Path of Freedom by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Path of Freedom
(Abingdon Press - January 2013)

by
Jennifer Hudson Taylor
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning author of historical Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas and a speaker on topics of faith, writing and publishing. Her debut novel, Highland Blessings, won the 2011 Holt Medallion award for Best First Book. Jennifer's work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Romantic Times Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. She serves as the in-house Publicist at Hartline Literary Agency and co-owns Upon the Rock Publicist. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Communications. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with family, long walks, traveling, touring historical sites, hanging out at bookstores with coffee shops, genealogy, and reading.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

2nd in the Quilts of Love series

When Quakers Flora Saferight and Bruce Millikan embark on the Underground Railroad, they agree to put their differences aside to save the lives of a pregnant slave couple. With only her mother’s quilt as a secret guide, the foursome follows the stitches through unknown treachery.

As they embark on their perilous journey, they hope and pray that their path is one of promise where love sustains them, courage builds faith, and forgiveness leads to freedom.

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

Watch the book trailer:

Doctor to the Rescue by Cheryl Wyatt

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Doctor To The Rescue
(Love Inspired - December 18, 2012)

by
Cheryl Wyatt
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born Valentine’s Day on a Navy base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. Cheryl loves interacting with her readers and can be found almost daily on Facebook.

Word from the Author:
I do regular giveaways including a Kindle for every 250 people who join (aka "Like") my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor and I'd LOVE for word to spread about that. We have a lot of fun there as I ask for frequent reader input on current books, with helpers being mentioned in the acknowledgments and fun stuff like that.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Combat doctor Ian Shupe returns home from overseas with his most important mission: to raise his little girl. But Ian's a single dad, and working at Eagle Point's trauma center means having to find child care. When bighearted, struggling lodge owner Bri Landis offers babysitting in exchange for construction work, Ian accepts. He vows to keep his emotional distance from Bri, yet can't deny that his daughter is blossoming under her tender care. But is he ready to believe that his heart's deepest prayer may finally be answered?

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first Cheryl Wyatt book for me and I can say I truly enjoyed it. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book. Bri - trying to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship, Ian - a combat doc with a very busy work schedule trying to fit into another role of single dad, and Tia - Ian's young daughter just trying to find security and assurance with Ian after basically being abandoned by her mother. A lot of secondary characters niggled their way into my heart as well.

Cheryl does a really good job with the character's expressing their emotions. It was heart-wrenching to see that effect that Tia's mother has on her, and the clinginess and defiance attests well to the emotions she was going through. Bri and Ian's hesitance to really let themselves fall in love when you factor in Bri's prior abusive relationship and the traumatic divorce that Ian experiences.

I enjoyed this visit to Eagle Point immensely and plan to go back and read the first story in the series, The Doctor's Devotion, and I look forward to seeing what else Cheryl comes up with in this series.

My thanks to the author for generously providing a copy for review.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Doctor To The Rescue, go HERE.

Flight of the Earls by Michael K Reynolds

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Flight of the Earls
(B&H Books - January 1, 2013)

by
Michael Reynolds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.

Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.

Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.

MY THOUGHTS:

I've not quite finished this book, but I can tell you the story is truly captivating. Review will follow once I finish the book.

My thanks to CFBA and B&H Fiction for providing a copy for review.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Flight of the Earls, go HERE.

A Baker's Dozen (of sorts) ... My Top Picks for 2012

It's hard to believe that 2012 has come and gone, but I have great expectations for 2013. I set a goal for myself at the beginning of 2012 to read 10 books a month and I'm happy to say I met that goal...barely!

I have compiled my "Baker's Dozen" of favorite books for the year and if you feel so inclined, I'd love to know some of your favorites. I have listed the books in no particular order. A couple of authors were fortunate to get two books on my list, but I only included them under a single number in the count.

1. Cottage by the Sea by Robin Jones Gunn

A heart-wrenching tale that gripped my emotions, especially as I see my parents aging.

2. The Key on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson

I enjoyed how this story mingles the lives of women with starkly different circumstances who in many ways aren't that different at all.

3. Relentless Pursuit by Kathy Herman

The whole Secrets of Roux River Bayou series was excellent and is one of the best series I've read for quite some time. I fell in love with these characters and hated to see the series end.

4. His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

I love to read books from the Civil War era and found this book compelling from the very first page.

5. Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

Who can resist a story with "Prince Charming" in it? A serious story with a nice touch of humor in just the right places.

6. The Yellow Packard by Ace Collins

Boy, oh boy, does this car have a story to tell! Put your key in the ignition and let this book take you for a ride. I loved it from start to finish.

7. Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

A bit of an out-of-the-box Amish story with story lines set in both historical and contemporary times. I especially enjoyed the historical aspect as my ancestors embarked for America from Rotterdam in the 1700s, just as the Beiler's did.

8. Ashton Park by Murray Pura

I loved the saga of the Danforths of Lancashire as they faced love and war. I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.

9. A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman

I LOVE Christmas books, and I read several over the season. I loved the chemistry between Charlie and Franny, especially at their first meeting.
10. Her Restless Heart and The Heart's Journey by Barbara Cameron

I love the cousins in this series. Each one has her own personality and I enjoy the camaraderie between them. Book 3, Heart in Hand, can't get here fast enough!
11. Gone to Ground and Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins

Both were so compelling that I finished each of them in one day. That's almost unheard of for me.

12. By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer/Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

I couldn't let the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking go by without reading a few books on the subject. I found both books to be both delightful and heart-wrenching at the same time.

And last but not least, 13 is Teardrop by Travis Thrasher. This short story is part of the 7 Hours series published by Tyndale House. Teardrop was a "keep you on the edge of your seat and confound you with an unexpected ending" kind of story. Loved it!

Have a blessed 2013 everyone...and HAPPY READING!

Fall into Reading 2012 Wrap Up

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

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

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

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

Here's my FIR wrap up:

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

A Season for Tending - Cindy Woodsmall

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

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

The Bridesmaid - Beverly Lewis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee

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

A Word from Jennifer:

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

MY THOUGHTS:

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

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

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

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

Shattered Silence by Margaret Daley

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

A Thousand Sleepless Nights by Michael King

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane

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

by
Carolyn Zane
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

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

by
Olivia Newport
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word From The Author:

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

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

A Word from Elizabeth:

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

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden's Latest Offering

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

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

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

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