Cindy's Book Reviews

Blood of the Prodigal

2012-02-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

P.L. Gaus
1999
Ohio University Press
Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

While this is not a new book, nor is the author new, I just discovered his writing while exploring for books that are Amish mysteries. I have to say I am so glad that I found him, I truly enjoyed this book. His books are different from the average Amish novel, first of all they are mysteries, secondly the main characters are not Amish, but live in Amish country and are trying to solve a mystery for an Amish bishop. He did use words for the Amish vernacular that I have never heard (read) before, but trust that they are authentic, since the author himself is from Amish country.
Bishop Eli Miller contact Pastor Caleb Troyer and Professor Michael Branden asking for help to locate his missing son, who took his grandson away. Problem is, the grandson has been missing for a month before he contacted Pastor Troyer. The biggest issue is, the Bishop does not want law enforcement involved, nor does he want them to contact the son, just find him. The entire scenario changes when the Bishop's son Jonah is found dead on the road leading to his house. In fact it is discovered then, that when the boy disappeared a ransom note was left by someone other than the Bishop's son. A tangled mess to unravel, the Professor along with his wife, and the local police do solve the mystery. 4 stars 230 pages
This book was purchased, and I chose to review it. No fees were paid for this review.
I wanted to add this book was reprinted and released again in 2010 by Plume

Gone to Ground

2012-02-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

Brandilyn Collins
2012
B&H Fiction
Fiction/Contemporary/Suspense

This book is awesome!! Probably my favorite book from Brandilynn! I enjoyed it so much. Intense, page to page action that will draw you in, and hook you! Great story, great action, great book!

Three different women, all from a small town in the south, Amaryllis Mississippi. Each so different from the other, a young nineteen year old girl married to a boy a bit older than her, expecting her first baby. Tully Phillips didn't realize she was marrying an abuser, but it didn't take her long to find out. Cherrie Mae Devine, was a older lady who cleaned houses in town, but she was getting older and it was harder on her these days.She loves reading classics and quoting her favorite lines in situations that fit them. Deena Ruckland, once married to John Cotter one of the small town's police officers, the owner of Deena's Cut n Style, knows everyone in town, and cuts most of their hair.
All three women are connected by the gruesome murders that has their small town in knots. Five murders committed exactly alike and now a sixth murder has taken place and all three women are afraid they know who committed those murders, the only problem, they all think it is three different people.
Follow this story as they join together to prove who is guilty and who is innocent. As they discover who the real killer is. I have to say the ending caught me by surprise, I was totally caught off guard to who the murderer was, with the exception of the last murder, that was obvious from the beginning of the book. I love books that surprise me like that, and you will love this one too!! 321 pages US $14.99 5 stars
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review. Thanks to Suspense Zone for having this book sent to me!

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason -Review

2012-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

OHH my word!! this book is awesome, I was up until after 1 a.m. finishing this book. I was hanging on the edge of my bed for the ending! I loved this story and am now anxious for the next book!

Alexia Allen has come home, after ten years of avoiding her mother and running from her horrible past, she has come home. It is high school reunion time, so it seems a good time to come home, plus her mother has started contacting her lately asking her to come home. Why? Why would a woman who threw her out, and forced her to leave after graduation, ask her to come home now? After living years with a husband who beat her, and the kids, who tried to kill them all why would Hannah Allen want her daughter to come home? Alexia struggles with accepting this new Hannah Allen, that her mother has become. Add that to the fact that arriving home, she finds a dead man in the basement, and is constantly under attack, and in danger of her life, Alexia is convinced coming home was not a good thing to do.

I loved this book, I cannot state that too much. In my opinion this book is Lynette's best book, I just could not put this book down. There is so much action and the mystery is spine chilling, it will pit brother against brother and even brother against sister, and all the while you will be wondering who is behind all of it. Definitely a book that is deserving of a 5 star rating!

Available February 2012 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

A New Line of Mysteries for your E-Reader

2012-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

A NEW LINE OF MYSTERIES FOR YOUR E-READER

Susan Sleeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.

Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

Stop by the website to view all of the available books and while you're there, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter where we announce each new book that releases and our authors share behind the scenes stories about the books.

I'd also like to share a little bit about my Garden Gate Mystery Series that is releasing as part of this line. The first book, Nipped in the Bud has already released and book two, Read Between the Tines will release in February 23rd. Here's a little bit about both books.

NIPPED IN THE BUD

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

Life in full bloom, landscape designer, Paige Turner, scores her first landscaping contract to spruce up the park, her radio talk show shoots to number one, and her retail shop is simply blossoming. Yes, her life is a bed of roses. Until she finds the city manager served up on the blade of her favorite shovel mere hours after she’s threatened to have his head on a platter, then the thorns come out. And there is none thornier than the local police chief declaring Paige the one and only suspect and threatening to plow her under.

YOU’VE GOT TO FORMULATE A PLANT OF ATTACK . . .

Paige teams up with dashing attorney, Adam Hayes to weed through the list of suspects, and clear her soiled reputation. And along the way, discovers that Adam just may be the man of her dreams.

» Read an Excerpt »Order It Now

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

Recovered from her near death at the hand of a killer, landscape designer Paige Turner is certain her life will soon be a bed of roses. That is, until her employee, Daisy Rose Plante, finds a dead body, and the thorny police chief looks no further than Daisy for a suspect. Paige digs in and weeds through the list of potential killers, and before long, her sweet smelling rose of a life is soundly trampled.

YOU’LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

Paige would be much happier working over-thyme on her budding relationship with handsome attorney, Adam Hayes, but it soon becomes clear she’ll be in a hoe lot of trouble with him if she continues digging for the killer. Does Paige risk all and try to unearth the killer? Or does she settle down in peaceful bliss with the man of her dreams?

» Read an Excerpt

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit: Website, her Facebook page, or on Twitter

To Love and to Cherish

2012-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Kelly Irvin
2012
Harvest House Publishers
Fiction/Contemporary/Amish

Wow!! I have never read a book that has so much happening in it. Buggy accident, tornado, barn raising, rebellious son coming home, and leaving,a nervous breakdown, a missing child in a snowstorm and that is not even a drop in the bucket. This book has lots of action. An Amish Action Adventure book, truly at time it was a bit overwhelming however, Kelly Irvin does an awesome job of keeping everything straight and tying the story together. This was a great story of learning that just as everyone does, the main female character in this story (Emma) struggles with forgiving and has for years. It began with her intended, leaving the faith, he had already been baptised, so he was not in rumspringa, but left to see what was out in the world. Emma struggles for four years to forgive Carl, but it is harder than she thought, and friends marrying and having babies makes the wound open up over and over. The death of her parents, even adds to the burden of forgiveness. How will she forgive the driver of the truck that struck their buggy, and how will she forgive God for taking her parents away? A great story that you have to read!! I loved the book and look forward to reading more books from Kelly Irvin. A 4 star rating is what I give this book! This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Book Trailer:

Organized Grime

2012-02-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Squeaky Clean Mysteries Book 3
Christy Barritt
2011
Princeton Halls Press
Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

Gabby St. Claire has a job most people would run from. She is a crime scene cleaner, she goes in after the forensic team is finished and cleans up the mess. She also has an eye for details, which has led her to help solve a couple of mysteries connected to crime scenes she cleaned. But now it is serious, her best friend and neighbor is in trouble. Big trouble, the FBI is looking for her in connection with a bombing and several murders. Gabby is positive that Sierra is innocent and is determined to prove it. No matter the cost, but she was hoping it would not cost her own life. But a couple of close calls, one with a gang and one with an intruder who nearly beat her to death, has Gabby convinced she is on the right track. Now she has to convince her boyfriend/neighbor Riley to let her find Sierra.
This is the first book I have read from Christy Barritt, but WOW!! I loved this book, not a boring moment in the entire book. Wish I had found her books before this, I would have loved the first two I am sure! I read this book from front to finish without putting it down, I just had to see how it ended. Exciting is a mild word to use for this mystery, you will not go wrong picking this book for your next book to read. 275 pages $12.99 US 5 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

About the author:
Christy Barritt is an award-winning author, freelance writer and speaker. The second book in the Squeaky Clean series , Suspicious Minds, won the 2009 Daphne de Maurier award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. Christy lives in Virginia with her husband and two sons. For more information check out her website at www.christybarritt.com

Beyond Molasses Creek

2012-02-07T02:09:00.000-08:00

Nicole Seitz
2012
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/General/

Ok this review will be different from most of my reviews. First let's begin with my thinking on this book. It was slow, painfully slow. The story was not believable for me, I didn't buy it, the flashing between Lowcountry Couth Carolina, and Nepal, is confusing, and does not promote a harmonious story line for me personally. I struggled to read this book. The lack of Christian (with the exception of Vessey) content was disappointing I wanted to like it, I really did, I just couldn't. Some pros about this book, Nicole Seitz has a wonderful talent to describe scenes and characters to the point that you can picture them in your mind, Vessey was a great character and I would have loved a happy ending with him, one more pro to the book is her writing, she has talent, it is what kept me in the book, I just struggled with the story line. For this reason my review of the book awards it a 3 star rating.
I received this book for review purposes only, there was no payment for this review.

I want to include a blurb about the book and the author from the press release I received with this book.

About the book:

Three lives are bound by a single book . . . and the cleansing waters of Molasses Creek.
Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship—he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she’s stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn’t through with her yet.
As Ally’s wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there’s more to her story than she’s ever been told, and she’s determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.
A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.
About the author:

Nicole Seitz is the author of several critically acclaimed novels - The Inheritance of Beauty, Saving Cicadas, A Hundred Years of Happiness, Trouble the Water, and The Spirit of Sweetgrass. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, and also has a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Her paintings are featured on the covers of her books. Visit her at @NicoleSeitz, Facebook and www.nicoleseitz.com for more information

Summer of Promise

2012-02-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

Westward Winds
Amanda Cabot
2012
Revell
Fiction/Historical

Abigail Harding, a prim and proper, and beautiful, school teacher has left her comfortable home, on a mission of sorts to find out why her older sister who is in Wyoming Territory is not sounding like herself in her letters home. Sure that something is out of sorts with Charlotte, she knows that she must find out, and help her sister. A cruel and harsh territory is all that she seems to find in Wyoming. Beautiful skies, but that is about all she finds good there.

A novel that is filled with surprises around every corner, you will not be bored. Deserters, stage coach robberies, a handsome lieutenant, a baron, an actress, and two sisters who love each other deeply, will keep your attention. Falling in love with the territory, Abigail is not sure whether she will return home after the summer. Perhaps it is more than the territory that is making her want to stay.
A great story, bound to keep you reading to the end! Amanda Cabot pulls us into this new series, with a surprise ending, making you long for a quick release of the next book! 404 pages US $14.99 4 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.
Available February 2012 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Jerk Magnet

2012-01-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Life at Kingston High
Melody Carlson
2012
Revell
Fiction/Teen

Chelsea Martin was one of the invisibles, you know those people who you walk by, but never really notice. She was super smart, but her looks just didn't catch your eye, unless you were looking for frizzy hair and zits. Or at least that was how she felt, but her new step-mom to be saw something in Chelsea that she could not even see in herself. A super makeover physically and with her wardrobe, has Chelsea turning every one's head. Now she has to learn to live with confidence and learn to live in her new skin.
A move to California, is perfect. A chance to make new friends, to leave to live with her new looks. Meeting Janelle, the girl who lives next door, causes even more changes, she takes Chelsea to youth group and they all attend a concert where Chelsea gives her heart to Jesus. Now as a new Christian, she finds that those around her who are already Christians, are not really acting like Christians should. Now she feels even more confused that she was before the makeover. Will Chelsea figure out who she really is and be comfortable with that person?
At first I thought this book might be a bit shallow, but I was wrong. Melody Carlson is so great about addressing issues that kids (even adults) face. I loved the story, a quick easy read. 217 pages US $12.99 4 stars.
This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided by Revell for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Accidental Bride

2012-01-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

A Big Sky Romance
Denise Hunter
2011
Fiction/Contemporary/Romance

Shay Brandeberger just wants to get ahead. Since her husband left her, and then later died, she has struggled to make her ranch a success. The same ranch she grew up on, the same ranch, she returned to in shame, left on the county courthouse steps in her wedding dress by Travis McCoy, as a young woman. Always worried about how people perceived her, she has not changed in that aspect of life. She is so afraid that people are feeling sorry for her as she struggles that when an accidental marriage takes place between she and Travis at the town's annual re-enactment at Bridal Falls, she accepts his offer to help her out. What she does not count on, is the fact that he is still in love with her and she too still loves him, but she is so afraid of being hurt she cannot let go of the anger towards him from the abandonment years ago.
Renewing our acquaintance with Wade and Abigail and Maddie is a fun part of this book, they were in the first Big Sky Series book, and knowing their story helps, but this book will stand alone without having read book one of the series. I enjoy Denise's book, they are delightfully fresh and she addresses issues head on. A great story, easy to read and greatly enjoyed! 320 pages US $15.99 4 stars.
This book was provided by B & B Media for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Where Wildflowers Bloom - Review

2012-01-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

Sisters at Heart Book One
Ann Shorey
2012
Revell
Fiction/Historical/Romance

Faith Lindberg is a dreamer. She dreams of going west, after all there is not much left for her in Noble Springs Missouri, except sad memories. Losing her grandmother, and mother as a young child, she grew up in a house of men, her grandfather, father, and brother. Loosing both, her father and brother in the war, now it is just Faith and her grandfather, and she is determined they should leave their sad memories and go west. Royal Baxter is a legend in her mind, she is sure that he will return from the war and sweep her off her feet. Imagine her dismay, when she sees him for the first time, and he doesn't even recognize her. However it is not long before he starts courting her. She is delighted, but does not feel that same excitement about him that she did before he returned from the war.
Taking over her grandfather's mercantile is proving to be an exhausting and frustrating job for her. A robbery leaves her inventory wiped out, and mismanagement of the store's books leaves her bank account too low to replenish the store. When Royal Baxter asks her to marry him, that seems to be the answer, but why is she so unsettled about it all, and why can she not give him an answer right away?
I loved this book, sat down and read it in one sitting. The friendships that Faith develops as she learns the business are amazing. Plus she proves she has a heart of compassion with her willingness to help others. This story will delight you and have you looking forward to the next book in the Sisters of the Heart Series. 325 pages US $14.99 4.5 stars

This book was provided by Revell for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.
This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Giveaway and Facebook Party

2012-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway from @triciagoyer @mikeyorkey!

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Chasing Mona Lisa

2012-01-20T17:10:00.000-08:00

Tricia Goyer
Mike Yorkey
2012
Revell
Fiction/Historical

Wow, this one was hard, it is hard to write a review on a book by a favorite author that didn't blow your socks off. And this one didn't do that for me. The story line was sweet between Eric and Gabi, but there were lots of side stories that distracted. And I had a difficult time with not knowing what some of the French phrases meant. A translation page at the end of the book would have helped greatly.
While it was obvious they did their research, I just had trouble buying the story. My favorite character in the book was Gabi, she was sweet, good at her job, but sometimes it was hard following along because the book moved through scenes a bit fast, and the romance between she and Eric seemed to move a bit fast at the beginning of the book, having only been working together a mere 3 weeks.
All in all I have to give this book a 3.5 star rating. 325 pages US $14.99

This book was provided for review purposes, no payment was received for this review.
Available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Harvest of Grace

2012-01-18T00:07:00.000-08:00

An Ada's House Novel
Cindy Woodsmall
2011
Waterbrook Press
Fiction/Amish/Contemporary

I have to begin my review by saying, this book by far exceeded my expectations!! I always expect Cindy Woodsmall books to be good, but this one was above great! It drug me in and I could not put it down until I finished it.
Now what made this book so good? It was full of twists and turns that you just don't expect in the average Amish novel. Romance gone bad, single woman kissing a married man, Amish man in rehab program for alcoholism, anger, rage, and much more. All the characters of this book that we have met before, continue on, dealing with their issues, some resolving them, some to learn about in later books (hopefully) but each one with issues that are real, that we each face daily.
A new character that we meet is Sylvia Fisher, a young woman who knows that the traditional Amish marriage and relationship is not what she seeks from life. She loves her faith, but still knows that as a wife, her opinion on farm matters (a subject dear to her heart) won't matter to her father and her husband, and she is not sure she is ready for that. What she finds out however is that the betrayal that comes when her beau marries her closest sister, is much harder on her than a traditional marriage would have been and she must escape! Her father is against it, but finally gives his permission, however he forbids her sisters to write her or her to write them. She plunges into her work on the Blank farm, helping out Michael and Dora to the best of her ability, but the lonliness for her sisters is a constant part of her. When Michael and Dora's son Aaron returns to the farm after being in rehab for alcoholism, things change fast on the farm and Sylvi is afraid all her hard work will be for nothing, since Aaron is bent on getting his parents to sell the farm and move to Owl's Perch. Will either of them ever realize their dream?
Again I want to say I loved this book!! It was given to me by a friend, so no review was required, but I had to review it since I did love it so much. 335 pages US $13.99 5 stars

This book was a gift to me and no payment was provided for this review

Small Space Organizing

2012-01-17T04:25:00.000-08:00

Kathryn Bechen
2012
Revell
Non-fiction/Self Help

"With a few tricks up your sleeve small can be the new big!" This is the first line of the back of the book.
Each chapter is broke into areas of you home, where the author goes through each section describing ways to help you maximize your space. I found the book interesting, but was a bit disappointed that most of the ideas included buying special furniture, or special storage containers. And she is correct in the fact that having the right tools, the right furniture peices and the right containers can make any space, small or large look professionally decorated and managed. I think I was looking for more practical ideas of how to maximize what I have without buying anything new. I live in a small space and storage is an issue, so I was excited for a chance to review the book. However I did find the book easy to read, and interesting, and got a few ideas to help maximize my space.
Learn more about this author at her website www.KathrynBechenInk.com 234 pages $US 12.99 3 stars

Available January 2012 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided for review purposes only. No payment was received for this review.

An interview with Kathryn:

Q: Do you consider small space living a "quality of life" choice and if so, why?

A: Indeed, I do. Whatever housing lifestyle choice you make for your family I think is okay, but I think that you should make sure you're consciously choosing, and not just going with a McMansion in the 'burbs or an acreage in the country with a big house because you feel outside pressure from anyone else to do so. I believe housing size is a lifestyle choice too in that housing size and the number of possessions in it take up time in your life, and time IS your life, so you want to be sure you're spending your time in a way that feels right for you because you can never get time back! If living in a large home with a large yard full of flowers makes you happy because you like having big family and friend gatherings there, and you are comfortable with all the time, maintenance, and expense that all involves, then I think a larger home is right for you. If, like me and my husband, you would rather live in a (high-quality) small space that does not require hours of cleaning and large outlays of money for home maintenance, lawn care, and furnishings, plus gives you more time to spend doing enjoyable things together, having small dinners with a few friends, and traveling, then I think small space living is for you. And always, no matter what the size of your home space, personalize the furnishings and decor to your taste so it feels beautiful to you. That doesn't mean you have to spend tons of money; it means choosing furnishings and accessories within your budget that you feel are attractive.

Q: What does "rightsized" living mean?

A: I think "rightsized" is a relative term, personalized to you and your family. A home that seems small to one family might seem big to another. A home that seems small to you at one phase of your life might seem large at another time in your life. When I personally think of small space living, I think of about 400-1200 SF, but some people might think my 1200 SF apartment is big. I've heard people say they're downsizing to a "small 2700 SF house." To me, 2700 SF is big! Again, I'd like to inspire people to make very conscious choices as to the size of home space they live in, so they're happy, because I believe when you're happy at home, it radiates out in a positive way to others in the world. Kind of like when you find the perfect jeans that fit just right! And likewise, I'll be bold enough to declare here that when your home space doesn't feel appropriate and supportive to you, you sadly radiate that crankiness out into the world too!

Q: What's the first step to downsizing?

A: Buy a 3 inch three-ring notebook and clear sheet protectors and a pencil case that you can put on the binder rings so you can take notes, keep biz cards etc. in the sheet protector, and put pens and your keys in the pencil case. Begin by walking through every room in your home and list out every large item and furnishing that you want to donate or sell so you will be able to see what you're going to have to move. Do this with any outside storage sheds and the garage as well. Don't forget the attic or other out-of-the-way spaces. It's not carved in stone; you may have to walk through your home numerous times, and you may have to negotiate the items with your mate and family as well.

Q: Can someone really be happy, and stay organized, living in just one room?

A: Absolutely! Some people actually prefer it, especially if they live in a studio apartment in someplace like New York City where the excitement and culture of the city is their "backyard," or in San Diego, where parks and beaches are the same. In one room, everything has to have its place, and I believe every home should have only the things in it that really bring you joy, but when living in one room, that's even more important. Make your home beautiful to you, even if it's one small room!

Q: What's your best tip for creating a foyer if you don't have a "real" foyer?

A: If you enter right into your living room, create a "foyer" near the front door using an attractive small bedroom nightstand. Hang a mirror over it, and place a basket under the legs of the nightstand. Put your keys in the nightstand, put your shoes in the basket, and check your "do" every day in the mirror before you leave the house.

Q: What are your two best small space organizing tips?

A: 1. Keep your gadgets and appliances simple by buying only what you'll truly use.

2. Use all-white dishes and clear glassware to cut down on how many dish sets you buy. If a dish breaks, you can easily find a new similar white piece and not have to get a whole new set.

Q: How in the world can you create a "spa-like" experience in a teeny-tiny bathroom, especially if the kids' rubber duckies have taken up residence?

A: In a small home, especially if there is only one bathroom, the bathroom should ideally be totally free of clutter and toys. You can achieve that by giving each family member a plastic basket or tote to hold their toiletries and toys. Instead of being stored in the bathroom, each family member keeps their basket in their bedroom and carries it to and from the bathroom. They also keep their own towel and washcloth in their bedroom--hang it on a hook in the closet. Many of us used this M.O. in college. Assign time slots for each family member to bathe for 30=45 minutes daily each so there is no squabbling about sis taking too long in the bathroom. Set a timer if need be. Make it a family rule that each member will respect others' time in the bathroom and not interrupt so each family member feels they can have their private bathroom "spa time." And last but not least, each family member cleans up after themselves immediately after their bathroom time so it's clean for the next person. No whiskers in the sink and no pantyhose dripping on the bathroom rod!

Q: What's your best tip if a couple has to share a small home office?

A: (Laughs.) Pray! Seriously, unless you work on projects together often and need to collaborate, each person should have their own side, corner, or at least a desk that's uniquely theirs, and the other person should not invade their turf without permission. Do your best to keep order on both sides; don't let it get totally out of control with clutter as that's disrespectful to your mate if you are sharing a space. That being said, Nancy Neatfreak is going to have to lighten up a bit if she's married to Max Messy. My husband and I share a home office, and he has one side of the room and I have the other. I systematically put everything away at the end of the day, and he's a little bit looser with his paperwork, but not a messy. He uses a big black chair and office armoire that closes up so I can't see his paperwork, and I have an Old World feminine style desk that I love, and a pretty slipcovered chair. Put your personal decorative stamp on your side of the room, and don't worry about your styles matching. When people walk into our home office they laugh and immediately comment on whose side is whose because it's very obvious!

Q: What's your best organizing tip for kids sharing a bedroom?

A: Just like a home office shared by mates, kids should each have their own side that's personalized to them. Or at least their own bed if using bunk beds, for instance. I think each child should have their own desk for school studies as well, and their own dresser and side of the closet.

Q: How is it possible to create an organized "library" in a small home?

A: Buy tall white bookshelves and line your longest living room wall as a focal point. Arrange the books on the shelf in an artful way, mixing in collected knickknacks for an interesting look. Or, today your e-reader, in lieu of bookshelves, can be your library in a small space if you don't want to dust bookshelves. Also, if you have a dining nook, you can put floor to ceiling bookcases to create a charming little library.

Q: In your book you talk about the binder notebook method. What is that exactly?

A: It's the three-ring binder notebook I mentioned in the downsizing question above. It helps you have a portable place to jot down your thoughts, plus store biz cards and fliers from housing developments you're touring etc.

Q: What free download do you have today for our readers/listeners so they can get started right away in organizing their small space home?

A: Go to www.SmallSpaceOrganizing.com and sign up to get the free article I wrote, Small Space Savvy in a Big Stuff World. There's also another free home organizing and decorating article there as a bonus.

Bio for Author Kathryn Bechen
Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning professional writer whose articles have appeared in popular national and regional magazines and newspapers. She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has also published several organizing and decorating e-books. The lifestyle companies she founded, Organized with Ease and Kathryn Bechen Designs, have served clients worldwide. Kathryn has organized and decorated 13 personal small space residences together with her husband Steve, and they currently live in their favorite small space ever: a 1,200-square-foot high-rise apartment in beautiful San Diego, California. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at www.KathrynBechenINK.com.

CEB (Common English Bible)

2012-01-15T19:49:00.000-08:00


I am so loving my CEB, it has become a part of my daily Bible reading time, and I also have been carrying it to church, and enjoy comparing it with other versions, thus I have included a familar verse combination comparison. Enjoy! Be sure to visit the website for more comparisons and information

~C~

Some verse comparisons:

Matthew 6:9-13

Common English Bible (CEB)	New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.	Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
	New International Version (NIV)
	This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

The Keeper

2012-01-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

Stoney Ridge Seasons
Suzanne Woods Fisher
2012
Revell
Fiction/Amish

Julia Lapp has know since was ten years old that she wanted to marry Paul Fisher, and that is what she is planning on doing. Until he decides maybe they should wait a bit, but after the marrying season is over, and spring arrives, they decide that this is the year they will marry. However the arrival of the Bee Man, Roaming Roman Troyer, has once again caused Paul to get cold feet and again he postpones their wedding. Julia is hurt, angry and is pretty sure she may hate the Bee Man, but she also decides that he is just making Paul change his mind, because he is in love with her.
Caring for the farm is about to wear her down since her father's illness, when her uncle sends for Fern a woman who has been writing him, thru is stories in the Budget, a great load is lifted off Julia's shoulders, but there is still all the outside work, and when Roman stays in their little cottage, she sees an opportunity to get some work accomplished. Watching her father get weaker day by day is taking a toil on her peace of mind, for some reason even though she is sure that she cannot stand him, Roman Troyer seems to help her find peace.
I am SOO glad that I received this book, I absolutely loved this story!! I cannot wait to read the other two books she mentions coming out in this series. I fell in love with Suzanne's writing from the first book sent to me, and I still love her books! Definitely a book that will stay in my library to enjoy over and over again! The style of Suzanne's writing kept me reading from front page to the last page, I could not put the book down! 316 pages $US 14.99 5 stars!!

Thanks to Revell Publishing for providing this book for review. No payment was received for this review. This book is available January 2012 at your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Making Valentine's Day a Special Day!!

2012-01-13T13:54:00.000-08:00

Showing Love and Hospitality to Others

By Roxanne Packham, author of Inspired Design

Before we are inspired about how to show love to others, we must first ask why?

Quite simply it is because in Romans 12:10 & 13 we are told to be devoted to one another in brotherly love, to honor one another above ourselves. We are also told to share with God’s people who are in need and to Practice Hospitality. Notice the vocabulary: practice, not perfect.

In America, as a culture and as individuals, we are suffering in part because popular media gears everything to perfection. We are bombarded with messages that if we aren’t the very best at something, we just shouldn’t bother. We compare ourselves to others, rather than knowing our worth in God’s eyes.

I suffer from insecurity and wonder if I can be creative enough to inspire. Are my tips original? Are the photographs beautiful enough? Are my suggestions too simple for some, but too fancy for another? The problem: my thoughts revolve completely around me. My creativity, my skills, my ability. This is not about me but about God’s purpose for me. I suddenly realize the bigger picture; I can’t do it, but I can through Christ who strengthens me.

This dance in my mind between my preciousness in His sight and the enemy’s interjections has slowed me down at times, but God showed me this dance is the very reason for us to love others; to encourage each other. Because we are human we suffer from doubt, insecurity, and rejection of one sort or another. We are God’s tool to encourage others. God uses us as His hands to love others, but make no mistake it is His power, His grace and the Holy Spirit that do the real work, not ours.

God’s path of creativity in me began with a family history of silversmithing eight generations back, a degree from USC, design school in Paris, then design school in Los Angeles. Call them spiritual or otherwise, but they were the gifts God saw fit to give to me. Who am I to argue with my Creator? They are unique and I celebrate them. What are your magnificent and unique gifts that you can use to inspire others?

I do not want the gifts received as a blessing from God to “turn into spiritual dry rot,” as Ann Voscamp suggests in her book One Thousand Gifts, as the manna did when it was hoarded in Exodus 16:20. I want to use my blessings.

Inadequacies and all, imperfections and all: I want to inspire others to practice Hospitality and to LOVE others.

Creative Ways to Encourage Others on Valentine’s Day

KIND WORDS

A handwritten note with quotes, scriptures and words of encouragement is a wonderful thing to find in the mailbox.

Leave a sticky note on your child/husband’s pillow or be bold and write your note on the bathroom mirror or car window in red lipstick saying “I love you”.

Even an email just to say “thank you for your hard work, you bless me” can make a person’s day. A cute poem, scripture or old photograph will remind them they are remembered.

If someone has lost a loved one, kind words of some way that loved one inspired you to do something better will let them know that their loved one’s legacy is living on.

AN INVITATION, TIME

Take some time out of your days to meet someone for coffee, lunch, a long walk, or even just leave a phone message with a sweet sentiment. If you have more time, take a picnic basket to their home. Set up a lunch, tea or coffee, with all your tea cups and a candle. It is a lovely surprise! Just rinse when you finish and pack back up so they don’t even have to do dishes. They will have a lovely memory of a special time.

THOUGHTFUL GESTURE

Hang flowers on the front door handle, leave a pretty tiny package in the mailbox with a beautiful red bow, or cookies delivered to the front door. Create a breakfast plate for your child that says you are special . This is especially significant if your child has struggled with something recently.

A BEAUTIFUL DINNER

Of course this takes more time, but try for a beautiful table setting complete with candles, fresh greens or flowers and a lovely menu either handwritten or printed out on your computer. (Visit Roxanne’s Pinterest account, via the Inspired Design blog, for darling printouts, including gift tags, and much more.) Don’t concentrate on the gourmet or complicated quality of the meal: remember it is about relationship and encouragement!

VALENTINE’S DINNER

A beautiful table for Valentine’s simply consists of reds, pinks and perhaps some purple. (Although it could be beautiful in all white too.) Of course, it has to have some hearts and some colorful candles. Leave kind words of some sort on each place setting. Every Valentine’s table should have its share of sparkle, of course!

Visit Roxanne Packham’s blog at www.InspiredDesignPublications.blogspot.com

for more pictures and Inspired Design ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Within my Heart

2012-01-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

Tamera Alexander
2010
Bethany House
Fiction/Historical

Rachel Boyd is under a lot of pressure. Trying to fulfill the dream she and her husband had for their ranch, all the while raising their two sons on her own. After her husband Thomas died, Rachel tried her best to keep the ranch going, but severe weather and the loss of so many cattle are taking a toll on her, and the finances of the ranch.
Dr. Rand Brookston has come west, trying to escape the nightmares that wake him up, and make him keep lamps burning constantly. Being buried alive is the most horrible thing to live through, but the nighttime torments really are taking a toll on him. Plus trying to serve the small town of Timber Ridge and open a clinic where they can receive good physical treatment. He feels a great attraction to Rachel, but she is very distant and keeps him at arm's length.
Lyda and Ben Mullins have treated everyone in town as family, and now that Ben is in failing health, the town is rallying around him.
This story is connected by loss. The loss of Rachel's husband, the loss of Lyda and Ben's children. And the possible loss of many people in the town as typhoid fever is diagnosed in the community. A story you will enjoy as you see the value of a town being educated about health issues, and working together to keep the illness at a minimum.
I truthfully enjoyed this book, it was fascinating to me, kept me up late reading. I laughed and cried with each person as they experienced their times of joy and mourning. 374 pages US $14.99 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Promised to Another

2012-01-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

Book Three
Amish of Seymour
Laura V. Hilton
Releases March 2012
Whitaker House

Annie Beiler just wanted order in her life, but mostly she wanted to be loved and to love. But it seems it is not to be, she was set to marry Luke Schwartz, but he jumped fence and left Amish, in the middle of his classes to join the church. Even though he was back, she knew that marrying Luke would be settling, and she wanted true love. She wondered why no one was asking to take her home after singings, how would she ever find love, if she could not even get a bu to take her home after singing?
Joshua Esh, just wanted to see the world. He had come to Seymour with the man swap arranged by the Amish communities in Missouri and Pennsylvania, but he had no intention of staying, but he was keeping that to himself. He knew that as an only child, he was expected to take over his family's farm. What he didn't count on was loosing his heart to a certain girl named Annie. However it was made plain from the other bu in the neighborhood that Annie was not available. He just could not accept that and set out to win her heart.
Having been a long time fan of Ms. Hilton's, I just was blown away at this book, there are twists and turns that will keep you coming back until you finish this story. I laughed and cried, over and over. Each book Ms. Hilton writes keep getting better! This book is definitely a book to put on the top of your must read list for Spring 2012! 5 stars, 304 pages, US $10.99

The Amish Wedding

2012-01-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Three Amish Novellas
Beth Wiseman
Kathleen Fuller
Kelly Long
2011
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Christian/Romance

Three different authors have joined together to write these novellas, each in their own style, but connecting the stories. Priscilla King is getting married, and she is worried that all the many things going wrong are a sign that she should not be getting married. Her worrying nature is trying to take over, instead of her following her heart, knowing she is loved and that she loves her beau, Chester. In one of the other stories Rose, Priscilla's friend is convinced that her groom to be is hiding secrets, especially when she discovers him in the woods, dressed as an Englisher, what is he up to? Does he not realize that she recognizes him? Naomi King is determined that she will make the perfect gift for her sister Priscilla's wedding gift. Also she will be baking the perfect wedding cake too, in fact everything that Naomi does has to be perfect, is this why she hasn't allowed herself to fall in love after being hurt so bad by a previous beau? Chester's cousin Zeke is determined to push past all of that and prove to Naomi that he wont hurt her. Three stories intertwined to make one great book. A great afternoon of reading! I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories, easy to read, enjoyable stories! 4 stars 357 pages $15.99
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Marrying Miss Marshall

2012-01-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Love Inspired Historical
Lacy Williams
2011
Fiction/Romance/Historical

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Danna Carpenter cannot buy help, since her husband was murdered, she is now the Sheriff and cannot get any help. It is nearly like there is a plot against her. A new man in town offers his help, turns out he is a private investigator hired to find out who is stealing cattle in the area. Throwing his hat in the ring to help her, sets him up as a target too.
Trying to find out who murdered her husband is at the top of Danna's priority list. But she is hindered by the fact that no one will help her as deputies, and she keeps wondering if someone is threatening the former deputies, keeping them from helping her and causing her fail at her job.
The attraction to the new guy in town, also really alarms Danna. She has never felt like this, even with her husband who was murdered.
This was quick read, really sweet story with a happy ending. Definitely a book to read and enjoy on a quiet afternoon. 4 stars
This book was provided by Christian Bookworm for review purposes only..no payment was received for this review.

Cafe Lily: The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge

2011-12-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

Cafe Lily: The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge

Christmas in Coyote County

2011-12-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

Mary L. Briggs
White Rose Publishing
2011
Fiction/Suspense/Mystery

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Libby Hawkins, is home, back in Coyote County, after the death of her husband in a plane crash. Back to memories of her heart being left broken in pieces by Jackson Carter, when they were young. He has moved home too, he is now the sheriff. Thrown back together by an odd happening at the neighbor's house, Libby knows one thing, her feelings for Jackson are not dead. She is happy to see him again, and still has that same heart racing attraction to him.
The elderly neighbor is reporting an alien looking in her window, of course it is a very hard thing to swallow, and Jackson and Libby are not sure what to think. One thing is for sure there is something up. Someone is surely playing a prank, and they must get to the bottom of it, before the neighbor ends up being declared senile and committed to a home. Their investigation reveals this is not the first time the "alien" has been seen in the area. They will get to the bottom of this crazy mysterious happening.
Mary L. Briggs has written a delightful story, and it moves quickly, this is the first novella I have read from this author, but hopefully not my last one. I have enjoyed several published short stories from this author in a national magazine. Most definitely a 5 star story.
This story is available online as an ebook at several sites, amazon.com, cbd.com, and barnesandnoble.com...
This book was provided for review purposes only. No payment was received for this review.
About the author:
Mary L. Briggs is a wife, mother, and registered nurse. She enjoys writing inspirational fiction and is also a free-lance writer. She has had two romance stories and one mini-mystery published in Woman's World Magazine. She enjoys reading, writing, studying American history, cooking, quilting, herb gardening, and crafting. Mary lives in a cordwood home in the Ouachita Mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys the company of five cats, a German Shepherd/Border Collie dog, and a flock of chickens.

CEB, Common English Bible

2011-12-18T00:32:00.000-08:00

Interview with Paul Franklyn project director for the CEB

Paul N. Franklyn, associate publisher and project director for the Common
English Bible (CommonEnglishBible.com) in Nashville, TN, earned the PhD in
Old Testament from Vanderbilt University. Since 1983 Paul has acquired,
edited, or produced more than 600 books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and commercial
websites. Paul specializes in planning and launching new business ventures,
and his product development emphasis is in Bible, Reference, and resources
for leaders of congregations.

What is the Common English Bible?
The Common English Bible is not simply a revision or update of an existing translation. It’s a bold new translation designed to meet the needs of Christians as they work to build a strong and meaningful relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A key goal of the translation team is to make the Bible accessible to a broad range of people; it’s written at a comfortable level (similar to USA TODAY) for most people who read English.

How is the Common English Bible unique?
It’s uncommon in that it’s the newest translation by the largest number of biblical scholars & church leaders in words 21st century readers use every day, aligning academic rigor with modern understandability, proven through extensive field-testing with, and acting on feedback from, hundreds of readers. The new Common English Bible is the only translation to combine and balance highly respected ecumenical biblical scholarship necessary for serious study with responsiveness to 21st century clear communication requirements for comprehensive clarity. The Common English Bible is the only translation to extensively use contractions where the text warrants an engaging conversational style (not used in divine or poetic discourse).
And among all Bibles available today, the Common English Bible is the only one that includes exclusive, detailed color maps from National Geographic, well known for its accurate topographical map making.

Explain the translation process.
Combining scholarly accuracy with vivid language, the Common English Bible is the work of 120 biblical scholars from 24 denominations in American, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities, representing such academic
institutions as Asbury Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Bethel Seminary, Denver Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton College, Yale University, and many others. They translated the Bible into English directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Additionally, more than 500 readers in 77 groups field-tested the translation. Every verse was read aloud in the reading groups, where potentially confusing passages were identified. The translators considered the groups' responses and, where necessary, reworked those passages to clarify in English their meaning from the original
languages. In total, more than 600 people worked jointly to bring the Common English Bible to fruition.

How long did this translation process take?
We began in 2007. The complete Bible—Old Testament, New Testament, and Apocrypha—was just released in 2011. We were able to accomplish so much with so many people because of using a matrix schedule, coordinating in realtime translators with reviewers, and using Internet communication technology.

Who Is It For?
The Common English Bible is committed to the whole church of Jesus Christ. That’s reflected in the dedicated work ofa diverse team with broad biblical scholarship. As a result, the English translation of ancient words has an uncommon relevance for a broad audience of Bible readers—from children to scholars.

Why do we need another Bible translation?
The Common English Bible is a non-polarizing Bible translation. It’s the result of collaboration between opposites: scholars working with average readers; teens working with retirees; men working with women; conservatives working with liberals; many denominations and many ethnicities coming together around the common goal of creating a translation that unites rather than divides, with the ultimate goal of mutually accomplishing God’s overall work in the world. The Common English Bible is also needed today because the digital revolution is accelerating changes in the English
language and its everyday usage and understandability. This translation is necessary to clearly communicate God’s Word because 9,000 new words & meaning revisions are added yearly to the English lexicon. The Common English Bible is today’s freshest translation and uses natural, 21st century English.

Why would pastors and teachers want the Common English Bible?
Professional communicators (preachers, professors, speakers, leaders, etc.) who use this authoritative translation (not a paraphrase) will be great communicators, effectively reaching their audiences with biblical text their audiences readily understand because the text is written the way they naturally talk.

Why is the Common English Bible translated to be gender-inclusive?
Present-day writers and speakers of the English language are no longer taught to use only male pronouns when referring generally to other human beings. Instead of referring to persons in general as “he,” “him,” or “his,” we’re taught to use third person pronouns, such as “we,” “they,” or “them” in our general communication. So, rather than referring only to "brothers" in the Bible when the context includes both genders, the Common English Bible says "brothers and sisters." The Common English Bible contains unbiased gender language because the Bible message itself teaches that God's love and grace must be clearly available to every woman, man, and child. Pronouns can be translated inclusively, accurately, and smoothly without changing the meaning of the source language with respect to general human beings. Pronouns for God, Lord, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit are translated as he, his, or him.

What are some examples of the translation style?
The traditional term “Son of Man” as a reference to Jesus’ self identification with humans, is translated in the Common English Bible as “Human One” to accurately reflect Jesus’ fully human nature; and the term “God’s Son” is used to accurately reflect Jesus’ fully divine nature. Likewise, “happy” is used in place of “blessed” in the Beatitudes to
communicate the original language’s intent of human flourishing and community commitment (similar to the meaning behind “happiness” as it’s used in the US Declaration of Independence). Other terms used in the Common English Bible include “change your hearts and lives” for “repent,” “immigrant” for “alien,” “solemn promise” for “vow,” and
“funeral clothing” for “sackcloth.

Who Sponsored the Common English Bible?
The Common English Bible is a distinct new imprint and brand for Bibles and reference products about the Bible. Publishing and marketing offices are located in Nashville, Tennessee. The CEB translation was funded by the Church Resources Development Corp, which allows for cooperation among denominational publishers in the development and distribution of Bibles, curriculum, and worship materials. The Common English Bible Committee meets
periodically and consists of denominational publishers from the following denominations: Disciples of Christ (Chalice Press); Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (Westminster John Knox Press); Episcopal Church (Church Publishing Inc); United Church of Christ (Pilgrim Press); and United Methodist Church (Abingdon Press).

What evangelical school was the first to endorse the translation?
Fuller Theological Seminary approved the new Common English Bible as a translation for use in biblical studies courses for its more than 4,000 students, and particularly for all master’s-level instruction in the seminary’s School of Theology, School of Psychology, and School of Intercultural Studies on all eight of its campuses.

What Common English Bible products are available?
The Common English Bible translation is available in multiple print and electronic editions, with and without the Apocrypha. Reference books supporting the translation are also available. See the website for the entire list.

Where is the Common English Bible available?
At your favorite bookstore, at online stores (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble), BibleGateway.com, or by visiting
CommonEnglishBible.com.

Viper

2011-12-16T20:28:00.000-08:00

John J. Desjarlais
Sophia Institute Press
2011
978-1933184807

CBR Review:
Sometimes being found is easier than you want it to be. Selena De La Cruz, is finding that out the hard way.
A change in careers, from the police force to an insurance agent, with a fascination for working on cars,and expensive shoes she hoped she
would be invisible. But aiding in some issues in her local congregation, lands her picture in the paper, and also her formerco-worker in her life again, with bad news.
People are being murdered,thugs, and drug dealers. There seems to be a list left in a book at her church, and her name is the last name on the list.
She has to avoid being murdered, and help solve who is murdering these other people. "The Snake" a former drug dealer that she helped to bust is the prime suspect, but can it be proven before Selena finds herself in the news as the last victim killed on the list?
A book steeped in Catholicism, and the traditions of the Catholic church, and the Hispanic culture, this book will definitely catch your attention.
A sequel to The Bleeder, it is also a book that stands alone. There are references from the storyline of the first book, but you didn't have to read it to get this book.

This book was provided for review purposes by Suspense Zone, 256 pages, 4 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes only and no payment was received for this review.

The CEB Blog Tour

2011-12-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

This phrase was something that made me wonder...here is a video explaining it all...

The "Human One" Explained from Common English Bible on Vimeo.

Liz V

2011-12-08T11:17:00.001-08:00

hey please email me at cndloven@yahoo.com, you have entered several of my drawings recently, but I have no way to contact you...

My Favorite Bible

2011-11-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

This is not a Children's bible, but a Children's Bible Story Book. Please leave a comment for a chance to win this book, last day to comment will be December 14th.

Some information about the CEB (Common English Bible)

2011-11-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

here is the background about this new Bible translation....

Common English Bible Translation Background

Known for being “built on common ground,” the Common English Bible is a collaboration of 120 academic scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world who joined together to clearly translate the Bible’s original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages into 21^st century English. More than half-a-million copies of the Bible are currently in print. It’s also available online and in 20 digital formats.

“When we say ‘built on common ground,’ we mean that the Common English Bible is the result of collaboration between opposites: scholars working with average readers; conservatives working with liberals; teens working with retirees; men working with women; many denominations and many ethnicities coming together around the common goal of creating a vibrant and clear translation for 21^st century readers, with the ultimate objective of mutually accomplishing God’s overall work in the world; in essence, helping Bible readers live on common ground,” says Paul Franklyn, PhD, associate publisher for the Common English Bible.

The Common English Bible is written in contemporary idiom at the same reading level as the newspaper USA TODAY—using language that’s comfortable and accessible for today’s English readers. It’s available—with and without the Apocrypha—in multiple editions and bindings. Information about the Common English Bible is available on its website, Twitter stream, Facebook page, and video.

Combining scholarly accuracy with vivid language, the Common English Bible is the work of 120 biblical scholars from 24 denominations in American, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities, representing such academic institutions as Asbury Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Bethel Seminary, Denver Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton College, Yale University, and many others.

Additionally, more than 500 readers in 77 groups field-tested the translation. Every verse was read aloud in the reading groups, where potentially confusing passages were identified. The translators considered the groups' responses and, where necessary, reworked those passages to clarify in modern English their meaning from the original languages. In total, more than 700 people worked jointly to bring the Common English Bible to fruition; and because of the Internet and today’s technology it was completed in less than four years.

The Common English Bible is sponsored by the Common English Bible Committee, an alliance of five publishers that serve the general market, as well as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Chalice Press), Presbyterian Church (USA) (Westminster John Knox Press), Episcopal Church (Church Publishing, Inc.), United Church of Christ (The Pilgrim Press), and The United Methodist Church (Abingdon Press).

Remembering You

2011-11-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

My review:
Ava doesn't want to miss anymore special times with her grandfather. She realizes as she looks back over the years that the things they talked about were not the things that were important to him. So this trip with him to retrace his steps that he took as a young nineteen year old fighting in WWII was important. Meeting up again with an old flame that she deeply fell in love with when she was eighteen, makes this trip a bit stressed, but very interesting.
I enjoyed the book very much, it was a great story, different from Tricia's other WWII books, but was very interesting. I cried with Ava as she realized how frail and old her grandpa was. I laughed at the antics of the two old friends as they tried their hand at some matchmaking. I enjoyed reading about WWII through the eyes of Ava, coming to grips with the things her grandfather went through as a young man, and finding her own faith again. There was a part that caught me off guard, when during a conversation with her grandfather, one of the other soldiers used a word you rarely find in Christian fiction. All in all a wonderful story with a contemporary view of a historical event. 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only by Litfuse Publicity, I was not compensated in any manner for this review.

About the book:

35-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request--fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own--to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.

As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they're on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava's videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too--especially for her heart.

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou
About Tricia:
Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. On Tricia's weekly radio show, Living Inspired, she shares stories of inspiration and encouragement. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia and her other books visitwww.triciagoyer.com

Link to buy the book: http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou

Win a Kindle Touch for YOU and a Friend from Tricia Goyer!
Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you ... and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she'll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!

During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she'll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.

Don't miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself ... and to "remember" a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner's choice!)

A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

CEB (Common English Bible) National Bible Week Nov 20 - 27

2011-11-20T02:50:00.000-08:00

This week is National Bible Week, and to celebrate that we are proud to help introduce a new Bible. The Common English Bible. To learn more about this Bible feel free to visit these sites.

§ Website http://CommonEnglishBible.com

§ Twitter http://twitter.com/CommonEngBible

§ Facebook Group Page http://facebook.com/groups/CommonEnglishBible

§ Facebook Bible Like Page http://facebook.com/LiveTheBible

§ Video http://vimeo.com/CommonEnglishBible

For a chance to win a softcover edition of this Bible leave a comment about why you would like a copy of this Bible. This will run all week and the winner will be mailed their copy directly from the company.

Remembering Christmas

2011-11-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

A Novel
Dan Walsh
2011
Revell
Fiction/Contemporary

Rick Denton has left his life as a teen at home behind. Now he is in a high powered job in Georgia, far away from his mom and step dad in Florida. Living the life! At least he thinks he is, but he finds that the waking up with hangovers and dating a different woman each night, might not be "the life."
He does know however that the thought of staying in Florida and helping run his mom and step dad's Christian bookstore is not his idea of a great time. No matter how good looking their assistant is. What he does not count on, however is a heart change.
He finds the different people who come into the shop weekly, odd and they get on his nerves at first, but as the weeks continue on, he finds himself warming up to them. He finds himself even offering up the odd prayer here and there. Rick's life is changed drastically. He realizes that he was wrong about so many things.
I loved Dan's first three books that I read and this one did not disappoint! He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He expresses the story so clearly and is able to articulate his characters so well you just feel like they are the neighbors down the street. A great story! 264 pages US $15.99 5 stars

Available November 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Mercy

2011-11-09T21:27:00.000-08:00

Rose Trilogy Book 3
Beverly Lewis
2011
Bethany House
Fiction/Amish

Rose Kauffman misses her friend Nick, but he left the Amish community after his adopted brother died, his rebellious spirit, has led to the "silencing" of his adopted father Bishop Aaron. However Rose knows that her life must go forward, because Nick will probably never come back, and besides, he is not Amish, and she is determined to follow God.
She is happy that her sister Hen and her husband Brandon have resolved their relationship, and are now living closer to home and also serving God together in a small country church nearby. They seem so happy, and another baby is on the way.
As Rose moves on with life, she is sure that she has finally found love when she starts dating a boy from another district. Isaac however does not seem to be as dedicated to his faith, as Rose is to hers, and she is crushed when she finds out that he really is trying to live in the English world and the Amish world both. She knows she can never marry someone not dedicated to the Lord, or to his faith.
My only negatives I have to say about this book is it ended too quick, it seemed to wrap up way too fast. Also it was book three of a trilogy, and it really made the story to know what the first two books were about (which I read them) I prefer for a story to stand alone.
A great story however, told in true Beverly Lewis style! A great redemptive story of Hen and Brandon, a wonderful story of redemption of family values for Hen. I loved their characters and was glad their ending was happy. I also loved the ending for Rose, but no spoilers here!! 4 stars!

This book was provided by Bethany House for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Christmas Shoppe

2011-11-07T00:57:00.000-08:00

Melody Carlson
2011
Revell
Fiction/Contemporary

Do you have everything you need? Well neither do the people of Parrish Springs, however they do not understand that the things they really need are not things but perhaps concepts and feelings. Like love, forgiveness, peace, kindness. When a new lady comes to town, Matilda Honeycutt and buys the Barton Building, the downtown businesses are worried about what type of business will be going in. Imagine their dismay, after waiting weeks it seems this business is a thrift store, filled with horrible junk. But as each person visits the store, and approach Matilda about her business, they find out that this is no ordinary thrift shop, money never changes hands, and each person leaves under what seems to be a 'spell.' What is going on in Parrish Springs? Councilman Snider is determined to put this scam to an end, and get that building for himself, he riles up the town over it, but finds himself falling under the same spell. The town of Parrish Springs will never be the same!
This was a cute little book, with a wonderful story that things will never bring us all that we need and that often the exact thing that we need is not tangible. I enjoyed this new holiday book from Melody, she proves once again that her skills as a story teller are indeed marvelous. 4 stars US $15.99, 176 pages.

This book was provided for review purposes only. No payment was received for this review.

Available November 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Book of Dreams

2011-11-04T02:54:00.000-07:00

Davis Bunn
2011
Howard Books
Fiction/Contemporary

Dr. Burroughs is a expert in dreams. Intrepreting them, and general knowledge about why you are dreaming. What she is not an expert on, however is dealing with grief and moving on past her husband's death. Nor can she really give herself the meaning of some of the dreams she has about him. A new client moves her practice into a totally new level. The wife of a high powered dignitary, the new patient's dream is so disturbing, it even has Dr. Burroughs rattled.
The gift of an ancient family heirloom from her friend and mentor, takes her dream intrepretation into a whole new arena. This book was so different from most books I read, that I really have struggled to put into words my review of the book. First of all I have to say I liked the book, and it gets 4 stars. But it was so different, a bit more political than I normally read, but the author truly had his finger 'spot on' the political and economic scene of America, and the world in fact. A bit of a conspiracy theory story, but not so much that you feel like someone is after you too for reading the story. All in all I have to say a great book, definitely interesting!! 4 stars 328 pages US $14.99

This book was provided by Howard Books for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Christmas Witness

2011-11-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Susan Sleeman
Love Inspired Suspense
2011
Fiction/Suspense

Doing the right thing doesn't always end up with a happy ending. Megan Cash found that out the hard way. Testifying against a deranged bank robber who held her hostage, has now ended up in her and her daughter being stalked. Megan isn't afraid for herself, but when the stalker goes to the hospital where her little girl is, Megan will do whatever it takes to keep Ella safe. Even if it means being nice to the FBI agent who broke her heart at the end of the trial prosecuting the bank robber. Will they catch this madman before Christmas arrives, or will he keep them so bound up in fear, they won't be able to enjoy Christmas?
A fast paced story, with twists and turns to keep your attention you will not want to put this book down until you finish it. The ending was a huge surprise for me, because I did not have it figured out. I love Susan Sleeman's books and they just keep getting better with each new release, this one by far being my favorite. Cannot wait for the next book! 216 pages 4 stars US $5.75

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Baker's Wife

2011-11-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Erin Healy
2011
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Contemporary/Suspense

Audrey Bofinger felt things, in fact she intensely felt things. She felt like it was God showing her the needs and pains of others, her husband referred to her as being sensitive to others. One day after leaving the house of an elderly woman who was dying, Audrey hears crying, she tries to reach out, but is rebuffed. Now she wishes she had pushed forward. Because this was the opening events of a "mess" that would forever change her life and the life of her family.

One horribly foggy morning on her way to work, with her son, Audrey hits a motor scooter. There is so much blood the police are sure that someone is dead. But there is no body. And the most horrible thing, is the scooter belongs to the Bofingers antagonist, the man who had booted Geoff out of his job as pastor, and now it seemed he was going to do whatever it took to put Audrey in jail for murdering his wife.

An exciting book, I didn't put this one down until I finished it. There was lots of suspense and while some have referred to some paranormal activity, I really didn't get that, I just felt like Audrey was very in tune with the voice of the Lord and could actually feel the pain of others. Perhaps it is just my beliefs. I enjoyed this book very much and I give it a 4 star rating! Definitely a book I will be passing along to friends to read!

This book was provided for review purposes only and no payment was received for this review.

Enter to win a KitchenAid Mixer and RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/10!

Blog Post:

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Black & White Kitschy Apron
Black Silicone Oven Mitt
Black OXO Rolling Pin
Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Sunrise on the Battery

2011-10-31T07:11:00.000-07:00

Beth Webb Hart
2011
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Contemporary

Two kids make it good in the high society of Charleston. Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville were kids from a small town who were at the bottom of the 'food chain' so to speak. But Jackson had the smarts to know how to make money and he was determined, his children would have more, have a better education than him. So he pushed, and he pushed them hard. Too hard Mary Lynn often worried. Where was the time for them to just be kids?
Her own feelings of emptiness leads Mary Lynn to seek out the peace she felt in church as a child. After a miraculous healing of the calf muscle in her leg, Mary Lynn is more convinced that more than anything her family needs God. When Jackson finds God however Mary Lynn is not sure this is what she meant. He as he does with everything has gone 'overboard' and just seems like a weird Jesus freak.
I enjoyed this book, it took me a bit to get going with it, but once I got into the story I enjoyed it very much. It was easy to relate to the Scoville's, who doesn't want better for their children? A great story that you will not want to miss reading. 4 stars 276 pages US $15.99

This book was provided for review purposes only no payment was received for this review.

Press Release from B & B Media Group:

Radical Faith Brings about Radical Change

Beth Webb Hart explores what happens when

we leave our inhibitions behind.

What would it look like if we really loved each other—if we had no inhibitions about sharing our faith and our very lives with a hurting world? How would we really spend our time and our money? And what impact would this have on our own families, especially our children? What impact would it have on our communities, our country and the world? These are the questions that first inspired Beth Webb Hart to write her newest novel, Sunrise on the Battery.

Hart always begins her writing with a question, and she was inspired with these questions after reading David Platt’s book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. His book uncovered blind spots in her own life and helped her fully imagine just where her characters’ uninhibited faith might take them.

Mary Lynn Scoville has everything anyone could desire—a handsome husband, three beautiful daughters and a ticket into the social elite of Charleston, S.C. But after a miraculous answer to a prayer on her behalf, Mary Lynn decides to pray that her husband will discover the faith she loves. But when her prayers are answered, she finds her world turned upside down and is forced to deal with the idols she has created in her own life.

Jackson Scoville is a man on a mission. Growing up deprived of the finer things in life, he wants more for his children. His mission is to give his girls the best—a top-rate education, exposure and immersion in the fine arts and frequent opportunities to see the big wide world. “Not just education, baby—cultivation,” he is known to say. But when he discovers the truth of Scripture, his focus takes a quick turn—a turn his family may not like.

While writing about the lives of Mary Lynn, Jackson and their daughters, Hart shows her readers how God can change a life and inspire a family. She draws her readers into the story, especially with her intricate details of the social culture of Charleston. Her characters will shine a reflection on her readers’ own struggles and fears, and they will be inspired to examine their own lives and discover what really matters.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, “Hart writes inspirational fiction that leaves readers pondering the subtly expressed life lessons well after the final chapter. She manages to make even the unlikely a real possibility in this richly written tale of discovering faith.” So come along as the Scoville family discovers their new family mission—a mission that will change their world and the world around them.

Baby It's Cold Outside

2011-10-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Susan May Warren
2011
Summerside Press
Fiction/Christian/Romance

Set in 1949, the small town of Frost Minnesota this story will unfold. A small town to begin with they are close knit, loosing five of their boys in the war, has devastated and paralyzed, the once vibrant Dottie Morgan. The town librarian, most of the kids in town have great memories of story time with her at the library. The boys all have memories of hanging out at her house with her only son Nelson after football practice. But Nelson died in the war, and Dottie has become a sad shell of herself.
Violet, Dottie assistant at the library, also served in the war. She was in the motor pool, as a mechanic. And good one she was, but the guys seemed to be threatened by that and she had never married.
A storm right before Christmas has trapped Violet, Gordy (Dottie's neighbor and long time friend), Jake (a stranger come to town to make things right with Violet) at Dottie's house. And Dottie is not happy with it at all, she tried to throw them all out, but the storm was so fierce they could not leave. After a night of fierce white out conditions, a trip to the barn reveal another person trapped. A little boy on his way home from school, who made it to the "storm house" or what he thought was the storm house, but it was only the barn, the four adults work together to save the little boy who is nearly froze to death. Will this change and thaw Dottie's frozen heart?
I love Susan May Warren's books and I have to say this one topped them all. A heartwarming story that will have you laughing, crying and unable to put it down. It also opened up my eyes to how the women who served in the earlier wars were treated after they returned home. We all think everyone comes home a hero, but it wasn't true for many of the women, they were resented, because people felt that their being over there took the boys off the easy jobs and sent them to the front lines, so they blamed the women. A great story that you cannot miss!! 309 pages $US 12.99 5 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes by Litfuse, no payment was received for this review.

About the book: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

Read an excerpt here and find out the story behind the novel.

About Susan: Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia , Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota ’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

Link to buy the book:

Deliver Me From Evil

2011-10-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

How did you come up with the idea for Deliver Me From Evil and the Freedom series?

It actually came out of a phone conversation with Andrea Mullins, the publisher at New Hope. We were discussing the Extreme Devotion series (about the persecuted Church), which I was still working on at the time, and we began to consider topics for a second series. Andrea was the one who suggested human trafficking, and it really struck a chord with me. The more I researched it and worked on the proposal, the more excited I became about joining forces with others working to abolish modern-day slavery, which is exactly what human trafficking is.

What was your favorite scene to write in Deliver Me From Evil?

This book/series has been the most difficult I’ve ever written, simply because the subject matter is so dark and heavy. More than once I had to walk away and clear my thoughts before moving on from one scene to another. But interspersed between the heartache and tragedy are several lighter scenes (written and incorporated into the book out of necessity), dealing with a pastor’s family and their Bible college-bound son who inadvertently discovers the human trafficking ring and becomes involved in the heroic and dramatic rescue attempt. Any scenes revolving around the absolutely functional and loving life of the Flannery family are my favorites.

What was the most difficult scene, and why?

There were many difficult scenes in this book due to the subject matter, but the hardest had to be when the main character, 18-year-old Mara, realizes that one of the younger girls is being tortured and killed in an effort to extract information and punish her. Though the actual violence is done offstage, Mara experiences each blow and muffled scream, as does the reader.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? If not, how did you catch the writing bug?

Oh yes, I never wanted to be anything else. From the time I discovered the power and allure of words, I was hooked! I was an avid reader before I started kindergarten. A short story I wrote in the third grade was turned into a play for the entire PTA, and I won all sorts of awards for poetry in high school. I even told my then boyfriend (now husband) Al when we were in our early teens that I was going to be a writer one day.

How do you go about writing your fiction books? Which comes first for you, plot, characters, and/or theme?

I usually get what I call “a niggling in my soul,” which eventually emerges into the very basic theme of the book. I hate outlining and writing proposals because I do NOT develop plots or even characters ahead of time. I start with a couple of main characters, a starting and ending point for my story, and just let the rest unfold as I go. I know. We’re not supposed to do it that way, but it works for me, and I so enjoy the surprises as the story develops and my characters take over. So much fun! So long as they don’t try to lead me away from my pre-determined ending. Then I have to reign them back in a bit.

How do you get your ideas for your books?

I have ideas coming out of my ears! I am a seriously addictive idea person. You want ideas? You can have my overflow! My challenge is to figure out which ones are worth pursuing. Not every cute or fun or even meaningful idea that pops into our head is meant to be a book. I pray, think, study, bounce them off people, etc., before committing to moving ahead with one of them. For the most part, however, nearly all my book ideas are, to one degree or another, born out of some moral or social issue that I care about.

How can we find out more about you, The Freedom Series, and other books you are writing?

Please visit my website at KathiMacias.com.
See the book trailer here

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

Necessary Deception

2011-10-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Daughters of Bainbridge House
Laurie Alice Eakes
2011
Revell
Fiction/Historical

CBR Review:

Set in 1812, in England, young widow Lydia Gale, helps a prisoner who showed her a kindness, only to discover that now she is being blackmailed into helping the French spy on her nation.
Angry at being deceived, all she is interested in to doing, is getting her younger sisters through the Season. Presenting her youngest sister and seeing her middle sister married is her goal, now this deception has invaded her peace of mind.
Even more alarming is the prisoner whom she helped, has showed up and she has to pretend that all is well, and she finds that she actually likes him and enjoys his company. She also finds that the man she thought was blackmailing her, could not be, will she be able to figure out what is going on, and keep her and her family safe.
I enjoyed this book greatly. Historical fiction is often not my favorite genre, but this book moved so fast and was very action packed. A great book!!! Definitely a book to share with friends! I guess the things that I liked most about this book, was it read like a suspense book, with lots of action, rather than a historical novel. 4 stars!!
This book is available October 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review purposes only by Revell Books, no payment was received for this review.

Knit with Love

2011-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Stories to Warm a Knitter's Heart
Lisa Bogart
2011
Inspirational/Non-fiction

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

I don't know what it is about yarn arts, but reading stories about knitting or crocheting, makes you want to get into your yarn stash and pull out the crochet hooks or knitting needles. And this book was no different, I walked away from this book thinking I really need to try knitting again. I know how to knit, but because I am a crocheter it always felt like I could accomplish a project quicker on my hooks rather than awkwardly knitting. I do however want to try again.
Full of heartwarming stories about knitting, knitters, and knitting groups you will be amazed at how different people have used their knitting to encourage others and to help others. Knitting has a wonderful place historically, with knitters working with the Red Cross during wars, to groups taking on projects to send knitting to our armed services.
A great book, easy to read, short stories, lots and lots of valuable information! If your a knitter, you do not want to miss this book!! 4 stars US $12.99 170 pages

Available October 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this book.

Kisses from Katie

2011-10-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
Katie Davis with Beth Clark
Howard Books
2011
Non-Fiction/Autobiographical/Personal Memoirs

Wow! This book created very very mixed feelings within me. I understand the author's (Katie) desire to be in the perfect will of God, to be exactly where He has called you to be, and doing what He has called you to do. However as the mom of an eighteen year old, I struggled with this book, I would not want my child in a foreign country, doing the work Katie has done. Just being totally honest here. Thus my view of that made this book very difficult to review.
As a person who is always seeking what God wills for my life, I had to admire Katie's complete obedience to the Lord, as a parent I struggled, and I noted that there wasn't much in this book about how her parents feel about her mission.
Full of stories that will tug on your heart strings, you will want to scoop up all the precious children and bring them home and love them back to health. Stories that will make you cry, laugh and rejoice that someone is making a difference in these little lives. I had a hard time putting the book down, it was so pulling you into the stories. I cannot imagine having to face the things that Katie faces daily, I also greatly admire her faith in God, and her willing heart to serve.
Definitely a book to read, and share with others. 264 pages US $24.00 hardback 4 stars.
To learn more about Katie and how she is serving in Uganda check out her website www.amazima.org
or read her blog at www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
This book was provided for review purposes by Howard Books, no payment was received for this review.

A Christmas Journey Home

2011-10-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

Miracle in the Manger
Kathi Macias
2011
New Hope Publisher

CBR Review: I will keep this short as there is lots of info here to see about this book. This book will make you cry!! I promise! It also has the capability to change the way you look at illegal immigration. A heart breaking story of young newly weds Isabella and Francisco Alcantara from Ensenada, Mexico. Their world is shaken when the bad guys who seem to be over taking their town, mercilessly kill Isabella's parents and siblings. Her Abuelo now has determined she has to leave the country, to go to America, where her bebito she is carrying will have a chance at a better life. But all is not what she thought it would be. A crooked coyote, an even worse "safe" house and slave labor traders brings her hopes to a horrible end. Her baby is all she has to live for but she isn't even sure how she will make sure he arrives safely. Is El Senor really watching out for her, it does not feel like it, but in the midst of her angst, she hears that still small voice within her spirit, and she knows she will survive.

Interview with Kathi Macias

How did you come up with the idea for A Christmas Journey Home?
I knew I wanted to do a Christmas book—the first of what would become an annual event that my publisher and I were discussing—and I also knew that despite the lighter tone required in a Christmas book (as opposed to the darker themes of the persecuted Church and human trafficking, which I’ve been writing about), I had to stick to my “brand” as closely as possible: hence, an “issues-related” Christmas novel, dealing with the issues related to illegal immigration.

What was your favorite scene to write in A Christmas Journey Home?

I loved writing this entire book, and the characters are delightful (except the villains, of course!), so I loved almost all the scenes. But I think I liked the scenes with Isabella’s old abuelo best, as the grandfather reminded me of my own grandpa and even my dad, both of whom I loved dearly. I love incorporating at least one elderly saint in each of my books, and in this one I decided on a man since most of the other books have had women as the elderly, praying characters. I also brought in a little boy because children can add such a delightful element to any story, and six-year-old Davey certainly does that in A Christmas Journey Home.

What was the most difficult scene, and why?
The toughest scene had to be when Francisco and Isabella thought they were finally on the verge of being able to get away from the migrant camp and find a small home of their own, where their baby could be born in relative comfort and safety. If you’ve read the book, you know that isn’t at all what happens. But this heartbreaking scene had to take place to bring the story to its miraculous conclusion.

What is there about you, apart from writing, that many people don’t know?
First, my “road name” is “Easy Writer” because my husband and I were Harley riders for many years. (We’ve traded the bike in on a 2005 Corvette, so I’m still “Easy Writer” but in comfort now!) Also, I served on staff at a large Southern California church for several years, training small group leaders and doing biblical counseling, among other things.

Who are some of your favorite writers, and are you an avid reader?
Absolutely I’m an avid reader! I have always loved books/reading/words and been fascinated by them. When I ran out of books as I child, I started writing my own. (Voila! Look what came of that!) As for favorite writers, that’s tough, but here are just a few: Brock and Bodie Thoene, Francine Rivers, Patti Lacy, Athol Dickson, Jim Rubart, and Alan Paton, who wrote my favorite all-time fiction book, Cry the Beloved Country. That book changed my life and inspired my novel set in South Africa in 1989, No Greater Love. I also enjoy reading Brennan Manning, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Oswald Chambers, and Max Lucado for nonfiction.

What’s on the horizon for you now, so far as future book projects?
I am currently finishing up the final book of the three-installment Freedom series (Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, and The Deliverer). Then I will jump into my Christmas 2012 novel (working title is A Home For Christmas) and a novel called Last Chance for Justice, which is part of the multi-author Bloomfield Series with another publisher. After that I hope to get going on a new fiction series, which is still in the discussion/planning stages with my publisher and agent. So life is busy, but most contracts coming my way seem to be fiction right now. I am also keeping busy with very occasional editing projects and some speaking/teaching around the country.

Where can we find out more about you, The Freedom Series, and keep up with your to-be-released books?

Please feel free to visit my website at www.KathiMacias.com.

Watch the trailer for this book here

180 movie.com

2011-10-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Are you aware of the statistics on abortion?

Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, four in ten are terminated by abortion. 22% of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.
At least half of American women will experience unintended pregnancy by age 45, and, one in ten will have an abortion by age 20, one in four by age 30 and three in ten by age 45.
37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant and 28% identify themselves as Catholic.

(*Statistics from The Alan Guttmacher Institute)

Why do Christians need to talk about abortion?

Because many of the women who have had abortions are sitting in your church’s pews.

180 Aims to Save Lives and Souls

A new film produced by best-selling author and TV co-host Ray Comfort recently debuted online and is expected to reach over a million views by the time it has been out for one month. The new documentary,180 reflects the complete turnaround in the mindsets of each individual that Comfort interviews in regards to abortion. The film features eight pro-choice young adults (mostly college students) who change their stance to pro-life after answering a series of questions.

Many assume that abortion is a topic that doesn’t need to be discussed within the church. However, 65% of women who have abortions identify themselves as Christians. It isn’t just an issue of teens and college students. Over 20% of abortions, the women are over 30. To combat this staggering data the 180 Course is available for churches to address the topic of abortion, including a study guide as well as a second video that discusses evangelism – once lives are saved, souls need to be saved as well.

It was not Comfort’s original intention to create a documentary specifically about the abortion issue. He began taping interviews for a companion DVD for a book on Hitler and the holocaust. In the course of the interviews, one question led to another, and the discussion led to abortion. Comfort explains, “It began with two male university students completely changing their minds about abortion when we asked them one specific question. Then, we took to the streets, and found that six women changed their minds from pro-abortion to pro-life in a matter of seconds by asking the same series of questions. It was amazing!”

Comfort saw this new direction the film was taking, and quickly recognized its potential to open doors for discussion. “I have held up pro-life signs. I have printed pro-life literature and spoken against abortion in pulpits and in my books, but I have felt that all my efforts were almost futile—until now. In 180 we have a nation changer.”

180 is making a vital impact. One viewer writes, “I was at an abortion clinic on the sidewalk (with my laptop), two young ladies stop and watched the 180 trailer. Then they watched the full 180 DVD. One was four months pregnant, the other was three. They were both going there for an abortion; they were both in tears, hugged my neck and decided to give their babies life and choose adoption instead. I cried too. Praise God for 180.”

The documentary is now available for free viewing

online at http://www.180movie.com/.

For interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings

The B&B Media Group

800-927-0517 x104

ajennings@tbbmedia.com

Diary of a Teenage Girl

2011-10-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

Becoming Me
Melody Carlson
Fiction/Teen

Caitlin O'Connor is invisible, at least she feels that way until she is noticed by Jenny, one of the "in crowd" girls. After Jenny befriends Caitlin, she finds that her old best friend doesn't seem to fit in with this new crowd and she starts avoiding her. Big mistake! Caitlin finds out that hanging with the in crowd is much harder than just being herself, there is so much pressure, worrying about what to wear, and if certain people are noticing you (aka boys) the pressure is fierce. Her grades slip, her whole world becomes all about her. And when she finally slows down, she realizes her family is in crisis. Her dad is not coming home, and her mom is crying a lot. A visit to her dad's office reveals there is another woman. OH my word, how does this happen to a family who attends church each week? Caitlin is so angry with her father, all his advise about dating and boys just is filed away as garbage, after all, he is not being true to his marriage vows why should she listen to him?
Boys, that is a whole other issue, it would seem her friend Jenny's boyfriend is noticing Caitlin way too much, which is causing issues, and it is bad because Caitlin really likes him. A ski trip with his church youth group finds Caitlin being used, and she doesn't like that, it is time to get serious about life, she cannot go on this way.
A new church, and a new youth group is turning out to be the answers she needs, but tragedy strikes in the form of a school shooting, costing the new youth pastor his life. Will everything ever go back to normal?
A great book about the issues teens deal with. This book really addresses the deep things concerning dating, relationships and sex. A good read for all teen girls. 4 stars!

This book was provided for review purposes only by Glass Roads Media Group, no payment was received for this review.

About the author:

Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she has been writing prolifically ever since. To date, Melody has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 1.4 million her award-winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Charter House Girls series.

In her professional life, Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab. They enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

The Measure of Katie Calloway

2011-10-10T00:46:00.000-07:00

Serena Miller
2011
Revell Books
Fiction/Historical

CBR Review:

The Civil War was hard on many people, but even harder on a young woman from the north married into a Georgian family. It didn't take long to realize that the handsome young man from West Point, who was her brother's friend, had a mean streak. More than a mean streak he was downright cruel and enjoyed mistreating her, before the war, and after the war it was worse. He was positive that every trouble he had in life was that Yankee woman's fault, and he would make her pay!
Finding a setup in the barn that would cause a rafter to crash on her and kill her, Katie knew she was no longer safe from Harlan. It was time to leave. She took his money from the sale of some land, and his horse, a bit of food and her little brother and headed north. But not the north he would expect her to be going, not to Pennsylvania where she had family. She headed to Michigan where she found work in a lumber camp as a cook. She had changed her name and she was finally away from that monster and although it was hard not to look over her shoulder, she began to ease up some. Until a former slave from her husband's plantation showed up to work. He promised he wouldn't share her secret.
I loved this book! It is the second book I have read by this author and it absolutely was an amazing book. I was never sure what would happen next, so that kept me reading, I didn't want to miss anything! Serena Miller has a way with words that pulls you into the story, you feel as if your in the middle of the lumber camp with them all. A great story! 5 stars 316 pages US $14.99

Available October 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided by Revell for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review

Freezing Point

2011-10-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Goddard
2011
Love Inspired Suspense
Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

CBR Review:
Jesse was undercover again, it was the first time since he had blown his last cover and he was tense. And now this reporter woman keeps showing up wanting to do a story on ice sculptors, which is his cover. Is she really looking for a story about that, or is she after a deeper story? He has to stay on his toes to make sure he doesn't blow this job. The biggest problem seems to be that this reporter can seemingly find trouble anywhere, from wandering around the ice plant, onto the loading docks, to having someone follow her around stalking her.
Casey Wilkes knows that leaving Oregon was the right thing, surely Will Tannin cannot find her all the way here Orange Crossings California. The man was obsessed however with destroying her, so she wasn't sure she was safe anywhere. She knew though she would have to have a job and approached the local paper, who told her if she got the story on the local ice sculpting competition and a local ice sculptor she would have have a job. So that was exactly what she was doing, going after a story. Who knew she would find so much trouble doing that.
A quick read, lots of action to keep your attention and a sweet love story to end it all. Definitely a great way to spend an evening!! 4 stars 214 pages US $5.75

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Along Wooded Paths

2011-10-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

A Big Sky Novel
Tricia Goyer
2011
B & H Publishing

This was a great book! I enjoyed it so much and it helped me understand book one more. Marianna is back in Montana helping her family out after her younger brother's accident. What she has found is that she is loving being back with her family and growing closer to God and to her family. She and Ben are getting very close, which is worrying her, she knows that he can never be Amish and she knows she can never leave. And what of Aaron Zook back in Indiana?
Well Aaron isn't in Indiana after all he is in Montana, in fact he is at her home. With a broken leg sustained from an accident on the icy roads. Now Mari feels cornered, how will she handle all this pressure that she is feeling with Aaron in her home.
A great story that will leave you looking for book three with great anticipation. I look forward to finding where Mari's future will be? While this book is following an Amish book tradition, with an ongoing story book to book, it differs very much from other Amish stories, in the way that the Amish in Montana are not as 'separate' as other Amish stories portray. Which at first confused me, but later as I read this book it became more clear to me, that it was setting the story. I have to say a great book!! Loved it! 4.5 stars, 294 pages US $14.99

This book was provided by B & H Publishing for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

The Wonder of Your Love

2011-10-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

A Land of Canaan Novel
Beth Wiseman
2011
Thomas Nelson Publishers

CBR Reviews:

Katie Ann Stoltzfus is living the life no woman should ever have to live, but to hear an Amish lady is living this life is so surprising. Her husband left her for another woman, and then he died, never knowing the son that God had seen fit to bless their family with. Maybe God knew Katie Ann would need Jonas to go on, to have something to live for, since it was such a shameful thing to happen to her. Katie Ann is a rather nervous new mother, remember her young sister who had just suddenly quit breathing, she constantly checks on Jonas.
A wedding brings a new person to town, Eli Detweiler has come to town for the wedding of his niece and he is so nice. The widowed father of a six kinner, he does sort of come off as a know it all to Katie Ann and nearly digs himself a hole he cannot get out of by assuming Jonas is her grandchild. However he finally breaks through and they become great friends. In fact Katie Ann is afraid she might have serious feelings for him, but knowing he is in a different time for his life, having raised his kinner, and her with a new baby, she knows she has to tread carefully.
I enjoyed this book very very much. The characters were very real and believable for me. I could relate to them, and there was just a tone in the book that I cannot explain that made the book more interesting for me, maybe it was because the characters lived out their lives, and I don't think there was one mention of the Ordnung in this book. 277 pages US $15.99 4 stars

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson (BookSneeze) for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Hello Hollywood!

2011-10-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

Backstage Pass
Janice Thompson
2011
Revell Books

CBR Review:
Oh my, what a book, it was so cute, I kept thinking it should be called My Big Greek Family! Athena, head writer for the popular sitcom Stars Collide, which stars her best friend Kat (we met her in book one in this series Stars Collide). Athena is worried she is loosing her edge as a comedy writer, and things are just a bit strange with her other two writers, she isn't sure what is going on with them. However the introduction of a new writer turns Athena's world upside down. Literally! She is stressed that he might be better than her, and is trying to edge her out, but there is such a huge attraction between them, her heart is in trouble. Filled with hilarious scenes set in her parent Gyro shop, you just keep wishing you could see the scenes. This book was so hilarious that I really wished I could "watch" it. Which is super different for me, because I do not care for movies or tv as much as I do written books.
Here is all these hilarious scenes and then you add in a wildly behaved Greek Domestic dog and you add perfect slapstick humor. Oh and another cute feature of the book are the titles of the book. (I won't tell I will leave that as your own surprise.) 4 stars 275 pages US $14.99

Available October 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided for review purposes only by Revell, no payment was received for this review.

A Most Unsuitable Match

2011-10-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Grace Whitson
2011
Bethany House
Fiction/Historical

CBR Review

A Most Unsuitable Match was a most delightful story. I enjoyed this book so much, while sweet Miss Fannie often made me want to shake some sense into her sometimes, other times she shone with courage. A daughter of a well to do family, that seemed a bit short on love Fannie was grieved when her mother and father passed away within three years of each other. After a burglar breaks in, trying to steal jewels, upon the advise of others, Fannie goes through her mother's room to find all the valuable jewelry to take to the safe at the bank. What she finds though is more than jewelry, she finds letters from her mother's twin sister. Letters that are filled with love and warmth, which makes Fannie determined to find her aunt. What Fannie finds however is more than bargained for, first she finds herself on a sinking barge, and loosing the closest person in her life, her faithful servant Hannah. Next she finds herself faced with the decision of whether to abandon her search or to go on, after a chance encounter where a man calls Fannie by her aunt's name, she knows she must go on. Traveling on with Samuel Beck and Lamar, workers from the barge that sank, Fannie arrives in Fort Benton only to be very discouraged. Samuel and Lamar travel on deeper into the Montana wilderness looking for her aunt and Samuel's sister, and Fannie learns the fine art of how to do things for herself, such as cooking and cleaning.
This book kept my interest, and I read it one setting, I did get frustrated with Fannie for her indecisiveness but then she would shine when push came to shove. A great book, beautifully told! 4 stars, 328 pages, $14.99 US discussion guide at the end of the book.

This book was provided for review purposes only by Bethany House, no payment was received for this review.

Amish Prayers

2011-09-30T00:11:00.000-07:00

Compiled by Beverly Lewis
2011
Bethany House
Non-fiction/Prayer

CBR Review:
A sweet, small book filled with prayers that the Amish and Mennonite, and Anabaptist groups have been saying and using for centuries. A book that will lead you into prayers for a new day. Prayers for forgiveness, praise, purity of heart, strength, and many other occasions.
Each prayer is matched up with a Scripture verse that will go with that prayer, thus making the book very easy to use for a devotional guide.
I personally enjoyed the prayers of praise, and was astounded at the many things they also gave thanks for in the prayers of thanksgiving, things that would have never crossed my mind to thank God for. Another thing I noticed in these prayers was that they are written in common every day words, not a lot of "thou's" and "thee's" but language you use daily. They were also very reverent towards God. All in all I think this little book is a wonderful tool to place in the hands of anyone. Only 139 pages long with beautiful illustrations, you will be able to read this book very quickly. I give it a 4 star rating.

This book was provided for review purposes by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, no payment was received for this review.

Fighting for Bread & Roses

2011-09-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Lynn A. Coleman
2005
Kregel Publications
Fiction/Historical Suspense

CBR Review:
Lindsey Taylor, a famous author is in Lawrence Massachusetts doing research for a new book. She is looking into the famous mill strike of the early 1900's. What she is not expecting is for someone to be targeting her, her past experiences in New Orleans flood her mind and threaten to overwhelm her with fear, but she leans hard upon the Lord, fighting the fear. Knowing that there is a secret to be uncovered in this small Massachusetts town.
What do drug rings have to do with a century old strike and death? Lindsey is not sure, but she will find out if there is a connection. Hopefully she will not be injured while she does so.
Flipping back and forth between the historical setting and today's time this story was very interesting. Normally I do not enjoy books that do this, because I am easily distracted and find myself having to re-read parts to keep the story straight, but Lynn Coleman did an awesome job telling this story in the present and the past. I enjoyed it so much it was very hard to put down. Definitely a great mystery, and a great love story also. 268 fascinating pages. 4 stars!!

This book was provided for review purposes only by Kregel Publications, no payment was received for this review.

Cherished

2011-09-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

A Novel of Unconditional Love
Kim Cash Tate
Women of Faith Fiction
2011
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Contemporary

CBR Review:

Kelli has carried hurt, anger and betrayal around for seven years, will a move back to her home town change her heart? Singing a song she wrote for her baby, at her brother's wedding opens up old wounds. Wounds that she has pushed down and blocked, and now are in her face needing to be dealt with. Opting to move back to St. Louis maybe her undoing though, when she runs into Brian, the one man she had hoped to never see again. Her baby's father. Her aborted baby's father. Baggage in her heart and life has kept Kelli from God. Will she learn how to love and serve God again?
Heather was a young woman determined to make it in the music industry, no matter what she had to do, but after an affair with a married man, and then a one night stand with a drum player in a Christian rock band, she hits bottom when she realizes that her life is going nowhere, and she is turning into someone she doesn't even know or want to be. A call to a trusted choir leader, leads Heather straight into the arms of the Lord. But will her past destroy her future? Only time and God knows.
Two young women, with totally different backgrounds, yet both in need of God's unconditional love. This book kept me up until four a.m. I was determined to finish it! I cried buckets of tears for the hurt both of these women had in their lives. I was able to relate to them, and felt like they were old friend going through a hard time. I enjoyed this book so much! I definitely would share it with others and I am happy to give it a 5 star rating.

This book was provided for review purposes only by B & B Media Group. No payment was received for this review.

Media Release

Why is forgiving ourselves so hard?

Kim Cash Tate shows how God cherishes us and provides our hearts’ desires.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Kim Cash Tate explores Psalm 103:12 as she takes her readers down the path to God’s forgiveness and reconciliation in her newest novel, Cherished. Readers will discover that God can still use them in spite of their worst choices. And He doesn’t just forgive them, but they are truly cherished!

Tate’s story will show her readers how God can bring beauty from ashes. She has a unique way of weaving her characters’ lives together, leading back to one great point—God’s tremendous mercy and grace. In the words of one of her characters, “I wasn’t sure what to expect. I felt like it would take a while to work my way back into God’s good graces, but it was like…”—she flung wide her arms—“…He just embraced me.” We too can be embraced by the same great love when we learn that true forgiveness for ALL of our sins is right before us.

Growing up in Saint Louis, Kelli London dreamed of becoming a songwriter and glorifying God with her songs of praise. But after falling into sin, she walks away from her dreams. Heather Anderson’s life has spun out of control—first an affair with a married man and then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band. Broken and alone, she discovers the only one who can save her. Brian Howard grew up as a science geek. But after making the worst mistake of his life after high school, he finds forgiveness in Christ and is being led down a completely different path. Now he must choose whether to continue pursuing his PhD in biochemistry or to become a full time Christian rapper.

In her interviews, Tate discusses topics such as:

· Learning to forgive ourselves

· Choosing to forgive others and allowing God to change them

· Following the dreams God has for us

· Surrounding ourselves with Christian friends who will pray for and encourage us

· Understanding God’s unchanging love

Tate was a speaker for Women of Faith in both 2010 and 2011. She appeared as the cover girl for the May issue of Empowering Everyday Women and will be featured in the September edition of Significant Living. A song based on Cherished will be featured on the newest album for Da’ T.R.U.T.H., a Christian wrapper. Tate is also the founder of Colored in Christ Ministries. Her appeal as a Bible teacher and a “big sister” in ministry, as well as her messages of hope, is what attracts discerning fiction lovers worldwide.

Tate’s characters bring a reflection of our own poor choices. Readers walk away knowing that despite their worst mistakes, they are cherished by their Creator. “The enemy will try to make you feel guilty about your past, and he’ll use your own thoughts or he’ll use other people. But if you know who you are, he won’t succeed,” says Tate.

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Thomas Nelson/September 2011

ISBN: 978-1-59554-855-9/336 pages/paperback/$15.99

www.kimcashtate.com

A Penny for Your Thoughts

2011-09-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Mindy Starns Clark
2002
Harvest House Publishers
Fiction

CBR Review:

Callie, a researcher for the philanthropist group the J.O.S.H.U.A. Foundation, has been busy. She is looking forward to getting home and spending time with her dog, and rowing in her canoe. However her boss Tom has a special errand for her. An errand that really does NOT want to do, but because he promises her it will just mean a trip to Philadelphia, deliver a check and straight back home, she agrees. He was wrong! What was supposed to be a simple errand to an old friend of Toms, turns into a murder investigation. Tom's friend Wendall is murdered in his office by a lethal dose of insulin, and now Tom wants her to stay and investigate. She is reticent about doing so, but agrees because after all this is Tom.
I enjoyed this book so much, it was very good. Fast paced with a great storyline, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good quick mystery. A wonderful book! 4 stars 337 pages. US $13.99
Thanks to Aaron at Harvest House for the providing this book for review. No payment was received for this review.

Deeply Devoted

2011-09-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:

Secrets, secrets, they will be the downfall of this union. A mail order bride is not the normal way to find a wife in the Cheyenne Territory, in the late 1800's. But that is exactly what Peter Anderson did, he placed an ad for a mail order bride, and his ad was answered by Catharine Olsen from Amsterdam Holland. But she has kept several secrets from him, the first to be revealed was that she was a "package" deal bringing her two younger sisters to America with her. However it would the other secrets that would tear them apart.
However Peter had his own secrets, first beginning with the fact that he had not told his mother he was marrying a mail order bride, even though he knew she was set on him marrying Dorothy a young lady that attends their church. His alienation of his mother from his plans was what set in motion the revelation of the secrets that Catharine was keeping from him.
I enjoyed this story very much, so parts of it were just so sad, when the deep secret is revealed, I just cried and cried. I did enjoy very reading along and discovering the love blossom between Peter and Catharine. All in all I have to say this is a beautiful story! 326 pages, US $14.99 4 stars.

Available September 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Press Release:
Acclaimed romance writer Maggie Brendan’s latest offering from the “Blue Willow Bride” series, Deeply Devoted (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3462-6, $14.99, 336 pages, September), introduces readers to Catharine Olsen, a mail-order bride arriving in America from Holland. She carries not only the anticipation of her marriage to Peter Andersen but also the residual pain of a tragic past, her mother’s Blue Willow china, and has her two younger sisters in tow. The fact is, in Wyoming, the single men outnumber the women five to one, so Catharine’s surpassing beauty and willing spirit are priceless gifts for Peter.

In spite of initial culture shock and necessary adjustments, Catharine finds a love with Peter that enraptures both her heart and mind. She is greatly troubled by Peter’s mother’s endeavors to sabotage their precious marriage. Catharine becomes terrified that her haunting past will be discovered, as the story unfolds with tremendous detail and extraordinary characterization.

Brendan’s previous work has received high rankings and praise in the Romantic Times, and she has also received the Atlanta Persistence Award from the American Christian Writers. Author Julie Lessman commented, “Maggie Brendan’s gentle style of prairie romance is reminiscent of Janette Oke, capturing the heart of both the Old West and the reader with romance that will make you sigh.”

Deeply Devoted　is sure to captivate readers with its page-turning thrills and the hope of a deeply redemptive story.
Maggie Brendan

is the author of No Place for a Lady, The Jewel of His Heart, and A Love of Her Own. A member of American Christian Writers and the American Fiction Writers Association, Maggie lives in Georgia.

　
　

Revell,

a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.　 They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Abbie Ann

2011-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:

Third in the Daughters of Jacob Kane series, we find the youngest daughter Abbie Ann. Abbie Ann is a vivacious young lady intent on changing her world, one act of kindness at a time. A Sunday School teacher, the president of the local chapter of the temperance movement, and working in her father's store, in between all the visits she does with the elderly and people who need help, she sees these acts as part of her mission in life. Unfortunately the young man she is seeing, does not see them as such, in fact he is sure most of it would be below her station in life as his wife. A parting of the ways opens the door for a new young man in town to pursue courting Abbie Ann. A divorced young man, which is quite scandalous for the time of this book.
Noah Carson moved to Sandy Shores after divorcing his wife, catching her in the act of infidelity with his business partner. Loosing all his savings to her in the divorce proceedings, his main concern was keeping his young son with him. A new beginning, which he was sure did not include a new love in his life, until he crashed through the window of the store where Abbie Ann was working. Now he thinks of nothing but her.
I enjoy Sharlene MacLaren's writing, she brings out so much in her stories that you just don't want to put down the book! This book did not disappoint. It is disappointing that this was the last of the series, you felt like it should go on. I loved the book, and thank Cathy at Whitaker House for providing the book for my review. Definitely a 4 star book!! 501 pages

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

In the Aerie of the Wolf

2011-09-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

Leonora Pruner
2011
Noble Novels
A Division of Nordskog Publishing
Fiction/Historical Romance

CBR Review:

Wow! When I selected this book I had no idea what to expect, the cover of the book put me off a bit, I wasn't sure if it was going to be medieval fantasy or what. I had never heard of the author, but the blurb about the book caught my eye and I requested it. I am so happy I did!!! Having never heard of the author or the publisher, it was risky, but well worth it.
Set in the 18th century, we are introduced to the beautiful younger daughter of a poor nobleman, who really hasn't much hope to marry her off too well. Imagine his shock and surprise when a servant of a well to do Lord comes offering for her hand. With a very large financial dowry gift to sweeten the pot, Anne Crofton nearly feels like she has been sold off for marriage. Even more dismaying is the fact that her groom insists she be brought to his estate for the wedding, is this a hoax? Finding out her new groom is very elusive worries Anne even more. The sudden death of the vicar of the Aerie is adding more worry to her already wavering thoughts. Finding herself in the midst of a family feud, and in danger also, makes Anne sure she should have never come here. Her only saving grace and hold to reality is her nightly visits in the dark with her groom to be.
A charming story of love, redemption, grace and relationship, you will definitely want to make the time to read this book. It is unlike any historical novel I have ever read, it kept my interest from beginning to end. In fact I was anxious to return to my reading after attending midweek service, anxious to see where the story would continue on to. A great book! 4 stars 343 pages US $13.95

This book was provided for review purposes by Book Crash, no payment was received for this review.

Bonhoeffer

2011-09-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

BONHOEFFER:
Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Eric Metaxas’ award-winning biographyof the young pastor and theologian who sacrificed his life opposing Hitler
With a new afterword about what happened to Bonhoeffer’s fiancé Maria von Wedemeyer
Barnes & Noble - One of the TOP 10 Non-Fiction BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Kirkus Reviews - One of its TOP 25 Non-Fiction BOOKS OF THE YEAR
As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a pastor and author, known as much for such spiritual classics as The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together, as for his 1945 execution in a concentration camp for his part in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
In BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (August 2011; Trade Paperback; $19.99; 624 pages; ISBN 9781595552464) the first major biography of Bonhoeffer in forty years, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer’s life—the theologian and the spy—and draws them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. In a deeply moving narrative, Metaxas uses previously unavailable documents—including personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand personal accounts—to reveal dimensions of Bonhoeffer’s life and theology never before seen.
Highlights from the book include:
• Fresh insights and revelations about his life-changing months at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and about his radical position on why Christians were obliged to stand up for the Jews in Germany.
• Bonhoeffer's infamous phrase "religionless Christianity" is fully explained in the context of his whole life and theology, making this biography the first fundamental reassessment of his theological and historical legacy in over forty years.
• The first detailed account of Bonhoeffer’s 1939 trip to New York City, when he made the historic and life-changing decision to leave the safety of America and return to the life-threatening dangers of Nazi Germany to become involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
• New light on Bonhoeffer’s reaction to Kristallnacht, his involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in “Operation 7,” the effort to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland.
• The full telling of Bonhoeffer's romance and engagement to the 18-year-old Maria von Wedemeyer. Much new information on this subject became available in 1992, with the publication of von Wedemeyer’s correspondence with Bonhoeffer (Love Letters from Cell 92), but this material has not been used to tell a coherent narrative of their stormy courtship and subsequent relationship.
BONHOEFFER gives witness to one man’s extraordinary faith and to the tortured fate of the nation he sought to deliver from the curse of Nazism. It brings the reader face to face with a man determined to do the will of God radically, courageously, and joyfully—even to the point of death. BONHOEFFER is the story of a life framed by a passion for truth and a commitment to justice on behalf of those who face implacable evil.
What they’re saying about BONHOEFFER
Publisher’s Weekly
In this weighty, riveting analysis of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas (Amazing Grace) offers a comprehensive review of one of history's darkest eras, along with a fascinating exploration of the familial, cultural and religious influences that formed one of the world's greatest contemporary theologians. A passionate narrative voice combines with meticulous research to unpack the confluence of circumstances and personalities that led Germany from the defeat of WWI to the atrocities of WWII. Abundant source documentation (sermons, letters, journal entries, lectures, the Barman Declaration) brings to life the personalities and experiences that shaped Bonhoeffer: his highly intellectual, musical family; theologically liberal professors, pastoral colleagues and students; his extensive study, work, and travel abroad. Tracing Bonhoeffer's developing call to be a Jeremiah-like prophet in his own time and a growing understanding that the church was called "to speak for those who could not speak," Metaxas details Bonhoeffer's role in religious resistance to Nazism, and provides a compelling account of the faith journey that eventually involved the Lutheran pastor in unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Hitler. Insightful and illuminating, this tome makes a powerful contribution to biography, history and theology. (Apr.)
Wall Street Journal
“… In "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy," Eric Metaxas tells Bonhoeffer's story with passion and theological sophistication, often challenging revisionist accounts that make Bonhoeffer out to be a ‘humanist’ or ethicist for whom religious doctrine was easily disposable. In ‘Bonhoeffer’, we meet a complex, provocative figure: an orthodox Christian who, at a grave historical moment, rejected what he called "cheap grace"—belief without bold and sacrificial action.”
Kirkus
A welcome new biography of one of the 20th century's leading lights.
Metaxas magnificently captures the life of theologian and anti-Nazi activist Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), who "thought it the plain duty of the Christian—and the privilege and honor—to suffer with those who suffered." In the finest treatment of the man since Eberhard Bethge's Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Man of Vision, Man of Courage (1970), Metaxas presents a complete, accessible picture of this important figure, whose story is inspiring, instructive and international in scope. Coming of age in Germany at the close of World War I, the precocious Bonhoeffer quickly became a rising star on the international theological scene. In the 1930s he became a leader of the Confessing Church movement, which stood against Hitler, and helped organize its underground seminary. He also joined the Abwehr, the German intelligence agency in which foment against Hitler was most active. Bonhoeffer took part in the conspiracy to kill Hitler, which caused his imprisonment and eventual hanging, just weeks before the end of the war. Throughout this period he also wrote some of the greatest works of practical theology to come out of the first half of the 20th century. Metaxas rightly focuses on his subject's life, not his theology, though readers will learn plenty about his theology as well. The author makes liberal use of primary sources, which bring Bonhoeffer and other characters to vivid life. For the most part, Metaxas allows this epic story to play itself out, unhindered by commentary; where he does add his own voice, the conclusions are sage.
A definitive Bonhoeffer biography for the 21st century.
Awards bestowed upon BONHOEFFER include:
Kirkus Reviews - one of its TOP 25 Non-Fiction BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Kirkus also named BONHOEFFER as Pleasant Surprise of the Year
Barnes & Noble - one of its TOP 10 Non-Fiction BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Christopher Award (Non-Fiction book - The Christopher Awards honor writers, producers, directors and illustrators in the publishing, film, TV and cable industries whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit.
Canterbury Medal for Religious Freedom – The Canterbury Medal, awarded annually by the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom, recognizes courage in the defense of religious liberty.
2011 Retailer’s Choice Award
2011 John C. Pollock Award for Biography – awarded by the Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham Alabama.
RELEVANT MAGAZINE – one of the TOP 10 BOOKS OF THE YEAR

A Q&A with Eric Metaxas about BONHOEFFER
What led you to write a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
I'd first heard of Bonhoeffer in the summer of 1988 and was simply amazed I'd never heard his story before. It haunted me for years, not least because my mother is German and lived through the war in Germany, and because my grandfather was killed in the war at age 32, reluctantly fighting for a regime he hated. The idea that Bonhoeffer stood up for the Jews because of his Christian faith staggered me and I always thought that someday I would dig deeper into his life.
What were some of the special insights you discovered about the Bonhoeffer family?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer didn't arise out of a vacuum. He came out of a family that as a whole was at the very center of the conspiracy against Hitler from the beginning -- from the early Thirties. It's hard to fathom, but Bonhoeffer (at age 27) himself gave a speech denouncing the Nazi idea of "The Leader Principle (Das FührerPrinzip)" just four days after Hitler became Chancellor in early Feb. 1933! The radio broadcast was cut off before he could finish it, and it's thought the Nazis were behind that. His whole family had an innate sense from the very beginning that Hitler was the worst thing that had ever happened to Germany and that he would destroy the nation of Shiller, Goethe, and Bach. So Bonhoeffer's family plays a huge role in shaping who he was and how he lived.

Were there some unusual or unique sources that you were able to utilize?
There is a spectacular 2003 documentary on Bonhoeffer by Martin Doblmeier. He generously gave me permission to use all of the many interviews that he did with Bonhoeffer's relatives and friends, most of which did not make it into the final cut of the film. The interview with Eberhard Bethge sheds light on Bonhoeffer's attitude toward what happened at Kristallnacht, and it explains how Bonhoeffer could have gotten involved in a plot to assassinate the head of state. The latter, especially, has long needed more explanation and from this interview especially, I feel I've been able to provide that. I also had the privilege of interviewing two people who knew Bonhoeffer. One is Renate Bethge, the widow of Bonhoeffer's best friend and biographer. She was also his niece and figures centrally in much of my book. The other is the elder sister of Bonhoeffer's fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer.
You mention the romance that Bonhoeffer experienced that spanned his final days in prison? Who was the “object of his love”? What is known of their romance?
My book offers the first full accounting of their relationship. That's because the letters between them were not published until 1992 -- by Bonhoeffer's fiancée’s elder sister, whom I met -- but no one ever used that material to tell their story until now. Maria von Wedemeyer was only eighteen when they fell in love. Bonhoeffer was literally twice her age -- 36. Her mother was strongly against their engagement and by the time they were officially engaged Bonhoeffer had been arrested and taken to Tegel prison. Their romance is an incredibly beautiful story, but a sad one, too.
You quote some fairly strong words that Bonhoeffer wrote about the state of Christian faith and practice that he witnessed in the U.S. in the training of pastors. Why did he go to Union Theological Seminary? What were the things that he saw which were redeeming?
Bonhoeffer was a brilliant theologian who studied under some of the finest theologians in the world in Berlin. What was being done for theology at Union was, for him, extremely disappointing, and he said so -- but he said it in his typically gracious way. He went to Union mainly for the experience of being in American and New York for a year. He was too young to be ordained and wasn't sure what to do with the year and his brother had studied in America, so Bonhoeffer thought it would expand his cultural horizons.
When Bonhoeffer used the phrase “religionless Christianity” what did he mean? Why has this been a source of controversy?
After his death, Bonhoeffer's theological legacy became confused because of his few comments in letters to a friend on what he called "religionless Christianity." Some overzealous post-war theologians took these comments far out of context and ran with them, effectively muddying his theology and legacy for two generations. Without trying to, I felt that just by quoting Bonhoeffer and putting things in context I was able to clarify some things in a helpful way for future generations. In many ways it seems clear that Bonhoeffer is not the person who he has been portrayed to be, and I'm happy that the facts can at last speak for themselves. What Bonhoeffer was asserting is that churchgoers in Germany were fixated on "being religious" in the superficial sense, and not on living a life of obedience to the teachings of Christ. This attitude lacked the moral rigor to stand up to the Nazi’s plan that led to the Holocaust, and added to the great tragedy of German history. Bonhoeffer would have been horrified at how his meaning was distorted. His best friend Eberhard Bethge, who wrote the first biography on Bonhoeffer in 1967 and to whom Bonhoeffer wrote his letters containing the thoughts on "religionless Christianity" desperately tried to rectify the misunderstanding. Bethge was simply unable to stem the tide of post-war "God is dead" theology that miscast the real Bonhoeffer.
Does Bonhoeffer have a message for people today?
Faith in God -- and obedience to God, by taking action for what is right, is the only solution to true evil. What Bonhoeffer faced with the Third Reich was simply not something most Germans knew how to deal with and most of them failed in one way or another. Bonhoeffer saw the Nazis for what they were and faced them with an extraordinary faith, which manifests itself -- among other things -- as courage. Bonhoeffer's writings and his whole life were uniquely integrated. One sees that his whole life is the very incarnation of his theology. For him – and this is the main point -- if you don't live the things you claim to believe, you don't really believe them at all. He believed what he wrote and what he taught, and his life and death are the spectacular and clear evidence of that.

Eric Metaxas is a New York Times best-selling author whose biographies, children’s books, and works of popular apologetics have been translated into Albanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and Macedonian.
Eric’s book and movie reviews, essays, humor pieces, and poetry have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Christianity Today, Beliefnet, First Things and other national publications. Woody Allen said the humor articles are “quite funny” and the musician Moby has called Eric "one of the funniest people I know.”
Eric has written for the Veggie Tales series, and is the author of over 30 children's books, including the bestseller Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving. His newest, It’s Time to Sleep, My Love had a printing of 175,000, and was hailed as a “Goodnight Moon for the 21st century.” Sally Taylor, the daughter of Carly Simon & James Taylor, wrote and recorded a lullaby song to Eric’s words.
The prestigious Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony awarded fellowships to Eric for his writing. His book EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD (but were afraid to ask), was acclaimed by Ann B. Davis (Alice on The Brady Bunch), Dick Cavett, and George Gallup. He has written two sequels, Everything ELSE You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask) and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (The Jesus Edition).
Eric is a cultural commentator on CNN and the Fox News Channel. He has been featured on many national radio programs, including NPR’s Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation, Hugh Hewitt, the Bob Grant Show, and The Alan Colmes Show.
He is the founder and host of Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life, a monthly New City event with “entertaining and thought-provoking discussions on life, God, and other small topics.”
Eric’s acclaimed biography, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery was published by Harper SanFrancisco, made the New York Times Bestseller List, and is the “official companion book” to the feature film, also titled Amazing Grace.

http://youtu.be/UinFXzLOQjU

A Heart Revealed

2011-09-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

CBR Reviews:
Emma Malloy's story is revealed in this book. We heard just tiny bits of it in the first book about this family. (A Hope Undaunted) We join this book at the wedding of Kate and Luke, and Emma is here, and this is her story. This book was a good book, but it was so distracting. There were too many side stories in this book, and my main concern was there was entirely too much intimacy in the book. I realize that this was between spouses, and it was handled fairly discreetly, but I don't want to read about that, I want to read the story of Emma. All these things turned what would have been a 4 or 5 star story into a 3 star story for me. I was so disappointed because this story could have been so much more than intimate scenes over and over.

Available September 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell books, a division of Baker Group Publishing.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Press Release

She Left Ireland And A Man Who Broke Her Heart...
Only To Find An American Who Could Restore It.

Julie Lessman’s new novel A Heart Revealed (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3416-9, $14.99, 512 pages, September), the second offering in the “Winds of Change” series, opens in Boston in 1931, where thirty-one-year-old Emma Malloy has fled from an abusive marriage in Ireland.

Although her former husband has left her haunted and deeply scarred. Emma cannot help but develop strong feelings for her friend Charity’s brother, Sean O’Connor.

Described by his sister as very stubborn, Sean maintains that he is not the marrying kind. But as he and Emma draw closer and closer, will her strong, tender heart ensnare him and change his mind?

Transporting readers back to a time when the Empire State Building was brand new and the local speakeasy was a common destination, Lessman outlines the fascinating era and its citizens with deft precision.

Lessman, who has been hailed as a writer with noteworthy skill by Publishers Weekly has once again delivered an epic tale featuring vibrant characterization, wonderful thrills, sharp dialogue, and surprises both large and small.

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose books give readers “Passion With a Purpose,” underscoring her intense passion for both God and romance. Julie is the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards. She was the winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series has recently released with A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.
Revell,

A Very Private Grave

2011-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Monastery Murders
Donna Fletcher Crow
Published by Monarch
2010
ISBN-978-1854249685

CBR Review:

I have to say I tried very very hard to enjoy this book, but it was just a bit too academic for my taste in reading. The author was very precise and accurate with her telling of historical events, but it was often like attending a lecture in college. Which is understandable since two of the main characters are teachers in colleges. Father Anthony, Felecity and Jonathon Breen are on a quest, following the steps of Father Dominic's last pilgrimage. Hoping to find something that will reveal the murderer of Father Dominic and clear Father Anthony's name. Wherever they go, however they find themselves in danger. I really think this book would have held my attention much better if there had been less of the "lecture" type passages, and more action. All in all I think the book was good, just not my cup of tea. I give this author a 3 star rating for her excellent research skills and her ability to translate those skills into her story!

This book was provided for review purposes only by Kregel, no payment was received for this review

Pattern of Wounds

2011-09-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

CBR

Wow another great Dectective Roland March book!! J. Mark Bertrand is a great writer who really presents a great mystery book. I totally enjoyed the book, and while I was not overly comfortable with the portrayal of how the lead character felt about faith and churches, I did enjoy this story. It is a book that is not read in one setting, and I have had many of those lately, I had to process the story. It is also not a story for people who are queasy about death and violent murders, because those are both in this book, they are tastefully portrayed, with not alot of gore, but I would say not for the faint of heart. All in all I give this book a 4 star rating, and my final thoughts about the book are that J. Mark Bertrand is another author who gives me me favorite crime show details in a book!!

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was recieved for this review.

Publisher blurb for this book:

A brutal murder.
An unraveling conviction.

To catch the killer, Roland March must decipher the
PATTERN OF WOUNDS

It's Christmas in Houston, and homicide detective Roland March is on the hunt for a killer. A young woman's brutal stabbing in an affluent neighborhood bears all the hallmarks of a serial murder. The only problem is that March sent the murderer to prison ten years ago. Is it a copycat--or did March convict the wrong man?

Alienated from his colleagues and with a growing rift in his marriage, March receives a series of taunting messages from the killer. The bodies pile up, the pressure builds, and the violence reaches too close to home. Up against an unfathomable evil, March struggles against the clock to understand the hidden message in the pattern of wounds.

AMISH BOOK WINNER!!!

2011-09-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

so I used the ever handy number generator, we had 32 entries for the drawing... so here is the results...True Random Number GeneratorMin:1Max:32 Result:11 comment #11 is the winner!!!

Judy said... 11 I would love to win a copy of Laura's book. She is such a neat lady and Godly woman!judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

Congratulations JudyJohn!!Please email me your shipping address at cndloven@yahoo.com and I will get that sent on to Whitaker House for them to send your book!!!

Contest

2011-09-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

It's Christmas in September - iPad Giveaway and Facebook Party!Enter 9/7-9/26!

Post: It’s Christmas in September!
To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway!

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
$25 gift certificate to iTunes
A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.

A Lancaster County Christmas

2011-09-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:
Two couples, so different and yet each couple struggling . Brought together by a carved owl whistle and snowstorm and divine intervention. Mattie and Sol, and their son Danny met a young English woman in the waiting room of the doctor's office, never dreaming that soon she would come into their lives in a dramatic way. With a big splash, one might say, since that was what happened when she jumped out of her car to run in the forgotten owl whistle to Danny. She left her car in gear and it rolled into the pond, stuck there overnight in a snowstorm.
Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick are on their way to New York to join her father for a Christmas cruise. A week that Jaime is sure will bring huge changes to their lives, since she plans on accepting an offer from a New York agent to represent her in her photography career. She loves C. J. but they have grown distant since the death of her mother and she is not sure that love is enough to keep them together.
Stranded at the Riehl's (Mattie and Sol's) during the snow storm, with her car partly submerged in the pond, Jaime and C. J. find time to think about the issues they are facing, but the disappearance of the Riehl's young son, stops everything but a rescue search. Will God make his voice heard to Jaime and C.J.? Will they hear in time to save their marriage?
This book was great!! I love each book that Suzanne Woods Fisher writes more than the last, they are just so wonderful, and the thing I liked about this one was that she really made the Amish characters come to life for the reader. So often we read of how they complacently accept what life hands them, but in this book we hear their thoughts of life being unfair and that was so refreshing for me. I realize that Amish people are human just as we Englishers are, but the books portray them as near perfect in their faith and that gets frustrating. So this book was very real, and very lifelike for me. A wonderful afternoon read!! 5 stars! 194 pages US $15.99
This book was provided for review purposes only no payment was received for this review.

Available September 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

PRESS RELEASE

A blizzard in Amish country ends up in a weekend of Christmas miracles

A search and rescue for a lost little boy brings two couples--worlds apart--together in a test of faith, fortitude and discovery.
Jaime Fitzpatrick has a plan. She quit her job and is preparing to launch her photography career in New York City—with or without her husband, C.J. Mattie Riehl has problems of her own. A recent miscarriage has plunged her into feelings of despair that baffle her husband, Sol. He likes problems he can fell like trees.

In Suzanne Woods Fisher’s new A Lancaster County Christmas (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1995-1, $15.99, 208 pages, September), the path of these two couples collide as a winter storm blows Jaime and C.J. off-course and into the Riehl’s home on Christmas Eve, including Tucker, C.J.’s Search and Rescue dog,

Awkward and uncomfortable at first, an unlikely alliance develops as Mattie and Sol’s only child wanders off and disappears in the storm. As C.J., Sol and Tucker search for the child, Jaime and Mattie confront fears they had been avoiding. And both women discover the true meaning of Christmas.

With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Fisher offers readers a beautiful story of love, forgiveness, and the miracle of Christmas.

“Fisher weaves a touching story of hope and renewal when two worlds collide at Christmas time.”

—Mary Ann Kinsinger, “A Joyful Chaos” blog.

Suzanne Woods Fisher
is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and nonfiction. In less than two years, she has sold over 350,000 books. Suzanne is the host of the widely popular weekly radio program called　Amish Wisdom. She has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. She lives in California with her family where she raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind in her spare time.

Revell,

Deadly Pursuit

2011-09-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

CBR Review
Intense does not even begin to describe this book. Of all the Irene Hannon books I have read, this one is the most intense, nail biter I have ever read! It gripped me and wouldn't let go. A fiercely gripping book, I cried tears in the hard places, I felt that first flush of romance as the attraction between Allison and Mitch was described. I enjoyed this book, there were parts in it that were hard to read and process, but overall this book is a great book. One review I read described it as a book not to put down, but I did have to put it down, to process certain parts, and truth be known to dry my tears. I love Irene Hannon's writing style and this book did not disappoint!! 337 pages of intense reading pleasure!! US $14.99 5 stars!

Available September 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Press Release from Revell Books
Bestselling author Irene Hannon returns with the second novel in her “Guardians of Justice” series, Deadly Pursuit (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3457-2, $14.99, 352 pages, September). Hannon is the recipient of several high honors in her literary genre. As Library Journal has stated, “RITA Award winner Hannon is a master at character development.”

Alison Taylor is a young, single social worker recovering from a serious accident and a broken relationship, kept busy by her demanding job and her faithful canine companion, Bert. But when her police-detective brother pushes her into a blind date with his new colleague, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan, she’s not sorry—and neither is Mitch. When she begins to receive anonymous calls and threatening gifts, however, their relationship shifts into professional mode as well. And as Mitch works to protect the woman who is fast stealing his heart, he can only pray they’ll find her tormentor before the man’s game turns deadly.
Once again, Hannon delivers an accelerating thrill ride that will keep readers up late into the night.
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, In Harm's Way and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America (she’s a five-time finalist), the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

The Queen

2011-09-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

CBR:
I have to say WOW!! When I first picked up this book, my first thought was ohh man it is going to be hard to read it is so big, 500 plus pages. Well I was wrong! This book was awesome, it had my CSI stuff, it had my profiler stuff, the psychological stuff, all the stuff that I love!! I did have to put it down and pick it back up often, because it would overwhelm me with the intensity of the story. This was not a bad thing, it was just the way I had to process the book! I will not go into the plot of the story in my review, I will say this was the first Steven James book I have read, and the first Agent Bowers book, but I hope it is not the last!!
My final thoughts about the book, or perhaps what the book represented to me, I have always been the kind of person who always preferred to read the book instead of seeing the movie, and finally I have all my favorite type of crime shows in a book!! Great read! 4 stars.

This book is available September 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was provided for review purposes only.

Since I didn't get into the plot of the book above, here is a press release for your enjoyment!

Murder in a small town has worldwide implications

The Queen
is the latest Patrick Bowers thriller

from the author Publishers Weekly calls a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.”

It’s freezing in a small, Northern Wisconsin town when Patrick Bowers is called in to investigate a double homicide not far from his brother’s home. The local law enforcement thinks this is an open-and-shut case: a family is murdered and the missing father is their main suspect.

Once on scene, Bowers suspects there’s more to the story. For one thing, it’s only been a few hours and the Chief of Naval Operations is pressuring the FBI Director to have agents look into the case.

The high-tech conspiracy Bowers uncovers ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East and rocks one small town. The Queen (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1920-3, $14.99, 528 pages, September) by Steven James will have readers turning pages as they try to keep up with Bowers.

Praise for Steven James’s novels:

“Steven James continues to raise the bar in suspense writing.　The Queen takes readers to a new level of suspense and is the best book in the Patrick Bowers series hands down!”—Suspense Magazine

“Thriller writing at its highest level.”—TitleTrakk.com

“James clearly knows how to spin a yarn.”—Booklist

“Exquisite.”—Fiction Fanatics Only

“Pulse-pounding suspense.”—FictionAddict.com

“John Sanford might have to start looking over his shoulder.”—Crimespree magazine

“Exhilarating.”—Mysterious Reviews

“Seriously intense.”—Pop Culture Tuesday

“Steven James has mastered the thriller.”—The Suspense Zone
Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written four other award-winning Patrick Bowers novels as well as many works of nonfiction. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative storytelling on three continents. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.

To learn more about Steve visit him at: stevenjames.net

Interview with Laura Hilton

2011-09-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Harvest of Hearts...

Hi Laura, thank you for agreeing to do this interview for my blog

.
I loved the second book in your series The Amish of Seymour. Shanna Stoltzfus is a young woman who has a mischevious streak, did you model her after someone you know or a combination of people? No, not intentionally. One of my sons has a mischevious streak (and my mom and my uncle) so it might have been unintentional, but that is just the way Shanna came to life in the book. She was a real fun character to write, I never knew what exactly to expect from her.

Your Amish books have a bit of a different twist to them than the standard Amish story, what gave you the idea for this book? I had to come up with an idea for a second and third Amish book when I pitched the first to my agent. I thought about it awhile and this idea came to me, undeveloped, and I never really dreamed I'd have a chance to write it. It was exciting watching this story come to life! But I met an Amish woman who told me that she left the Amish to attend school, but she did eventually return - after she got her education - to be with her family, join the church, and marry Amish. She wasn't a nurse, I don't believe, she never mentioned what degree she earned (probably due to the pride sin) but I considered midwife for Shanna, when I was talking to my midwife and she mentioned being asked to train an Amish woman to deliver babies.

I have enjoyed the man swap scenario in your books, is this a common Amish practice? I don't know how common it is. I first read about it in one of Beverly Lewis' books (I don't remember which one) and the idea piqued my interest. In Ms. Lewis' book, the hero went home and married his girl back home, he didn't marry in the new community. I do know that Amish change communities, usually sending boys (or girls) to live with relatives in different districts or even states for courting and marriage purposes. Some Amish communities have rules that you can't court anyone in your own district. And Amish youth go all over the place during their rumspringe -- really, you'd be surprised. I know man swaps have happened, and I heard that some have even had a girl swap - but I haven't been able to verify this yet.

Your boys are near the same age as Shanna is in this book, do you draw from your experiences with them for research for your books? My oldest son is really strong willed (I hear that this is common with the first born) and Shanna is a first born child. But none of my children have ever run away from home to pursue their own agenda (yet--and I hope they don't!) But I guess being with children (men) that age, I know pretty much how they behave and think...

Share a bit about your family for any of our readers who may be new to Laura V. Hilton books. I am going to be celebrating my 25th anniversary with my husband this year - and we have five children. I homeschool - my oldest two boys are homeschool graduates and in college. My oldest daughter is soon to be sixteen, and my "baby" is six.

I know there is a book three in this series, when can we expect it to come out? Promised to Another is scheduled for release in April of 2012. It is the story of Becky's (Patchwork Dreams) best friend, Annie--and another man from Pennsylvania, Joshua Esh. Shanna will make an appearance in this last book too. I think she's still just as mischevious.

If you have a question you would like to have Laura answer please leave a comment and she will check back in with the answers..

Be sure to check the Sunday (September 11th) post for a giveaway of this book...

Thanks to Whitaker House, and Cathy Hickling for making this giveaway possible.

Laura's books are available on Amazon.com or through Whitaker House and also ask for it by publisher and author name at your local Christian bookstore!!

Giveaway for Laura's V. Hiltons book

2011-09-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

We are having a drawing for Laura's second book!!! Also this week, we will have an interview with Laura.

Please leave a comment on this post for your chance to win this book. I will have the drawing for the winner of this book on Monday September 19th. Please be sure to leave an email address where you can be contacted if your name is drawn.

(If you will tweet, or facebook this and come back with a link to that and leave a second comment you will recieve a second entry into the drawing!!)

Larkspur Cove | Review

2011-09-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:

An awesome book from Lisa Wingate! A story of a mom finding herself in the middle of having to start over. Her husband has left her for another woman and now she has come 'home' to live in her parents lake house to start over. She and her teenage son. Life is not easy, when you don't know what your facing. A new career that she is so unsure of herself in, parenting an angry teenage son because his life has changed so drastically, dealing with a dead beat ex-husband who won't return her son's calls, and new friends. Andrea Henderson is not sure where life is taking her, but she knows anything has to be better than the last year has been for her.
Mart McClendon is back on Moses Lake, doing the things he loves as a game warden. Most of the old timers do not recognize him as the kid who lived there with his family when he was a young teenager and that is fine with him, it means not having to answer questions about his family. His brothers who have passed away especially.
This story had me hooked from page one and I was sad to see it end, a great story! I enjoyed the story and was thrilled to get to read and review the book. (Thank you Jim @ Bethany House) 355 pages US $14.99 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes, no payment was received for this review.

Fairer than Morning | Review

2011-09-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:
This debut novel from Rosslyn Elliot is sure to be a book you will want to read! Set in the early 1820's we are introduced to the lovely Ann Miller. Ann is helping her father take care of her younger sisters following the death of their mother in childbirth with the youngest daughter. Her father a circuit riding minister and a saddle maker, depends greatly on Ann to take care of the girls. A proposal which has to be refused because her father feels she is too young has Ann chaffing at the responsibilities placed upon her. A trip to Pittsburgh with her father will change all this. She meets young Will Hanby a young apprentice to Master Jacob Good, also a saddler maker. Meeting Will, makes Ann realize that her life is pampered compared to Will who serves an evil master. A tragic event where Ann is nearly violated leads to a duel that leaves a man dead and Ann realizes that life in her small village is looking better. What will her heart lead her to do? Finally passing the age her father feels is old enough for her to marry, her beau comes back to try to win her hand, but she has changed, what will she choose? This novel was full of twists and turns, your interest was peaked as each turn in the story revealed more of Ms Elliot's writing talent. I truly enjoyed this book, and wait with eager anticipation for the next book in The Saddler's Legacy series. 393 pages US $15.99 Published by Thomas Nelson 4 star rating
This book was provided for review purposes only. No payment was received for this review

About Rosslyn:

Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocated so often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. With the help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University , where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as a schoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University , where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. She lives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches in children's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Fairer-Morning-Saddlers-Legacy-Novel/dp/1595547851/ref=sprightly-20

See what other bloggers are saying about this book

Fairer than Morning | Giveaway

2011-09-08T01:08:00.000-07:00

Enter 9/1-9/20!

Post:

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic.

Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well-written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here.

Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest -

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

Grace for the Good Girl

2011-09-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Letting Go of the Try Hard Life
Emily P. Freeman
2011
Revell
Non-fiction/ChristianLiving/Women's Interest

Emily P. Freeman brings us a book that will free you from trying to live up the image you have created for yourself in your head. It will show you that it is ok to be you. However you may find it hard to read as it helps you peel back the layers exposing yourself to who you really are. She will show you that often we get in her heads that as good girls (women) that we have to hide behind different things, whether it is our performance, our acts of service, our strenths and responsibilites, we all will try to hide behind something. This book will peel away those hiding places, revealing exactly what we do and what we need to do.
With an easy to follow flow, this book is a quick read, that can reveal much truth, you need to make sure to add this to your reading list. The back of the book includes a seven week leaders guide for group study. 254 pages US $13.99 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only no payment was received for this review.
Available September 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Woman's Secret for Confident Living

2011-09-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Becoming Who God Made You to Be
Karol Ladd
2011
Harvest House Publishers
Non Fiction/Christian Living/Women's Interest

Who does God want you to be? Have you ever thought of that? Do you think you have arrived at the point and are living out your life as God intended? Karol Ladd's new book, will guide you in the right direction for finding the answers to these questions.
A short, easy to read book that you can study alone, or with a group of girlfriends, you will find out that God has much more for you, than most of us are attaining to.
Find your value and you identity in Christ. Be confident, but don't expect the confidence of the world to be the confidence you need in life. Grow your relationships, God's way! Bring joy and assurance to the people around you. All of these subjects and topics are covered in this book, she ends each section with confidence building steps for you to follow. Definitely you will not want to miss out on this book.
My favorite part of the book is the "Glorious Makeover" (chapter seven) we often focus on the outside too much and forget our true beauty comes from within and that if we seek His kingdom first that our true beauty will shine!
This book will bless you with the little side stories (I loved the one about the southern woman telling her that her dress 'flatters you to bits'), each story brings significance to the section it is related in. A great book that I will happily pass along to friends to share. 207 pages 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

A Harvest of Hearts

2011-09-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Book Two
The Amish of Seymour
Laura V. Hilton
Releases September 2011
Whitaker House
Fiction/Amish/Romance

Shanna Stoltzfus is a bad girl who is really a good girl. Just my type of person, a good person at heart with a mischevious streak, a bit irreverent, but knows what is important. Shanna like many of us does not like rules that are not steady, and often different bishops intrepret things differently, thus she is rather unsure about the Amish faith. Not unsure about God, just about being Amish. She runs away from the rules and goes to nursing school, but summer break brings a dilemna, her class is going on a mission trip to Mexico, but she was unable to raise the funds to go, and cannot stay on campus during the break, so she turns to the only place she knows, home. Will she find acceptance or rejection?
One thing she does find that is totally unexpected is Matthew Yoder, one of the men from Pennsylvania, who came for the man swap. He is boarding with her family and helping her dad in the furniture shop. His eyes and his personality make Shanna rethink her career choice and her return to school.
I loved this book, I think it is my favorite in the series thus far. Shanna was a character I could totally relate to, I felt her pain and struggle with the rules and with feeling rejected, I also felt her joy in the simple things of life. I have to say I did cry in this book, I could feel the pain and agony she was facing. 260 pages $9.99 US 5 stars.

Special thanks to Cathy Hickling @ Whitaker House for sending me the ARC of this book for review.

Purple Knot | Book Review

2011-08-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Shades of Hope Book One
Raquel Byrnes
2011
White Rose Publishing
Fiction/Suspense

CBR Review:
Reyna Cruz, has been friends with twins Summer and Jimmy Corbeau since they were in high school. A poor scholarship student at an elite school, she was the target for a school bully, until Jimmy put a stop to it all. She fell in love with Jimmy and they had great plans to get married, but a horrible accident caused her to loose her baby, and to loose herself at the same time. Now years later she has tried to rescue Summer from an abusive husband, but she will not leave. It all comes to a head when an intruder breaks into Summer's home and beats her to the point of no return, and now she has died leaving a baby, and many questions. Questions that Reyna is determined to find the answers to. Questions that Jimmy, Summer's twin needs answered. Beginning with who is responsible for Summer's death, and who is now trying to kill Reyna? Filled with suspense, danger and a redemptive love story, you will greatly enjoy this book! This book was the kind you do not put down till you finish it! This was the first book I have read by this author, not positive if it is a debut novel, but it is a well written story, with a great message. She kept it pure and clean with a great Christian message! I give this book a 4 star rating!

This book was provided for review purposes, no payment was received for this review.

Learn more about Raquel at her website

Blue Skies Tomorrow| Review

2011-08-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:
Another awesome book from Sarah Sundin. I too am sad to see this last book in this series, but have so enjoyed the Novak brothers, each brother so different in personality and each with a different story. Kind hearted Ray, so torn with emotions concerning combat, lives under a cloud. A whispering and mutterings by people about his cowardice concerning combat, he throws himself into training combat pilots but is dismayed when he is pulled from that duty and sent to work in supply, because they are now only allowing returning pilots to conduct training for combat pilots.
Helen is a broken woman, she just cannot admit it to herself or others, the widow of an abusive husband, she is determined to play the role of a grieving widow, what she does not count on is the interference from her in-laws and her little boy's own violent tendencies. How will she ever overcome these obstacles. Falling in love with Ray, is a start but the disapproval of her in-laws makes her hesitant to show her care openly. War will bring this all to a head!
Sarah Sundin is a fantastic author, who brings you into the story, you feel like you would like to reach through the book and shake some sense into Helen on some pages, and you really want to stand up for her when she faces her violent father in law. These feelings are only possible because of Sarah's great story telling abilities, I totally love her writing style, and I look forward to what is next from Sarah's writing! 427 pages $14.99 US 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was provided for this review.
Available August 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sarah Sundin KINDLE Giveaway

2011-08-27T00:42:00.000-07:00

From Sarah Sundin's newsletter

Blue Skies Tomorrow Kindle Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Blue Skies Tomorrow, the final installment of the Wings of Glory series, I've (Sarah)teamed up with Litfuse Publicty for a contest and blog tour. One winner will receive A Vintage Kindle Prize Package!

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Handmade vintage apron for you and a friend (see photo)

* Blue Skies Tomorrow (for Kindle)

The contest starts today, August 22, 2011 and runs through September 10, 2011. The winner will be announced September 12 on Sarah's Blog.

For rules and eligibility, and to enter, please click on the icon to the left or visit this link: Contest Link.

To follow the blog tour, please see this link: Litfuse Publicity

Launch Party!

I'm planning a fun launch party for Sunday, August 28, 2011 at El Campanil Theatre in Antioch, California. This gorgeous theater is pictured on the cover of Blue Skies Tomorrow and figures into several story scenes. The party is in conjunction with a showing of the 1946 classic movie, The Best Years of Our Lives.

The doors open at 1 pm, and the movie starts at 2 pm. Meet me in the lobby before or after the movie. I will be signing books, giving away some fun things (books, Big Band CDs, and the vintage aprons pictured above!) - plus there will be free popcorn!

To find out how to get a free ticket for the event, please send an email to sarah@sarahsundin.com, letting me know how many guests to expect.

For more info, please visit El Campanil's Website. While you're there, check out the photos from the amazing restoration process.

Book Signings

Several book signings are coming soon to northern and southern California!

* August 27, 2011, 2-4 pm: Barnes & Noble, Antioch CA (Store Link)

* September 3, 2011 1-3 pm: Tustin LifeWay Christian Store, Tustin CA - Grand Opening with multiple authors! (Tustin LifeWay)

* September 3, 2011 4-6 pm: Brea LifeWay Christian Store, Brea CA. (Brea LifeWay). ***PLEASE NOTE: This is a correction! I had the incorrect time in last month's newsletter!!!****

I hope to see you there!

Bookmarks and postcards for Blue Skies Tomorrow are available! If you're interested, send an e-mail to Sarah's email with your name, mailing address, and the number of bookmarks and/or postcards you'd like, and I'll mail them to you soon.

A Woman's Walk in Truth

2011-08-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

CBR Review: An adorable little book, and I mean it is a small compact book in a bright cover with a satin bookmark. The kind of book you love leaving on your bedside table because it is so lovely and it is great reading also. Super short stories of God's faithfulness, you will be encourage by each page of this book, each story ends with either a prayer of a Bible verse and then a phrase titled "This I believe" which will reinforce the message of the story. I enjoyed each story and loved the small book, it was easy to fit into a purse to take it along for reading as I waited for appointments and also easy to grab for a short pick me up throughout the day. Great book! 285 pages $9.99 US 4 stars. This book was provided for review purposes only and no payment was recieved for this review.

A Woman's Walk in Truth

Vonette Bright, award-winning radio host and founder of Women Today ministries, shares this beautiful padded hardcover filled with refreshing devotions, biblical guidance, “This I Believe” statements, and stories of women modeling remarkable faith to encourage all women to walk in the truth, power, and joy of God’s Word.

Vonette Bright is an award-winning communicator, founder of Women Today, and cofounder of Campus Crusade for Christ International with her late husband, Dr. Bill Bright. A respected leader, sought after speaker, popular author, and well-known radio host, Vonette is committed to sharing God’s powerful truth with women all over the world.

DiscoverGod.com

Hidden Affections

2011-08-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

A Novel
Delia Parr
2011
Bethany House
Fiction/Historical Romance

CBR Review:
Set in 1831 Annabelle Tyler has found herself in a position that is shameful and a situation she never dreamed of being in. Running away from her home town after her mother's death, shamed because she is a divorced woman who has been duped by the man she thought was the love of her life. He has taken her money that was her inheritance, divorced her and married another woman who is rich, and left Annabelle destitute. Shamed and fleeing the gossip and judgement of people she thought were friends, she finds herself in the middle of what is a bigger mess than she left. Held up on the stage by highway robbers, she and the handsome young man are handcuffed to the stage and left, found by the local sherriff and others, they are forced into a marriage neither of them wants. How in the world will they get out of this? Better yet, how will she get out of this with her heart intact? A wonderful story of how a bad situation was turned around. I enjoyed this book very much. Delia Parr is a great writer and you will truly enjoy this story. I give this book a 4 star rating, 347 pages, $14.99 US
This book was provided for review purposes only by Bethany House. No payment was received for this review.

Mugabe and the White African

2011-08-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

CBR Review:

Mugabe and the White African was a really hard book to read. The terror and the brutality that the white farmers of Zimbabwe is astonishing and hard to read about. It will make you question why we haven't heard very much about this struggle. Sure there have been some reports, but until the release of this book, I would say the average American has been uninformed about this matter. Ben Freeth does an excellent job to bring out this story in a way that you can no longer turn away and say that is not happening anymore. You have to recognize the horrors that these white African's have faced. A story that will tear at your heartstrings and cause you to weep, yet still a story we all need to hear. Pray for Zimbabwe should be our theme!! See the press release link below for more 1information and also take time to go to PBS and view the documentary. A life changing story that must be heard. This is not a story for the faint of heart, be forewarned this is a story of violence, but it must be told and we must hear this story. Published by Lion Hudson 252 pages US $14.95 4stars!

About Mugabe and the White African:

Ben Freeth has an extraordinary story to tell. Like that of many white farmers, his family's land was "reclaimed" for redistribution by Mugabe's government.

But Ben's family fought back. Appealing to international law, they instigated a suit against Mugabe's government in the SADC, the Southern African equivalent of NATO. The case was deferred time and again while Mugabe's men pulled strings. But after Freeth and his parents-in-law were abducted and beaten within inches of death in 2008, the SADC deemed any further delay to be an obstruction of justice. The case was heard, and was successful on all counts.

But the story doesn't end there. In 2009 the family farm was burned to the ground. The fight for justice in Zimbabwe is far from over--this book is for anyone who wants to see into the heart of one of today's hardest places and how human dignity flourishes even in the most adverse circumstances.

Read the press release for more: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs019/1101807863309/archive/1106690411054.html

The PBS debut of Mugabe and the White African, the award-winning documentary of the same name, was on July 26. Watch now at PBS: http://www.pbs.org/pov/mugabe/.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Mugabe-White-African-Ben-Freeth/dp/0745955460/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310054013&sr=sprightly-20

About the Ben Freeth:

Ben Freeth, MBE, is a British-born Zimbabwean farmer. He has lived in Zimbabwe most of his life and is raising his three young children there, together with his wife Laura. Ben's story has already been the subject of an award-winning documentary which won Best Documentary 2009 (British Independent Film Awards), was nominated for the BAFTA Outstanding Debut Film 2010, and shortlisted for an Oscar in 2010

Amish Values for Your Family

2011-08-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

What We Can Learn from the Simple Life
Suzanne Woods Fisher
2011
Revell
Non Fiction/Christian Living

What can we learn from the Amish? Is their simple life and simple ways the answer to slowing down our hustle and bustle life? Can we cause less stress by implementing some of the ways they do things?
Maybe so, but I think part of the stress in our lives is caused by the way we never give ourselves a chance to slow down and enjoy life. Take everything as it comes. This is the lesson I walked away from this book with, we have to learn that our worries, and our frets will not change circumstances, they were just cause us heartburn, lol.
In this book you will find all sorts of short stories that show that everyday life with the Amish is about taking each day as it comes. Accepting those things we cannot change and growing in grace as we do. One of the stories that struck me as particulary poignant was the story of the lady doing laundry, the old fashioned way, boiling it in a pot over the open fire, wringing it out with an old wringer. When her husband offered to purchase her a gas powered machine, she refused it because it was the time she took to pray for each of her children as she did their laundry. How many times do we hurry through our chores and housework fretting over the time it is taking to do it, rather than thinking about praying for our families and friends during that time. A great lesson for us all!! This book was an enjoyable quick read, with short stories throughout. Great book! 184 pages $12.99 US 4 stars!

Available August 2011 from your favorite bookseller of Revell Books, a division of Baker House Publishing.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Contest from Suzanne Woods Fisher

2011-08-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Enter 8/15 - 8/31!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of Amish Values for Your Family, her latest non-fiction release. "It offers loving ways to bring your fractured home back to life-Amish style. Read it and apply generously! It’s a beautiful book-funny, charming, soulful, and beautiful." -Mary Ann Kirkby

Read the reviews here.

To celebrate the release of Amish Values for Your Family, Suzanne has teamed up her publisher Revell Books to giveaway a Kindle, and with Bill Coleman (the amazing photographer used on Suzanne’s book covers) to give away a signed Bill Coleman original.

One Grand Prize winner will receive an Amish Values Prize Package (valued at over $200) and includes:

* A brand new KINDLE

* A Signed Bill Coleman original

* Amish Values for Your Family (for KINDLE)

Click on one of the icons to enter. Winner will be announced on 9/2 at Suzanne’s blog. Be sure to stop by the blogs on Suzanne’s blog tour – many have copies of Amish Values for Your Family to give away.

But, wait there's more! Suzanne is running a Bill Coleman caption contest during the month of August on her blog. Title one of Bill’s gorgeous photos for a chance to win a print from Bill’s Amish Photo site and/or a copy of Amish Values for Your Family.

The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional

2011-08-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Stormie Omartian
Harvest House Publishers
2011
Non-Fiction/Christian Living/Women

CBR Review: I love devotional books, they are quick little stories that inspire you. What better way to be inspired than to learn and read about better ways to be a praying wife? In these devotions and prayers (there is a prayer included with each devotional reading) you will find that Stormie has devoted subject and prayers for us the wives, for our husbands and for our marriages, they are not seperated but alternate in the order which they are presented in the book. We must learn the importance of praying for ourselves along with praying for our husbands. A great book that can be read in one setting or you can read as many each day as you like. I personally like to flip through the book and read at random. However I do have plans to incorporate this devotional with daily quiet time. Great book, interesting topics, well written with detailed prayers!! You cannot go wrong buying this book for your personal library! 304 pages US $14.99 4 stars! This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review. Thank you Harvest House Publishing!

The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional

In 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures, Stormie Omartian offers a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage. These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, and provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces.

View the book trailer here!

Stormie Omartian is the bestselling author (more than 13 million books sold) of The Power of a Praying^®series, which includes The Power of Praying^®for Your Adult Children, The Power of a Praying^® Wife,The Power of a Praying^® Husband, and The Power of Prayer^™to Change Your Marriage. Her many other books include Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On, The Prayer That Changes Everything^®, The Power of a Praying^® Woman,and The Power of Praying^® Through the Bible. Stormie and her husband, Michael, have been married more than 37 years and are the parents of two adult children.

www.StormieOmartian.com

The Colonel's Lady

2011-08-15T02:42:00.000-07:00

Laura Frantz
2011
Revell
Fiction/Historical Romance

CBR Review:
Laura Frantz once again reveals her expertise in sharing a story from the 18th century with such historical accuracy. Set in Kentucke, the story of beautiful Roxanne Rowan unfolds. Traveling from her home in Virginia after being cast aside by her fiance, her only thought is to get to her father at Fort Endeavor. His service in the military was nearing an end and she hoped to surprise him, by arriving unannounced. Instead she is devastated to find he is not there, but out on a winter campaign. The arrival of the returning soldiers from the campaign do not bring her father home to the fort, instead Roxanne's devastation deepens as she finds out her father was killed in the campaign. What she will do and how she will survive and support herself is beyond her grasp to try to understand, she only knows that at the moment due to the hostilities of the Indians and the British, she cannot leave Fort Endeavor.
A wonderful story, written in true Laura Frantz style, clear concise and interesting. While staying true to the historical period, she doesn't get bogged down by history. A great story you will not want to miss. A story I easily give a 4 star rating! 406 pages US $14.99
Available August 2011 from your favorite seller of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

INTERVIEW | Greg Mitchell author of The Strange man

2011-08-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

CBR: Welcome to Cindy's Book Reviews, I enjoyed your new book The Strange Man (see my review here) It was so different than normal Christian fiction I just had to get to know you a bit better, so tell us a bit about Greg Mitchell.

I’m a thirty-two-year-old guy living in Paragould, Arkansas. I’m a husband and the father of two little girls. By day I work at the family business silk screenprinting caps, and by night, once the kids go to bed, I write stories about monsters and the faithful few who combat them.

CBR:　While the book is a bit dark, and intensely scary in some places, it is still written from a Christian perspective, what was your purpose in writing the book?

The book—the whole The Coming Evil series, really—is just a culmination of me. Long before I was even allowed to watch scary movies, I remember being in elementary school and gravitating towards the books in the library about “real life” ghost stories and urban legends. I think it stems from the fact that I was a pretty fearful little kid. Reading books about monsters, though sometimes terrifying, gave me a way to face fear in general. I actually think that scary stories are a healthy part of a kid’s development. It helps them to process those emotions and prepares them for real life—which can be very scary at times. To this day, I still love monsters and Halloween and all that garish ridiculous fun. It reminds me of a simpler time in my youth when the worst thing I had to dread was the monster in my closet.

In light of all of that, I think that faith serves the same purpose many times. When we’re afraid, when life is out of our control, when we get that terrible phone call—we can turn to our faith. Monster stories are a way to poke fun or to “shrink” real-life evil or danger into a fun-sized morsel that’s easier to swallow. In the same way, as we draw closer to God in our spiritual walk, in studying our Bible, in prayer, we understand how big—how awesome—God is and, again, our problems seem to shrink. Growing up as a devout Christian and an ardent lover of all-things spooky, it seemed a perfect marriage to me to write a book like The Strange Man. It’s everything I love, wrapped up in these characters and this world. While there’s a gospel message in the book, to me the real message I was trying to convey was one of empowerment. One of standing up to our bogeymen, drawing near to God, and fighting back our fears.

CBR:　In the book, there were some things that struck me as totally funny, and I am sure that part of it is due to growing up as a PK myself, but the name of the church makes me smile every time I read it, were you purposely being funny with the name or is there a story behind the name of the church?

Yeah, the Good Church of the Faithful! It came from a very ironic place. I never wanted to nail down what denomination the church is, so I wanted a name that was sort of vague, but unique. The Coming Evil Trilogy actually began life as a screenplay I was trying to get produced and, in the scene headings in the script, you’ve got to put things like “INT. DINER – NIGHT” to establish that you’re inside a diner at night. I started calling the church “The Good Church of the Faithful” in the scene headings—not intending it to be the actual name—but just as a funny aside to myself. Because the people in this church really aren’t that faithful. It was supposed to be really country “good ole boy” sounding as well as ironic in that there’s very little “good” or “faithful” about some of the people in this church—like the gossiping old ladies. When I started turning the screenplay into a novel, I started referring to the church by that name, thinking I’d change it later, but it grew on me.

CBR:　The book ended in a cliffhanger so to speak, and while it makes me really look forward to book two, was it hard to leave a book ending like that?　 And when is book two due out?

In the original screenplay, there was one more scene after the cliffhanger that sort of wrapped everything up into a tidy bow and explained everything. When I was writing the novel, I had every intention of following through to that scene, but as I was writing the scene that the book ends on now, I just stopped, looked at it, and realized that this was my ending. It seemed better to me to leave things semi-resolved and to build anticipation for Book Two. Some people have not been happy with the cliffhanger, but this has always been billed as a trilogy. To me, it’s really all one big story, sliced into three parts. Read together, I think it’s going to be really neat.

As for Book Two, it is wrapped! All that’s left on that is cover art and typesetting. It’s called Enemies of the Cross and it picks up about fifteen minutes after The Strange Man’s dramatic end. The books run right into each other. It answers a lot of questions and raises even more—which, of course, will be answered in Book Three. Enemies of the Cross will be in stores February 2012.

CBR:　Well we all hope that you are working on book two already, but can you share any about what is next for Greg Mitchell fans?

The Coming Evil Trilogy has been a huge, huge part of my life for over ten years now, and it continues to be the heartbeat of me as a writer. Writing these characters is like coming home for me. I’m currently doing rewrites on Book Three, the concluding chapter of the trilogy, and trying very hard to get that right. I’ve got a lot of expectations for that book and want to blow the fans away. When I’m not working on that, I’m also writing two other novels—one an even more intense horror novel, the other a sci-fi action book. I’m trying to get a comic book concept off the ground, I’m writing short stories, and I’m also penning an unofficial reference book to the Back to the Future franchise. It’s a crazy time!

CBR:　Do you think living in small town rural Arkansas (I have been to Paragould　 LOL) influenced any of the characters in your book?　 I could totally see some of the people from my small hometown in your characters.　

Oh, absolutely I was influenced. The Strange Man and its sequels are definitely about small town people with small town lives. I’ve read the backs of Christian Fiction novels and it seems that the heroes are always a “beautiful archeologist” or “hotshot attorney” or “cunning government agent” or whatever. I wanted to see books about the guy that pumps your gas (well, at least, back when people still pumped your gas). I like writing about the Heartland, simple folk, and unassuming heroes. In Paragould, I’m used to seeing diners filled with blue collar workers talking about “ol’ so-and-so up yonder”. I think small towns can feel very safe, very warm, very secluded—which, from a scary story point of view, makes them a perfect target for a monster like the Strange Man. But I also think that a small-town sense of community can be a source of strength in facing tragedy. I’m proud to be a small town guy.

CBR:　What has been the reaction of your peers, your church family, and your own family to your book?

Everybody has been really supportive. Anyone who’s known me for very long recognizes that I’m a big kid who still likes to talk about werewolves and vampires and play video games and watch monster movies. I’m still twelve years old. I don’t think anyone believes I’m dabbling in the real-life occult or anything. It’s fantasy. Some readers are having to get used to the nature of The Strange Man. I’m writing a book about Christians and their struggles, so I don’t shy away from talking about God within the context of the story. I’m also writing an unapologetic monster book. I’ve always thought of The Strange Man as a really potent book. It’s very scary and it’s very “Christian”. It doesn’t pull back on either front. But, you know, I first started writing this when I was in my young twenties and had something to say and something to prove. It’s very much a young man’s book. Very “fight the power” and all about self-expression.

CBR: Any last thoughts you would like to leave with the readers?　 Also feel free to share your website address, where your books can be purchased.　

First, I want to say thank you, Cindy, for letting me stop by and talk up the book! And I want to thank everyone who’s been reading. As for availability, The Strange Man is on the shelves in every major bookstore chain across the country. If you can’t find it, there’s always Amazon. For eBook readers, The Strange Man is out for the Nook and the Kindle. I invite everybody over to my blog at www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com where they can stay updated on the series and my other projects. On that site, I’ve also got a number of short stories that take place before The Strange Man that give you more detail into the lives of the characters. They’re fun, oftentimes scary, and were a real hoot to write. Plus, they’re designed so that you don’t have to have read The Strange Man to understand what’s going on—and they don’t ruin any surprises in the book. They’re just supplemental stories. I’ve had a great time talking, here, and thanks, everybody, for your support.

CBR: Thanks Greg for taking this time to let my readers know more about you and your work!! Readers you will want to read this book!!