.

Once in Jacob's Crossing, Lucy is occupied with caring for Mattie, while Calvin does his best to run his family's farm. But they can't stop thinking about those special hours spent together. Will the bond they formed last? And will Lucy and Calvin be able to put away the pain in their pasts to recognize the happiness that is suddenly in their grasp?

MY THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed this book, and especially liked how the "caregiver" theme runs throughout the story. Seeing the circumstances that both Lucy and Calvin have gone through, it's easy to see how the caregiver title can apply to both of them. I became quite attached to many of the characters in the story and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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

Operation Bonnet by Kimberly Stuart

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Operation Bonnet
(David C. Cook; New edition - February 1, 2011)
by
Kimberly Stuart

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kimberly says:

I am a writer of comedic fiction, and would like to suggest that you laugh regularly when reading my books. Let’s also try for one to two teary moments. If you are crying more than that, you don’t understand my sense of humor and should move on to another author.

I grew up in a book-loving home. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. My mom loves books. My dad loves to read the first chapters of books and then make us all listen as he recites his favorite passages. I, however, enjoy reading books in their entirety and came into writing as a result of book-love. After earning two fancy degrees in education and Spanish, I promptly let the thinking part of my brain take a breather and instead became pregnant. (I’m sure a lot of other things happened between early literacy and pregnancy but I don’t really remember any of that. If you also have shared your uterus with another human, you understand.)

In an effort to author a book that would entertain my sassy, irreverent, breast-feeding/drooping friends, I wrote my first novel, Balancing Act. People were so nice to me after that, I decided to continue with writing. Also, I can’t craft, knit, or scrapbook, so what else was a nice, Christian girl to do?

In addition to writing books to make my friends laugh and cry, I observe the chaos at the home I share with my unfailingly supportive husband and three offspring. We’re doing our best and so far, no one’s been to prison.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind.

So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case.

Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.

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

Watch the book video trailer:

Save the Date by Jenny B Jones

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Save The Date
(Thomas Nelson - February 1, 2011)
by
Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.

When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.

My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.

Okay, that’s not exactly true.

Some facts that are true include:

I've always been refined!

A. I got my camera confiscated by big boys with guns at the American Embassy in Europe this past summer. O la la!
B. I once worked in a seed mill office and cleaned out mice on a regular basis. Ew.
C. I’m a former drama teacher.
D. I didn’t pass my drivers test the first time. Or the second...
E. I attract stray animals like a magnet.
F. I used to assemble and test paint ball guns for a local factory...

Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:

-watching E!
-updating my status on Facebook
-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and
-writing my name in the dust on my furniture

I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

You’re invited to the engagement of the most unlikely couple of the year.

When the funding for Lucy’s non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir of Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy’s Saving Grace organization. Alex Sinclair has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Both Lucy and Alex have something the other wants. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart – and her future – on the line.

Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.

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

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K Paul

About Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball:

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

My thoughts:

Step inside this whimsical whirlwind and let it take you to a winter wonderland!

I love a good Christmas book and had this one on my wish list long before the holiday season rolled around. I wasn't disappointed with this charming story. All of the mysterious "behind-the-scenes" machinations to get Cora and Simon together at the Christmas Ball coupled with a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters make for a tale you'll not quickly forget.

I will have to say my favorite character of all was Simon's sister Sandy. She had such a simple sincerity about her and seeing her enjoy the wonders of life was quite endearing. I also enjoyed the Booterbaw Sisters and even Skippy the cat stole my heart. Also, seeing Cora embraced by Simon's loving family after all the chaos her family causes her is quite heart-warming as well.

The only thing I didn't care for in the book is the references to wizards and even though the book references that they are "wizened ones", I've always associated them with witchcraft and magic and can't get past that in my head. I will say, however, that those references to wizards in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Find out more on the web:
Donita K Paul
Download Chapter 1
Waterbrook Multnomah

Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Rhythm of Secrets
(Kregel Publications - December 22, 2010)
by
Patti Lacy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patti Lacy, Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sheila Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame.

After marrying Edward, Sheila artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Sheila faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved…or imperil Edward’s ambitions.

Inspired by a true story, The Rhythm of Secrets intermingles jazz, classical, and sacred music in a symphony trumpeting God’s grace.

Endorsements:
“A vibrant journey across time in search of the greatest truth of all: grace.”—Tosca Lee, author of Havah: The Story of Eve and Demon: A Memoir

“No longer a ‘well-kept secret,’ Patti Lacy is a master storyteller who speaks to the soul with a powerful and unique rhythm, weaving a tale so emotionally rich that story and reader become one.”—Julie Lessman, author of The Daughters of Boston series and A Hope Undaunted

“Patti Lacy pens another beautifully written story in The Rhythm of Secrets. I couldn’t put it down!”—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Black Cloister

“The Rhythm of Secrets is a stirring story of faith and endurance that will keep readers turning the page until every last secret is revealed.”—Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us and Rose House

If you would like to read an excerpt of Rhythm of Secrets, go HERE.

Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Digitalis
(Barbour Publishing, Inc. - January 1, 2011)
by
Ronie Kendig

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

This is the second book in the series.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first of Ronie Kendig's books that I have read, and I have to say it will not be my last. (I've definitely got to go back and read Nightshade, the first book in this series.) Digitalis has a high intensity that runs from cover to cover, with nary a dull page in the book. If you like books full of action, intrigue, emotional upheaval and romantic tension with characters that steal your heart, don't let this one pass you by.

If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.

Fall into Reading 2010 Wrap-up

Well gang...the leaves are gone and winter has arrived! It's a bit nippy in my neck of the woods (but silently rejoicing that there isn't an abundance of snow here). Fall into Reading is over and here's my wrap-up. Our lovely host for this challenge has been Katrina at Callapidder Days, and if you've participated in this challenge be sure to write a wrap-up post and link it on this post.

I originally had my goals broken down into three different categories: Review Books, Christy Awards Challenge Books, and Too Good to Pass Up Books. I did finish all my review books and completed my Christy Challenge by its Dec 1 deadline (not bad considering I read my final five in the last week of the challenge). I also added another category to my list...Finally off the Shelf! I've been having computer issues since around Thanksgiving so I've been able to read more, and I decided work on pruning down some of the books I've had on my shelf for a while.

I read quite a few good books but have to say I was extremely impressed with the two Christy Award Challenge books by Cathy Gohlke.

I'm quite pleased with myself for exceeding my list since I have gone through a couple of 'reading funks' this year when I could barely make it through a book in a week. Here's my completed list:

Review Books:

1. Judgment Day by Wanda Dyson
2. The Dead Rise First by Alton Ragan/Robert McLaughlin
3. The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan
4. Hatteras Girl by Alice Wisler
5. The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson
6. Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar
7. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K Paul

Christy Awards Challenge Books:

1. Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Lits 2008)
2. Welcome to Fred by Brad Whittington (1st Novel 2004)
3. Unashamed by Francine Rivers (Intl Historical 2001)
4. William Henry is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke (YA 2007)
5. I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke (YA 2009)
6. The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Contemporary Standalone 2010)
7. You Had Me at Goodbye by Tracey Bateman (Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas 2009)

Too Good to Pass Up:

1. The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall
2. Goodness Gracious Green by Judy Christie
3. Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
4. Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon by Stephen Bly
5. Catwalk by Melody Carlson
6. Rendezvous by Melody Carlson
7. A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston
8. Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson
9. Don't Kiss Him Goodbye by Sandra Byrd
10. Flirting with Disaster by Sandra Byrd
11. Nursing a Grudge by Chris Well
12. Missing Mabel by Nancy Mehl
13. Carol by Bob Hartman
14. Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray
15. I Shall Not Want by Debbie Viguie

Finally off the Shelf!:

1. Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson
2. Forgotten: Seventeen and Homeless by Melody Carlson
3. Suspicious Minds by Christy Barritt
4. Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill
5. Out with the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill
6. So Over It by Stephanie Morrill
7. The Aluminum Christmas Tree by Thomas J Davis
8. Somewhere Fast by Bob Beltz
9. Reality Queen by Debbie DiGiovanni
10. Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
11. A Piece of the Sky by Michelle Buckman
12. Heartwarming Christmas Stories ...anthology
13. Love Finds You in Hershey, PA by Cerella Sechrist
14. Love is a Battlefield by Annalisa Daughety

Everyone stay warm this winter... and I'll see you in the spring!

Christy Awards Challenge Wrap-up

If you've been around Christian Fiction long enough, you have to have heard of the Christy Awards...the awards for the best of the best in Christian Fiction.

The Christy Awards Reading Challenge is reading challenge that spotlights Christian Fiction and the nominees and winners of the prestigious Christy Award. Amy and Deborah are the hosts for the challenge and have put in a lot of time and effort so the rest of us can join in.

I joined in at the 4th tier - with the mix & match option. I didn't choose my books at the beginning of the challenge, but just picked them as I to what I felt like reading at the time. Here's the list of the books I read for the challenge (and I'm hoping it's okay with the Challenge coordinators that I snuck in a 2010 winner). I had planned on reading a book about every six weeks or so, but found myself in mid-September not having read any at all. Needless to say, I had to book it (pun intended) to finish the challenge by December 1st...reading 5 of my 7 books in the last week of the challenge. Whew!

I enjoyed all the books on my list and was particularly impressed by Cathy Gohlke's books. They are definitely books anyone who loves both historical and young adult Christian Fiction would enjoy.

1. Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Lits 2008)
2. Welcome to Fred by Brad Whittington (1st Novel 2004)
3. Unashamed by Francine Rivers (Intl Historical 2001)
4. William Henry is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke (YA 2007)
5. I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke (YA 2009)
6. The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Contemporary Standalone 2010)
7. You Had Me at Goodbye by Tracey Bateman (Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas 2009)

You can find our hosts online:
Deborah blogs at Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Amy blogs at My Friend Amy

The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Silent Order
(Summerside Press - November 1, 2010)
by
Melanie Dobson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters — Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.

MY THOUGHTS:

Whoever thought you could write a book entwining the worlds of both the Amish and the Mob? I'm glad Melanie Dobson did, as this book was fantastic! The romance, suspense, and familial loyalty in both Amish and Mob circles made this a book that was hard to put down. This book makes my 2010 favorites list.

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

Blog Tour: Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar

About Uncertain Heart:

"It's just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man," the adage goes. But is the dream of fancy clothes, mansions, and fine dining worth compromising your morals and faith? Sarah McCabe must find her answer in Andrea Boeshaar's Uncertain Heart, book two in the Seasons of Redemption series.

The Civil War is over. Sarah longs to escape the country and experience the finer things in life, so she leaves her home in Jericho Junction, Missouri, to become a governess in Milwaukee. Her rich and dashing employer, Brian Sinclair, shows an attraction to Sarah but doesn't share her beliefs.

Richard, however, does. Richard Navis is Mr. Sinclair's steward. He is kind, thoughtful, handsome...and harbors an unfortunate desire to leave his city job to be a farmer. Sarah has no interest in a rural farm life, even while her interest in Richard grows.

Does she sacrifice love to get the lifestyle she wants? Or will love be enough?

My thoughts:

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I turned the final page of Unwilling Warrior (Book 1). The McCabe family is such a great bunch of characters, I was more than excited to read Sarah's story.

Richard swept me off my feet right from the start. I loved the teasing banter that he shared with Sarah from the very beginning. They had such great chemistry and as the book progressed and conflict arose between them, I missed them playing off one another most of all.

Andrea Boeshaar does such a great job giving her characters depth and personality, and evoking emotion in the situations she puts them through. I laughed, had tears come to my eyes, and a few times wished I could reach right into the book and slap some folks silly!

This book, with its engaging characters and dialogue, and a plot that will keep you keep you turning pages at breakneck speed, has a dramatic ending that won't disappoint. You'll also be quite intrigued if you read the first chapter of Book 3, Unexpected Love, which is included in the back of the book...it's release in January can't come soon enough for me!

Review copy generously provided by LeAnn Hamby at Glass Road PR.

Find out more on the web:
Andrea Boeshaar
Glass Road PR
My review of Unwilling Warrior

Hatteras Girl by Alice J Wisler

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Hatteras Girl
(Bethany House; Original edition - October 1, 2010)
by
Alice Wisler

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice J. Wisler is an author, public speaker, advocate, and fundraiser. She has been a guest on several radio and TV programs to promote her self-published cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and has traveled the country in jobs that minister to people. Alice was raised in Japan and currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.

Facts about Alice
* Born in Osaka, Japan, and lived in Japan for 18 years
* Went to Kyoto International School and Canadian Academy
* Majored in Social Work and graduated in 1983 from Eastern Mennonite University
* Worked at a group home for disadvantaged kids outside of Philadelphia
* Taught English and Culture Orientation at a refugee camp in the Philippines
* Taught English as a Second Language in Japan
* Speaks and teaches on Writing the Heartache
* Has three kids on earth, and one in Heaven
* Recently got married to Carl on 2/7/09

ABOUT THE BOOK:

There are two things twenty-nine-year-old Jackie Donovan asks God for: an honest, wonderful man to marry, and to own a bed-and-breakfast in the Outer Banks region. In the meantime, Jackie works for Lighthouse Views magazine, writing articles about other local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: the Bailey Place, a fabulous old home where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons, a place that has now fallen into disrepair because of its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey Place, Jackie is sure God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to question her own motivation. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

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

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Head in the Clouds
(Bethany House; Original edition - October 1, 2010)
by
Karen Witemeyer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Witemeyer is a deacon's wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid-to-late 1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. When she visited her publisher back in January of 2010, she was interviewed by the staff. If you'd like a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how she develops her story ideas and a description of her bumpy journey to publication, go to her website to listen to a podcast of that interview.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Head in the Clouds, go HERE.

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

About The Miracle of Mercy Land:

Mercy Land has made some unexpected choices for a young woman in the 1930s. The sheltered daughter of a traveling preacher, she chooses to leave her rural community to move to nearby Bay City on the warm, gulf-waters of southern Alabama. There she finds a job at the local paper and spends seven years making herself indispensible to old Doc Phillips, the publisher and editor. Then she gets a frantic call at dawn—it’s the biggest news story of her life, and she can’t print a word of it.

Doc has come into possession of a curious book that maps the lives of everyone in Bay City—decisions they’ve made in the past, and how those choices affect the future. Mercy and Doc are consumed by the mystery locked between the pages—Doc because he hopes to right a very old wrong, and Mercy because she wants to fulfill the book’s strange purpose. But when a mysterious stranger shows up, Mercy begins to understand she may have to choose between love and loneliness...or good and evil...for the rest of her life.

About River Jordan:

She began her writing career as a playwright with the Loblolly Theatre group. She teaches and speaks nationwide on ‘The Power of Story’, is a monthly contributor to the southern authors’ collective A Good Blog is Hard To Find, and produces and hosts the weekly radio program CLEARSTORY with River Jordan, in Nashville, where she and her husband live. She is the author of Saints in Limbo and this is her fourth novel.

My thoughts:


The lives of Mercy Land, Doc Phillips, and John Quincy are separate, yet entwined. A book full of wonder arrives mesmerizing all three, offering choices that could amend or sustain the reality in which they all live. While exploring the complex and sometimes heart-wrenching decisions facing each of them, you'll find yourself rooting for Mercy, Doc, and John to make the wisest of choices.

River Jordan weaves in lyrical style this spellbinding tale of amended reality and second chances that will simmer inside you long after you turn the final page. This is definitely a book whose message is not to be taken lightly.


My thanks to Kelly Blewett of KBK Public Relations and Waterbrook Press for generously providing this review copy.

Find out more on the web:
Author River Jordan
Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers
KBK Public Relations

While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
While We're Far Apart
(Bethany House - October 1, 2010)
by
Lynn Austin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In an unassuming apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, three lives intersect as the reality of war invades each aspect of their lives. Young Esther is heartbroken when her father decides to enlist in the army shortly after the death of her mother.

Penny Goodrich has been in love with Eddie Shaffer for as long as she can remember; now that Eddie's wife is dead, Penny feels she has been given a second chance and offers to care for his children in the hope that he will finally notice her and marry her after the war.

And elderly Mr. Mendel, the landlord, waits for the war to end to hear what has happened to his son trapped in war-torn Hungary. But during the long, endless wait for victory overseas, life on the home front will go from bad to worse.

Yet these characters will find themselves growing and changing in ways they never expected--and ultimately discovering truths about God's love...even when He is silent.

If you would like to read the first chapter of While We're Far Apart, go HERE.

Snow Day by Billy Coffey

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Snow Day
(FaithWords - October 11, 2010)
by
Billy Coffey


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When you’re raised in small-town Virginia by a redneck father and a Mennonite mother, certain things become ingrained. And when you marry a small-town girl and have two small-town kids, all you want to do is pass those ingrained things along.

Like believing the best life is one lived in the country enjoying the pleasures it provides—summer nights beneath the stars, rocking chairs on the front porch, deer grazing in the fields. And believing that no matter how iffy life can get sometimes, there are some things that are eternal and unchanging.

But above all else, believing that in everything there is story waiting to be told.

That’s where I come in.

Billy Coffey was raised on stories. The first ones came on the front porches of relatives, tales laced with local charm and deep meaning. Then came the stories from people like Max Lucado and Robert Fulghum, who write with a charm and deep meaning of their own.

Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. If you drive by his house, you’ll probably spot him on the front porch. If you do, give him a wave. He’ll wave back.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this debut novel, Peter is a simple man who lives by a simple truth--a person gains strength by leaning on his constants. To him, those constants are the factory where he works, the family he loves, and the God who sustains him. But when news of job cuts comes against the backdrop of an unexpected snowstorm, his life becomes filled with far more doubts than certainties.

With humor and a gift for storytelling, Billy Coffey brings you along as he spends his snow day encountering family, friends, and strangers of his small Virginia town. All have had their own battles with life's storms. Some have found redemption. Others are still seeking it. But each one offers a piece to the puzzle of why we must sometimes suffer loss, and each one will help Peter find a greater truth--our lives are made beautiful not by our big moments, but our little ones. (2010)

To read an excerpt from Snow Day, go HERE.

Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe by Irene Brand and Anita Higman

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe
(Summerside Press - September 1, 2010)
by
Irene Brand & Anita Higman

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Irene Brand has written Sunday School curriculum, edited a two-year series of mission curriculum, and her works have appeared in five program-material anthologies. Her publishers include Zondervan, Standard Publishing, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Fleming-Revell, Barbour Publishing, Kregel Publications, Steeple Hill (inspirational imprint of Silhouette), and Summerside Press. She has had 4 non-fiction books published, and 43 fiction works. Her first inspirational romance was published in 1984.

Award-winning author, Anita Higman, has twenty-six books published (several coauthored) for adults and children, and she has been honored as a Barnes & Noble Author of the Month for Houston. Anita has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Her favorite things include exotic teas, movies, and all things Jane Austen.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two Christmas stories - one historical, one contemporary - under one cover!

Love Finds You under the Mistletoe: An Appalachian Christmas

A promise to her dying sister compels Julia Mayfield to take her young nephew to Mistletoe, Kentucky, a tiny town tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains. Sparks fly when she meets David Armstrong, a World War II veteran like herself. Even as shadows from the past weave a dangerous web around Julia and David, will their love flourish like the mistletoe that blankets the nearby hills?

Love Finds You under the Mistletoe: Once Upon a Christmas Eve

Hollie Goodnight's store has just been voted best Christmas shop in America. All the new publicity draws flamboyant novelist Van Keaton to the cozy town of Noel, Missouri, demanding to write Hollie's story - a dramatic tale of misfortune and triumph. She is swept up in his world of beautiful words and fanciful interludes. . .until Owen Quigly, her lifelong best friend, launches a plan to win her back.

If you would like to read an excerpt of Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer:

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Within My Heart
(Bethany House; Original edition - September 1, 2010)
by
Tamera Alexander

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of Rekindled, Revealed and Remembered, the critically acclaimed Fountain Creek Chronicles historical series with Bethany House Publishers. Her second historical series, Timber Ridge Reflections (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart), penned in her style with deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers—and multiple industry awards.

These awards include the 2009 and 2008 Christy Award, the 2007 RITA for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2009 and 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best Award, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction for 2006, among others.

After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville with Tamera's father, Doug. They enjoy life there with Joe and Tamera's two adult children, and Jack, a precious—and precocious—silky terrier.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Determined to fulfill her late husband’s dream, Rachel Boyd struggles to keep her ranch afloat with the help of her two young sons. But some days it feels as though her every effort is sabotaged. When faced with a loss she cannot afford, she’s forced to trust Rand Brookston, the one man in Timber Ridge she wishes to avoid. And with good reason. He’s a physician, just like her father, which tells her everything she needs to know about him. Or so she thinks . . .

Dr. Rand Brookston ventured west with the dream of bringing modern medicine to the wilds of the Colorado Rockies, but the townspeople have been slow to trust him. Just as slow in coming is Rand’s dream to build the town a proper clinic. When a patient’s life is threatened, Rand makes a choice—one that sends ripples through the town of Timber Ridge. And through Rachel Boyd’s stubborn heart.

From the beloved, bestselling author of From a Distance and Beyond This Moment comes an unforgettable story about faith in the face of fear, about tarnished hopes and second chances, and ultimately about the resilient courage and tenacity of hearts broken––and mended––by love.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Within My Heart, go HERE.

The Dead Rise First by Alton Ragan & Robert McLaughlin

About The Dead Rise First:

Residents of Jordan, Oklahoma are dismayed to discover that a massive power outage knocked out all the electricity to the city. In fact, nothing with a computer chip is working. Cars, cell phones, video games are all suddenly useless. Local authorities suspect a terrorist attack; an EMP detonated to disable the nearby air force base. The frightened residents are cut off from the rest of the country and fear the attack may be widespread. Adding to the fear are several reports of "ghost" citings. Actually, not ghosts. These people are claiming their dead relatives are showing up in their houses alive.

About the authors:

Alton Ragan is a business owner and presently serves on the board of Shawnee Rescue Mission. He has served on the board of two churches and co-hosted a small television program called "Truth Talks". He has been an avid student of God's Word for more than thirty years. He is the father of two children and three grandchildren. Alton Ragan resides with his wife of 34 years in Central Oklahoma, where he continues to write.

Robert McLaughlin graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in psychology. He is a student of the Bible, Sunday School teacher, and avid reader of fiction.

My thoughts:

How many times have you read the same verse in the Bible over and over and really not grasped the meaning or intent of the text? I know I have read I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV) many times and never really thought about the phrase "...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." I think I've always felt that it was almost a simultaneous event. BAM!...the dead rise...BAM!...we who are alive and remain are caught up together with them. Exploring the dead being raised first in the pages of this novel has really gotten me to thinking about what I think about end time events and I know in the days ahead I'll be looking at this much more closely.

I believe this book will stir you out of your complacency in regard to your walk with Christ in two ways...by conviction and encouragement. You will find yourself becoming quite introspective and repentant as you read this book...especially as you see Pastor Jack struggling with how he feels he's let his congregation down by not preaching with the fire and fervor that his preacher father did before him in regards to end time events and the need for the surety of salvation. The encouragement comes as we are reminded that there IS a blessed hope, Jesus IS coming soon, and it's not too late for us to heed God's call to reach others around us with the Good News of the Gospel.

This book is quite thought-provoking and soul-stirring, and I think it would be a good book for anyone who enjoys the study of end time events or for someone who may be backslidden or just needs a boost of zeal in their walk with the Lord. I know I'll be passing it along to friends and family in the days ahead.

FOREWARNING: The book does contain a few mild profanities. I felt the use was a bit unnecessary but it doesn't detract from the story.

My thanks to LeAnn Hamby of Hamby Media for generously providing a copy for review.