The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead
(David C. Cook - September 1, 2014)

by
Diane Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning novelist Diane Noble writes stories that tap into the secrets of the heart.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She recently finished writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one, The Sister Wife, and book 2, The Betrayal, which are published by Harper Collins/Avon Inspire, are now in bookstores.

Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor

El Littlefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.

My thoughts:

I'm not quite done with the book, but I am enjoying it. It's been a while since I've read something by Diane Noble and the title alone intrigued me. I know that the caliber of Diane's mysteries is top-notch and have had this book on my wish list and was excited to see it on the CFBA tour schedule.

She doesn't disappoint. The characters are great - from the endearing Professor Haverhill, to the loyal and sensible El Littlefield, and I certainly can't leave out the quirky and inquisitive Hyacinth Gilvertin! Her antics, while seemingly far-fetched at times but befitting her personality, were enough to keep me turning pages.

If you're a fan of Christian mysteries with a very light touch of romance like I am, then pick up this book. I was excited to read that this is the first of a three part series ... so I'm anticipating a return trip to Eden's Bridge.

My sincerest thanks to CFBA and David C Cook Publishing for generously providing a copy for review.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead, go HERE.

The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer

About The Last Plea Bargain:

Plea bargains may grease the rails of justice, but for Jamie Brock, prosecuting criminals is not about cutting deals. In her three years as assistant DA, she’s never plea-bargained a case and vows she never will. But when a powerful defense attorney is indicted for murder and devises a way to bring the entire justice system to a screeching halt, Jamie finds herself at a crossroads. One by one, prisoners begin rejecting deals. Prosecutors are overwhelmed, and felons start walking free on technicalities. To break the logjam and convict her nemesis, Jamie must violate every principle that has guided her young career. But she has little choice. To convict the devil, sometimes you have to cut a deal with one of his demons.



My thoughts:

A murdered mother is the springboard to Jamie Brock's goal of becoming a prosecuter, and her experience compels her to be merciless in her pursuit of justice. The price must be paid for wrong-doing. But when that pursuit is clouded by the man convicted of killing her mother's still claiming his innocence, the killer's attorney being charged with the murder of his own wife, and a logjam in the courts caused by the defiance of the incarcerated to accept plea bargains, Jamie starts to waver in her belief in the justice system. Will she hold on to her long held convictions or will she be persuaded that sometimes justice and mercy must walk hand in hand to bring about vindication?

Randy Singer has once again penned a novel that dives deep into the legal system in ways many of us only read about in the papers. This story seamlessly ties an array of criminals, evidence, and unexpected allies into a story that will leave you spellbound at its startling and jaw-dropping conclusion. Definitely a must-read for any fan of legal thrillers.

About Randy Singer:

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned nine legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel "Directed Verdict." In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his "Jekyll and Hyde thing"--part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children. Visit his Web site at www.randysinger.net.

Please note: My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers & Debbie Lykins/Side Door Communications for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Find out more on the web:
Tyndale House Publishers
Side Door Communications

The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

About The Fine Art of Insincerity:

Three grown Southern sisters have nine marriages between them-and more loom on the horizon-when Ginger, the eldest, wonders if she's the only one who hasn't inherited what their family calls "the Grandma Gene": the tendency to like the casualness of courtship better than the intimacy of marriage. Could it be that her two sisters are fated to serially marry, just like their seven-times wed grandmother, Mrs. Lillian Irene Harper Winslow Goldstein Carey James Bobrinski Gordon George? It takes a "girls only" weekend, closing up Grandma's treasured beach house for the last time, for the sisters to really unpack their family baggage, examine their relationship DNA, and discover the true legacy their much-marrying grandmother left behind...

My thoughts:

The Lawrence sisters all find different ways to deal with life...but are they dealing with life in an honest manner? Each seems to have a sense of insecurity that they try to gloss over, hiding her true self from others (as well as herself.) I enjoyed getting to know Ginger, Penny, and Rose as individuals...and seeing things from each individual perspective went a long way in giving authenticy to the strengths and vulnerabilities that each possessed...I cared about what happened to them and saw myself in them. The nostalgic tone of the book is also quite touching as their own memories resurface and they find out who their grandmother truly was by what she left behind.

Coming from a family of three girls, this book intrigued me from the start. It caused me to reflect on my own life and the status of my relationship with my own sisters. Talk about eye-opening!

After reading this book I've done some introspection and realize that knowing my sisters on a superficial level is as bad as not knowing them at all. I really like this statement on page 298 where Ginger says, "...though I haven't loved you the way I should in the past, I'd like a chance to love you better." Can we be honest with the ones we love? We must, because our chance may be gone before we know it.

My thanks to Glass Roads PR for providing a copy for review.

Find out more on the web:
Angela Hunt
Howard Books
Glass Road PR

Imagination Station Review and GIVEAWAY

See the end of this post to see how you can win a copy of each of these books.

About Voyage with the Vikings:

In the first book of the series, Voyage with the Vikings, cousins Patrick and Beth are visiting Mr. Whittaker at Whit’s Soda Shoppe when they find a mysterious letter in the Imagination Station requesting a Viking sunstone. The letter is old and says that someone named Albert will be imprisoned if the sunstone isn't found. Whit sends Patrick and Beth to Greenland circa 1000, where they meet Vikings Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson--and find the sunstone as they join Leif on his first voyage to North America . But the adventure is just beginning, for when they return to Mr. Whittaker's workshop with the sunstone, there is another note waiting for them.

About Attack at the Arena:

The adventures continue in Attack at the Arena. Patrick and Beth learn that Mr. Whittaker’s fancy ring can be seen inside the Imagination Station but not outside of the machine. A second mysterious letter leads the cousins to fifth-century Rome in search of a special cup that belongs to a monk. If they find the cup it could keep the mysterious Albert out of prison. At the Roman Colosseum, Emperor Honorius is hosting a gladiator battle in celebration of a war victory. Beth attends the event as the emperor’s slave; Patrick attends as a monk’s apprentice but is taken prisoner and sent to fight in the arena. During their adventure, the cousins meet Telemachus (a true historical figure), a monk who believes that fighting is wrong. Telemachus is willing to risk everything—even his life—to stop the killing.

I am honored to have my 10 year old daughter Miss Rose give her thoughts on this series with me. She is an avid reader...and always has a book in her hands. Take it away, Miss Rose...

Miss Rose's Thoughts:

I really enjoy books about history so I really liked these two books. My favorite character in the books is Beth. She is smart and knows what to do in any situation...although she did seem to be a bit unsure of what to do when she was kidnapped in by the Roman soldier in Attack at the Arena. My favorite part in the Attack at the Arena is when Telemachus stops the hurt man from being killed. My favorite part in Voyage with the Vikings is when Beth plays chess with Erik the Red and beats him! These books were exciting and mysterious, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Mom's Thoughts:

Mom and Dad, if you're looking for fun, engaging books to keep your child reading then look no further than these Imagination Station books from Adventures in Odyssey. They're fast paced and easy to read (with pictures, too), and have an air of mystery that will keep your child turning pages. Another bonus...they're exploring the annals of history with the element of faith! I really enjoyed seeing how the message of Christ was woven through each story. These books have everything I could ask for in a book that I would share with my kids. So grab your child and climb aboard the Imagination Station...you will not be disappointed!

Guess what? I have one set of these books to GIVE AWAY, courtesy of Side Door Communications! Just leave a comment with contact information (you at yoohoo dot com) on this post by midnight Central Time on Friday, April 15, 2011, and I'll choose a winner on Saturday.

My sincerest thanks to Debbie Lykins at Side Door Communications for providing review copies for us.

Find out more on the web:
The Imagination Station Website
Author Marianne Hering
Author Paul McCusker
Illustrator David Hohn
Behind the Minds - Author Q&A
Side Door Communications

Behind the Minds of the Imagination Station

Imagination Station Interview and Q&A with Marianne Hering

1. What inspired you to write the Imagination Station series?
Paul (McCusker) had always wanted to write stories about the Imagination Station. When looking to do a kids’ series about it, we chose early elementary to introduce new readers to the Adventures in Odyssey world. We also wanted to touch on a group of kids that didn’t have many Christian books written for their level. There seemed to be a gap from picture books to later elementary readers.

2. The Imagination Station device is well-known to fans of the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey. Why did you and Paul decide to use it in a book series?
It lends itself to stand-alone adventures. It’s a fascinating device. Why wouldn’t he want to write about it? It allowed us to write about settings outside of Odyssey. We’d like some of the books to augment the history kids learn from public school textbooks or TV. The Imagination Station radio dramas are also among the most popular. We thought that kids would like them, that’s all!

3. The first two books focus on the Vikings and ancient Rome. The next two books focus on Kublai Khan and the War of the Roses. How did you and Paul decide which historical events to write about?
They just seemed interesting and we thought they’d be popular with boys. I also looked through the Bennett books on core knowledge to make sure the things we write about would be taught in schools. Also, the Rome book is based on an actual Adventures in Odyssey radio drama. It is one of our favorites, and so we wanted to retell the story. The Kublai Khan book started out to be more about Marco Polo, but Kublai took the stage. He was a fascinating character. We don’t always decide with concrete objectives. Most times the story just sounds plain old fun.

4. How true to history are the books?
Now, this is a spoiler. Mr. Whittaker isn’t real. Neither are Patrick and Beth. Though they are named after Paul’s children. Patrick and Beth are his children’s middle names.

Most of the events are based on sagas, legends, or some sort of historical base—except for book 4. All the characters in the War of the Roses story are fictional. For plot purposes, I sped up the storytelling. For example, the events in the Kublai Khan story took place over months, not hours. Same with the Viking book. I wanted Leif to leave for the New World shortly after he brought back the gospel from Norway. In reality, a lot of time passed between the events.
I did make some vocabulary exceptions. For example, Marco Polo was Venetian, but I called him Italian—a more familiar term for the readership. But the basic events of books 1 to 3 are true, and the War of the Roses did occur in England with Lords fighting their neighbors, etc. We really just wanted to write about the jousting. Paul did a lot great research for the jousting scene. I had to cut a lot of it, and that made me sad.

On the website The ImaginationStation.com, I’ve listed what’s true and what’s exaggerated for each book. There are also nonfiction pages for the kids to read about Leif Ericsson and the other Christian heroes.

5. These books are geared towards young readers, ages 7 and up. What is the number one issue that children learning to read struggle with?
Speed processing. The kids who are slower reading learners usually need more help with sight words and fluency. That’s just practice at an accessible reading level. These are just slower readers in general—I’m not counting kids with true auditory processing issues or other learning disabilities, which represent between 3 and 10 percent. Most kids can learn to read better with one-on-one instruction and a loving atmosphere. I’ve posted reading tips on the website for each book and lists of words to practice before tackling a chapter. See TheImaginationStation.com.

6. What kinds of books do you recommend children read?
I don’t only recommend books. There are fabulous magazines out there for this age group. Not all kids like fiction, so magazines draw them in with nonfiction and pictures. There are some good book series out there—I personally give my children the tried-and-true series written years ago, like Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books. My boys enjoyed the Horrible Harry books by Suzy Kline. My daughter was a Gertrude Chandler Warner/Boxcar Children fanatic. Parents can ask librarians to recommend books. One of my sons loves anything about animals in the nonfiction section—I don’t make him read fiction unless it’s for school. I do have to review their books first, and that can take a lot of time, but it’s worth it.

7. What are some ways that parents can help their children develop their reading skills?
(Get their vision checked for not only vision but for tracking issues as well.) Turn off the electronics and make reading a fun time. You can read to them or they can read to you. Make reading an event. Your kids will complain for about two weeks while the electronic addiction wears off. Then they will be better able to engage in literary pursuits. For free reading, let your kids read “easy” books. Don’t judge. If they want to read Hop on Pop twenty times, that means that’s where they are comfortable. If you push your kids beyond what they perceive to be the right level, they will rebel. Better a lot of fluent reading at an easy level than choppy reading at a higher level. Reading with starts and stops is a bad habit to let them get into.

8. What encouragement can you offer parents who may have reluctant or struggling readers?
I can encourage parents by letting them know that there are GREAT reading programs for kids. Most kids, 60 percent, need extra help at home to make it to the fourth grade reading level. That extra help can come from parents who gently and lovingly make reading a family hobby. There is no lack of teaching material, and your school districts should be able to help you find the right tools. The biggest factor in children’s success at school is a loving parent who takes the time to work with their children. One of my sons could not learn to sound out letters quickly enough to “hear” the word. I couldn’t help him, and so I hired a reading specialist who was more of a cognitive trainer and we worked through his auditory glitch. There are some terms to search “phonemic” awareness and “phonograms” that will help parents read more about how to help emergent readers. When the kids know how to sound out words, speed training on sight words can jump start their reading fluency. On the website, TheImaginationStation.com, I’ve prepared this long essay on how use a metronome to speed up your child’s reaction time to sight words. It’s under the book The Attack at the Arena. Don’t give up. Virtually every kid can learn to read well enough to go to college if his or her parent(s) invest in them.

9. What do you hope kids will walk away with after reading Imagination Station?
A smile and a desire to learn more about history and faith in Jesus Christ.

10. Can you give us any “sneak peeks” into what we can expect in future books?
Book 5 is a Bible story, a familiar Bible story. The title is “Showdown with the Shepherd.” I think that’s a fairly strong clue.
Book 6 is about Miles Standish and William Bradford and Native American relations. It centers on a certain holiday in November.
That will end the first story arc. As for the next set of 6, that may depend on sales of the first set. (That’s a strong hint to readers to buy the books so we can keep developing the series.)
Be sure to check out the click book for book 1 at TheImaginationStation.com. That way you can tell if these books will be at the right level for your kids.

Find out more on the web:
TheImaginationStation.com
Author Marianne Hering
Author Paul McCusker

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

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

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.

Fatal Convictions by Randy Singer

About Fatal Convictions:

Alexander Madison is part lawyer, part pastor, and part con artist. When a Muslim imam is accused of instigating honor killings, Alex must decide whether to take the case that every other lawyer in town is running away from. He doesn’t realize until it’s too late that defending the imam may cost him the one thing in life he cares about most. Fatal Convictions is the story of a lawyer willing to risk it all and the women who must choose between faith and love.

About Randy Singer:

Randy Singer is a critically-acclaimed author and veteran trial lawyer. He has authored nine legal thrillers and one novella, including the 2003 Christy Award-winning Directed Verdict. In addition to serving as managing partner of the Singer Legal Group, and his writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, VA, and is a professor at Regent University School of Law.


My thoughts:

Randy Singer has done it again...he's given readers a book that will both challenge their minds and their hearts.

Randy does a masterful job in detailing the overwhelming legal proceedings surrounding this case in a way that you'll feel as if you're in that jury box yourself. It will have you weighing every bit of evidence that Randy throws out at you and you'll find yourself wavering between guilt and innocence amidst the courtroom drama. Randy also provides plenty of explosive twists that will both amaze and appall and have you turning pages at record speed.

Another thing that I liked about this book is that it will have you searching your heart for any prejudices toward persons of another faith. There are people on the fringe in every religion and more often than not, the prejudices that become ingrained in each of us are determined by those outside the norm. I know I felt some of those prejudices myself when I first started reading this book, but I think the part of the book that really spoke to my heart about those prejudices was when character Alex Madison is preaching to his congregation from John 8, using the story of the woman caught in adultery. This part of the Alex's message really stood out..."But even if you want to assume that this man is guilty, does that mean I shouldn't represent him? Did Christ make you prove your innocence before he died for your sins? If this story about the woman caught in adultery stands for anything, it stands for the proposition that we are never more like Jesus than when we're defending those persons who have been rejected by everyone else." Quite convicting and definitely words to take to heart.

I think this is one of Randy's most compelling books so far and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Review copy generously provided by Debbie Lykins at Side Door Communications.

Find out more on the web:
Randy Singer
Side Door Communications
Tyndale House Publishers

Blog Tour: Unwilling Warrior by Andrea Boeshaar

About Unwilling Warrior:

Valerie Fontaine is frightened. Her mother has passed and the War Between the States is raging. She braves the distance and leaves her finishing school in Virginia to be home with Daddy in New Orleans for Christmas.

Benjamin McCabe has a noble dream of photographing the Civil War--until his brother is lost during a battle. He has no idea his quest to find the missing brother will lead him into the enchanting presence of a New Orleans socialite.

And neither could have guessed how their lives would be forever changed.

My thoughts:

One of my favorite eras in history to read about is that of the US Civil War, so I eagerly accepted the offer to read this book. I was not disappointed in the least.

Andrea Boeshaar brings us a lovely historical tale full of characters you'll embrace from the moment you meet them, antagonists who will have you seething at the injustice they inflict, relationships that will bring redemption to hurts left festering too long, as well as romance that will please fanciers of that genre.

One element of this story I found quite compelling is the use of Psalm 55 as its theme. I read through Psalm 55 and Andrea Boeshaar should be commended for how well she weaves not so much the words of the psalm itself into the story, but the meaning behind the words.

I loved the ending of this book, even while wishing the story wouldn't end. Good news, though, as Uncertain Heart (book 2), will arrive in just a few short months. I know I'll be adding it to my bookshelf.

Review copy generously provided by Rebeca Seitz at Glass Road PR.

Find out more on the web:
Andrea Boeshaar
Glass Road PR

Blog Tour: Missing Max by Karen Young

About Missing Max:

When baby Max is kidnapped during Mardi Gras, Jane and Kyle Madison’s life falls apart. What their daughter, Melanie, does next is unthinkable.
Max vanished into thin air while in the care of his teenage sister, Melanie. Six months later, the family is a shadow of its former self: Melanie blames herself and is acting out and rebellious; Jane is obsessed with finding Max; and Kyle, a lawyer, struggles to cope with his own grief—and a persistent suspicion that one of his cases is connected to Max’s disappearance.

With her family in turmoil and her marriage on the rocks, Jane thinks things can’t get any worse. Then when an affair and an unexpected pregnancy threaten to tear the Madisons’ lives apart, an anonymous caller leads to a break in the case. Can a second kidnapping bring their family back together?

About Karen Young:

Karen Young has sold over 10 million copies of her emotion-filled tales. She has penned romance, romantic suspense, and thrillers, but always keeps romance at the core of her stories.

After a nomadic lifestyle involving 25 moves, Karen has settled in Texas and fallen in love with its culture. To learn more - including how you could win a Kindle! - visit www.KarenYoung.net.

My thoughts:

As a parent who has become separated from their child in a very busy theme park, I can truly relate with Jane in the beginning of this story. Frantic is the best word I can think of to describe how I felt with my three year-old being lost amongst all those people. Fortunately for my family, we had a happy ending less than a half hour later, and didn't have to go through the roller coaster of emotions that the Madison family did. This story was quite gripping from start to finish so make sure you've got the time to spare when you start reading...because this book won't let you go!

Review copy generously provided by Rebeca Seitz at Glass Road PR.

Find out more on the web:
Karen Young
Glass Road PR

Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

About Forget Me Not:

THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

About Vicki Hinze:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs at her website.

My thoughts:

Forget Me Not hooked me from the very first page...and kept me hooked until the very last!

Vicki Hinze did a great job with character development throughout this whole book. I really liked how she portrayed our "mystery woman"...as a victim, yes, but not as a shrinking violet. The characters' innate sense of the faith she possesses gave her a strength you don't always see in a character in her position. At first I didn't like Benjamin Brandt...he was just too abrasive for me (but since he's been through tragedy as well, I guess I'll give him a bit of a break), but I like how Vicki uses our "mystery woman" to soften him up a bit.

This book kept me on an emotional roller coaster...from feeling sadness and grief for the victims...to feeling a bit gleeful once the bad guys get their due.

If you like a book with lots of suspense...not just in the 'what's going to happen next?' sense, but also the 'why is this happening?' sense...with a light mix of romance, I'm sure you'd enjoy this book. I'm certainly looking forward to more from Vicki Hinze.

Review book was generously provided by WaterBrook Multnomah.**My apologies to the publisher and author for this slightly late posting...computer issues kept me from my intention to post this late last week.**

Blog Tour: Never Far from Home by Mary Ellis

About Never Far from Home:

Mary Ellis follows her captivating Widow’s Hope with a new story from the heart of Holmes County, Ohio. In Never Far From Home, fifteen–year–old Emma Miller finishes school, starts her own wool business, and is longing for someone to court. When the object of her affection is a handsome English sheep farmer, with a fast truck and modern methods, her deacon father, Simon, knows he has more than the farm alliance to worry about.

Emma isn’t the only one with longings in Holmes County. Her aunt Hannah wants a baby and her uncle Seth hopes he’ll reap financial rewards when he takes a risk with his harvest. But are these the dreams God has for this Amish family? With engaging interactions and thoughtful characters, Ellis weaves a story about waiting for God’s timing and discovering that the dreams planted close to home can grow a lasting harvest of hope and love.

My thoughts:

I have been a lover of Amish fiction from the very first Beverly Lewis novel I ever picked up, and it's wonderful to see another Amish fiction writer who writes well come to my attention. This is the first of Mary's novels that I have read and I enjoyed this one so much I must go back read her first novel in this series.

I know many who will pass over this book just because the heroine is 16 years old, but as I mentioned in a previous post about "mature" characters, if a story is well written, age doesn't matter to me.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book, and seeing where the story would take me. Would Emma go English, or would James become Amish, or would they part forever? This book also had some secondary storylines that were interesting to see develop as well.

While many Englischers may see the Plain life as simple, this book is not - it was a complex story that came to a very satisying conclusion in and of itself, but left open the door for the next book The Way to a Man's Heart (due out in July), which I am anticipating very much.

Review copy generously provided by Glass Road PR.

Find out more on the web:
Mary Ellis
Harvest House Publishers

Title Trakk Blog Tour: Thicker Than Blood by C J Darlington

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Thicker than Blood
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Winner of the
2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest!

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon, Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could May’s Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

My thoughts:

If I could describe CJ Darlington's novel with one word, it would be authentic. Authentic in her portrayal of two sisters; Christy, struggling with alcoholism and abuse, and May, who is dealing with abandonment issues and financial distress. Authentic in giving us a view that reconciliation and redemption doesn't always come in touchy-feely ways. CJ also authentically weaves in her love of books through Christy's pursuits in the antiquarian book business, giving readers a wonderful background of the vocation that CJ herself enjoys.

I know we've only just begun 2010, but I have to say that Thicker than Blood is already going on my list of best books this year. It was obvious as I read through the book why it was the winner of Operation First Novel. CJ exceeded my every expectation with this book, and I sincerely look forward to more novels showcasing her amazing talent.

With careful attention to detail, emotion, and scene-setting, C.J. Darlington scores with her debut effort. Here is a special writer you won’t want to miss.
--Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times best selling author

If you love a good read filled with adventure and ultimately redemption, I encourage you to brew the tea, settle into your favorite chair and pick up the page turner that is C.J. Darlington’s imaginative new novel of a modern day sisterhood that triumphs over separation and the raw challenges of life to find the real endurance of both family ties and God’s amazing grace.
--Rebecca St. James, Grammy award winning Christian singer and bestselling author

With Thicker than Blood, C.J. Darlington proves she's a novelist for the long-haul, a strong new voice in Christian fiction. This book speaks to the heart, from the heart, about the heart. Readers will not soon forget it.
--Sibella Giorello, Christy award-winning author of The Rivers Run Dry & The Clouds Roll Away

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:
C. J. began writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood (her first novel) when she was a fifteen-year-old homeschool student. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over a decade, scouting for stores similar to the one described in the novel before cofounding her own online bookstore. Thicker than Blood was the winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel.

C. J. co-founded the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com for more info.

QUICK LINKS:

• The 1st chapter of Thicker than Blood
• The "Story Behind the Story" of Thicker than Blood
• More endorsements from Jenny B. Jones, James Scott Bell, Susan Meissner, and more!
• Our interview with C.J. at TitleTrakk.com
  
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Christianbook.com
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Amazon.com
• List of the other 85+ Thicker than Blood blog tour participants!

Review copy generously provided by Tyndale House.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

About The One Day Way:

Author Chantel Hobbs breaks the chains of past diet debacles and frees readers from unrealistic goals. She teaches daily fitness tasks that develop into lasting habits. By focusing energy and attention on doing the right things every day, she frees readers to achieve their weight-loss goals one day at a time.

I’ve got great news for you: You are about to feel better and look better beginning today! Today is truly a new opportunity for you to reach your weight loss goals. No, you won’t fit into your “skinny jeans” today, but I’m going to show you how each day will get you closer to that goal.

Yesterday’s mistakes are gone so let them go. You can’t control tomorrow, so stop worrying about it. Today is your opportunity to lose weight, get strong, and look great. It won’t happen overnight, but you can build a new life by changing your actions immediately and I’m here to show you how to make the changes that will create the new lifestyle you dream of: body, mind, and spirit. Best of all, you will start celebrating right away!

Come on, my friend. Let’s get started! By opening this book, I’ll show you how to unlock every tool you need to lose weight and get fit —and stay that way for the rest of your life. Success can be yours, what are you waiting for?

-Chantel

The One-Day Way gives you everything you need to lose weight and get fit in body, mind, and spirit:

-Break free from past dieting defeats
-Learn a realistic, life-changing way to measure success
-Change the way you think so you can change your life
-Translate your dreams into goals, and your goals into lasting achievements
-Get strong with thirty-one simple exercises, no fancy equipment required
-Take advantage of ten ways to eat better while you lose weight

Chantel Hobbs is the author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer. She is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Check out her website for fitness updates and coaching tips.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book and I think it can be very helpful to anyone who needs a jump start on their way to living a healthy lifestyle. Chantel really reinforces through this whole book that while big success is the ultimate goal, it is only achieved through taking your life one day at a time, with small successes along the way. If I mess up today, I can wake up tomorrow with the opportunity of making good choices and see success that day.

I also like that she included not just food and fitness, but the aspect of faith in regard to meeting these healthy lifestyle goals. It's not always an easy task to change your life, and being able to rely on God, God's Word, and prayer for strength can really give a person that boost to overcome and succeed.

I think this book would be great for someone (including myself) who may get easily discouraged when it seems big success is slow in coming. It helps to give a person the mindset that from a multitude of small successes, big results come, even one day at a time.

Would you like a chance to win this book?

I have the privilege of giving away one copy of The One Day Way, thanks to Waterbrook Press. If you'd like a chance win and you have a US postal code, please leave a comment that INCLUDES YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight Thursday (January 14th, 2010).


Review copy generously provided by Waterbrook Press.

Blog Tour: Treasured & God Gave Us Love/God Gave Us Christmas

About Treasured:

Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us.

God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his book: a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us.

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.

About Leigh McLeroy:

She is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas.

My thoughts:

If you've ever felt under-appreciated, insignificant, or just plain overlooked, this book would be such an encouragement to you.

I was amazed at how Leigh McLeroy chose so many seemingly insignificant things in the Bible that you or I may just skip over as we read and tells a story of the higher purpose that God had in mind for them. Her own personal stories in each chapter of how God has chosen things in her life to show her how much He values her also serve as a reminder of something I've heard spoken many times...God doesn't always use the spectacular when He reveals Himself to us. He doesn't always do the things that we might expect or in the way that we might expect them when we ask Him to work in our daily lives. God knows that we're all different, and He chooses to work in our individual lives in His own way, because He loves us and wants to show us that He sees us as not only unique but treasured.


About God Gave Us Love:

As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable.

In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because…"Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love."

This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”

About God Gave Us Christmas:

As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that… Jesus is the best present of all.

This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

About Lisa Tawn Bergren:

She is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

My thoughts:

I really enjoy Lisa Bergren's book for kids because they are so full of beautiful illustrations and the timeless truths of God's Word written at a level where young children can understand. Look for these books to become some of your children's favorites.

In God Gave Us Love, we learn that love comes from God, because God is Love. He helps us to love others because He put that love in our hearts, and when we share that love, we are sharing God's love. God loves us all, no matter what, and we can show our love to God by loving others around us - even when people do things that make it difficult to love them.

In God Gave Us Christmas, I appreciate that while the book mentions Santa, the focus of the story is on God, and the gift of His Son Jesus. So often the Christmas holidays are centered on Santa and getting gifts - and many children never know the true meaning of Christmas. Another good message in this book - God is not hard to find, and when we seek Him we will find Him.

Find out more on the web:
Leigh McLeroy
Wednesday Words Blog
Lisa Tawn Bergren
Laura J. Bryant - Illustrator
David Hohn - Illustrator

These books were generously provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Fun Fall Fiction: Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

About Leaving Carolina:

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

My thoughts:

Just open the front cover of this book and you're immediately swept into the comedic chaos that is Piper Wick's life. She returns to her childhood hometown of Pickwick, NC, because of an ailing uncle, but encounters conniving cousins, a handsome stranger, a pooch with a piddle problem, and family secrets galore. Piper seeks comfort in a somewhat elusive stash of pickled corn and (albeit reluctantly) her go-anywhere Bible. As she and her uncle work to set past wrongs right, Piper will find out that she's not the only one who has grown up since leaving Carolina.

Tamara Leigh doesn't disappoint with this engaging story of forgiveness and truth, mixed with her trademark humor and romance. Leaving Carolina also has some really great secondary characters (Devyn and Trinity come to mind) and I am definitely looking forward to Maggie and Devyn's story in the next book.


Review copy was generously provided by Multnomah Publishers.

Find out more on the web:
Tamara Leigh
Multnomah Publishers
Coming May 2010 - Nowhere, Carolina

Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

About The Sound of Sleigh Bells:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

About Cindy Woodsmall:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My thoughts:

I LOVE Christmas fiction...I love it so much that I can read it any time of year. Couple my love of Christmas fiction with my love of Amish fiction, and I just couldn't let this book pass by. Although The Sound of Sleigh Bells is just a novella, the story is engaging throughout and I felt like the character development is exceptional. You'll feel the inner turmoil that both Beth and Jonah are going through as they each face their past, and the irritation when they are thrust together by the meddling Aunt Lizzy. Cindy Woodsmall has written such a charming Christmas tale that when you sit down to read it, get comfy, because you're not going to want to put it down until you've read the very last page.

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this book?

I have the privilege of giving away one copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells, thanks to Waterbrook Press. If you'd like to win and you have a US postal code, please leave a comment that INCLUDES YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight Thursday (October 22nd, 2009).

Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY: Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson

About Kiss Me Again:

Do you ever wonder why marriage can seem like the end of intimacy and sexual desire instead of the beginning?

Ever wonder why it was so hard to resist sex before marriage—and so easy to resist it now? If so, you’re not alone! Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands…and can’t figure out what went wrong. But there’s good news. In Kiss Me Again, Barbara Wilson shows how powerful “invisible bonds” from past relationships can cause heartache, disappointment, and distance for couples in the present. Then—with sensitivity, honesty, and hope—Barbara walks you step by step toward healing…and a rekindling of the closeness and passion with your husband that you really want.

You don’t have to live any longer with confusion, disappointment, resentment, or shame. You can rediscover desire. You can say Wow! again.

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:

· Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
· Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices
· Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
· Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
· Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
· Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

About Barbara Wilson:

Barbara is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.

My thoughts:

Kiss Me Again is a very thorough and informative guide to healing the hurts of a sexual past, and the use of personal examples is key to the message of the forgiveness that can be found in that healing. I definitely saw some things in a whole new way, and it helped me to understand things on a whole deeper level. The ten-week study guide in the rear of the book, which also includes a great deal of Scriptures, looks to be a great way to easily manage the wealth of vital information provided in the pages of this book. I think Kiss Me Again would be a valuable resource not only for those wanting to be free of the sometimes overwhelming feelings that sexual baggage can bring into a marriage, but for anyone who works in women's ministry.

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this book?

I have the privilege of giving away one copy of Kiss Me Again, thanks to Multnomah Publishers. If you'd like to win and you're a US resident, please leave a comment that INCLUDES YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight Sunday (September 20th, 2009), and I will announce/contact the winner on September 21st.

Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY: Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich

About Stray Affections:

The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw , Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange–flurrious, as Cassie deems it–moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.

With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

About Charlene Ann Baumbich:

Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn , Illinois . She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.

Be sure to check this out:
Charlene's introduction to Stray Affections on YouTube

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book - from the clever title to the satisfying end where the reader will discover that the love of a good man and a good dog (or dogs) can change the most unchangeable heart. This book would make a lovely gift for any fiction-loving, canine-adoring friend in your life. Be sure to check out the edible extras in the back of the book, too...yum-o!

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this book?

I have the privilege of giving away one copy of Stray Affections, thanks to Waterbrook Press. If you'd like to win and you're a US resident, please leave a comment that INCLUDES YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight Sunday (September 13th, 2009), and I will announce/contact the winner on September 14th.