Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Where Do I Go? by Neta Jackson

Neta Jackson's new Yada Yada release, Where Do I Go?, is now available, and I have a copy for giveaway! Leave a comment at the end of this post for a chance at the book.

I have a computer doctor coming to look at my laptop to see if she can fix the issue that's causing me not to be able to post pictures. So once again, I won't be able to post the cover or the author's photo. Hopefully, next time around, the problem will be resolved.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A story of seeking-and finding-God's will in unlikely places.

Gabrielle Fairbanks has nearly lost touch with the carefree, spirited young woman she was when she married her husband fifteen years ago. But when the couple moves to Chicago to accommodate Philip's business ambitions, Gabby finds the chance to make herself useful. It's there she meets the women of Manna House Women's Shelter; they need a Program Director-and she has a degree in social work. She's in her element, feeling God's call on her life at last, even though Philip doesn't like the changes he sees in her. But things get rough when Philip gives Gabby an ultimatum: quit her job at the shelter or risk divorce and losing custody of their sons. Gabby must take refuge, as in the song they sing at Sunday night worship: "Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to? . . . I go to the Rock I know that's able, I go to the Rock."

Romantic Times Book Reviews says, “Exquisite characters coupled with God's mercy and love emanate from each page.”

Publisher's Weekly adds, “Jackson's Yada Yada series has sold half a million copies, and this new offshoot series ... promises the same.... The book's dramatic ending ... leav[es] readers eager for the next installment in the series.”

To read the Prologue and first Chapter of Where Do I Go?, go HERE.

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595545239

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. In addition to writing several books about Christian community, the Jacksons have coauthored numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.Dave and Neta live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years they were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. They are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

They're trying something new! Not just new for them, but something completely new in Christian fiction: “Parallel novels,” two stories taking place in the same time frame, same neighborhood, involving some of the same characters living through their own dramas and crises but interacting with and affecting one another … just the way it happens in real life. It’s something that only a husband and wife writing team could pull off. While Neta has Where Do I Go?, her husband Dave has written Harry Bentley's Second Chance.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

My laptop continues to have issues, so once again I cannot offer you pictures of the cover (just gorgeous) and the author (also gorgeous), BUT I can offer a free copy of Robin's charming Christmas book. Read on and leave a comment at the bottom of the post for a chance at the book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet...maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Engaging Father Christmas, go HERE

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446179469

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawai’i. She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown. As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin’s favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives. Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers’ Guild.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Quills and Promises by Amber Miller

My fabulous web designer has come out with her second novel, Quills and Promises, published by Heartsong Presents. I'd love to show you photos of the cover and of her lovely face, but my computer is acting up and not allowing me to publish photos to my blog today.

Read on and leave a comment at the end for a chance to win this book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
-- Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison's integrity is questioned.

-- "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not until thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Innocence paired with wisdom beyond her years. With these traits, Elanna Hanssen unwittingly captures the attentions of Major Madison Scott. Her honest desire to understand the war fascinates him, and he resolves to get to know this perspicacious young lady better. When his military duty separates them, they begin a correspondence, cautiously baring their hearts to each other. Elanna has never known emotions like this before, but she is drawn to the integrity she sees in her major. Wh a local news reporter questions the major's credentials and activities, however, will she allow her heart or her head to rule? Can true love grow over such distance and around such obstacles?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Quills And Promises, go HERE.

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/160260049X

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, and live in beautiful Colorado just east of the Front Range of the Rockies, but I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

Amber's very first book, Promises, Promises, released in February 2008. It's a historical fiction set in Delaware during the Colonial period and the Great Awakening. The other 2 books in the series are this current one, Quills And Promises (July 2008) and Deceptive Promises (December 2008). In 2009, they will be repackaged for a state set entitled Delaware Brides. She has also sold another series set in historical Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. The 3 books in that series will begin releasing in May 2009 and will be repackaged in 2010 as Michigan Brides.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins' new release, Dark Pursuit, is an adrenaline-pumping, gut-chilling ride. Her spare prose and evocative descriptions suck the reader into a world of high-stakes danger that exposes the darkness of obsession. For a chance to win a copy, leave a comment at the end of this post.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Dark Pursuit—A twisting story of murder, betrayal, and eternal choices

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she’s about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit—her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks...

Read the first chapter of Dark Pursuit, HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. She is currently working on her 20th book. For chances to win free copies of her work, join her Fan Club on Facebook. Here’s what Brandilyn has to say about why she wrote Dark Pursuit:

In John Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan’s followers, kicked out of heaven, boast about storming the gates and reclaiming their territory. Beelzebub scoffs at their boasting as merely “hatching vain empires” and suggests a different revengeful scheme: seduce mankind away from God. So Satan visits the Garden of Eden to teach humans the very thing he and his cohorts have learned to be futile—the dark pursuit of hatching their own vain empires instead of following God. He presented man with this “gift” of death, disguised as life. And man fell for it.

Upon this theme of man’s fall and spiritual blindness, I created the characters and events in Dark Pursuit. The story clips along at a fast pace, with much symbolism running underneath.

Sunday, November 16, 2008



Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors. I'm so glad this versatile story-teller has a new release out! Read on for an interview with Melody, information about the book, and a way that you can win a copy of Let Them Eat Fruitcake or a $25 gift certifcate to the world-famous Collin Street Bakery. Oh, yeah!

Let's hear from Melody:

What has God been teaching you lately?

It seems like I have to keep learning some lessons over and over again. Particularly patience. I am, by nature, the most impatient person I know. I want it done and I want it done now. And I want it done right…yada-yada. But that’s not how life generally works. And it’s not how God usually works. So I have to continually remind myself to keep my mouth shut, to keep praying, and to JUST WAIT. You’d think I’d have it down by now (hear my impatience there?) but I don’t. I probably never will. I can imagine being 100 years old and on my deathbed, saying, “Okay, God, could you just hurry it up, please?”

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

What a great question. Without a doubt it would be the power to heal. I know a lot of people who are hurting over various things (including mental illnesses, which is always a challenge) I would absolutely love to heal people. And then, of course, give God the credit since he’s the giver of the gifts.

Where are you headed next?

Literally, we’re headed for home in the next day or two (we’re at the beach right now). As far as my writing goes…I’m just finishing up my final Diary of a Teenage Girl book (#16). I’m also working with a producer in Hollywood who’s enthusiastically pitching some of my books and teen series for TV and movies.

Where did you get the idea for the Let Them Eat Fruitcak?

Having written for teens for nearly a decade, I wondered about my readers who were in their twenties now. I think that’s a hard age these days and I wanted to create something that would speak to that young career woman who’s trying to sort out her life, her values, her friends, her faith…. I think fiction is a great way to teach truth and my hope was that these 86 Bloomberg Place characters living together under one roof would inspire readers to be better friends, share their faith, and live life more fully.

With which character do you most identify and why?

I’m probably most like Megan, but I’d like to be more like Lelani. Megan can be a bit of a bulldog sometimes, whereas Lelani is kinder and gentler and far more patient. However Megan’s faith is more substantial and she is having an influence in the house. It’s fun watching the characters mature, interact, become stronger friends, and figure out what’s important in life.

Have you had any difficult or confusing relationships like those in the book? How did you handle and what was the result?

Right out of college, I shared a house with three other (very diverse) women. It wasn’t easy and one of the women turned out to be the most difficult person I’d ever come across. Ironically it was on the “mission field” and the women were all Christians…and yet I felt more challenged to love my housemate than I did anyone else in that entire third world country.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope they’ll enjoy a few laughs, a peek into the lives of some very human-like characters, and perhaps a spiritual challenge that they’ve found tucked between the lines.


Will we see any of these characters again?

Let Them Eat Fruitcake is the second book in a four book series (86 Bloomberg Place). The next installment is titled Spring Broke and the housemates end up going to Maui, where some mysteries about Lelani’s life are resolved. Also, there is romance and few other surprises. The final book is Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah.

Thanks, Melody!

You can find out more about her and her books at http://melodycarlson.com.

BUY THE BOOK: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1589191064

HERE'S HOW TO WIN THE GIFT CERTIFICATE OR BOOK:

Leave a comment on this post or any other post in the blog tour by 5pm CST on November 21, and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the Collin Street Bakery. The Collin Street Bakery is world-famous for its - you guessed it - fruitcake and will deliver your baked goods almost anywhere in the world. Readers can enter multiple times by commenting on more than one post (but only one comment per post will be counted).

Also, anyone who leaves a comment on this blog post will be entered to win a copy of Let Them Eat Fruitcake!

Here's the link to the list of all participating bloggers in this tour: http://blogtourspot.com/Carlson-blog-tour/Carlson-blog-tour-stops.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Books, CDs, and More! Oh, My!

This week only!

Title Trakk, the fabulous on-line review of all things Christian media, is offering a major giveaway, sponsored by Harvest House and InPop Records. The grand prize winner can walk away with over $335 worth of books, CDs, and movies! Plus there are daily winners.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive:

BOOKS:
Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark
Rachel's Secret by BJ Hoff
Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Playing God by Michelle McKinney Hammond
White Soul by Brandt Dodson
The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka
Finding Marie by Susan Paige Davis
The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian
A Man After God's Own Heart by Jim George
Evidence for Faith 101 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz

CDS:
Wake Up! Wake Up! by Everyday Sunday
Rock What You Got by Superchick
Sunday by Tree63
Houston We Are Go by Newsboys (Live CD/DVD)
Nothing Left To Lose by Mat Kearney
I Am Free Worship Collection
Salvation Station by Newworldson
Not Without Love by Jimmy Needham
Pages by Shane & Shane
Colors and Sounds by Article One

MOVIES:
Love's Unfolding Dream
The Ten Commandments Animated
Between the Walls

But that's not all! They're giving away even more!

During this blog tour (November 10th - 16th) Title Trakk will be drawing 2 winners daily from the contest entries to win an additional free book or cd!

Visit the TitleTrakk.com Contest page today to enter the contest and place yourself in the running to receive the Grand Prize, plus all the daily prizes! Deadline to enter is November 17th.

About TitleTrakk.com: Founded in 2006 by Tracy & C.J. Darlington, TitleTrakk.com is an interactive website spotlighting Christian books, music & movies. Updated weekly, we feature author and musician interviews, album and book reviews, music videos, movie reviews and interviews, book excerpts, surveys, polls, and fun contests. Learn more: http://www.titletrakk.com/

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Out of Her Hands by Megan DiMaria


I'm so pleased to present Megan DeMaria's new release on my blog. To think I knew her and saw snippets of book one of this series before it was ever contracted! Out of Her Hands is the sequel to Searching for Spice, and it is getting rave reviews. Read on for an opportunity to win a copy!
In this second novel by Megan DiMaria, Linda Revere is back and continuing to struggle with the turmoil of contemporary life. Linda has been praying for her children's future spouses since they were very small. Confident that her prayers will be answered, Linda is not prepared for the young woman her son brings home. But Linda soon learns that while everything she once controlled is out of her hands, God is still in control. Megan uses her trademark humor while dealing with issues to which her readers will relate.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Out Of Her Hands, go HERE
"No sophomore slump for DiMaria! This novel (Out of Her Hands) is as engaging and meaningful as her first, Searching for Spice. Her realistic portrayal of the characters' lives should endear them to readers and help Christians to feel less alone in their daily trials." ~Romantic Times Magazine, 4 ½ stars TOP PICK!
“Life in Linda's world is messy...but filled with love, laughter, struggle and faith. Megan has created a most real heroine for us to love...and I adore her!”~Deena Peterson, reviewer: A Peek at my Bookshelf
“Megan DiMaria crafts a novel so compelling, so real, you forget you're reading fiction.”~Darcie Gudger, reviewer: TitleTrakk
"This is a great read for a quiet afternoon or in those times when you feel your own life spinning out of control and need the reality check of knowing you're not in it alone."~Amazon reviewer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I was born and raised in New York State and have since lived in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and now I live in Colorado. My husband and I have three delightful, adult children and an old Jack Russell Terrier named Belle who seems to find her way into my novels. My resume will tell you I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Communications, and after graduation I worked as a radio and television reporter, freelance writer, editor and marketing professional. I'm a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and am assistant director of Words For The Journey, Rocky Mountain Region. But what's most important to know about me is that I am a follower of Jesus, wife, mother, friend, reader and writer. Life’s a journey, enjoy the adventures!
Now, for a chance to win the book, please answer the following: Where does Megan currently reside?

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I've got one to give away! Be sure to post a comment below, along with contact information, for a chance at this heart-rending, heart-mending book!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Far away from her Irish home, Mary Freeman begins to adapt to life in Midwest America, but family turmoil and her own haunting memories threaten to ruin her future. A shattered cup. Cheap tea. Bitter voices asking what's to be done with the "little eejit." Mary, an impetuous Irishwoman, won't face the haunting memories--until her daughter's crisis propels her back to County Clare. There, in a rocky cliffside home, Mary learns from former neighbors why God tore her from Ireland forty-five years earlier. As she begins to glimpse His sovereign plan, Mary is finally able to bury a dysfunctional past and begin to heal. Irish folk songs and sayings add color to the narrative.

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



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patti Lacy graduated from Baylor University in 1977 with a B.S. in education. She taught at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois, until she retired in 2006 to pursue writing full time. She has two grown children with her husband, Alan, and lives in Illinois.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Less Than Dead by Tim Downs

For all you eerie story fans, here's a good shiver. Read on for more information.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Some secrets just won't stay buried.

When strange bones surface on a U.S. senator's property, the FBI enlists forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to investigate the forgotten graveyard. Polchak's orders are simple: figure out the mess.

But Polchak, known as the "Bug Man" because of his knowledge of insects and their interaction with the dead, senses darker secrets buried beneath the soil.Secrets that could derail the senator's presidential bid.

Secrets buried in the history of a quaint Virginia town.

Secrets someone is willing to kill to protect.

With the help of a mysterious local woman named Alena and her uncanny cadaver dogs, Polchak sets out to dig up the truth.

But with a desperate killer hot on his trail, he'll be lucky to wind up anything less than dead.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Less Than Dead, go HERE

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595543074

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred major newspapers worldwide. His first book, a work of non-fiction, was awarded the Gold Medallion Award in 2000. His first novel, Shoofly Pie, was awarded the Angel Award in 2004, and his third novel, PlagueMaker, was awarded the Christy Award for best suspense novel of 2007. First The Dead, the third book in this Bug Man series came out earlier this year. Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Murder on the Ol' Bunions by S. Dionne Moore

Now here's fun, fast read! Cozy mystery fans, for a chance to win a copy of Murder on the Ol' Bunions by S. Dionne Moore read on to the end of this post and answer the question in your response. Don't forget to leave contact information in case you win!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

LaTisha Barnhart’s bunions tell her something’s afoot as she delves deeper into the murder of her former employee, Marion Peters. When LaTisha becomes a suspect, the ante is upped, and she is determined to clear her name and find the culprit.

She’s burping Mark Hamm’s bad cooking to investigate his beef with Marion. . .getting her hair styled at a high falutin’ beauty parlor to see what has Regina Rogane in a snarl. . .playing self-appointed matchmaker between the local chief and a prime suspect. . .and thinking Payton O’Mahney’s music store lease might be the reason he’s singing out of tune when discussion of Marion’s murder arises. LaTisha’s thinking she just might use the reward money to get her bunions surgically removed. But she’s got to catch the crook first.

Small town intrigue, a delightful, vivid cast, and a well-crafted mystery make S. Dionne Moore’s debut novel a must-read! I loved it!~Susan May Warren~Award-winning author of Reclaiming Nick

“S. Dionne Moore has the rare quality of pulling together great characters and compelling plots.”~Kelly Klepfer~ http://www.novelreviews.blogspot.com/

If you would like to HEAR the first chapter, go HERE and click on the bookcover trailer box!

If you would like to READ, the first chapter of Murder on The Ol' Bunions , go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra has been writing for years with historicals being her main focus. By the time she had a polished manuscript in hand, historicals were unpopular. She didn't give up though and decided to try her hand at writing a mystery. A cozy mystery. Her first book, Murder on The Ol' Bunions , released in April of 2008. Book two of the LaTisha Barnhart Mystery series, Polly Dent Loses Grip, and book three, Eat, Drink and Be Buried will follow in April 2009 and 2010, respectively. She's almost always running a contest, so drop by her Website, and you just might win a free gift!

Here's the question you must answer to get your name in the drawing: What is LaTisha going to do with the reward money for catching the killer?

Monday, October 13, 2008

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner



I love Susan Meissner books. Her new one just released--The Shape of Mercy--about a modern-day college student, struggling for identity, who transcribes the centuries-old diary of another young woman who was accused and condemned as a witch during the Salem witch trials. The college student discovers amazing things about herself and her world through this intensely personal slice of history.


Susan's beautiful use of language evokes deep emotion from the reader as the triumphant tragedy unfolds. She graciously agreed to do an interview for my blog to celebrate the launch of The Shape of Mercy. Her thoughts are well worth reading. I have TWO copies of the book to give away, so chime in at the end with a comment and contact information in order to get your name in the hat!

1. What inspired you to write a modern-day story that ties into the particular dark moment in American history of the Salem witch trials?

When I was 13, I was in play called To Burn a Witch. I played the role of an innocent woman accused of witchcraft who sits in a cell with other innocent young women from her village. When my character realizes she can save herself by pretending to be bewitched, she begins to scream that one of the other girls in her cell – a friend, actually – is tormenting her. My character is led away to freedom and the woman she accused falsely is led away to her execution. I had forgotten being in that play until I read a newspaper article a couple years ago about a woman who was petitioning a Massachusetts court to exonerate her great-times-eight grandmother. This ancestor of hers was accused and convicted of witchcraft during the Salem trials, was released when the hysteria ended, but whose name was never cleared. I was reminded of how it felt, even as an actress, to be accused of something you were not and the far worse feeling of accusing someone you know is innocent. What happened in Salem hasn’t happened again, not in the same way. But we still let our opinion of someone be swayed by fear and the crowd. We judge people based on little more than our own fears and whatever the crowd says. This is how Hitler brought about the deaths of millions of Jewish people. He used fear and the crown mentality to convince a nation that Jewish people should be annihilated. We have to consider our history and we are shaped by it, especially when that history shows our flaws. That’s how we learn to do better.

2. You deal so poignantly with regrets in the character of Abigail, the elderly owner of the diary. Did you create her based on personal experience or someone you know?

Abigail isn’t a real person, nor have I known the kind of regrets I burdened her with. But if you look around you, if you read the newspapers, watch the news, read biographies; you see that people like Abigail are everywhere. I think we can all imagine – to some degree - what it might be like to decide how you’ll spend your life based on what other people expect of you instead of following your heart. Sometimes we play the If Only game and imagine what our lives would be like if we’d made better choices. But we should also stop and consider what our lives would be like if we’d made worse ones.

3. The young protagonist, Lauren Durough, is anything but downtrodden, yet she struggles to understand her identity for the very reason that she is so privileged. What helped you the most to gain insight into her personality?

I interview my characters before I write a word. Lauren emerged from my imagined conversations with her as someone with the same longings as the person who hasn’t half the material wealth she has. I’ve watched celebrity women, young women like Lauren, allow their fame and fortune to train-wreck them so I knew money and power don’t deliver peace and contentment. Money doesn’t give someone insights the rest of us lack. I just needed to probe the reasons why. Lauren allowed me to do that.

4. I loved Mercy's insights into the nature of evil and the truths of love. You convey a lot of meaning in short, pithy bites. How difficult was it to write her diary entries from both a content standpoint and an author's craft?

Interestingly enough, Mercy’s diary kind of took on a life of its own. I wrote it before I wrote any of Lauren’s story so that I could dovetail Lauren’s journey with what I knew she would encounter in the pages of Mercy’s life. It may sound trite, but I think God showed up when I was crafting Mercy’s journal entries. Whatever wisdom comes across from Mercy’s words came from a place within me I can’t take much credit for. Any insights I’ve gained into the nature of love and its power, has come from God. I had to imagine myself as Mercy when I wrote the diary sections, and that of course, was a little intimidating. I honestly don’t know if I could be as brave as she was. But I’d like to think I’d be as merciful.

More About the Book:

Lauren Durough is a college student longing to break free of family expectations when she stumbles into a project for eighty year old Abigail Boyles—transcribing the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with the mysterious Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to discovering the candid truth, Lauren must earnestly ask if she is playing the role of helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and recognize who she really is?

In our high-pressure, success-oriented culture, readers will identify with Lauren’s struggle to forge her own identity separate from the plan her family designed for her. Offering intrigue, romance, and heartbreaking drama, this contemporary novel with a historical twist conveys the intense beauty that emerges when we see how our stories affect the lives of others.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


From early school-day projects to becoming editor of a local newspaper in Minnesota, Susan Meissner’s love for writing has been apparent her entire life. The Shape of Mercy is her latest novel in a string of books that delve into the deeper issues of life. She is the author of nine novels and lives with her family in San Diego, California. Find out more about her at http://www.susanmeissner.com/.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

It's Not About Me, Part II

Michelle Sutton has a young adult winner here. Considering what's out there for even pre-teens to read and even experience these days, I wouldn't hesitate to put this book into the hands of thirteen or fourteen year olds. And it would certainly be a great read for upper teens and twenty-somethings.


Sutton candidly tackles serious issues facing youth today--the prevalence of violence in our society, sexually transmitted diseases, the case for sexual abstinence, alcoholism, pornography, jealousy, the meaning of true love and real friendship--it's all in there without sugar-coating. But the book is also clear about the answers found in Christ. Not easy, pat answers that come without struggle, but spiritual victory through gut-wrenching honesty with yourself and others. This book is a container filled with hope and challenge for those young people facing fateful choices--which is all of them.


If you would like a chance to win a signed copy of this book, scroll down to my September 25 post and respond with the answer to the question at the end of that post. I will draw for the winner on Friday, October 3.


ABOUT THE BOOK:


Annie has it all. She's attractive, graduated with honors, was accepted at the college of her choice, has supportive parents, good friends, and a steady boyfriend who loves her. One night an unexpected visitor appears and Annie's safe world is destroyed by a brutal attack. As she tries to pick up the pieces of her broken life, she is torn between two brothers, both of whom claim to love her. She is attracted to both, but which one does she love? How can she choose when her decision may cause a permanent rift between them? And more important, will she give her heart to the One who will sustain her even when human love fails.

"...the exquisitely written spiritual content shows the reader that redemption is available, no matter what the circumstances." - 4 Stars, Romantic Times!

Instead of dealing with timely issues like alcoholism, premarital sex and pornography in a preachy, oh-so-tired fashion, Michelle Sutton's It's Not About Me gets to the heart of the matter with a shocking dose of realism and poignant storytelling. From the first paragraph, Sutton weaves together a thoroughly entertaining story that'll keep readers intrigued for the long haul as they get to know Annie, Dan, Tony and Susie—young adults that probably don't look and sound all that different from themselves. Now that's a seriously refreshing turn for Christian fiction."~Christa Ann Banister~, author of Around the World in 80 Dates, (NavPress 2007) and Blessed are the Meddlers (NavPress 2008)



It's Not About Me is a wonderfully entertaining and deliciously suspenseful read that will keep you turning the pages. Sutton doesn't back away from the drama and with all of the twists and turns, It's Not About Me is hard to put down. I cannot wait for the sequel! Bravo!"~Victoria Christopher Murray~, Essence best-selling author of multiple titles including The Ex Files and the upcoming YA series The Divine Divas



“Annie captured my heart on the first page and kept me enthralled to the very end. This edgy, yet surprisingly poignant story travels the inroads of intimate relationships – man to woman, brother to brother, parent to child, friend to friend. But especially satisfying is the author’s delicate handling of the relationship between a searching soul and the loving Savior who alone possesses the power to work all things out for the good. A terrific debut for Michelle Sutton. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!” ~Virginia Smith~, author of Just As I Am and Sincerely, Mayla



"Michelle Sutton's gritty writing style will very likely go straight to the hearts of teens, addressing what they deal with every day in what is all too often grim reality for our youth. Sutton is no doubt a refreshing and much needed voice in today's YA fiction."~Tina Ann Forkner~, Author of Ruby Among Us Waterbrook Press/Random House


If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of It's Not About Me, go HERE


BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0979748518


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Michelle Sutton has lived in Arizona and since 1991 and has two sons and a husband of 18 years. She began writing fiction in August 2003 when God inspired her to write a novel with realistic characters that would glorify Him. In 2004 she joined ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers. In 2006 Michelle ran for Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Operating board and ACFW members elected her to serve a two year term. She sold her first manuscript Then Sings My Soul (now re-titled It's Not About Me) to Sheaf House and her debut novel was released in Sept. 2008. The second book in the Second Glances series - It's Not About Him - will be released the following fall (Sept. 2009.)


Last, Michelle is Editor in Chief of the new Christian Fiction Online Magazine. The debut issue released in July 2008. The magazine is sponsored by the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance.

Monday, September 29, 2008

John 3:16 by Nancy Moser

John 3:16 delivers Nancy Moser's unique brand of emotive, thought-provoking fiction, dealing with the crises of ordinary people like you and me.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Five people looking for a reason to keep living are about to find it in the last place they expect... In my usual "big cast" style comes a story of what happens when one man puts his faith on the line and holds up a John 3:16 sign at a sporting event. Roman Paulson's life revolves around his son, Billy, a University of Nebraska football hero with a promising life ahead of him. But when Billy's coach encroaches on Roman's relationship with his son, Roman fears he'll lose Billy forever. Roman isn't the only one whose world turns upside down. He's one of five unsuspecting people whose lives intersect on a bright fall day.

If you would like to read the first chapter of John 3:16, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Moser is the author of three inspirational humor books and eighteen novels, including Solemnly Swear, Time Lottery, a Christy Award winner, and her latest historical, Washington's Lady.Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Said So Sister Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included.


Find out more at Nancy Moser.com and Sister Circles.com.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

It's Not About Me by Michelle Sutton

I’ve got a treat for readers today—an interview with the indefatigable Michelle Sutton! Yes, I know that’s a huge, obscure word to describe this lovely lady, but it means energetic, enthusiastic, and unstoppable. I think that sums up a woman who continues to pour her all into writing and promoting Christian fiction. She’s an avid book reviewer and the editor of Christian Fiction Online magazine. Her debut novel, It’s Not About Me, released this month from Sheaf House publisher. Read on and answer a question at the end for a chance at a free, signed copy of It’s Not About Me.

Q: So, Michelle, what is your new book about, and what inspired you to write it?

A: My story is about a young woman who has a great future ahead of her, but weak faith and a boyfriend who is putting pressure on her to do more than she wants to physically. When she is attacked and he finds her in a pool of blood, he bails and his brother visits her to provide friendship and comfort while she is healing at the hospital. She begins to have feelings for the brother and thus a love triangle ensues. What inspired me to write it was I had a friend who had the same thing happen to her while she was alone in the church office.

Q: What readership do you hope to attract to the book, and what do you hope they will take away from the experience of reading It’s Not About Me?

A: I hope to attract all readers but I desire for young adults (16-23) to discover the story and be inspired by the message. I hope they will see what true love really is, understand that faith isn’t just about being good and attending church, and that they will choose to wait for the person God has in mind for them to marry.

Q: Describe your writer’s journey for us and that sparkling moment when you learned your book was going to be published?

A: I started writing in August of 2003 and kept writing until I’d completed about 10 books before this one sold. Two aren’t really publishable. I call them practice books. I sort of knew for awhile that my book was sold and was just waiting for the timing, so it wasn’t really a big surprise or anything.

Q: Where can readers buy your book?

A: Right now there seems to be a shortage, but it is being backordered on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and CBD (Christianbook.com) but people should be able to order it in bookstores, too, such as BDalton books, Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc. However, it is unlikely that most stores will carry it simply because it’s a small press and the application to have my book on display in stores is still pending. So by ordering it I mean going up to the desk and asking for it to be ordered, then picking it up when it comes in.

Q: Give us your web site address so we can find out more about you, your book, and even read the first chapter.

A: http://www.michellesutton.net/

Yes, you can read the first chapter on my site, too. There is a link to it on the page featuring my book.
Thanks for sharing with us today, Michelle. Many blessings as you pursue your ministry in Christian fiction.

Now, for those of you interested in a chance at the book, post a comment with the answer to this question: Michelle is the editor of what magazine?




Monday, September 15, 2008

Isolation by Travis Thrasher

Dean Koontz, Ted Dekker, and Stephen King fans, a treat awaits with Travis Thrasher's new release, Isolation.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Trapped

Exhausted

Terrified . . .

Alone

When a missionary family moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, they think they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined. Can their love for one another and their faith in God save them from the dangers lurking here? A masterfully written story that will grip you from its mysterious beginning to its chilling end.

From Publishers Weekly:

"In this dark chiller, Thrasher (Sky Blue; The Promise Remains) demonstrates a considerable talent for the horror genre. Like Stephen King, Thrasher pits flawed but likable characters against evil forces that at first seem escapable but gradually take on a terrifying ubiquity.

The Miller family has recently returned to suburban Chicago after a harrowing experience on the mission field. Hoping to get away from the busyness of suburban living, they travel to the mountains of North Carolina for an extended stay in an enormous, remote lodge where husband and father Jim plans to write a book while trying to reconnect with his family. When a snowstorm isolates them further and spiritual attacks make them feel they are losing their minds, both Jim and his wife, Stephanie, begin to wonder if God can rescue them and their two young children. Aside from sharing too many plot points with The Shining, this novel hits very few false notes and should appeal to fans of Christian fiction, the horror genre and all who enjoy well-crafted and suspenseful stories."

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

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446505544


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007. Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has two novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

In the Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett

Good news for historical fans--I'm giving away a copy of In the Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett. Read on for the information you'll need to answer the question at the end and qualify for a chance at a copy of this lovely book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"I am the first writer, The Scribe. My books lie open before the Throne, and someday will be the only witness of your people and their time in this world."

So begins the narration of one such angel in this sweeping historical tale set during the reign of England's Henry VIII. It is the story of two women, their guardian angels, and a mysterious, subversive book ... a book that outrages some, inspires others, and launches the Protestant Reformation.

The devout Anne Boleyn catches the eye of a powerful king and uses her influence to champion an English translation of the Bible. Meanwhile, Rose, a broken, suicidal woman of the streets, is moved to seek God when she witnesses Thomas More's public displays of Christian charity, ignorant of his secret life spent eradicating the Bible, persecuting anyone who dares read it.

Historic figures come alive in this thrilling story of heroes and villains, saints and sinners, angels and mortals ... and the sacred book that will inspire you anew. Fans of Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury will love Ginger's intriguing combination of rich character development, artful settings, and inspiring historical insights.

If you would like to read an excerpt from In The Shadow Of Lions, go HERE

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781448875

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ginger Garrett is the critically acclaimed author of Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther, which was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA, and Dark Hour. An expert in ancient women's history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women.

Her newest release is Beauty Secrets of the Bible, (September 11, Thomas Nelson) based on the historical research that began in her work on Chosen. The book explores the connections between beauty and spirituality, offering women both historical insights and scientific proofs that reveal powerful, natural beauty secrets.

A frequent radio guest on stations across the country, including NPR and Billy Graham's The Hour of Decision, Ginger is also a popular television guest. Her appearances include Harvest Television, Friends & Neighbors, and Babbie's House. Ginger frequently serves as a co-host on the inspirational cable program Deeper Living. In 2007, Ginger was nominated for the Georgia Author of the Year Award for her novel Dark Hour.

When she's not writing, you may spy Ginger hunting for vintage jewelry at thrift stores, running (slowly) in 5k and 10k races, or just trying to chase down one of her errant sheepdogs. A native Texan, she now resides in Georgia with her husband and three children.

DRAWING QUESTION: What is the name of the street woman in the featured book? Reply with the answer and contact information, and your name will be in the hat for a chance at the book!

Monday, September 08, 2008

Wounded: A Love Story

I had the awesome opportunity to endorse this book for one of my favorite authors. Here's what I had to say: This is not a tame book, but a rich experience for the senses, a challenge to the mind, and a ministry of unique grace to the heart.

If you're interested in winning a copy, read through the blog post and answer the pertinent question at the end.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

SHE HAD A VISION OF CHRIST PLACING TWO PERFECT RED ROSES IN HER HANDS...AND THEN SHE WAS WOUNDED!

If a miracle happened to you, wouldn't you tell everyone? What if they thought you were crazy?

Gina Merritt, poor in health and rich in faith is the last person to expect a miracle to happen to her. As she sits in a pew on Ash Wednesday with throbbing pain in her knees and a raging migraine, she turns her concentration elsewhere and silently prays, "Share with me, Jesus."

Instantly she has a holy vision of the Son of God kneeling before her. As tears fill her eyes, Christ kisses Gina's hands, leaving two perfect red roses. When the vision fades, Gina's hands are bleeding.Anthony Priest, the junkie sitting beside her, instinctively touches Gina when she cries out, but she flees in shock and pain.

A prizewinning journalist before drugs destroyed his career, Anthony is stunned that he is suddenly overcome with a sense of well-being and he instantly knows that he is cured of his addiction. Wanting an explanation, Anthony follows Gina home.

Is it a miracle, or just a religious delusion? It seems like everyone who knows of the mysterious stigmata has an opinion, and it's not always favorable. Putting aside their difference and their mutual distrust, Gina and Anthony embark on a search for answers. Along the way they encounter an uncertain evangelical pastor, a gentle Catholic priest, a certifiable religious zealot, and a transvestite drug dealer, all of whom lend their voices to the tale.

It's a quest for truth, sanity, and grace…and an unexpected love story.If you would like to read an excerpt from Wounded: A Love Story, go HERE.

BUY IT NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1434799387


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Claudia is the author of the popular Ragamuffin Diva blog and the David C. Cook novel Zora and Nicky: A novel in Black And White. She is also the author of Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz, and the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsistah series for teens. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs.

She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit.

JILL HERE:

I can't recommend the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries enough. They're wonderful! Extraordinary, in fact! The first book in the series if Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man. Read this one before Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz. They're books to savor!

Here's the question for you to answer in order to qualify for a chance at Wounded: A Love Story.

What type of career did Anthony have before drugs ravaged his life?

Friday, September 05, 2008

I'm uber-excited to see my dear friend and crit bud's new book, Stepping Into Sunlight, come out in October. It's a heart-twisting, soul-warming, thought-provoking look into recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder. Sharon Hinck is a master at playing the emotions without insulting the intellect. You've GOT to get this book. Even Publisher's Weekly loved it, and they can be a hard sell!

Here's more about the book:

Stepping Into Sunlight
Copyright Sharon Hinck, 2008
Bethany House Publishing

One tragic event.
One project of healing.
One step toward hope.

A story for every woman who has wondered where God is when life hurts.

Penny, a Navy chaplain's wife, witnesses a violent crime and struggles with post traumatic stress while her husband is on his first deployment. She designs a project to speed her recovery: doing one small, kind act for a different person each day. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and often used by God in surprising ways.

"Sharon Hinck's authentic and endearing heroine is so convincing that I found myself praying for her!"
—Patti Hill, author of The Queen of Sleepy Eye

"Told with humor and lump-in-the-throat insight, Stepping Into Sunlight is a compelling story of learning to live again after trauma."
—Deborah Raney, author of A Vow to Cherish


And here's another one for your library:
Bon Appétit
By Sandra Byrd

The sequel to the Christy Award finalist, Let Them Eat Cake

Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef. Just when life seems set, though, the recipe goes awry and her life with God undergoes a major transformation as well. Now, she's got choices to make from the array in life's patisserie display window and just like at a bakery, choosing among delicious options is never easy.


"I was caught up in Lexi's tug-of-war between her charmed life in France with its possibility of romance, and the pull to Seattle where her family and a very special man long for her return. What a perfect story…" –Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Leaving November


To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe


Matt Bronleewe writes the kind of books that trip my trigger. Rare treasures in danger. Deadly secrets. Power-crazed villains. Innocent people in peril. The world at stake!

Check out his new thriller, House of Wolves.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A mysterious book with a dangerous secret.

An evil brotherhood out to conquer the world.

One man stands between them . . . with his family in the balance.

In the twelfth century, Henry the Lion collected the rarest relics in Christendom. And to protect his most precious acquisitions, he encoded the whereabouts in a gorgeous illuminated manuscript called The Gospels of Henry the Lion.

The manuscript has been showing up and disappearing ever since. No one knows where the relic has been hidden . . . or its ultimate power.

Only one man holds the key to the mystery.

He's carrying it in his briefcase at his son's school for show-and-tell, and he thinks it's a fake. But he's about to find out just how real it is.

Because the wolves are rapidly closing in. And if August Adams can't decode the secret in time, the world's balance of power will forever be altered.

If you would like to read anexcerpt of House Of Wolves, it will be HERE


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay, has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. His songs have recently been recorded by Disney pop sensations Aly & AJ, American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and more. Bronleewe has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Michael W. Smith, International pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.

To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. His first book Illuminated began the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within.
Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design and science.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Trish Perry books are so much fun! What that means is that no matter what Trish puts out, fun things happen within the pages. Beach Dreams, her new release, is no different. Like the back cover says, it's "a book that tells the touching and humorous story about how God uses even our mistakes to bring about His divine purpose." Talk about an encouraging theme! I need to hear that a lot, because I make plenty of those--mistakes, I mean. So pick yourself up an encouraging slice of fun with this third in the Beach House series.

Oh, and read to the end of this post for a link to enter a contest to win a fun array of beach prizes!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Tiffany LeBoeuf seriously needs to get away. She has just lost her mother to cancer, and she returns home to find herself fired for devoting the past three months to her mother's care. Grieving and stressed, Tiffany seeks rest for her body and soul at a cozy beach house in San Diego.

A scheduling mix-up causes a double booking, and Tiffany ends up sharing the house with a woman named Eve. When Eve's boyfriend, Jeremy Beckett, arrives to surprise Eve, he surprises Tiffany as well. Jeremy and Tiffany share a brief history, and it's not a pretty one. They also share a mutual attraction, and it's not a comfortable one.

Jeremy settles in at the beach house next door, intent on making his love life right. What happens after that surprises them all.

BUY IT NOW! http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=924467&netp_id=518972&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

Find out more about Trish Perry and her books at http://www.trishperrybooks.com/.

Here's the contest link: http://www.blogtourspot.com/. Go here to enter for an array of beach prizes!

Friday, August 15, 2008

New Chapter-a-Week Fiction!

The Black Cloister
By Melanie Dobson

Trapped inside an abusive cult, one woman is dying to break free.

After her mother commits suicide, Elise Friedman travels to Germany to search for answers and discovers her mother's dark secret inside the walls of a medieval abbey. When the man who destroyed her mother threatens to destroy her as well, Elise fights for a way out of the darkness before she is consumed.

"From the moment I opened up to the first page of The Black Cloister, I was hooked. This intense, well-crafted story about a modern day cult will have you wondering long into the night." --Linda Hall, Shadows in the Mirror


FOR PETE'S SAKE
#2 in the Piper Cove Chronicles
by Linda Windsor

Avon Inspire ISBN 978-0-06-117138-3 $12.95

Ellen isn't sure true love exists…until she landscapes the estate of the widower next door. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface. He's engaged to a beautiful woman and he'll soon have a stepmom for his troubled son, Pete. Yet from the moment Ellen rescues him on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down. With his business under investigation for espionage and his son pushing for the tomboy-next-door as his new mom, Adrian's façade of happiness shatters. As Ellen's three best friends step in to help her navigate the uncharted waters of love, she must ask herself if she's ready to risk her heart and trust that God has brought this family into her life for a reason. [Available at local and online bookstores.]


BEST BOOK AWARD, Long and Short Reviews: "Linda Windsor will have you laughing, hurting and loving along the way...packed with chemistry, emotion, action, suspense, laughter, fun, faith and love. It is truly one of a kind. There was not a boring moment among the pages and I found myself completely drawn into the lives of these characters and the town of Piper Cove."

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Important Announcement!

Editors, and agents, and authors, oh my! They're all over the place at the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 18 - 21. And like a friend of mine says, the editors and agents are there on purpose to hear from writers. They'll be happy to see you. They'll take you seriously. So be there, or be square!

The deadline to register is this Friday, August 15, to qualify for the cheapest rate. Yes, you can still register after Friday, but the cost goes up. This is the premier Christian fiction writers conference in the nation. Don't miss it if you can possibly get to Minneapolis from September 18 - 21. If you can't make the whole thing, you CAN register by the day.

Here's the web site to register: http://www.acfw.com/conference/

Oh, and I just heard that the next 25 people to sign up will be in a drawing for a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card! How handy to use at the massive ACFW book signing scheduled for the Mall of America on Saturday, September 20, from 1 - 3 p.m., sponsored by the MOA B&N.

Will I see you there?

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

All Through the Night by Davis Bunn

Davis Bunn has come out with a new heart-twister.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A loner, trying to forget. A community--and a woman--who need for him to remember...Broken relationships and unfulfilled promises scatter themselves across Wayne's past like burned-out craters. His background in military special-ops is something he's trying to forget. But when he gets himself sweet-talked into helping a quirky group of seniors who've been scammed, he discovers it will take a lot more than muscle and nerve. Breach a conman's high-security estate to recover stolen money? No problem. Become part of community? Love again? Not on your life.

A lawyer with her own painful past is intrigued by Wayne and asks him to take on another unusual case--Tatanya's wealthy employer believes he's been visited by...an angel? Did a messenger from God in a pinstripe suit truly bring a divine warning, or is this merely another cruel hoax? Tatanya is willing to trust Wayne with her boss's life, but she's not sure she's ready to trust him with her own wounded heart.

With a financial analyst's skills and a warrior's tenacity, Wayne races to unmask dangerous forces hiding behind a corporate veil. But he will need all his resources--and then some--against an unseen enemy bent on destroying his fragile bid for a second chance at life...and love.All he wanted was to put his past behind him. But now it's the only thing that will save them...

If you would like to read the first chapter of All Through The Night, go HERE.

BUY THE BOOK NOW! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764205420

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Davis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than six million books in fifteen languages. His audiences spans reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings. Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include My Soul To Keep, and Full Circle .



A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was named Novelist in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write.


Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Win Dragonlight

I'm honored and delighted to talk up my dear friend's latest release, Dragonlight. Donita K. Paul is a major name in Christian fantasy fiction. Her books appeal to all ages--middle grade through adult. The kindly teacher in her draws flocks of kids, not only to her books, but to her web site and her site on Shoutlife.

She says one of her biggest awards was the day a young lady whispered in her ear at a booksigning. The girl said that she and her boyfriend had determined to remain pure like Kale and Bardon in Donita's books. That "award" came from God, and she treasures it like no other!

Because Donita's books are so special to me as her critique partner, I have a specific requirement for anyone to be entered in the drawing. Please tell someone else about her books--a family member, a relative, a co-worker, a friend. (Not the dog or the toddler. LOL) Refer them to this blog post for more information if you'd like. Then respond with a comment below, citing who you told, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Dragonlight. Oh, by the way, this whole series makes great gifts for young and old, for believer and nonbeliever!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The fantastic land of Amara is recovering from years of war inflicted on its citizens by outside forces–as well as from the spiritual apathy corroding the Amarans’ hearts. With Kale and her father serving as dragon keepers for Paladin, the dragon populace has exploded. It’s a peaceful, exciting time of rebuilding. And yet, an insidious, unseen evil lurks just beneath the surface of the idyllic countryside. Truth has never been more important, nor so difficult to discern.

As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon–despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with the stakes disease–has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin. When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy… can they overcome the ominous peril they can’t even see?

Prepare to experience breathtaking adventure and mind-blowing fantasy as never before in this dazzling, beautifully-crafted conclusion to Donita K. Paul’s popular DragonKeeper Chronicles fantasy series.

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

"DragonLight is a delight, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the marvelous Donita K. Paul. I heartily recommend her books to all ages who love inspirational fantasy and wonderful creatures. Ms Paul not only supplies imagination and talent, she provides heart and soul. Another winner!"~KATHRYN MACKEL, author of Boost

"Donita K. Paul is amazing! DragonLight has the allegorical depth to satisfy the most discerning adult seeking spiritual depth, yet it is fun enough to fascinate a child. This book will enthrall, uplift, and if allowed, change lives--as we are gently drawn to realize that each of us is flawed and must have patience with other flawed believers."~HANNAH ALEXANDER, author of Double Blind


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. She says, “I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.”
She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops.“God must have imprinted 'teacher' on me clear down to the bone. I taught in public school, then home schooled my children, and worked in private schools. Now my writing week isn’t very productive unless I include some time with kids.” Her two grown children make her proud, and her two grandsons make her laugh.
Donita is an award-winning author of the Dragon Keeper Chronicle series including DragonFire and DragonKnight. When not writing, she is often engaged in mentoring writers of all ages.
Donita lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado where she is learning to paint–walls and furniture! Visit her website at http://www.dragonkeeper.us/.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Win "Painted Dresses"

When Patricia Hickman's new release arrived at my house, I opened up the package and kissed the cover. I love her books. She does relationship sagas with just the right touch of tension and fulfillment.

Painted Dresses is classic Hickman, and she even throws in a healthy twist of suspense. I mean, how can you miss with a story about a pair of orphaned sisters--one an out-of-control manic depressive and the other "normal" but relationship-challenged--on the lam from a crazed drug dealer? Hickman permeates the mix with a heartrending personal quest to uncover a dark family secret. Oh, and did I forget the sweep dollop of romance?

Wha-hoo! I'm in reader bliss!! Leave a comment at the end of the post to win your chance to join me there with your very own copy of Painted Dresses!!!


ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.
Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame. If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike. Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits".
All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!). Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.
Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Try Darkness by James Scott Bell

I'm excited to see the sequel to Try Dying. James Scott Bell is one of my favorite authors, because I haven't been disappointed yet when I pick up one of his.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JAMES SCOTT BELL is a former trial lawyer who now writes full time. He has also been the fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine and adjunct professor of writing at Pepperdine University.
The national bestselling author of several novels of suspense, he grew up and still lives in Los Angeles. His first Buchanan thriller, TRY DYING, was released to high critical praise, while his book on writing, Plot and Structure is one of the most popular writing books available today.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica’s, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancĂ©e and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the underrepresented from his “office” at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. With his new friends, the philosophizing Father Bob and basketball-playing Sister Mary Veritas, Buchanan has found a new family of sorts.
One of his first clients is a mysterious woman who arrives with her six-year-old daughter. They are being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest that Ty soon discovers is represented by his old law firm and his former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won’t back down. He’s going to fight for the woman’s rights. But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.
The trail leads Buchanan through the sordid underbelly of the city and to the mansions and yachts of the rich and famous. No one is anxious to talk. But somebody wants Buchanan to shut up. For good.
Now he must use every legal and physical edge he knows to keep himself and the girl alive. Once again evoking the neo-noir setting of contemporary Los Angeles, Bell delivers another thriller where darkness falls and the suspense never rests.
If you would like to read chapters 1 & 2, go HERE.

“Bell has created in Buchanan an appealing and series-worthy protagonist, and the tale equally balances action and drama, motion and emotion. Readers who pride themselves on figuring out the answers before an author reveals them are in for a surprise, too: Bell is very good at keeping secrets. Fans of thrillers with lawyers as their central characters—Lescroart and Margolin, especially—will welcome this new addition to their must-read lists.”—Booklist
“Engaging whodunit series kickoff . . . Readers will enjoy Bell's talent for description and character development.”—Publishers Weekly
“James Scott Bell has written himself into a niche that traditionally has been reserved for the likes of Raymond Chandler.” —Los Angeles Times
“A master of suspense.”—Library Journal
“One of the best writers out there, bar none.”—In the Library Review

Friday, July 18, 2008

Are You "Searching for Spice"?

A lovlier, more fun lady you'll never meet that Megan (pronounced with a long "e," please) DiMaria. I'm totally jazzed to toot her horn for her debut novel, Searching for Spice. This charming lady lit novel will have you hooting, as well as rooting for Linda and Jerry in their honest fumblings to achieve that sometimes mysterious but always awesome symbiosis between husband and wife. Read the blog and post a pertinent comment for a chance to win a copy!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Have you ever dreamed of having a lip-flaming affair--with your husband?

That's the premise behind Searching for Spice. Linda Revere is a romance-deprived photographer's assistant who longs to experience a little romance in her 24-year-old marriage. But is she ready for what happens next?

Romantic Times Magazine ~ 4 1/2 stars!
DiMaria’s debut novel shines with warmth and wisdom. Linda and Jerry’s marriage is realistic, and readers will be able to identify with and learn from their struggles. A sprinkling of humor and detailed secondary characters raise this novel a notch above the rest.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Megan says she has traveled to the ends of the earth and beyond within the pages of books. She was born and raised in New York State and has since lived in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and now lives in Colorado. She and her husband have three delightful, adult children and an old Jack Russell Terrier named Belle who seems to find its way into her novels.
BONUS INFO ON BOOK EXCERPTS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK ON CAW!
Daring Chloe
By Laura Jensen Walker
(Zondervan, June 2008)

Chloe has led a safe, quiet life. Adventure? No thank you! But when her fiancé dumps her the night before their wedding, her book club friends convince her to take the vacation of a lifetime and timid Chloe blossoms into daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to face her biggest adventure of all.
Endorsements:
What could be better than adventures with your reading group based on the books you read? Walker's novel explores the outcome with Chloe, a woman afraid of many things. …Touching and inspirational, and even those who have no interest in France will be entranced by the exquisite descriptions when the book club travels there."
—Romantic Times (4 Star Review)
" . . . Laura has created the most lively and life-like ensemble of women I've ever read. . . Her best novel to date...I'm voting it "Best Chick-Lit of 2008!"
—Deena Peterson, A Peek At My Bookshelf Reviews

WIND RIVER
By Tom Morrisey
Desperate to forget what happened to him in Iraq, Tyler Perkins flees to the emptiness of Wyoming. He's here to escape and also to fulfill a long-ago promise by accompanying his 86-year-old friend Soren Andeman on a fly-fishing trip—once more for old time's sake.
But their trek to an idyllic trout lake soon becomes something more deeply harrowing—a journey that uncovers long-held lies, deadly crimes, and the buried secrets of the past. Ty barely has time to contemplate the question of what constitutes justice when nature unleashes her own revenge. Trapped in a race back to safety, he must face his own guilt-ridden past or risk being consumed.
To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.
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