Wednesday, December 12, 2007

What Lies Within by Karen Ball



I've been waiting for this one! Isn't the cover superb? But "what lies within" is even better. Karen Ball never disappoints. Her stories are edgy, heart-tugging, spirit-moving, and well-crafted.

When I was so blessed to have her as my hands-on editor for the first two books I ever published, her insights took me to a whole new level of write-craft. I will be forever grateful. Her techniques feature large in the workshops I teach to other writers.

So now I can only recommend heartily that you grab yourself a copy of this new release by a seasoned author. Savor the read!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Nothing’s going to stop Kyla…

until the ground crumbles beneath her feet.
Kyla Justice has arrived. Her company, Justice Construction, is one of the most critically acclaimed, commercially successful companies in the Pacific Northwest. And yet, something is missing. Not until she’s called on to build a center for inner-city kids does she realize what it is: her sense of purpose. Now nothing can stop her, not the low budget, not supply problems, not gang opposition, not her boyfriend’s suggestion that she sell her business and marry him–and most especially not that disagreeable Rafael Murphy.
Rafe Murphy understands battle. Wounded in action, this Force Recon Marine carries the scars–and the nightmares–to prove it. Though he can’t fight overseas any longer, he’s found his place as a warrior in the civilian world. So he soldiers on, trusting that one of these days, God will reveal to him why Rafe survived the ambush in Iraq. That day has arrived.
Kyla and Rafe both discover that determination alone won’t carry them through danger and challenges. When gang violence threatens their very foundations, there’s only one way to survive: rely on each other, be real–and surrender to God. In other words, risk everything…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Ball , bestselling novelist, is also the editor behind several of today's bestselling Christian novels. Her love for words was passed down through her father and grandfather - both pastors who shared God's truth through sermons and storytelling. Blending humor, poignancy, and honesty, Karen's writing style is a powerful force for revealing God's truth. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, and their "kids," Bodhan, a mischief-making Siberian husky, and Dakota, an Aussie-terrier mix who should have been named "Destructo."

Monday, December 10, 2007

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck


"In a fierce struggle for survival, don't mess with a mom." from the Nav Press web site

This is one awesome book for readers who enjoy fantasy and those who don't usually read it. Hinck has infused her Sword of Lyric series with universal appeal. Her wonderfully drawn characters remind us of people we know . . . or maybe of ourselves. The world of her imagination bears eerie parallels to our own, leaving us with lessons that impact our daily lives.

Book One of The Sword of Lyric series has garnered critical praise for its unique blend of fantasy genre and contemporary women's fiction voice, and went into a second printing only a few months after releasing. The story unfolds the adventure of a modern-day mom pulled through a portal into another world where a nation grappling for its soul waits for a promised Restorer.

To read a chapter of this exciting new title go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/message/318.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Got Time to Meet a Christian Superhero?


Batman. Superman. Spiderman. The Incredible Hulk. The Fantastic Four. Ever wanted to read a book about Christian super-heroes for once? Well, Frank Creed has granted your wish in his sci-fi novel, Flashpoint.

Picture Michael J. Fox cast as a Neo-like figure (a la The Matrix) fighting for righteousness in a Christian-hunting fascist society, and you will have a rough idea of the main character in Flashpoint. And this dude is surrounded by others like him but with different gifts, including his cyber-whiz sister. Special effects techs would have a field day making this one into a movie.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for its high tech action spiced with glimpses of the supernatural realm of the spirit that surrounds us and plays big in the outcome of our every day lives, much less in the lives of freedom-fighters in this potential world of the future. Little wonder Creed's book won an Elfie award for best sci-fi novel of 2006.

You can find out more about the author and the book at http://www.frankcreed.com/.
Buy It Now! http://www.thewriterscafe.com/authorandbooks/flashpoint.html

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Bluegrass Peril by Virginia Smith

Yippee! My friend Ginny's new Steeple Hill Romantic Suspense is out! This is a keeper. Loads of fun, and it's a quick read for the bus commuter or the busy mom or the day-worker wanting to unwind. Ginny did a lot of research for this novel, which shows in the details of the horse racing world she puts into the story. After she wrote the manuscript, news reports came out that established one of her key scenarios as more fact than fiction!

Read to the bottom of this post for book giveaway information.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

WHO KILLED HER BOSS?

Local police had tagged single mom Becky Dennison as their prime suspect. But she'd only been in the wrong place at the wrong time...admittedly, with her boss's lifeless body. Sure it looked bad, but Becky had no motive for killing...even if she had opportunity.

When the director of the retirement farm for thoroughbred champions is murdered, Becky Dennison teams up with the handsome manager of a neighboring horse farm, Scott Lewis, to find her boss's killer. Soon the amateur detective are hot on the trail of the murderer...even as their feelings for each other deepen.

The amateur sleuths uncover a trail of clues that lead them into the intricate society of Kentucky's elite thoroughbred breeding industry. They soon find themselves surrounded by the mint julep set - jealous southern belles and intensely competitive horse breeders - in a high-stakes game of danger, money, and that famous southern pride.

And for Becky and Scott, this race on the Kentucky tracks has the greatest stakes of all: life or death!
Romantic Times awarded Bluegrass Peril* * * * FOUR STARS! * * * *



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker in the summer of 2005. Since then she has contracted eight novels and numerous articles and short stories.

She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including her debut, Just As I Am (Kregel Publications, March 2006) and her new release, Murder by Mushroom (Steeple Hill, August 2007). Her short fiction has been anthologized, and her articles have been published in a variety of Christian magazines.

An energetic speaker, Virginia loves to exemplify God’s truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, “Biblical Truths in Star Trek.”
I just happen to have a spare copy of Bluegrass Peril on my shelf. (No, I'm not giving away my own copy.) If you'd like your name in the hat for it, make a comment about this book or one of the others featured in this blog and BE SURE TO LEAVE CONTACT INFORMATION. I can't tell you that you've won if you don't tell me how to let you know.
In recent months, I've posted lots of good info on great reads for every taste! Don't let the knowledge go to waste!

Monday, December 03, 2007

Oh, yummy! A new one from Kristen Heitzmann! I've been waiting for the final installment in this fantastic series . . . and waiting . . . and waiting. Now it's here!

ECHOES is the conclusion to SECRETS and UNFORGOTTEN.
Even in the midst of her affectionate and chaotic Italian family, Sofie Michelli feels alone. For too long, she has been caught in a net of loss and despair. It is time to let go, to start again.

Rese is not sure what to make of Lance Michelli's healing gift, but she feels protective of this humbled version of the swaggering man who turned her life inside out. As they find new footing, the Sonoma villa she renovated becomes a refuge for the downtrodden—including Lance's sister Sofie.

Driven to protect the innocent, Child Protective Service worker Matt Hammond reserves judgment on the unconventional caregivers of the abandoned infant—who both concern and fascinate him—but he is especially drawn to Sofie, the mesmerizing woman with a dancer's poise, eyes like dark copper pennies—and scars on her wrists.

To read a chapter from this new title go to ChapterAWeek .