Words

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Words B&H Books (February 1, 2011) by Ginny Yttrup



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ginny Yttrup is an author, freelance writer, and writing coach. As she writes, speaks, and coaches, her prayer is that God will use her words to replace the lies so many believe about themselves with the truth of His unconditional love and grace. To see someone grasp, perhaps for the first time, the truth of God's love, is truly an honor. Through a relationship with the Truth, Jesus Christ, the bonds of shame are loosed and freedom abounds!



When Ginny is not working, she loves spending time with her two college-age sons or with friends. She is surrounded by the most amazing people--each a gift in their own way. If she can spend time outdoors with those she love, it's even better. And she thoroughly adores her dog, Bear. He's a book lover too.



She has two grown sons and lives near Sacramento, California. Words is her first novel.



ABOUT THE BOOK

"I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I'd like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I'd open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can't take them."



Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.



Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.



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



Watch the book trailer video:

Lone Star Intrigue

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Lone Star Intrigue  Avon Inspire (February 1, 2011)  by  Debra White Smith  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Debra White Smith is a seasoned Christian author, speaker, and media personality who has been regularly publishing books for over a decade. In the last twelve years, she has accumulated over 50 books sales to her credit with over 1 million books in print. Her titles include such life-changing books as Romancing Your Husband, Romancing Your Wife, The Divine Romance: Developing Intimacy with God, the The Lonestar Intrigue fiction series, and The Jane Austen fiction series.


As a woman of God, Debra is committed to the highest standards of integrity and to spending hours a week being still before the Father, staying in tune with Him, and listening for His voice of direction in all she does. This commitment to romancing the Lord, coupled with her lifestyle of devouring, analyzing, and dissecting the Word of God has allowed God to bring about a miracle of deliverance and healing in Debra's spirit, mind, and soul. For you see, Debra holds a double Ph.D. from the toughest schools in the world. The first Ph.D. from the "School of Hard Knocks" and the second, from the "School of Very Hard Knocks." Aside from that, she holds an M.A. in English from the University of Texas.


Along with Debra's being voted a fiction-reader favorite several times, her book Romancing Your Husband was a finalist in the 2003 Gold Medallion Awards. And, her Austen Series novel First Impressions was a finalist in the 2005 Retailer's Choice Awards. Debra has been a popular media guest across the nation, including Fox TV, The 700 Club, ABC Radio, USA Radio Network, and Moody Broadcasting. Her favorite hobbies include fishing, bargain-hunting, and swimming with her family. Debra also vows she would walk 50 miles for a scoop of German Chocolate ice cream.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the small town of Bullard, Texas, the Mansfield brothers seem to have everything in order . . . except for their love lives. Jack is the lonely police chief still pining after Charli, his college girlfriend. Younger brother Sonny keeps busy on the road as a private investigator, and a secret from his past prevents him from finding someone to settle down with. But all that is about to change...


Read the two stories...

In Texas Heat, Charli is wrongly accused of a terrible crime. Now Jack must arrest the one woman he's ever loved and risk everything to prove her innocence and save her life.

In Texas Pursuit, a single mother is a target of a relentless stalker—and Sonny finds himself both the only man who can protect her and the one who inadvertently leads danger back into her world.

Page-turning novels of romance and suspense, the Lone Star Intrigue series will give you faith in the power of love, and remind you that having faith in a God who redeems our mistakes is the greatest love story of all.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Lone Star Intrigue, go HERE.

Promises to Keep

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Promises to Keep  Bethany House (February 1, 2011)  by  Ann Tatlock  



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association "Book of the Year" in fiction for both All the Way Home and I'll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her "one of Christian fiction's better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories." Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina.


ABOUT THE BOOK  

Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper.


Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life, and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.

Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else. When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.

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

Watch the book trailer:

Another Dawn - Review

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Another Dawn  Bethany House (February 1, 2011)  by  Kathryn Cushman  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. After practicing as a pharmacist, she left her career to marry and begin a family and has since pursued her dream of writing.

Other books by Kathryn, A Promise to Remember was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in the Women’s Fiction category, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.

Leaving Yesterday, her third novel, was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Now her fifth book, Another Dawn, has arrived in stores, and I’m very excited about it!

On the homefront, Kathryn has been married to Lee for over twenty years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of junior high and high school. They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for the last nineteen years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feels blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)

ABOUT THE BOOK    

Grace Graham is back in Tennessee with her four-year-old son on a short unpaid leave from work, helping her father recover from surgery and spending time with her sister.

Shoal Creek seems more backward than ever after her years in California, and it's hard to find organic food anywhere. When the unthinkable happens and her son is diagnosed with measles, Grace's fears over modern medicine take a dangerous turn.

Worse, the town has fallen into quarantine and its residents focus their anger and blame on Grace. She is alone and scared, until one brave woman chooses to reach out a hand of forgiveness and mercy. But when the outbreak takes a life-threatening turn, will Grace be able to forgive herself?

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

My Review:

Another Dawn is a great story that deals with a real issue, to immunize your children or not.  Is the risk of side effects greater than the risk of disease.  This is a dilemma Grace finds herself in with her son.  Not only is she dealing with the consequences of that decision, she is in the middle of a broken engagement, she is harboring unforgiveness towards her father, and she is a runner.  Running from anything and everything that makes her uncomfortable.  She feels she has been given the short end of the stick so many times and she doesn’t believe that will ever change.  When everything around her starts falling apart, she realizes she is going to have to quit running and make some life changes or she is going to lose everything.

I received Another Dawn from Kathryn Cushman through Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for my honest opinion.  I would recommend this book to everyone.  There is lots in it we can all learn from.

Happy Reading

Unplanned - Review

About the Author:

Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in her first actual abortion procedure, walked across the road to join the Coalition for Life. 

About the Book:

Unplanned is a heartstopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue. Telling Abby’s story from both sides of the abortion clinic property line, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the life versus rights debate and helping women who face crisis pregnancies.

Facts about Abortion in the United States 

Unless otherwise noted, statistics are from the Alan Guttmacher Institute1 (AGI): 

1. 22 percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.2 

2. Over 50 million abortions have taken place in the United States since 1973.3 

3. Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures undergone by women aged 15–44 in the US.4 

4. An abortion takes place every 24 seconds. Over 3,600 abortions occur each day in the United 

States.5 

5. Planned Parenthood reported 305,310 abortions and 4,912 adoption referrals during 2007.6 

6. In 2008, one-third of Planned Parenthood funding came through government grants from United 

States tax dollars.7 

7. 31 percent of all abortions in the United States are paid for by tax dollars through Medicaid.8 

8. In the United States, 78 percent of women report a religious affiliation at the time of their abortion.9 

9. One-third of women in the United States will have an abortion before the age of 45.  

10. About 61 percent of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children.10 

11. In the United States, 49 percent of all African-American pregnancies end in abortion—three times 

the ratio for white pregnancies.11 

                                                           

1“Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States,” May 2010, 

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html 

2 Jones et al., 2008, cited by AGI 

3 based on yearly estimates from AGI 

4 Jones, et al., 2008 

5 based on yearly estimates from AGI 

6 Planned Parenthood Annual Report, 2007–2008,  http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/AR08_vFinal.pdf 

7 Planned Parenthood, Annual Report, 2007–2008, http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/AR08_vFinal.pdf 

8 AGI, Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients, 2008, http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/US-Abortion-Patients.pdf 

9 AGI, An Overview of Abortion in the United States, 

http://www.guttmacher.com/media/presskits/2005/06/28/abortionoverview.html 

10 Jones et al., 2010, cited by AGI 

11 U.S. Center for Disease Control, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, Nov. 2006, 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5511a1.htm  

My Review:

This is a great book.  When Abby describes the ultrasound that changed her life, it gave me chills.  I have always been pro-life, I have always believed that you are pregnant with a baby not tissue from day one and it does my heart good to see the changes God made in this ladies life.  The diligence of the Coalition for Life is tremendous.  Day after day, week after week, year after year, standing at the fence praying and believing.  At times losing hope, getting frustrated, but sticking with it to the end and seeing results from their diligence.  A true testament to standing up and firm for what you believe.

I would recommend this book to anyone but, I truly believe every person considering abortion, male or female, should have to read the first chapter.  

If you would like to read the first chapter go here!!

Happy Reading!!

The Rhythm of Secrets

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Rhythm of Secrets  Kregel Publications (December 22, 2010)  by  Patti Lacy  



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patti Lacy, Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.  



ABOUT THE BOOK

Sheila Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame.


After marrying Edward, Sheila artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Sheila faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved…or imperil Edward’s ambitions.

Inspired by a true story, The Rhythm of Secrets intermingles jazz, classical, and sacred music in a symphony trumpeting God’s grace.

Endorsements:

“A vibrant journey across time in search of the greatest truth of all: grace.”—Tosca Lee, author of Havah: The Story of Eve and Demon: A Memoir

“No longer a ‘well-kept secret,’ Patti Lacy is a master storyteller who speaks to the soul with a powerful and unique rhythm, weaving a tale so emotionally rich that story and reader become one.”—Julie Lessman, author of The Daughters of Boston series and A Hope Undaunted

“Patti Lacy pens another beautifully written story in The Rhythm of Secrets. I couldn’t put it down!”—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Black Cloister

“The Rhythm of Secrets is a stirring story of faith and endurance that will keep readers turning the page until every last secret is revealed.”—Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us and Rose House


If you would like to read an excerpt of Rhythm of Secrets, go HERE.

Happy Reading!!

Digitalis - Review

My

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Digitalis  Barbour Publishing, Inc.(January 1, 2011)  by  Ronie Kendig  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!


This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

This is the second book in the series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.

My Review:

This was my first Ronie Kendig book and with it being the 2nd book in the Discarded Heroes series, I was afraid I would be lost.  I have been pleasantly surprised, but would also love to go back and read the first book.  This book is definitely action packed and a real page turner.  I would highly recommend it.

Thank you CFBA for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Happy Reading!!

Angel Harp

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Angel Harp  FaithWords (January 26, 2011)  by  Michael Phillips  



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.  

ABOUT THE BOOK  

Widowed at 34, amateur harpist Marie "Angel" Buchan realizes at 40 that her life and dreams are slowly slipping away. A summer in Scotland turns out to offer far more than she ever imagined! Not only does the music of her harp capture the fancy of the small coastal village she visits, she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving the local curate and the local duke.


The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her decision: with whom will she cast the lot of her future?

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

Happy Reading!!

Serendipity

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Serendipity  Bethany House (August 1, 2010)  by  Cathy Marie Hake  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  


Known for surfing across the kitchen on a dropped dill pickle slice, waterskiing on sea anemone spit, and using Right Guard® as hair spray; she considers herself living proof that God does, indeed, possess a healthy sense of humor.

Cathy loves classical music, romantic getaways with her husband, and Diet Pepsi Free®. "I need chocolate to survive, love my friends, and enjoy a deep personal relationship with the Lord. Although an extrovert, I'm very conservative on a personal level."

In her writing, Cathy attempts to capture a unique glimpse of life and how a man and woman can overcome obstacles when motivated by love. In her inspirational pieces she enjoys the freedom of showing how Christ can enrich a loving couple's relationship.

Cathy Marie Hake is a registered nurse who worked for many years in an oncology unit before shifting her focus to perinatal care. The author of over twenty novels, she lives with her husband and two children in Anaheim, California.


ABOUT THE BOOK  

Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who's been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm...or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off.


Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn't wanted to marry...until that handsome Texan shows up.

Her heart skips a beat, and when he proposes, a hasty marriage follows. What ensues, however, is a clash of culture and a battle of wills--and it's clear they both mistook instant attraction and infatuation for love. As their marriage loses its sparkle and fills with disillusionment, Todd and Maggie must determine what is worth fighting for. He dreams of a farm. Maggie wants to fulfill the family tradition with her rose perfumes.

Todd's mother, however, has entirely different plans for her son that do not include Maggie. In light of their hasty marriage and mistaken dreams, is there any hope of recapturing their love and building a future together?

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

Happy Reading!!

Unto the Hills - Review

 Book Description

The classic 365-day devotional from Billy Graham, now back in print.

No matter your place in life, this classic collection of devotional readings is designed to bring you daily to that special place of renewal— to help you pause and gaze "unto the hills" for help and inspiration.

Each of the 365 daily readings in this inspiring collection offers a carefully chosen passage of scripture, a brief, thoughtful message from Dr. Graham, and a heartfelt prayer composed especially for this book. Distilled from a lifetime of study and ministry, these devotionals supply daily food for thought about living fruitfully and joyfully in an often fretful world.

Simple, direct, encouraging yet challenging, this book offers itself as a heartening companion for your daily walk in the valley. This collection is a gentle but constant reminder that we can find help for all our needs as long as we remember to look up . . . unto the hills but especially unto the Lord.

My Review:

I never had the privilege of reading the first “Unto the Hills”, but after growing up in the Bible belt and living with my Nanny who absolutely loved Billy Graham, I was so excited to be allowed the chance to review this new edition.  I am a devotional lover anyway and have definitely been thrilled with this one.  Billy Graham has such a peaceful way of dealing with and explaining things.  

As with most devotionals, this book is broken down into daily tid bits.  Little pieces of knowledge, comfort, joy, hope, and inspiration as well as strength to deal with suffering, discouragement, and selfishness.  This book, if used as intended, will be a great tool in any life, family, and marriage. 

I know we will be keeping it around and leaving it out to pick up and read as need and to offer to friends and family.  I would recommend this devotional to everyone!!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and the Booksneeze program for the complimentary copy of  this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Happy Reading!!