~Clicking Her Heels~

The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson

2012-01-30T08:51:00.003-05:00

Melody Carlson does it again. The Jerk Magnet is her latest book geared towards teen girls and this one is by far my favorite of her YA books. Chelsea Martin is your average wallflower. She is geeky and awkward and prefers to stay in the background where she'll blend in. The only thing she really craves is a true friend but no one seems to want to be around her because she is so plain. Enter her widowed father's new fiance, Kate. Kate sees beyond the plain and at the end of Chelsea's sophomore year, right before Chelsea and her dad move to San Jose, gives Chelsea a complete makeover, hair to pedicure. Chelsea has gone from slumming to stunning overnight and Kate even provides confidence lessons. Chelsea embraces her new look and meets a few jerks along the way. Will she find what she craves, a true friend, or will her new "hot girl look" scare people away?

Melody always delivers a strong novel with a positive message. She writes truth and includes a gospel message without coming across as preachy. This is an author that you can feel confident about sharing with your favorite teen girls. I know I plan to pass this copy that I received from the Baker Publishing House (for review purposes only) on to one of my favorite girls.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review by Revell.

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

2012-01-30T08:43:00.003-05:00

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot isn't the worst historical fiction novel I've read. It isn't the best either. This book took me a while to get into, it wasn't until the third or fourth chapter that I began to get interested, the characters didn't cause me to connect with them until then.

Abigail Harding goes west from her teaching job in Vermont to the untamed Wyoming wilderness to see her sister Charlotte, who she is convinced needs her. We are never told why or how she knows this, she just does. When she's almost at the Fort where Charlotte lives, her stagecoach is about to be held up by some armed bandits but their plan is foiled due to the unexpected appearance of Lieutenant Ethan Bowles who wasn't supposed to be on the coach.

Much of this story seemed predictable to me. Sure, Abigail is almost engaged to a man back at home. Yes, Ethan is a self-proclaimed life long bachelor. Yes, we know that the robberies are an inside job. The only thing I didn't find predictable was the way the bad guys were rounded up in the end. I normally don't mention endings in a review but this one was just so far fetched that it made me laugh.

If you're looking for a book that will help you pass some time then this might be the one for you. If you want something that will keep you guessing until the very end then pass on this one.

About the book:

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?

This book is available beginning January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This book was provided for review by Revell.

Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey

2012-01-24T13:28:00.001-05:00

This book took me a while to get into. Until about page 150 I wasn't interested in the story at all. I sorta knew which direction the book was going (I must be reading too many of the same types of stories lately) and I found it to be predictable and somewhat boring. There weren't any surprises and it wasn't until almost a quarter of the way through the book that I realized the main character was infatuated with one man in particular and had been for years, even though he didn't seem to know she was alive. At about the same time I realized that she was also looking to go west to Oregon to start a new life. The scenario wasn't laid out very well.

About the book:
The Civil War stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg--as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her father to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

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This book was provided for review by Revell.

Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen

2012-01-16T13:43:00.003-05:00

Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen is perfect for people who are downsizing into smaller homes, small apartment or dorm living or anyone doesn't have enough space for all of their stuff. This little book is packed full of amazing ideas that will take your small space from cramped to spectacular. Some of the information included is priceless!

I don't know why I never thought of it but this book was worth reading for me just so I would learn how to organize all of my Tupperware lids. Every. Single. Time. I opened my pantry door lids would fall all over the place, sometimes on my head. The solution was brilliant and oh so simple.

Kathryn has a solution for every space in your home. Office, bedrooms, closets, everything! I'm going to go through this book again with a highlighter so I will remember all of the ideas.

About the Book:

In Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space , Bechen compiles 20 years of real life organizational tips and tricks. This book will help anyone transform cramped space into a perfectly petite living space as Bechen goes room-by-room giving design and organizational advice as well as taking on the extremely small spaces of studio and basement apartments, loft and high-rise spaces and even tips for RV living.

“A true home is really about the size of your heart, not about the size of your space,” says Bechen. She encourages readers to embrace living in a small space and assures them that even the most teeny-tiny space can be transformed into a welcoming environment to maximize the space – and more importantly, maximize living. Bechen tells clients to “always remember that it’s far more important to have a spirit of hospitality and friendship as the emphasis of your home, rather than neglecting to invite others to visit you there just because you lack large rooms or expensive furniture.”

After reading Small Space Organizing readers will be able to:

- Create a non-traditional entryway space

- Find a creative space for a home office

- Craft a spa atmosphere in a teeny-tiny bathroom

- Design a nursery space to nurture a newborn

- Find storage space that’s hiding in their kitchen

- Downsize their living space successfully

Small Space Organizing will help readers at every stage of life create an inviting home and maximize living. Everyone from the newlyweds struggling to fit all their wedding presents into a small apartment to empty-nesters with years-worth of sentimental possessions moving to a smaller home can benefit from Bechen’s expert advice.

For the reluctant downsizer faced with the daunting task of moving into a smaller living space, Bechen offers encouragement and practical tips for the emotional process. “It’s normal to go through an array of emotions during your downsizing process,” says Bechen. “It helps to get through it by keeping your mind’s eye focused on the end results of a lovely new right-sized home, decorated in a style you love, in a neighborhood that’s just right for you at this new stage of your life.”

About the author:

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. Bechen has organized and decorated 13 personal small space residences together with her husband Steve. 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.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books for everyday life. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

This book was provided for review by Revell.

Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper

2012-01-14T20:24:00.003-05:00

I wanted to love this book. Her Amhearst Mystery series featuring Merry Kramer is one of my all time favorites. This, however, was a disappointment for me. Carrie ran away at a young age, taking her little sister with her, to escape a dangerous home life, the young girls ended up in Seaside, New Jersey where they built a new life for themselves and now Carrie owns her own restaurant, Carrie's Cafe, where her sister Lindsay works in the kitchen. Life is good for the people here in this little tourist town. Until a drug dealer makes his presence known, two escapee's from a cult are hunted down by the cult leader (one murdered), Carrie's mom reappears magically into her life, completely changed, and other odd coincidences occur. This book was predictable and unbelievable. There were so many exclamation marks that I found it hard to read and the dialogue was unrealistic at times. It took me several chapters to get into the book and then I had to stop from chapter to chapter to figure out who was telling the story because it was told from so many different characters points of view. I never connected with the characters and honestly couldn't wait until the story ended. The tweeters and facebookers were seen more like annoying paparazzi than regular people.
I really found it unbelievable that Carrie, a restaurant owner, would be squeamish about putting a piece of squid onto a fish hook so she could go fishing with the man she likes. Wouldn't a restaurant owner be used to handling raw meat? That just didn't make sense.
Like I said, I wanted to love this book as much as I'd enjoyed the ones that I've read by this author before but it just didn't do it for me.

About the book:
She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning … but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small cafe in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals … although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.

When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries … and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all to present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s built with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah.

The Search Committee by Tim Owens

2012-01-07T10:03:00.004-05:00

While I enjoyed first time novelist Tim Owens' The Search Committee there were times that I felt it veered of course and left me wondering why so much background information on the various characters was included. This novel, most of the time, had me cracking up. So subtly funny, this author has a great sense of humor that most people probably don't get (don't let that bother you, Mr Owens, I understand because people often don't quite get me either). The line about Walmart about did me in because it's so true.

Travel with this cast of everyday characters as they go in search of the perfect pastor for their church. I enjoyed their reactions at different situations and probably more so than the average church-goer would due to this year marking twenty years in full time ministry, it gives you a different outlook.

Travis is the main character and he wobbles between checking out the single cutie on the trip and guilt over his loving wife at home. The other characters get their chance to be known as well, but Travis was my favorite.

If you're looking for a different kind of novel to read then this is it. It's interesting, funny and sadly accurate.

Thanks, Tim, for this CLEAN READ.

This book was provided for review by Tyndale and releases later this month. You can purchased it here.

Learn more about Tim Owens here.

First Date by Krista McGee

2012-01-05T09:23:00.005-05:00

First Date by Krista McGee is a fun book for your teen readers, it's about an average Christian girl named Addy who is chosen to be one of one hundred girls nation wide to appear on a reality television show and win a date to the prom of Jonothon Jackson, son of the president of the United States.

Addy reluctantly agrees to appear on the show and finds out what happens when God goes with her. This was an easy book to read and at times a little true to life when Addy is faced with mean girls, but her actions and reactions are worth learning from. The only thing I didn't like is how it became really preachy towards the end. I understand what the author was doing, just think it could have been done a little differently.

You can purchase this book here.
And watch for Starring Me, the second in the series where Addy's friend Kara stars on her own show. Can't wait!

Thanks, Krista, for this clean read!

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze.

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

2012-01-03T12:11:00.002-05:00

New from Thomas Nelson is Denise Hunter's The Accidental Bride. This is the second in her Big Sky Romance series, but it is a stand alone novel like her others. This novel releases today so you should brave the weather (if you're in the North East like me) and run out and get it, or download it for your Kindle.

Shay Brandenberger worries far too much about what the town people of Moose Creek, Montana think about her. She thinks they haven't forgotten how she was left at the altar fourteen years ago and how her marriage to another man after that ended in a bitter divorce. She knows they're talking about her and when she dares to venture from her ranch and go into town for groceries she can feel their stares. She's learned to put up walls and keep people out, except for her twelve year old daughter (the only good thing to come from her marriage).

The Moose Creek annual founders day festival is coming up and Shay reluctantly agrees to play the part of the bride for the wedding that's reenacted each year. It isn't until she's walking down the aisle that she realizes the groom is Travis, the man who left her at the altar all those years ago. The reenactment, in a strange twist of fate, becomes a legal marriage and Shay must face Travis whether she likes it or not. She must learn to forget what she thinks others think about her and live her life seeking approval only from the one who made her.

Denise Hunter again delivers a book that will leave you breathless as she not only points the reader to the lover of our souls, but gives a glimpse of true romantic love. A delightfully clean read.

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group.

Purchase it here.

Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt

2012-01-01T17:02:00.002-05:00

I have been waiting for this book for years. Literally years. First found out about it several years ago and have been hunting for it (no pun intended) ever since only to find out that it was shelved and could possibly come out as an ebook. It finally did. And I am proud to tell you that it was the first one I downloaded and read on my new Kindle.

I love a book by Diann Hunt, mostly because I love to laugh and I imagine that she is a laugher just like I am. Her books crack me up. In this novel we meet Carly Westlake, a spa owner. Not just any spa, this lady runs a chocolate themed spa. I know, "where is it and how can I get there?" Right? Carly has been burned by love, by a husband who left her in her time of need, during a bout with breast cancer. Now her view of herself as a woman is warped (as most womens views are) and she doubts she'll ever find love again unless she loses the twenty-five extra pounds she's carrying and has reconstructive surgery to replace her missing breast. I know, you're wondering why on earth I laughed during this story, but trust me, this author is funny!

If you are the owner of an e-reader and you're looking for a new book to purchase & download then I suggest Bittersweet Surrender. It's only available in ebook format and is new today!

You can purchase it here.

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze.

2012 Reading List

2012-01-01T17:00:00.015-05:00

January

1. Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt
2. The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter
3. First Date by Krista McGee
4. The Search Committee by Tim Owens
5. Something I Can Never Have (novella) by Travis Thrasher
6. Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot
7. Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper
8. Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
9. Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey
10. The Big 5-Oh! by Sandra Bricker
11. Missing Mabel by Nancy Mehl
12. The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23 Murders #1) by Debbie Viguie
13. Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry
14. Burn by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

2011-12-29T21:02:00.002-05:00

Love Lifted Me is the third in the Songbird series by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck and is the best of the trio in my opinion. Return to the story of Jade and Max as they navigate the waters of forgiveness and try to rebuild their broken marriage. A job change throws life for this family into a whirlwind as they leave behind all they've known and head to Texas where Max is hired to be a high school football coach. A heartwarming tale that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, Love Lifted Me is one not to miss.

About the book:

Jade never knew happily-ever-after would be this messy, loud . . . delicious.

Jade Benson embraces unexpected motherhood when her husband Max gains custody of his young son. As she and Max work out their newly formed family, an invitation to coach Texas high school football sends them on a journey.

Then a stranger reveals a painful secret, and Jade faces her hardest challenge yet. When she surrenders her heart to God and to her husband, Jade discovers the joy of love lifting her above her fears.

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze.

Learn more about Sara Evans here. Check out all of Rachel Hauck's books here.

The Common English Bible

2011-12-15T08:47:00.002-05:00

At Christmastime many people like to go back to the Bible and read about the birth of Christ. Here's how The Common English Bible recounts Luke 2:1-20

"In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David's house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David's city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord's angel stood before them, the Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you--wonderful joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: You will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great assembly of heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom He favors."

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go right now to Bethlehem and see what's happened. Let's confirm what the Lord revealed to us." They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told."

I love the language this version uses, it makes it come alive in my mind. My hope is that you share this story with those you love, and that they come to know the love of Jesus this holiday season.

For a chance to win a copy of The Common English Bible leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Christmas cookie is.

This Bible was provided for review by The B&B Media Group

Heaven is For Read Small Group DVD Kit & Conversation Guide

2011-12-02T11:31:00.002-05:00

The Heaven is for Read DVD Conversation Kit & Guide by Todd Burpo is a nicely packaged tool for small group use. It comes with a book to guide you through discussions and a DVD to watch with interviews with the Burpo family. There are five segments to this so your group can move through it quickly.

The segments are:

Why should we care about Heaven?
What is Heaven like?
When does a person go to Heaven?
Where is Heaven?
Who goes to Heaven?

Todd Burpo backs up everything with Scripture while he speaks.

The DVD is filmed in a very laid back setting. Almost too laid back. There are parts that could have been edited to make it a little more professional, but I suppose that's part of the appeal (showing that these are real people).

The sessions are short and are easy to follow and understand. The question guide makes for interesting conversation. This might even be something good for a group of people who aren's sure about "the whole God thing."

This was provided for review by BookSneeze & Thomas Nelson.

Precisely Terminated by Amanda Davis

2011-11-29T14:19:00.002-05:00

Amanda Davis is the award-winning teen author of The Cantral Chronicles, a dystopian trilogy. She enjoys reading and writing and comes up with new novel ideas while spinning yarn or running on the roads near her home. She was born and raised a Florida girl and loves the warmth of the South.

About the book:
With microchips implanted in their skulls at birth, the slaves of Cantral and Cillineese have labored under the tyrannical rule of the nobles and their computers for centuries. Monica, a noble who avoided the implanting and escaped a death sentence at the age of four, is now sixteen and is in hiding. She lives with the slaves inside the walls of the Cantral palace, pretending to be one of them while the slave council plots a way to use her chip-less state to destroy the all-powerful computers that strike down any hint of rebellion.

The fate of millions rides on Monica's shoulders. As the only chip-less person in the world, she must find a way to destroy the computers and free Cillineese from the nobles' iron fist before they strike with the ultimate punishment-death for everyone inside the city walls.

Watch the trailer:

Lynn Austin's WONDERLAND CREEK

2011-11-26T09:08:00.003-05:00

Lynn Austin is one of those authors that I wait in anticipation for a new book from. They are all different from one another and this one was so good that I let out a sigh of satisfaction when I finished reading it. It was simply perfect.

If you have a reader in your life and you want to give them a special gift for Christmas, I suggest this book.

Alice is a librarian outside of Chicago. Her life is made up of books. She has stronger feelings for the characters in the books she reads than in the people in her life. She's young and naive and finds nothing wrong with reading a book during a funeral. This faux pas leads to her boyfriend breaking up with her. She loses her job at the library because of depression-era cutbacks and thinks her life is over. Alice remembers the boxes of books that she's been saving to take to a struggling library in the hills of Kentucky so she packs up and flees town, catching a ride with her aunt and uncle. Two weeks away seems to be the perfect amount of time for her to escape the small town gossip of her break-up and job loss.

She arrives in Kentucky and is dropped off before she finds out that she wasn't expected. Alone and confused she discovers that the library is unlike any other she'd ever known of. Pack horse librarians. An aged woman who makes potions out of herbs and roots. A burly librarian. A town at odds with each other. People desperate for love and attention and no one to give it to them. This is everything Alice finds and her two weeks turns into much longer. Will she make it home? Will she find true love? Will she know who she can trust?

Get this book! It made me giggle. It melted my heart. It made me cry.

Thanks, Lynn, for this CLEAN READ.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House.

Buy a copy here.

The Common English Bible

2011-11-23T08:55:00.003-05:00

Aside from the fact that the cover of this Bible is beautiful and that it's easy to hold and is the perfect size for study and carrying to church, this is an amazing book.

The Psalms are written out in prose, the way you'd expect fine poetry to be on a page, and the language is fresh and alive.

This version will open your eyes and help you to see the Bible as not just a book, but as the life changing love story that God intended it to be.

Psalm 139 has long since been my favorite and this version of it is beautiful. Verse 16 says, "Your eyes saw my embryo, and on your scroll every day was written what was being formed for me, before any one of them had yet happened."

Celebrate National Bible Week and give yourself the gift of the Word of God in a fresh new language. Easy to understand and relevant. Perfect for young people or new believers.

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).

This Bible was provided for review by the B&B Media Group.

You can win a free copy of The Common English Bible. Just leave a comment and I'll choose a winner next week.

Departures by Robin Jones Gunn

2011-11-09T11:31:00.003-05:00

These two recently discovered stories by Robin Jones Gunn take her fans back into the lives of Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen one last time. Packaged together under the title Departures, Christy's story, Now Boarding at Gate Ten and Sierra's story, In The Event of a Water Landing will be fun for readers to reconnect with their favorite characters.

Both are sweet stories of life as a teenage girl but I enjoyed Sierra's story much more than Christy's. Christy's story seemed hastily written and not believable. Her thirteen year old brother was treated (and acted) like he was eight or nine and not thirteen. An old friend of Christy's is getting ready to go to college, he's deciding between two schools, one in California and the other in, "North Carolina...or is it South Carolina? I can't remember," his mother says. What mother is going to forget which state her son is thinking about going to college in?

Sierra's story centers around a trip she's taking with some of her friends. After a small detour to the Mall of America, the wind up in Montana. At first it seems like the foursome will be coupling off but then teenage angst and fickleness kicks in and they all just end up having a fun time as friends.

This is an easy read for your teen reader, just under 200 pages. Clean and sweet.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

2011-11-04T08:11:00.005-04:00

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson follows the Cooper sisters through the eyes of eldest, Bailee Cooper. The girls meet at the family vacation home in Washington state, at the request of their father, after having not been there for fifteen years. The ghosts of the past hit Bailee head on as she struggles to remember missing pieces of her past. All three girls decide to ambush their father about the death of their mother the last time they were there, but is what they remember the truth?

So many truths are packed into this work of fiction by the talented Tracie Peterson. The three sisters have been living their lives and trying to avoid thinking back to the days of their youth. They've put walls up around them, haven't had serious relationships and have worried about mental illness among other things.

When they confront their father the truth begins to unravel and life will never be the same for any of them.

A deep novel that shows how easy it is to grow up and believe lies that were sometimes just your own imagination. An excellent story of redemption and love. Don't miss this one!

You can purchase it here:http://www.amazon.com/House-Secrets-Tracie-Peterson/dp/0764206184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320796682&sr=8-1

This book was provided for review by Bethany House. All opinions are my own.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

2011-11-03T18:51:00.004-04:00

The Baker's Wife is Erin Healy's third solo novel and my favorite of the three. Her first two were full of symbolism that my brain couldn't quite figure out. This one was straight story and I loved it! I could not put this book down and devoured it in one day.

I won this copy in a contest that the author had earlier this year and I liked the book so much that I thought I'd share it with you.

About the book (from the back cover):
Before Audrey was the baker's wife she was the pastor's wife. Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side by side running a bakery, serving coffee and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.

Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something--or someone--at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.

Both the scooter and the blood belong to Jack Mansfield's wife and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.

But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind--her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.

Erin Healy is a critically acclaimed, best selling novelist and and award winning editor for numerous best-selling authors. Visit her website here.

Purchase this fantastic book here:http://www.amazon.com/Bakers-Wife-Erin-Healy/dp/1595547525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320362462&sr=8-1

Letters to a Young Pastor by Calvin Miller

2011-11-03T18:01:00.003-04:00

I'd hoped for a little more from Letters to a Young Pastor by Calvin Miller than what I got. I actually had hoped it would be in a letter format, but instead it was in sections that I sometimes found difficult to keep focus on. While the content is good and the advice is solid, the style that it's written in didn't captivate me. I'd recommend this book to guys who are just beginning their ministry or even those who are still in Bible college.

How to Fulfill Your Calling While Maintaining Your Sanity

A beloved pastor shares well-earned wisdom for

the next generation of leaders.

Getting out of bed on Monday is a grumpy chore, and overcoming the cloudy-headed daze that almost always characterizes the second day of the week requires a lot of coffee and even more determination. Mondays are hard for us all, but they are particularly difficult for pastors because they have to come down from the “Sunday high.” It’s something few can identify with, but for most pastors it’s a haunting reality that accompanies a litany of stressors like dealing with divisive people, balancing the budget and leading difficult staff members. As a result, a lot of young pastors are desperately hungry for someone older and wiser to walk with them over the mountains and through the valleys of church ministry.

For decades, as an author, poet, pastor and educator Calvin Miller has been a lively and creative voice in the church. Having survived some of the most tumultuous decades of evangelicalism, his latest book, Letters to a Young Pastor (David C Cook), shares his wisdom and experience, his successes and his scars, to help today’s young pastors fulfill their calling…and maintain their sanity. In this humorously authentic collection of letters, he encourages young pastors to fight the good fight, stay the course and keep their eye on the Author and Finisher of the faith—no matter how frustrated they may feel.

Letters to a Young Pastor offers every young pastor an invaluable mentor with a heart for sharing his hard-won insights with those who enjoy the victories and carry the burdens of the pastorate. Dr. Miller’s appeal to young pastors lies not in his overwhelming successes, but simply in the fact that he’s been there and done that. As Dr. Miller says, “The all-time great reason that you should listen to me is that much of what I write about in this book is written from the edge. Ministry is not for sissies, and the requirement of the tough times brings us to the edge of our commitment.”

Regardless of the situation, Dr. Miller’s creative and cordial counsel poetically prods pastors along the path of ministry. To the young pastor struggling with the validity of his calling, Dr. Miller advises, “Young minister of God, keep that little sparkle in your eyes, and then write down how your call came to you, and when you’ve written it down in fire, defend it that way.” For those wrestling with conflict, Calvin challengingly suggests, “Cowards are never good at teaching courage.” Even the pastor who’s not sure whether he’s promoting God’s vision or his own image finds these wise words from Dr. Miller: “This is the foundation of significance: Settle on your vision, and your image will be authentic. But pursue image, and you may miss your vision altogether.”

Many things have changed over Dr. Miller’s pastoral years, from switchboards to smartphones and big-haired evangelists to cigar-smoking emergents. But two things remain the same—God is love and people are broken. Letters to a Young Pastor is a warm, honest and often humorous collection of letters to young pastors and leaders, encouraging them to love Sundays, fight through Mondays and look forward to the day when they’ll hear that great “Well done.”

About the Author: Dr. Calvin Miller’s first full-time pastorate was at Plattsmouth Baptist Church in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, from 1961-1966. He went to Westside Church in Omaha, Nebraska, in January 1966, where he served as senior pastor for 25 years. During his pastorate the congregation grew from ten members to more than 2500 members. From 1991-1998, Miller served as Professor of Communication and Ministry Studies and Writer-in-Residence at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas. In January 1999, he joined the faculty of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, where he is currently Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry.

He is the author of more than forty books of popular theology and inspiration. His poems and free-lance articles have appeared in various journals and magazines such as Christianity Today, Campus Life, Leadership and His. He has served as an inspirational speaker in various assemblies and religious convocations, both in his own denomination and other Christian gatherings.

This book was provided for review by the B&B Media Group

A Lasting Impression

2011-11-03T17:52:00.007-04:00

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander is an adventure filled novel set in Nashville's Belmont Mansion in the mid 1800s. Claire Laurent is new to Nashville. She was born in France and grew up in Louisiana. She's spent the last several years making copies of famous paintings for her father's art gallery. Only thing is that he forced her to make these copies and sign the original artists name. Claire is an accomplished artist herself but is never allowed to paint what she wants to. After her mother dies it's up to Claire to keep the business going by continuing to make these forgeries. A late night robbery at the gallery forces Claire to flee to Nashville and once there she decides to take her life into her own hands and change her future. No more forgeries for her as she becomes the personal assistant to Adelicia Acklen, owner of the Belmont Mansion. Life has never been better for Claire as she experiences all kinds of new luxuries, but is she able to keep up the facade for long? And when her path crosses with attorney Sutton Monroe will she be able to keep her past a secret?

Tamera Alexander has written a lovely story of grace, forgiveness and following one's heart. At over 400 pages my only complaint was that it was a little long. Beautifully written and endearing.

Thanks, Tamera, for this CLEAN READ.
Enter to win one of Tamera's fabulous prizes and RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/15!

About the book:

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

About Tamera:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com

Link to buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764206222/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0764206222&adid=1SZK3Y9GZE37X3HZPY6J

This book was provided for review by LitFuse.

Love on the Line by Deanne Gist

2011-11-01T21:10:00.008-04:00

Deeanne Gist is quickly becoming a leader in historical fiction. With characters who are quirky and fun, Gist captures your attention and pulls you into the story and immerses you in another world. In Love on the Line we're taken back to a time where train robbers were dreaded and their reputations preceded them. Georgie Gail finds herself in the middle of a train robbery on her trip home. She's sure she looked into the eyes of the famous outlaw before the Texas Ranger with the same fame came to rescue the people board her train. Only problem is that they didn't want to be rescued. The outlaw seems to have a growing fan base and the Ranger is quickly becoming the bad guy. To change this the Ranger goes undercover in Georgie's town. In her own home office where she's the town switchboard operator. Working this closely with the undercover Ranger gives Georgie feelings she's never had before and she worries what the townspeople will think. Couple this with her efforts to save the area birds from being turned in to ornaments on hats and this girl has her work cut out for her.

Kudos to Gist for writing a book that is clean and fun to read. I recommend this book and give it a full 5 stars.

Love on the Line iPad2 Giveaway and Facebook Party!

Deeanne is thrilled to introduce Georgie and Luke to the word in her latest novel. To celebrate Deeanne's publisher, Bethany House, is hosting the Love on the Line iPad2 giveaway an Author Chat on Facebook! Enter today and follow the link below to RSVP for Deeanne's rip-roarin' Facebook Party!

Enter to win an iPad2 & RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/8!

One fortunate winner will receive:

* A Brand New iPad2
* An Autographed Hardback Copy of Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at Deeanne’s Author Chat Facebook Party. Deeanne will be wrapping up the Love on the Line celebration by chatting with friends new and old! So grab your copy of Love on the Line (it’s okay if you don’t have one yet- you might could win one!) and join Deeanne on the evening of November 8th for a rip roaring book chat, a little trivia and lots of 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 8th!

About the book:

It's a Battle of Wills ... and Love Is on the Line!

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world . . . which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

About Deeanne:

Deeanne Gist--known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee--has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very original, very fun historical & contemporary romances. Add to this three RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you've got one recipe for success.

She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesFriends.

Buy the book here.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse.

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

2011-10-31T13:46:00.002-04:00

If you're looking for page-turner that will keep your attention with mystery, suspense, and a little romance but will not freak you out so that you can't sleep at night then Colleen Coble's Lonestar Angel is the book for you. Coble has long since been at the top of my must-read author's list and this book just took her up another notch. I loved the way her characters realized that what they were missing was a true relationship with God and how they found Him while they were searching for other things. Very well written without being preachy.

Eden & Clay met and had a whirlwind romance which produced a baby. They married without really knowing each other and within months were in the middle of an international incident which left them childless. Broken, Eden fled and began a new life far from Texas in Indiana. Now, five years later, it seems that her divorce was never final and her child may actually be alive. Eden returns to Texas with Clay to search for their Brianna and finds much more than she ever expected.

This book is one of my favorites of this author (after her Mercy Falls series) and I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars only because sometimes I got confused with all of the characters and remembering who was who.

Thanks, Colleen, for this CLEAN READ.

This book was provided for review by BookSneeze.

Baby It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

2011-10-24T12:25:00.004-04:00

Baby It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren is the latest in the When I Fall in Love series by Summerside Press. In this volume we're transported back to 1949 in the town of Frost, Minnesota where Dottie Morgan wants nothing to do with Christmas or the people who celebrate it. She's hidden herself in her home and has built up walls to keep herself from being hurt, again. The death of her son haunts her and the sins of her past seem to crush her. A freak snowstorm on Christmas week forces her to open her home and eventually her heart to people she never thought she could. Friends and strangers come together for a story like none other.

This book had me sobbing towards the end. Very heart warming and true to life.If you have a person on your Christmas list who loves to read then this would be a perfect gift for them. Include some tea or hot cocoa and maybe a pair of warm mittens. Trust me, they'll love it.

About the book:
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.

About Susan May Warren:
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 My Book Therapy, 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:http://www.susanmaywarren.com/.

This book was provided for review by Litfuse.

The Crossing by Serita Jakes

2011-10-23T14:18:00.004-04:00

Riveting. Heart pounding. Keep-you-awake-all-night reading kind of suspense.

What a tangled web we weave. You think your sin only touches your life? This book-while fiction-reminds us that our sins reach out and destroy not only us but those we love.

I'd not heard of Serita Jakes before reading this book, and while doing so I found out that she's the wife of Pastor T.D. Jakes. I love me a book by another pastors wife!

Very well written for a new novelist. Many twists and turns and I was completely surprised when the murderer was revealed. The only thing this reader didn't appreciate was that the phrase, "Oh my God" was used throughout the book.

Loved the way each chapter started with the words of the dying murder victim, what a clever idea!

This book follows former high school cheerleader Claudia as she navigates her way through life ten years after her best friend and high school teacher was murdered on a school bus on the way home from a football game. Claudia sat with her dying teacher until the end, she's found herself reliving those moments too often lately, more so now that her husband has re-opened the case. As people try to piece together what happened on that fall evening a decade earlier, Claudia feels her life spinning out of control. Revelations and truth are being unveiled at every turn and life as she thought it was will never be the same.

Serita Ann Jakes has been involved in Christian ministry all of her adult life and has served alongside her husband T.D. Jakes throughout their marriage of nearly 30 years.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

2011-10-18T21:28:00.003-04:00

Once again Jody Hedlund gives us a fictional account of something that really took place. This lady knows her stuff! This book is very well written and you can tell that she spent a lot of time in research. Be warned, though, the scenes where the husband and wife are falling in love with each other are a little intense. Nothing vulgar or across any lines, but enough to make me blush at times.

Priscilla White is a young single woman in New York. Her family wishes to marry her off but she is determined to remain single, especially since she is barren because of a childhood illness. Her hearts desire is to become a missionary to far away India, but it seems that God has other plans. Into her life appears Eli Ernest, a doctor who also wishes to remain single but is told that in order for him to be a missionary he must marry. Priscilla is told the same thing. A marriage of convenience is what they agree to and soon Priscilla is joining Eli on a trek across the frontier known to us as the Western USA.

Priscilla's story is based on a true one of the first woman to make the trip. Hardships meet them at every turn, but when God has a purpose for a life He will always see it come to fruition.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Purchase this book here.

Guest post by author Melody Carlson

2011-10-17T10:14:00.003-04:00

Today's post is by best selling author Melody Carlson.

Teens and Their Supernatural Pursuits

by Melody Carlson

Have you even wondered why some teens are drawn toward things like Ouija boards or psychics? Or why séances are still popular at sleepovers? Does it just have to do with Halloween and that spine-chilling need for a good scare? Or could it be something more? And, as a Christian, should you be concerned?

Those questions, as well as some confused reader letters, prompted me to tackle the “supernatural” in one of my teen novels (Moon White, TrueColors, Nav Press). And whenever I write an issues-based novel, I’m forced to research—and often in some dark places. So I began scouring websites, learning more about Wicca and the occult, trying to grasp what was really going on with today’s teens—and how I could write about it in a helpful and relevant way.

But, as usual, when I write a teen book, I go back to my own adolescence...trying to connect with my inner teen...and I suddenly remembered a short era when a friend and I got very interested in witchcraft. I had honestly forgotten about this time and was fascinated to recall how we scoured some witchcraft stores on a local campus—I think we even purchased a few things. Fortunately, this interest was short-lived and I became a Christian not long afterward.

However, as I reconnected with my inner teen, I had to ask myself—why had I looked into witchcraft back then? Why do teens dabble with it now? Suddenly the answer became crystal clear. I was searching. I’d been calling myself an atheist for several years by then, but I was spiritually hungry—starving in fact. Consequently I was looking for spiritual answers—something that would fill that empty void within me. I wanted a supernatural force in my life and I didn’t even care where it came from. I needed something bigger than me, more powerful than me, something to hold onto. I had no idea at the time that I was really searching for God.

This realization changed the way I viewed my research. Instead of feeling disgusted and dismayed by the witchcraft/Wicca sites (which are not particularly enjoyable) I began to recognize that these people (mostly girls) were simply searching too. They wanted a power source in their lives just like I wanted one in mine. They just hadn’t found God yet.

This led to another discovery. A girl who’s attracted to a religion like Wicca is usually seeking to gain some control over her life. Something is wrong and she wants to change it. To do so, she’s often enticed to purchase something—like “magical herbs”—to create a potion that will give her some control over her situation. Unfortunately, she doesn’t even realize she’s being tricked.
But think about it, wouldn’t you love to have control over a bad situation sometimes? Wouldn’t you love to be able to change the circumstances that make your life unpleasant? So what if someone offered you the “power” to do just that? Perhaps if you’re fifteen, you wouldn’t see that person as a charlatan and you would fall for it.

Which brings me to another important factor in understanding this generation’s attraction to the supernatural. Follow the money. The more I researched, the more it became painfully obvious that Wicca and witchcraft and the occult are money-making enterprises. Thanks to the internet, these savvy distributors sell anything imaginable—and many things you can’t. That leads to some serious motivation—these marketers want to hook their unsuspecting young customers and reel them in. Of course, these potions and trinkets and how-to books don’t come with a money back guaranty. Nor are they approved by the FDA. Yet they are a multi-million dollar industry.

So, in a way, it’s a perfect storm. Teens that are insecure, lost, unhappy, and searching...meet up with an unregulated industry that offers supernatural answers and power and control...for a price. And, oh yeah, I never even mentioned how this opens a door for Satan to slip in and wreak havoc. For that...you’ll have to read the book.

Melody Carlson is the best selling author of over 200 books. She writes for a broad audience including YA, Women's Fiction and even some chick lit. Her books are true-to-life stories and her teen series' are worth checking out for your young readers.

Learn more about Melody Carlson at her website.

And more about Moon White, her book for teen girls struggling with spiritual issues, here.

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

2011-10-11T16:21:00.005-04:00

It doesn't happen very often that I read a book (totally mesmerized the whole time) and finish it to find the only thing I can say is, "wow." That is exactly what this book did for me. It blew me away. Meissner has solidified her place as a top author with this one, it's sure to win awards.

This story follows the life of Marielle Bishop as she marries widowed Carson and moves into the family mansion in Fredricksburg, Virginia. The family mansion of his deceased wife, rumored to be full of ghosts. Marielle spends time trying to learn more about his first wife and learns more than Carson wants her to know. She hears rumors of the ghosts and Adelaide, the family matriarch, is all too willing to lead her down the path of a ghost hunt.

This book twisted and turned several times and ended up visiting the Civil War era. Truly fascinating reading.

Thank you, Susan, for this CLEAN READ. I truly enjoyed it. I've read all of this author's books and this has to be her best work yet.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Diary of a Teenage Girl BECOMING ME by Melody Carlson

2011-10-10T21:23:00.004-04:00

Diary of a Teenage Girl BECOMING ME by Melody Carlson is a true to life glimpse into a teenager girl's world. Caitlin O'Conner is just turning sixteen and is going back to school after Christmas vacation. She's had a makeover during break and captures attention when she steps foot in school again. Attention from the cool kids. She ditches her BFF for these new friends and is faced with new problems. Problems at school with friends (both girls and boys) and problems at home where things seem to be unraveling before her eyes. She journals it all and you get to sit and read over her shoulder as she faces life one day at a time.

Melody Carlson's ability to write what a sixteen year old is thinking is incredible. She gets it all. I totally remember being that fickle teenager. One day you like this guy and then the next day this other one is paying attention to you. So glad I don't have to deal with what Caitlin is dealing with anymore! Caitlin is faced with some tough decisions. This book is recommended for all teen girls.

Thanks, Melody, for this CLEAN READ.

About the book:

In the fictional Diary of a Teenage Girl, sixteen year old Caitlin O'Conner reveals the inner workings of a girl caught between childhood and womanhood...and empty life without Christ and a meaningful one with Him. Through Caitlin's candid journal entries we see her grapple with such universal teen issues as peer pressure, loyalty, conflict with parents, the longing for a boyfriend, and her own spirituality.

Follow Caitlin O'Conner as she makes her way from New Year's to the first day of summer--surviving a challenging home life, changing friends, school pressures, an identity crisis, and the uncertainties of "true love."

Caitlin experiences heartache, and encounters a new reality in her life: God. See how rejection by one group can-incredibly-sometimes lead you to discover who you really are.

About Melody Carlson:

Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she had 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 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 Carter 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.

Meet Melody and learn more about her vast library of books at her website.

This book was provided for review by Glass Road Public Relations.

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones

2011-09-28T08:38:00.010-04:00

I so wish Jenny B Jones would quit her day job so she could spend more time writing. Seriously. Those teens don't need her as a teacher. One or two books a year just isn't enough from this lady.

There You'll Find Me is the latest from Ms Jones. In this novel she crafts a story based on a minor character from a previous book, Save The Date. Finley Sinclair shines as a main character and solidifies that this author is one that I will read as long as she writes.

Finley Sinclair is a hotel empire heiress whose antics have garnered media attention. She's changed her ways though and plans to spend most of her senior year studying in Ireland. On the flight over she has a chance encounter with film star Beckett Rush. She's a little more than unimpressed by him and is happy to walk away from him when the plane lands. She arrives in her new town to the family that she's staying with, in a B&B. High school is pretty much the same for her there as it was in the states. Snobby girls are everywhere (it's universal!) One seems to have it out for her when she realizes that Finley is staying in the very B&B that Beckett is staying in.

Beckett has his own set of issues to deal with. He's got a wild child party image and is in the tabloids weekly with his exploits.

This book has so many layers in it and it's all woven together so well that when I finished it I let out a little satisfied sigh.

If you only read one YA book this year, please pick this one! Jenny B Jones has made her mark in the YA arena and while this novel isn't as snarky as some of her others it's sweet and heartwarming. Perfect.

Thanks Jenny, for this CLEAN READ.

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze & Thomas Nelson.

Purchase it here beginning on Oct 4th.

Wings of Promise by Bonnie Leon

2011-09-14T13:34:00.003-04:00

It was a long wait, but Bonnie Leon is back with the second book in the Alaskan Skies series, Wings of Promise. I'm more in love with her writing after this volume than ever before. If you're looking for a book with love, loss, forgiveness, reunions and more then this is for you. We meet up again with female Alaskan bush pilot Kate Evans. Her reputation precedes her and she's still trying to break down walls as a female in a male dominated profession. Her relationship with Paul grows into something more serious and life seems almost too perfect for Kate.

We all know that when it seems perfect is when the bottom falls out. Kate is shaken to the core and has to make decisions that will push her forward or send her packing back to the mainland.

From the back cover:

Her spunk has always gotten her through tough times. But does she have what it takes to go the distance?

Kate Evans may be a woman in a man's profession, but as Alaskan bush pilots go, she's one of the best. If only her personal life wasn't so complicated. Torn between her affection for fellow pilot Mike Conlin and doctor Paul Anderson, Kate longs for clarity in her heart. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, her mind may be made up for her.

Full of high-flying adventure and tender personal moments, Wings of Promise will sweep you away to the Alaskan skies.

****

It's true! Heart pounding action is in the pages of this book. This was very hard to put down and I recommend it 100%

Thanks, Bonnie, for this CLEAN READ.

Purchase this book here

Learn more about Bonnie here

This book was provided by the author and Revell in exchange for my opinion of it. (And I love it!!)

Race Against Time by Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse

2011-09-14T13:33:00.003-04:00

Kimberley & Kayla Woodhouse write as a mother-daughter team different than any you've heard of before. Kayla is a young teen. Intrigued? Read on.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, writer, and musician approaching life with a positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. Her previous book, Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy, chronicles her daughter's extremely rare health issues and how the Woodhouses received an amazing gift through the ABC television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Kim and her husband have two children and live in Colorado.

Kayla Woodhouse is a teenage author whose life-altering medical condition (a nerve disorder that prevents her body from regulating its temperature or sensing pain) has not stopped her love for swimming and other activities.

About the book:

Anesia Naltsiine has made mistakes that have cost her--and her 13 year old daughter, Zoya--dearly. But no more. She will prove her worth as a mother and as a breeder of champion sprint racing dogs. Her kennel is so successful that buyers come from all over the world. So why does she still feel worthless?

Zoya misses the dad she never knew. All she wants is to follow in his footsteps as a champion sprint dog racer. But when she witnesses a murder in their town of North Pole, Alaska, she finds herself thrown into dangers and emotions she can't begin to understand.

Enter Sean Connelly, a new employee at the kennel with demons of his own. When he discovers macro-chips bearing military secrets implanted in the Naltsinne's dogs, a puzzle tracing back to the murder unfolds. Then strange accidents start happening; clearly someone wants Zoya silenced. Anesia tells her daughter it's not safe to race, but Zoya, angry with the world--and against God--takes off across dangerous Alaskan territory alone. Anesia and Sean must race against time to save the girl and themselves.

You can read more about this book and watch a video for it here. You can also pre-order it as it doesn't release for a few more weeks.

Thanks Kimberley and Kayla for this clean read and for this ARC copy.

Playing Hurt by Brian Goins

2011-09-06T12:25:00.005-04:00

Playing Hurt by Brian Goins is a marriage book for men. Since it's geared towards men and is all about sports I don't feel that I can review this one without being biased against it. I hate sports. I mean REALLY hate sports. I opened this and was lost on the first page. Lost, not like confused, but lost like my mind immediately wandered elsewhere (oh hey, I should really paint my nails....is it time to start dinner yet?....I wonder if any of my stuff sold on eBay in the last half hour?). I could not focus on it at all. It's like my mind has an auto-shut off when it comes to sports.

That being said, I'll just tell you what the back of the book says and then you can decide for yourself if your man should read this one.

Back cover:
We admire people who play hurt, who finish the game when injured, sick, or falling apart. So why--when it comes to marriage--are we so quick to throw in the towel?

Playing Hurt is a Biblical playbook for marriage that will challenge ou to push forward even when your wife hurls an insult, hurts your pride, or disrespects you. Combining replays from Scripture, questions at the end of each chapter, and stories from his own marriage, Brian Goins inspires you to live out Ephesians 5:25 and "love your wife as Christ loved the church"--even if it means giving yourself up for her. Like a coach shouting from the sidelines, Goins demonstrates a never-give-up attitude that will motivate you to action and show what it means to play hurt so you can win at marriage.

By Kregel Publications, this book was provided for review by Litfuse.

Sweet Sanctuary by Sheila Walsh & Cindy Martinusen Coloma

2011-09-06T12:15:00.002-04:00

Sweet Sanctuary is new from Thomas Nelson and is written by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martinusen Coloma.

~From the back cover:

In tiny Cottage Cove, on the coast of Maine, Wren Evans is raising her gifted son, Charlie. A single mom, she's fought hard to give Charlie a stable, secure home life. When a prestigious music academy in Boston expresses interest in Charlie's talent, Wren is willing to move them again to make his dreams come true.

But Wren doesn't know that Charlie has been praying for her. And the answer to her son's prayers will change both of their lives. As Wren plans their move to Boston, life in Maine begins to fall apart. Her job is threatened with budget cuts, and Wren's grandmother, Ruth, arrives unnanounced, with an outlandish request.

Ruth wants the family gathered together one last time, at the summer home, where, years before, an accident shattered Wren's peaceful childhood. In the tumult, Wren finds a friend in handsome, kind-hearted local, Paul Callahan.

When the family gathers in Cottage Cove, old wounds will be healed, new love will blossom, and the innocent prayers of a child will be answered in a most unexpected way. ~

I've tried for over a month to get into this book. I can't do it. The story is almost too sappy and I can't connect with the characters. If I can put a book down and not think about it at all then it's one that I don't wish to continue reading.

This book was provided for review by the Booksneeze program.

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

2011-09-03T12:41:00.006-04:00

Blue Skies Tomorrow is the third in Sarah Sundin's Wings of Glory series. This volume takes us into the circa WWII life of Helen Carlisle, a war widow who's more happy than sad that her husband died in combat, but puts on the face of a grieving widow because she feels it's what's expected of her. When she meets up with Ray (the guy she crushed on for years when she was younger), she doesn't think anything could ever come of it. Her self esteem is shot because she was a victim of polio when she was a child and because her deceased husband was physically abusive to her. Helen lives with her in-laws and her almost-three year old son. Helen and Ray start dating and get a little hot and heavy, she ends it and he enlists in the army and heads overseas.

That's the beginning of the book. Parts of it were a little slow and other parts were a little fast (and heated). Parts of it were a little hard to pay attention to, like when there were "quotation marks" around "certain words" that didn't "need" to be there. It really slowed the reading down. Thankfully this only lasted a few chapters. Other parts of this book were loaded down with technical terms pertaining to war and aircrafts. I appreciate that the author did her research, but this information didn't add to the story at all and may have been best unwritten.

While I sympathized with Helen and the abuse that she lived through, I felt that she was too much of a doormat and wished she'd stand up for herself more in the beginning of the book. She seemed a little flaky, even while she was beginning a relationship with Ray.

I didn't really enjoy reading this book. It didn't seem real enough for me.

This book was provided for review by Litfuse and Revell.

Spiritual Warfare for Women by Leighann McCoy

2011-08-31T19:55:00.002-04:00

Spiritual Warfare for Women is new from Bethany House and is written by Leighann McCoy. Leighann is a speaker and writer. She is the prayer and women's minister at a large Southern Baptist church where her husband serves as pastor, and she has written a number of devotionals and Bible studies for women. She lives with her family in Franklin, TN.

That being said, I'd not heard of her until I picked up this little 229 page book. My own pastor husband is doing a series on spiritual warfare right now and I thought it might be interesting to get a woman's take on the subject.

This book is divided into several sections. The first section being about God's love. As I read this section I wasn't sure I was going to like the rest of the book. This section is pretty basic Sunday-school type stuff. Stuff I've known and have practiced for decades. For a new believer it's probably something that they'd be happy to hear again.

The rest of the book blew me away. Really good stuff in there. Leighann teaches the reader who their enemy is. Where he came from and how to defeat him. She made several interesting points that I'd never thought of before, one being on what deception really is and how the enemy uses it to keep us from being who God wants us to be.

If you're looking for a book that will teach you how to be a strong fighter in the Lord's kingdom then I highly recommend that you get a copy of this one. Excellent.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pattern of Wounds by J Mark Bertrand

2011-08-20T13:44:00.006-04:00

Pattern of Wounds by J Mark Bertrand is new from Bethany House Publishers and is the second in his Roland March series. This is more of a detective novel than a murder mystery. Reading this book was like watching a story unfold on a televised detective show. The dialogue was expertly written and I could hear the cop-talk while I read it. I would also say that this book is geared more for the male reader than the female reader. My husband really enjoyed the first in this series and is looking forward to this one too.

About the book:

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.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Thanks, Mark, for this CLEAN READ.

Courageous by Randy Alcorn

2011-08-08T11:47:00.002-04:00

Courageous, by Randy Alcorn, is based on the screenplay by Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick, the same two who brought us the Christian film, Fireproof. For me, this book was very hard to get into. It felt like the authors were trying too hard to get the message of the book across to the reader. Almost every page mentioned something about being a good father to your children. It was overkill. I was disappointed that it was mentioned too often. Randy Alcorn is one of my favorite authors and I understand that he had a screenplay to work with and it may have been mentioned a lot in that, but I wish he'd have been able to tone it down a little. I felt like a kindergartener who had to be told the same thing over and over again. I am planning to watch the movie because I do believe in the message. I just don't feel that it was well executed in print.

From the back cover:
Four men, one calling: To Serve and Protect.
As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all that they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
They know that God desieres to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those weho are most dear to them?
When tragedy hit home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God...and to their children?

This book was provided for review by Tyndale.

Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

2011-07-25T08:52:00.003-04:00

Tamara Leigh books are too far and few between for me. This lady can write a fun book with relatable characters. In Restless in Carolina we meet up with Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan, an environmentally aware widow who is trying to right some decade old family wrongs and make sure that the Pickwick estate is kept in its natural state, no matter who purchases it.

Bridget has been widowed for four years, something that she still struggles with. She doesn't believe in happily-ever-after because it didn't happen for her and she places the blame on God for taking Easton from her far too early.

This book was easy to read and made for a nice escape from my own reality of packing up and moving across town. Curl up on your back porch with a cup of tea and enjoy Tamara's latest glimpse into family drama, North Carolina style.

Tamara Leigh began her writing career in 1994 and is the best-selling author of more than a dozen novels, including Splitting Harriet, Faking Grace and Leaving Carolina. A former speech and language pathologist, Tamara enjoys time with her family, faux painting, and reading. She lives with her husband and sons in Tennessee. Get to know her here.

This book was provided for review by Multnomah, opinions are my own.

Thanks, Tamara, for this CLEAN READ.

River's Song by Melody Carlson

2011-07-13T14:51:00.004-04:00

If I had to describe Melody Carlson in one word, it would be versatile. I've yet to find an author who can boast authorship of over 200 books that manages to keep them fresh and different. River's Song is such a different book that it took me by surprise.

Anna is of Native American descent and is coming home to her roots along the Siuslaw River in Oregon in the late 50s. She leaves her teenage daughter to live with her overbearing mother-in-law while she tends to loose ends after her mother's death. Her visit cuts straight to her heart and she finds herself drawn to the simple life that she once knew. Couple this with Hazel, a woman researching the Siuslaw Indians, and Anna knows she can never return to the life she's been living since her husband died, but will she have the strength to stand up to the woman who's done nothing but put her down and treat her like a slave for years?

This was a truly fascinating look into a lifestyle that is now almost extinct. Melody captures the essence of her characters and makes you feel like you're reading a true account and not a fictional work.

Highly recommended reading.

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.

Thanks, Melody, for this CLEAN READ!

This book was provided for review by Glass Road Public Relations.

Jump off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus

2011-07-10T14:53:00.002-04:00

Jump off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus is a fascinating look into how the female body works (turns against us on a regular basis) from month to month. Lorraine takes us on a tour of the menstrual cycle through various stages of life, from teen, to young woman, to mid-life to the beyond. I'm stuck somewhere in the middle. To be honest, this book angered me. Not the writing, but the fact that these things are true and are seldom spoken of. A woman who stabs her husband due to a pms induced rage? I believe it to be true (although not something I've done nor plan on doing!). I believe all of it. I feel the rage on a monthly basis, some months are worse than others. I haven't hidden myself in a closet to cry, but I have stayed off of the road and out of public! I did appreciate all of the helpful ideas and proven ways to ease the monthly...stress, but being in an instant world, I want help NOW! Perhaps I will take the time to track everything for three months so I know what is coming (or so I can warn those around me what is coming and when).

I learned more from this book than I did from my last yearly gynie visit. At that time I explained my horrible days to my doctor and she just patted me on the knee and told me to take a good multi-vitamin. Lorraine, it seemed, held my hand so to speak and told me that everything was going to be alright while giving me good ideas of practical things to do to help ease my symptoms. And she sprinkled it with humor.

I still haven't gotten to the point that I'm embracing my cycle, don't think I'll ever quite fall in love with it (to me it'll remain "the curse") but now I'm a little more aware of what's going on inside of me.

This book also contains a study guide for individual use or for group study. Hmmm....a bunch of hormonal women doing a study together. I don't think I want to be in that group! LOL

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Seeds of Change Organic Amantani Whole Grain Blend Quinoa & Wild Rice

2011-07-06T17:10:00.003-04:00

Seeds of Change is one of my favorite companies that produces organic products. Their organic chocolate bars are to die for! I've recently discovered their line of organic rice & whole grain mixes. I'm not usually one to purchase boxed mixes for anything, but the Persia Seven Grain Pilaf caught my eye a couple weeks ago while I was shopping so I thought I'd give it a try. It was perfect. So much so that today I picked up a different blend. I decided to go with the Amantani Whole Grain Blend Quinoa & Wild Rice.

I followed the directions of one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and adding the grain mixture to it, heating until they all turn golden brown. The only problem I had with this step is that the smaller grains (quinoa) were popping out of the pan like tiny pieces of popcorn. I had to stir it continually to keep control of it.

Then I added the water and ran into the same situation that I faced the first time I made something from this product line. When you've spent several minutes cooking something in hot oil and then add two cups of water the mixture almost explodes from the pan in a furious boil. If you're not expecting this you could get burned. It's unfortunate that there isn't an easier way to make this other than the microwave, because the flavor is unusual but good. Nutty from the different grains and spicy from the seasoning packet, this is a step out of the ordinary. A nice product to have on hand when you want something a little different.

You can find this product in the organic foods aisle of your supermarket.

I was not compensated at all for this review. It's a product I purchased and thought I'd share.

Prayer Walk by Janet Holm McHenry

2011-06-30T15:19:00.002-04:00

Prayer Walk by Janet Holm McHenry is an easy to read primer on how to jump-start both a prayer life and a fitness routine. McHenry shares reasons why walking is an excellent way to boost your health, lose weight, gain strength and how to turn an ordinary stroll into a life-changing pursuit of God. She teaches how to pray, why to pray and gives ideas of things to pray for. The back of the book has a study guide and gives instruction for a group leader to start a prayer walking group of her own.

This little book is big on information. Published by WaterBrook Press, the back reads:

Challenge your body. Feed your spirit. Change the world.

Ask any Christian woman about her most recent New Year's resolutions, and you'll likely find that "exercise regularly" and "pray more" were at the top of her list. We all long to look and feel our best, to live actively and healthfully. More than that, we desire to connect intimately with our God. Yet physical health and spiritual growth often take a backseat to the urgent demands of grocery shopping and bill paying, time with friends and family, and long hours at the office.

It's time to exercise your prayer life.

Thirteen years ago, author Janet Holm McHenry suffered from depression, weight gain and exhaustion. Then she began a prayerwalk routine that not only transformed her life but also profoundly impacted the lives of those around her. Learn how you, too, can set out on a journey to increased energy, better health, and greater joy--and experience a rich, full prayer ministry that will have a lasting impact on your loved ones and community.

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook/Multnomah.

The Heart of Memory by Alison Strobel

2011-06-30T14:26:00.002-04:00

The Heart of Memory by Alison Strobel is unlike any Christian novel I've read before. Absolutely gripping and fascinating. Alison has taken a subject that I've never heard of and written a remarkable story. My only complaint is that it seemed to be wrapped up too quickly at the end, it left me wishing for more.

Savannah Trover is a Christian writer and speaker who suddenly falls ill and has to have a heart transplant. After the transplant she notices that things about her have changed, like a sudden craving for all things strawberry, and an intense dislike for God. How can she go back into the routine of speaking and writing and proclaiming love for the Lord when she isn't sure she believes in Him anymore?

This is one that you don't want to miss! New from Zondervan, it can be purchased here.

This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine program.

Love Letters in the Sand by Diann Hunt

2011-06-22T13:28:00.004-04:00

It's been far too long since Diann Hunt has released a new book, but Love Letters in the Sand was worth waiting for. It's a perfect summer read that I savored every page of. Step back in time to the mid 1950s when Elvis topped the charts and it was safe for a young woman to get lost in her thoughts while walking alone on the beach in the evening. The story of Julia & Stefan's young love was so well-written that it warmed my heart and made me remember long ago pinings of my own summers.

Young love separated by time and distance is what Julia and Stefan faced when he was sent overseas during WW II. Seventeen years later Julia is still aching over the lost love and wondering what ever happened between them when she meets Lucas, new in town. Can she risk opening her heart to love again? What about the secrets from Lucas' past? Will Julia ever be able to trust him when she finds out the truth about him?

This book is dotted with scenery from the 50s including the Cherry Coke at the diner, the malt that is shared with friends, a few (now) classic films that are seen. Truly a wonderful way to spend a few days.

Thanks so much, Diann, for this CLEAN READ!

This book was shared with me by the author. You can purchase a copy here.

The Trigger by Hon Hoh

2011-06-20T16:49:00.003-04:00

I did not find this book as fascinating as I'd hoped to. I actually found it to be quite "sensational" and unbelievable. I couldn't get through the whole thing because it angered me. It felt more like I was being force-fed the author's beliefs than I was reading a story.

Here's what it's about:
Do each of us play a role in the kingdom of God? Can the choices we make affect God’s timing of future events? Hon Hoh examines these questions while taking his readers on a riveting adventure in The Trigger: A Novel on the Revelation. Through twists and turns, readers will be led on a powerful journey.

The Trigger follows three individuals (a pastor, a spy, and a missionary) from three continents (the United States, China, and Australia) who find their lives merged in a single divine purpose: to win the last unreached people group on earth and usher in the Second Coming of Christ. They must succeed in order to release the trigger for the return of the Lamb as declared in Matthew 24:14

In their way stands a legion of demonic principalities intent on destroying the plan. Against the backdrop of unprecedented persecution and the onslaught of cataclysmic events, they must remain steadfast in order to carry out the priority revealed to them by God. It is evident that no believer will escape the greatest tribulation in human history and that only the matchless return of the King can deliver mankind from evil’s reign.

The climactic battle between Good and Evil unfolds as Lucifer executes his definitive act of defiance: the global genocide of all Christians. With the sound of the trumpets reverberating throughout the heavens, the events that have been set in motion must now complete their course. Eternity and the fate of the earth are at stake, and there is no plan B.

Far more than just another End-Times novel and theologically distinct from the Left Behind series, Hoh will alter the way you see the world and prepare you for the future. This novel is based closely on Hoh’s theology expressed in his book Risen Lamb, Empowered Saints: The Book of Revelation Made Easy. Although the events described are entirely fictional, they are but one of many plausible scenarios in which the end could occur. Though these depictions may not arise for more than another hundred years, it is conceivable that they could begin to unfold within the next decade—or less.

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley

2011-06-14T10:29:00.002-04:00

When I spend over a week trying to get into a book and am only at page 54 I know it's not the book for me. Such is the story with Margaret Brownley's A Vision of Lucy. The premise is a good one, female photograper in the late 1800s trying to make it into the local newspaper with her work. The execution of it doesn't work well for this reader. In just the few pages I read I felt like time and time again things were over-explained.

Case in point: "Though the students for a liberal amount of reading, writing, and arithmetic with their Bible lessons, no one dared call it a school. The Texas constitution required that a separate building be provided for colored children, and Reverend Wells stubbornly refused to comply. He insisted that separating pupils based on the color of their skin went against God's will. Since no such law governed churches, Rocky Creek was able to educate its young beneath a single roof....Twelve year old Johnny made a face, but he scampered up the steps of the church, which doubled as the school..." (pages 53-54)

The reader already knows it's being used as a school as the first paragraph tells us, to mention it again is redundant. I found many instances of this and couldn't bear to read any further.

This book was provided for review by BookSneeze and Thomas Nelson.

An Unlikely Suitor by Nancy Moser

2011-06-06T12:57:00.003-04:00

Every time I begin a book by Nancy Moser I think it won't be as good as the last, and every time I am proven wrong. An Unlikely Suitor is perhaps my favorite so far, due to the subject matter (which I'll get to in a bit). Nancy Moser is one of those authors that when I start to read I don't want to put the book down. She quickly grabs your attention and before you know it the story is playing out in your mind.

This volume takes us from New York City at the end of the 19th century and progresses north to Newport, Rhode Island. The characters include a family of Italian immigrants.

See why I love this story? Rhode Island and Italians. What could be better? Maybe more pasta....like linguine with clam sauce.

This book also has some mystery, intrigue and some surprises that I never saw coming!

From the back cover:

New York dressmaker Lucy Scarpelli befriends socialite Rowena Langdon as she's designing her summer wardrobe. Grateful for Lucy's skill in creating fashions that hide her physical injury, Rowena invites Lucy to the family mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, encouraging the unusual friendship.

One day Lucy encounters an intriguing man on the Cliff Walk, and love begins to blossom. Yet Lucy resists, for what Newport man would want to marry an Italian dressmaker working to support her family?

Rowena faces an arranged marriage to a wealthy heir she doesn't love, but dare a crippled girl hope for anything better?

And Lucy's teenage sister, Sofia, falls for a man well above her social class--but is he willing to give up everything to marry a woman below his station?

As the lives of three young women--and their unlikely suitors--become entagled in a web of secrets and sacrifice, will the season end with any of them finding true happiness?

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for this review copy.

Thanks Nancy, for this CLEAN READ!

The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder

2011-06-01T16:44:00.004-04:00

The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder is one of the strangest books I've ever read. It begins with Angelo (the angel) telling the reader to, "...uncover your own backstory that will change you in ways you can never imagine. And you'll never be the same again..." With that big of a statement I truly thought I was in for something special. Perhaps if I had never taken time to contemplate my own life in the scheme of eternity it may have spoken to me like a lightning bolt in my foggy mind, but having acquianted myself with the Bible from a young age I've never gone for a moment without knowing that everything is woven together by the Lord. An arrogant statement to begin a book with in my opinion.

This story follows several people and how their lives are woven together through the years until the culmination of a near disaster. I found it very hard to read, it didn't grasp my attention and while the end notes say that it's laced with symbolism (some that needs to be dug deep to be found) I didn't think it was all it was promised to be.

Yes, I was disappointed, but I do have a friend who saw this book from a totally different view and she loved it. You can read her review here. Just goes to show you that not every reader will love every book.

About the book:
Some mistakes are just a part of the bigger plan.
Can the lives of two strangers intertwine to influence the world?
Have you ever wondered if there is a bigger plan to your life or if everything just happens by chance? In his newest book, The Blackberry Bush, David Housholder will take you on a journey across two continents to discover that your life may be bigger than you think and that even the worst of mistakes can find redemption. While on this journey, he will also examine today’s youth cultures and their complex relationship with the Christian faith.

According to Housholder, “We are all products of an extensive root system, whether or not we believe it or acknowledge it.” The tapestries of our lives have been woven together using the pasts of our parents, grandparents and generations before who influenced who we will become. But we can take the mistakes from their pasts and weave them into something beautiful in our futures. We can be a product of generational blessings and generational curses, but it is up to us to sort it out.

The Blackberry Bush begins with two babies, Kati and Josh, who are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls. You would think that such a potent freedom metaphor would become the soundtrack for their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth. They will follow a parallel path connected by a mistake their great grandparents made years before.

Despite his flawless image, Josh, an artistic and gifted Californian skateboarder and surfer, struggles to find his true role in the world. He fears that his growing aggression will eventually break him if he can’t find a way to accept his talent and the competition that comes along with it. Kati, a German with a penchant for classic Swiss watches and attic treasure-hunting, is crushed with the disappointment of never being “enough” for anyone—especially her mother. She wonders whether she will ever find the acceptance and love she craves and become comfortable in her own skin.

Craving liberation, Kati and Josh seem destined to claim their birthright of freedom together. With the help of their loving grandparents, they will unlock the secrets of their pasts and find freedom and joy in their futures. Today, like Katie and Josh, our youth often fall into two different cultures. Josh is part of the “bro” culture which is outdoor-oriented, with sports as a focus, and generally more conservative. Whereas Kati is part of the “scene” culture which is more liberal and indoor-oriented, focusing on music. These cultures are apparent in the novel and can aid in a better understanding of the issues today’s 21st century youth are facing as well as the struggles they have in coming to faith.

“The Blackberry Bush is a beautifully written novel of two characters’ search for meaning and their powerful rescue from the relational and societal expectations that are crushing them. It’s the story our own hearts might tell from our journey through life,” says Debby Griffith, radio host of Everyday Matters. Housholder’s journey will take readers into the deepest recesses of the soul while pulling them from their own thorny thickets. And along the way we may just discover a life of redemption and meaning.

View the trailer for The Blackberry Bush here.

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group

Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm?

2011-06-01T11:51:00.003-04:00

Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm? From the creators of TheBeautyBrains.com, while full of interesting information, is not as thorough as I'd hoped it would be. It was easy to read and I whipped through it in a little over an hour. Some of the product details are good to know (that Pantene and TreSemme are as good as salon products), but the fact that this book denies that parabens and other ingredients in hair/body care products are of concern is a little disheartening. This book also has some unkind things to say about products with natural ingredients (in other words, it's biased towards mainstream products). Some good information, but you still need to use your own judgement when choosing products to put onto your skin (your largest organ).

This was provided for review from The Amazon Vine Program.

Forever After by Deborah Raney

2011-06-01T11:38:00.003-04:00

While I did enjoy reading Deborah Raney's latest title, Forever After, I did find it to be a little unbelievable, predictable, and not as suspenseful as I'd hoped.

Jenna Morgan is a widow who was never in love with her firefighter husband, Zach. Lucas Vermontez was Zach's best friend, is also a firefighter and was on the scene of the fire that killed Zach (and also Lucas' father, among several other firemen). Jenna and Zach spent money that they didn't have to keep up appearances and to impress the wealthier residents of their town, including his parents. Jenna sells her house and moves in with her former in-laws who lay down some unrealistic "house rules" for this 29 year old to live by.

More fires at the same location as the fatal one, some romances, and the snobbish mother-in-law make this for one soap opera of a book. It is a clean read though and is light reading so if you're in for an easy beach read this might be the one for you.

Thanks to Glass Road Public Relations for this review copy.

Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was awarded a Silver Angel from Excellence in Media and inspired the acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Since then her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the National Reader's Choice Award; Raney was also the finalist for the Christy Award. She and her husband, artist Ken Raney, make their home in their native Kansas.

The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

2011-05-27T09:30:00.001-04:00

Angela Hunt is back with another great read. The Fine Art of Insincerity is her latest novel and this author proves once again why she's one of the top in Christian fiction.

Three sisters, each wrapped up in their own lives, converge on the small island of St Simons to go through their grandmother's possessions and ready her house for its new owners. Ginger, the oldest, finds herself smacked in the face with her husband's unfaithfulness. Penny plans to rid herself of husband #...? and thinks she may have found the perfect replacement for him. Rose has a suicidal plan of her own and is trying to have a good time with her sisters without them realizing that this is the last time they will see her.

Family drama has never been so interwoven. The three sisters must face the disappointments of their pasts, the mistakes they made that affected each other and the healing that comes from facing the truth.

Thanks, Angela, for this CLEAN READ.

This book was provided for review by Glass Road Public Relations.

Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than 100 books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don't Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs. You can learn more at her website. Be sure to check out her blog too!

False Witness by Randy Singer

2011-05-22T16:18:00.003-04:00

Originally published in 2007, Randy Singer rewrote False Witness and it's been recently published again by Tyndale. With all of the new technology over the past few years he felt it deserved a facelift.

I was a little intimidated by this book each time I walked by it. It looked deep and I'm more a reader of lighthearted women's fiction. Once I picked it up and started reading, I was hooked. Randy Singer took the legal thriller and made it easy to follow and easy to understand. I felt so connected to the characters that I cringed when something bad happened to them. I could almost see the entire thing playing out in my mind. Very well written and engaging, it's broken down into six parts and has a lot of characters, but not so many that it's hard to follow. The Chinese mafia, law students, the US Witness Protection Program, the FBI...this book has it all. Probably my favorite of Singer's writings.

From the back cover:

An adrenaline-laced thrill ride, False Witness takes readers from the streets of Las Vegas to the halls of the American justice system and the inner sanctum of the growing church in India, with all the trademark twists, turns, and intrigue Randy Singer fans have come to expect.

Clark Shealy is a bail bondsman with the ultimate bounty on the line: his wife's life. He has forty-eight hours to find an Indian professor who created an equation so powerful it can crack all Internet encryption. If he fails, his wife pays the price.

Four years later, law student Jamie Brock is working in legal aid when a routine case takes a vicious twist: she learns that her clients, members of the witness protection program, are accused of defrauding the government and have the algorithm. Now the couple is on the run from federal agents and the Chinese mafia, who both know the formula's power and will do anything to get it.

All royalties from False Witness will be donated to the Dalit Freedom Network, which works to provide Dalit children a first-class education and free them from the bondage of human trafficking.

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed best selling author, veteran trial attorney, and pasto who is deeply passionate about ending the human rights struggles in Indea mentioned briefly in this novel. Visit his website here.

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group

Holy Guacamole

2011-05-18T16:03:00.007-04:00

I wanted to love this book. The back cover copy makes it sound like a fun read, but truthfully, the writing is horrible. It seemed like the authors sat with a thesaurus next to them so they could find different words to use in different situations. The characters are hard to get to know, the language they use is not believable, the story is slow. There was nothing that I liked about this one. Even the names of the characters are confusing and it's hard to remember who's who. It took me days to slog through this one and I'm normally a very fast reader. I found it lacking the promised mystery in intrigue, even the cooking segments weren't realistic. If you want a good summer read about a chef then I suggest Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck.

About the book:

Nestled along San Diego's coast, the former romantic getaway of the silver screen's most notorious lovers is now the sizzling hacienda of Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp. "If you are what you eat, make it hot, spicy and irresistible," is her motto, and this queen of Southwestern cuisine enjoys quite a savory life; success, fame, and a reputation for the finest palate west of Barcelona. That is, until a pot-rattling bang causes Trace Domingo, a washed-up sports writer, to crash into her life. His arrival turns up the heat at the culinary boot camp as Bonnie discovers in life's recipe book, it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are.

You can purchase this book here.

This book was provided for review by Glass Road Publications.

Praying For Your Future Husband by Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer

2011-05-17T14:36:00.002-04:00

Praying For Your Future Husband (Preparing Your Heart for His) by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer is a wonderful tool for young women who are earnestly seeking after God and waiting for Him to bring the right man into their lives. Each chapter addresses one specific things for young women to pray for, for the young man that (though they may not have met yet) they will one day marry. Trust, Loyalty and that he be a God Lover are just a couple of the suggested things to pray for. Each chapter gives real life examples of why each topic is suggested. Both Robin & Tricia share from their lives as well.

This book would be a great mother-daughter devotional or also good to use for a girls-only Bible study.

I'm so thankful that they took the time to write this. I remember late-night prayers for the man I would *sigh* someday marry. It's my hope that this book will help other young women to wait for the kind of man that I got.

This is published by Multnomah and was provided for review purposes only.

Shattered by Melody Carlson

2011-05-16T12:15:00.003-04:00

Shattered is the newest book my novelist Melody Carlson. Melody has written over 200 books for children, teens and adults. This is book two in her SECRETS series for young adults. In this volume we meet Cleo, who is dreading the current week because her best friend Lola is moving away. Cleo wants nothing more than to spend one last night having fun with her BFF, and that involves a concert in the city that Lola won tickets to, the eve before she moves away. Trying to convince her mother into letting her drive into the city isn't working so Cleo makes her own plans. Plans that end up costing far more than she could have ever imagined. Plans that change her life forever.

Once again Melody Carlson writes a book that's so intense that it grabs you from the first page. She takes topics that teens deal with on a daily basis and weaves stories of people who struggle and overcome. I recommend her books wholeheartedly. Clean reads with good lessons.

Thanks Melody, for this CLEAN READ.

Thanks to Glass Road Public Relations for this review copy.

This book is new and is available from NavPress.

Pitch Black by Melody Carlson

2011-05-16T09:01:00.002-04:00

The TRUE COLORS series by Melody Carlson is a set of ten novels written for teenagers. Each one deals with a different subject that hits home with kids today. Pitch Black is the fourth in the series and it introduces us to Morgan, a teen who lives in a single parent home. Morgan's mom takes a spur-of-the-moment trip to Vegas where she intends to marry her half-her-age boyfriend. Leaving Morgan home alone for several days. During this time Morgan's lifelong friend, Jason, commits suicide. This act sends Morgan and several classmates into despair and they decide to have a suicide pact, they'll kill themselves together after Jason's memorial service. After all, if Jason, a kid who had it all, can't get through life then why should they?

Melody Carlson grabs your attention from the first page of this 193 page book and doesn't let it go until the end. There is a link in the back for anyone considering suicide. This is a gripping novel that was so real and heartbreaking that I had to put it down several times and clear my head for a while.

If you have a teen who is dealing with depression or having suicidal thoughts you may want to read this before giving it to them. It explains in detail how Jason did what he did, which may not be something that a desperate kid should read.

I applaud Melody for tackling this tough subject and NavPress for printing it. Thanks, Melody, for this CLEAN READ.

Thanks, NavPress, for providing this book to review.

You can purchase this book here.

She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

2011-05-09T17:37:00.003-04:00

She Makes it Look Easy is the second novel by Marybeth Whalen and while I enjoyed her first one, this one blew me away. The characters in this book were so real to me that it kept my attention for most of the day and I finished it within hours. This is not a light, fluffy story. It's got so many levels to it that it will most likely stay with me for a long time. While at first I thought it was a story of two women who become quick friends right after meeting each other and how they both think that the other has the perfect life (lesson: quit comparing yourself to others, no one is perfect!), it became so much more.

Ariel Baxter has finally made it. She's moved into a neighborhood that she feels proud to call home and the woman on the other side of her fence seems to be the perfect new friend. Justine misses her friend that moved out of the house Ariel now lives in, but finds Ariel to be just what she needs. Both seem (to the other) to have the perfect life, but nothing is ever as it seems. Rumors circulate around town and before long both are being shaken and life will never be the same for either one again.

This book will be released by David C. Cook in June 2011

This was provided for review by the Amazon Vine program.

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

2011-05-03T17:02:00.003-04:00

Karen Witemeyer is still a relative newcomer to the Christian fiction writing scene, but last year I was blown away by her debut novel, A Tailor Made Bride. Now she's gone and done it again with her third release from Bethany House, To Win Her Heart.

Eden Spencer has resigned herself to being a spinster. Her betrothed ran off five years ago and while time has healed her wounds, she's still a little uneasy around men. Especially men new to town like the ruggedly handsome Levi Grant. Levi has just been released from prison and is looking to start over in Spencer, Texas as a blacksmith. He has made peace with his past and has renewed his relationship with the Lord, but he still doesn't want anyone to know about his incarceration, because he doesn't want to be labeled as trouble.

What I loved about this book:

Eden is the founder of the town library and has it in her home because she considers books of utmost importance

The characters use stories from the Bible to help them in real-life circumstances

There aren't too many characters to remember

I cried at the ending

The minor characters are as lovable as the major ones

I loved every minute of reading this book. Kudos to the author for another enjoyable read! And for a CLEAN READ.

Thanks to the author for providing this book for review.

You can purchase this book here.

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

2011-04-27T15:46:00.003-04:00

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell has affirmed my love for this author. It started out with a list of characters for people who may get confused when reading the book. My heart sank a little when I saw the warning and the list. I find books with many characters to be too much for my brain. I get distracted and disinterested when I'm overwhelmed with who's who.

This book was not that way at all. First of all, it's written in a unique point of view which I found to be delightful. It's written almost as if someone is telling you the story, talking directly to you. Trust me on this, it works.

The thing that I noticed about this novel is that you can watch the characters grow. Each of the four main female characters is a new woman by the end of the book, very refreshing. Truly a lovely book, heartwarming and informative. My grandfather was an Italian immigrant during the time in which this story takes place so it was interesting to learn what some of his struggles may have been.

From the back cover:

In 1918 Boston, three seamstresses dare to dream of a better life.

Fiery Julietta pursues love recklessly.

Shy Annamaria falls for the wrong man.

Secretive Luciana's past endangers them all.

Drawn together amid the opulance of Madame Fortier's dress shop, will each find the fairy-tale ending she seeks?

Thanks, Siri, for this CLEAN READ!!

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for this review copy.

Too Rich For A Bride by Mona Hodgson

2011-04-23T12:39:00.003-04:00

I found this book to be very hard to read. It feels almost too simplistic. The characters didn't appeal to me and the story line felt bland. There were also an abundance of characters and I had to keep flipping back to remind myself who was who.

About the book:

With a head more suited to bookkeeping than a bridal veil, Ida’s dreams include big business- not beaus.

Ida Sinclair has joined her sisters, Kat and Nell, in the untamed mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado for one reason: to work for the infamous but undeniably successful businesswoman, Mollie O’Bryan. Ida’s sisters may be interested in making a match for their determined older sister, but Ida only wants to build her career.

Under Mollie's tutelage, Ida learns how to play the stock market and revels in her promising accomplishments. Fighting for respect in a man's world, her ambition leaves little room for distractions. She ignores her family's reservations about Mollie O'Bryan's business practices, but no matter how she tries, she can't ignore the two men pursuing her affections—Colin Wagner, the dashing lawyer, and Tucker Raines, the traveling preacher.

Ida wants a career more than anything else, so she shrugs off the suitors and pointed “suggestions” that young ladies don’t belong in business. Will it take unexpected love—or unexpected danger—for Ida to realize where her priorities truly lie?

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Press

Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock

2011-04-22T18:37:00.006-04:00

When I find myself in the company of an Ann Tatlock book I don't want to start reading it. I'll put it at the bottom of my book pile and wait and wait until I finally give in to the delicious read that I'm sure it will be. Ann never disappoints. She is one of the few authors that I anticipate a new book from each year. Her writing sets her apart and into a realm which others could only aspire to be.

Promises to Keep is, in my opinion, her best book yet. From the sweet cover to the beautifully written words to characters who come to life, this is one that you don't want to miss.

Roz is eleven when her mother packs the kids into the car and flees from her abusive husband. Roz doesn't understand why they had to leave Daddy and she misses him more than anything. Moving far away to a new life and a new house are scary for her. The morning that they find an old lady on their front porch-indulging in their morning paper-is the start of a new adventure as Tillie eventually comes to live with them. Roz starts school and makes friends with a black girl named Mara. Both girls have an ache in their heart for their fathers and they make a pact to get their daddies back.

Tatlock weaves the characters together in such a way that I found myself wanting to talk to them. Tillie is such a strong woman and is exactly what this family needed at this time. This book made me think of Romans 8:28.

If you want to learn more about it please visit this link to Bethany House. You can view the trailer for it and order a copy.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Thank you, Ann, for this CLEAN READ.

Fashioned by Faith by Rachel Lee Carter

2011-04-22T09:02:00.003-04:00

Fashioned by Faith by Rachel Lee Carter is targeted to tween-teen girls who want to be modest in their dress and still be fashionable. Rachel Lee Carter is a model with a resume that spans a couple decades. She shares how she's been able to take a stand for her beliefs (sometimes her stories are heartbreakingly courageous) and is a fine example of a Christian woman making an effort to remain unchanged in a secular workplace.

This book also addresses modesty in a fresh way. Rachel gives girls shopping hints and tips that will ensure that what they wear won't attract the wrong kind of attention from men. Each chapter has a He Says, She Says and HE says section. The He Says is what young men thing, the She Says are Rachels thoughts and the HE Says is what the Bible says about each topic.

Beautifully and honestly written, this is one book that I can't wait to share with my teen daughter. It even has a 45 day Bible study in the back of it. What an excellent tool this is!

Included are several full color pages of pictures of Rachel on various photo shoots. She is careful to mention that there are many aspects that go into what makes the perfect picture and the hours that it takes to capture the right shot.

FROM THE BACK COVER:
Can you look great and still honor God?

International model Rachel Lee Carter chares her story of being modest in an often-immodest industry. Sure, we live in a skin-is-in society, but what do guys really think when girls follow those revealing trends? More important, what does God think?

Rachel has traveled all over the world and has worked for clients including CoverGirl, Tommy Hilfiger, Reebok, and many more. She touches on experiences that affect people in the fashion industry and issues that affect girls everyday--weight problems, eating disorders, acne, self esteem, modesty and more.

Rachel brings her experience from the fashion world to offer creative and practical suggestions that combine modesty and a great look.

You'll find out how to keep up with the latest trends while discovering what real beauty is.

This book was provided for review by BookSneeze and is available from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

To learn more about Rachel please visit her website.

The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

2011-04-18T19:43:00.004-04:00

Just when you think an author can't outdo herself someone like Colleen Coble breaks free from the mold that she's made a name for herself in and writes a series like The Mercy Falls series. The Lightkeeper's Ball is the third and final installment in this series that takes place in 1910 in Mercy Falls, California. If the cover alone doesn't woo you in then the story and setting will.

Coble is a master storyteller who is able to weave a tale of suspense and romance with a Christian theme like no other. Olivia Steward is among the ultra rich in New York society. With friends like the Astor family, she is being bred to marry into money to keep up her social standing. Her older sister, Eleanor is the first to be betrothed in an arranged marriage to Harrison Bennett, but when word arrives from California that Eleanor has died Olivia is sent to replace her. While making the trip Olivia decides to use her long-forgotten English title of Lady Devonworth and do some sleuthing on her own to see what really happened to her sister Eleanor. When Olivia meets Harrison she decides to continue the charade and get to know this man and see if he was behind her sisters demise.

With twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing until the end. Coble also brings back several characters from the first two volumes and it's fun to be reunited with them.

If you want to take a trip back in time, then you need to read the Mercy Falls series.

Thanks to the B&B Media Group for this review copy.

Thanks, Colleen, for this clean read!

Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

2011-04-18T14:19:00.004-04:00

Forget everything you think you know about Amish fiction and hold onto your seat!

Beside Still Waters is Tricia Goyer's jump into the Amish fiction market. A market which, I think, is full of books telling the same stories over and over with some name changes. Tricia has taken everything I think about Amish fiction and tossed it out the window. Beside Still Waters had me crying at the intro and ignoring all of my housework as I sat to devour this book in one day. I could not put this book down! Based on a true story, Beside Still Waters follows Marianna Sommer in her quest to be the perfect daughter and the perfect Amish girl. Marianna meets someEnglischers who cause her heart to long for more. More out of life and more out of her relationship with God. She begins to question every rule that she was ever taught and she starts to think for herself and pray to the God that she is falling in love with.

About the book: Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she's ever known. When Marianna's family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about. As Marianna struggles to find "home", she also encounters God in intimate ways.

About Tricia Goyer: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four 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 MomSenseand 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. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Thanks, Tricia, for this CLEAN READ! You can purchase this book here.

40 by Travis Thrasher

2011-04-12T22:00:00.004-04:00

40 by Travis Thrasher has to be one of the darkest novels I've ever read. Tyler Harrison is nine months away from turning 40 and suddenly begins to experience hallucinations that rival a horror movie. He sees things that no one else does, he travels back in time and sees himself in near-death experiences that he doesn't remember ever really happening. All of this happens at about the same time that a man claiming to be an angel enters his life and tells him that he is going to die on his fourtieth birthday.

What happens next is a struggle for his soul. There are forces of both evil and Light that are warring for him. Unfortunately, this book focuses more on the evil than the Light. This book is littered with mild obscenities, which this reader finds out of place for a Christian novel. The first 4/5 of this book are so dark that I didn't want to finish reading it, but then in true Travis Thrasher style, he throws us a surprise that is mind-blowing and redemptive, it's sad that it took so long to get there though (at around page 375). I was also left a little confused by one of the women that Tyler was involved with. Laila is not actually a character in the book, but she's thought of and spoken of often. I didn't understand the reason for her.

There are a lot of obscure musical references in this book, too many in my opinion. I didn't even realize that the chapter titles were song titles until reading something about it in the discussion questions in the back of the book. Other than an occasional reference to U2, Michael W Smith and one of Taylor Swift, I've not heard of 99% of the groups that he referred to.

I did notice some references to some of his author books in this one (Gun Lake and Broken) and thought that was interesting.

Travis Thrasher has authored over a dozen books, of which I've read all but two. This one is not my favorite. You can see his other books here.

40 is being released on May 4th by FaithWords.

The author provided this book in exchange for my honest review.

False Pretenses by Kathy Herman

2011-04-09T17:04:00.003-04:00

False Pretenses by Kathy Herman is the first in a new series (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) by this seasoned suspense author. Kathy doesn't disappoint with this new volume and while the main characters are new, we're reunited with some favorites from her last series (don't you just love it when an author does that?).

Zoe Broussard is the owner of Zoe B's, a hip new restaurant in a bayou town, but Zoe is keeping secrets from her past and is trying to live the life she always dreamed of. When she begins to find anonymous letters that say, "I know what you did" she tries to make amends the only way she knows how to. Unfortunately there's a case of mistaken identity and the wrong she tries to correct is not what the letter writer is referring to. Now Zoe needs to face her fears and confess to her husband the truth that she's been hiding throughout their five year marriage. But can she do it before it's too late?

Kathy Herman weaves a tale of suspense and confession that will keep your attention while you try to finish this book in one sitting. This is the kind of book that you don't want to put down.

Thanks, Kathy, for this CLEAN READ! Can't wait to read the rest of this series.

This book was provided for review by The Amazon Vine program.

The Grandfathers DVD

2011-04-08T18:13:00.003-04:00

The Grandfathers continues the story of the Saint family and their work in Ecuador with the Waodani tribe after the murder of the missionaries who were trying to reach them as seen in the film The End of the Spear. This is more of a documentary than a movie, but the graphics and style are geared towards younger people. This would be a great film to show to a youth group because it captures your attention with real-life footage and action and yet gives a powerful lesson of forgiveness and grace. It takes less than an hour to watch and is one that the whole family can view together.

Narrated by Jesse Saint, grandson of Nate Saint, it chronicles the decades since that unfortunate day and shows how the seeds that were planted have come to fruition. The joy on the faces of the tribal elders is proof that they've changed their lives from their old ways (of the spear) to now serving the Lord.

This film has been awarded The Dove Foundation seal of approval.

Thanks to the B&B Media Group for this review copy.

The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue

2011-04-07T22:02:00.002-04:00

I fell in love with this book from the first line, "I found Jesus seven years ago, but until that Sunday morning, I didn't know what to do with Him." From there it was a ride that I didn't want to get off of. Forty-two year old Allison Chamberlain turned her back on the family business and fortune that went with it and spends her days driving a horse-drawn carriage through the historic district of her town. That is, until God nudges her to buy a Harley. She obeys and keeps obeying the nudges that she gets from Him until the life that she's been comfortable with is but a memory. This is a story of how one woman gets shaken up when she dares to give it all up for the Lord and how He uses her to change lives around her. What a fantastic book. Well written and easy to read, the characters come to life. Sometimes scary, it forces you to look beyond your comfortable neighborhood to the darkness that sometimes is just blocks away. This is the first I've read by this author and I've got to tell you that I've already ordered five of her other books. The first in a series, The Reluctant Prophet, is one that will cause you to reflect on your own Christian life and hopefully nudge you to do more. Highly recommended.
This book was provided for review as part of the Amazon Vine program.

Watch the trailer for this book:

Hang out with Nancy on her Facebook page for adults fans. You can learn more about her at her website, which is split into two sections. One for adults and one for teens.

Thanks, Nancy, for this clean read!

Missions of Mercy Series by Susan May Warren

2011-04-06T08:37:00.009-04:00

The MISSIONS OF MERCY series by Susan May Warren & from Love Inspired Suspense

Clean, romantic suspense from Love Inspired Suspense (riveting inspirational romance)is delievered monthly to your door when you become a subscriber. Authors vary and sometimes include some of my favorites. Susan May Warren has been in my list of authors I can count on for a good story without any raunchy scenes for a long time. She's joined the Love Inspired Suspense family with her new Missions of Mercy series. Point of No Return is the first in this series and introduces us to Mae Lund and Chet Stryker. Mae is insistant on entering hostile Georgia (the country) to search for her missing nephew and finds herself being assisted by former flame, Chet. While not as riveting as I'd hoped, it is an interesting story line and holds a few surprises for the characters. Will Mae and Chet find Josh and will they find their way back to each other's hearts? You'll have to read this little volume to find out for sure. Pocket size and portable, this is one to keep with you so you can read on the run.

I found this title to be less than I've grown to expect from Warren. It didn't keep my attention and I actually dreaded reading it. It took me several days to slog through even though it's a pocket size book.

This is the kind of story I've grown to expect from Susan May Warren. Mission: Out of Control was fast-paced and had enough suspense to keep my attention and enough romance to melt my heart. I'd recommend reading this one over the other one in a heartbeat. I love the size of it also, easy to fit into my purse and carry with me for reading-on-the-run.

From the back cover:

Brody "Wick" Wickham is a former Green Beret turned security agent--with a 100 percent mission success rate. No way is his new assignment changing that. Even if it's protecting a diva American rock star while she's on tour in Europe. Except Veronica "Vonya" Wagner isn't just a beautiful celebrity used to having her way--she's the daughter of a U.S. Senator. And she's hiding a dangerous secret. When Wick discovers what's at stake, how far over the line will he go to keep them both alive?

Undercover Pursuit is the third in the Missions of Mercy series and is, in my opinion, the best of the three. This book had me captivated from the first sentence. Well written and engaging, this one had me concerned for the characters and I could not put it down. I whipped through it in hours. Enough suspense to keep me a little tense and enough romance to warm my heart. Susan May Warren has yet another winning series (even though I felt it was off to a slow start with the first book) to add to her list of winners.

From the back cover:

Operation Covert Wedding.
The only way to get security agent Luke Dekker to a wedding? An undercover mission as a groomsman. He'll bust the groom, a drug cartel heir, before anyone can say, "I do." Then Luke can escape all this love and romance nonsense--and the too pretty bridesmaid/agent assigned as his "fiancee" for the weekend. Until Luke discovers that sweet, vulnerable Scarlett Hanson isn't his contact. Isn't an agent. Isn't trained for the high-stakes mission now trapping them both. And worse, Luke's falling for her--which is not part of the assignment.

These books were provided for review by LitFuse.

Point of No Return: http://www.amazon.com/Point-Return-Love-Inspired-Suspense/dp/0373444249/ref=sprightly-20

Mission: Out of Control: http://www.amazon.com/Mission-Control-Love-Inspired-Suspense/dp/037344432X/ref=sprightly-20

Undercover Pursuit: http://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Pursuit-Love-Inspired-Suspense/dp/0373444400/ref=sprightly-20

BIG NEWS: Susan has a brand new shiny website! Check it out and drop her a note! http://susanmaywarren.com

About the Missions of Mercy Giveaway:

Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her 3 book Missions of Mercy series!

Three heroes, all on missions of mercy, who discover that God not only saves us from evil, but from the darkness inside.

Point of No Return: Can God deliver us from our mistakes? This question is posed to Chet and Mae as they race to save Mae’s nephew from an evil warlord in the Republic of Georgia.More here.

Mission: Out of Control: Does God turn his back on us when we fail? Brody and Vonya discover the answer as they conspire to capture an international smuggler and free a child soldier from war. More here.

Undercover Pursuit: What if we deliberately sin and harbor bitterness in our hearts? Is there a rescue from the dark places inside? Luke and Scarlett find out as they work to protect a bride-turned-informant whose courage could dismantle a human trafficking web. More here.

To celebrate the series, Susan is giving away a Missions of Mercy Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new FLIP HD Camera

* The entire Missions of Mercy series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. You may enter once per email, facebook, and twitter. The contest ends on May 31st. Tell your friends! Winner will be announced on June 1st at the Litfuse Publicity site and at Susan May Warren's website. (While you're there, check out her rockin' new website!)

The Invisible World by Anthony Destefano

2011-04-05T15:53:00.003-04:00

The Invisible World, Understanding Angels, Demons, and the Spiritual Realities that Surround Us by Anthony Destefano is an easy to read tutorial of the spiritual realm. If you are not well versed on the unseen then this may be a good book for you to read. I agreed with most of this book and thought the teaching on demons, the devil and hell were very informative. What I didn't agree with is that our "guardian angels" are able to talk to us and warn us about things. What the author describes as inner promptings and attributes to angels I've always felt was the Holy Spirit, God dwelling within us, that speaks to warn us or prompt us to do good.

What I did appreciate is how easy this book was to read and understand. I finished it in a little under two hours (two days worth of walking on the treadmill). Nothing in it was scary, nor was it meant to be. If you want to know more about the workings of the spirit realm then I suggest that you read this book. Destefano explores heaven and hell in this book. He also talks about how everything we do in this life has an eternal consequence.

Interview with the author: Anthony DeStefano, Author of The Invisible World

Q: The Invisible World is a book about understanding angels, demons, and the spiritual realities that surround us. In a world that is so visual, why tackle such a murky subject?

A: That’s really the whole point. What I tried to do in this book was attempt to render that spiritual world a bit less murky and a bit clearer for people. My hope is that, by doing this, these invisible realities won’t seem so unfamiliar in the future. And the more familiar they are, the easier it will be to understand them and to have absolute faith in their existence.

Q: What do you say to skeptics who believe the invisible spiritual world is just a superstition?

A: Quite the contrary. To me, the greatest superstition is what Deepak Chopra calls the “superstition of materialism.” That’s the superstition that says that everything in life—our ideas, our philosophies, our religions, our accomplishments, all our notions of honor and love and mercy and hope, all our art and music, all of the deepest mysteries of science and faith, all the longings of the human heart—is simply the result of the random dance of molecules in our brain! Now to me that is superstitious and a denial of logic! One of the great things about the invisible realm is that you don’t have to be a “religious fanatic” or the follower of some cult to believe in it. You can be a level-headed pragmatist. You can be a realist. You can even be a cynic. You certainly don’t have to check your brains at the door before entering this world. And you don’t have to be afraid that deep thinking is going to nullify what you learn there. This book is not merely based on warm-hearted anecdotal evidence. Everything I talk about in this book is based on solid theology, informed by common sense and logic, and backed up by biblical scholarship and the universal teaching of the Christian church over the past two thousand years.

Q: Unseen spiritual realities are rarely analyzed from a Christian point of view. What is the reason?

A: I think there are some Christian books on the market that focus on invisible realities, but not many of them are written in a way that speaks to the general public. In other words, there are books on God, the angels, demons, grace, etc., but unfortunately, most of them are heavy theological works that are rather long and dull. I think the reason for this is that Christians sometimes forget that theology can be exciting and compelling and wonderfully interesting for everyone—not just scholars, academics, and theologians.

Q: You’re not a priest or pastor; in fact, you’re a writer and businessman. How did you get in touch with this topic?

A: I think it is precisely because I am a practical person that I wanted to write about these topics in a way that everyday people could understand. As a thinking human being, I’m naturally interested in the ultimate questions concerning life, death, and the spirit. I think everyone is. After all, we’re all headed in the same direction down the same river. So I think it’s a very practical subject to be interested in because it concerns all of us. But as a practical person—someone involved in business and running organizations and hard work—I’ve been frustrated by the lack of books on these kinds of spiritual topics written in a no-nonsense, understandable way. Basically, I try to write my books in order to fill what I perceive to be a void.

Q: If we are going to explore the invisible spiritual realm, how can we tell the phony from the authentically supernatural? Is there a way to be sure about what is real and what is superstition or even fraud?

A: It’s very difficult because the topic is so subjective. That’s why, in my book, I don’t indulge in wild speculation or relate hundreds of anecdotes and stories that may or may not be true. I stick to what has been revealed in Scripture and the authentic teaching of Christianity over twenty centuries. I feel strongly that, if I didn’t stay within these parameters, it would be too easy to drift into the worst kind of make-believe.

Q: The Invisible World explores the existence of angels. Angels have captured our imagination in a special way. Why do you think that is?

A: I think part of the fascination is that, while angels are completely different from us, i.e., they’re pure spiritual beings, they are also right here with us on Earth, helping us, guiding us, and protecting us. In other words, we are intrigued by angels because they are powerful and wonderful creatures, but also because part of their job is to really get involved in our lives—to really “get their hands dirty,’’ so to speak, in the affairs of human beings. Angels are mysterious and strange and invisible, but they’re also our fellow creatures—and they’re essentially living part of their lives on earth in order to help us. So although they’re very far away from us, they’re also very close. It’s the proximity that is fascinating, I think.

Q: You also explore the idea of the devil. “The devil made me do it” is a cliché that people often use with humor. Can it be true? How does the devil actually tempt us?

A: Of course it’s true. The devil does tempt us. And the devil really exists. He is spoken about many times in Scripture. He’s not a “theological construct,” as some academics have theorized. He’s a real being. As far as how he goes about tempting us, as the movie The Exorcist correctly says, “The attack is psychological.” And moreover, it usually involves deception. Satan, says Scripture, is a liar and the father of all lies. Understanding lying is the key to understanding the nature of the Evil One and the nature of spiritual warfare. Think about it. If God is Truth, and the devil hates everything about God, then naturally the devil is going to want to mess with the truth. What could be more offensive to God than to get us to act in a way that completely contradicts God’s identity? What could be more insulting than for us to be persuaded to act in a way that is diametrically opposed to everything God stands for? That’s why the devil is always trying to deceive us. Not only is it an extremely effective tactic for trapping us, but it also mocks God at the same time. So deception is the foundation of all demonic strategy—it’s the devil’s modus operandi.

Q: If the devil and the demons are so powerful, how can we ever hope to combat them?

A: It’s very simple. In order to protect yourself from spiritual realities that are harmful or evil, all you have to do is unite yourself to God. Union with God is the ultimate and absolute defense mechanism against all spiritual attacks. In the presence of grace, evil runs, hides, flees. That’s a fundamental spiritual law.

Q: And how can we invite positive spiritual forces into our lives?

A: One of the very best ways is to pray. Prayer puts you in direct contact with the creator of everything, including the whole spiritual realm. It’s like being plugged into an electrical generator. Prayer is the great spiritual conduit. A super-highway to Heaven! Prayers go up to God, and he sends spiritual graces of all kinds down to us. The best thing he sends to us, of course, is himself!

Q: What was the biggest insight you had during your research for The Invisible World?

A: The biggest insight for me was that when you look at the invisible world from the Christian perspective, it’s actually much more interesting and provocative than when you look at it from all the fictional and new-age perspectives you see in the majority of books being published. As everyone knows, there are many books out there on paranormal activity and ghosts and goblins and all the subjects Hollywood makes scary movies about. But the simple, age-old Christian teaching on angels, demons, the devil, grace, God, and what’s going to happen at the end of the world are so much more exciting and eerie. And what’s more—they are true. They are not make-believe. And you can really believe them.

Q: How can faith in the invisible world help us live our day-to-day lives in the visible world?

A: If you only pay attention to visible realities, i.e., the world of the senses—then you are doomed to live only half a life. And the half you do lead is bound to be shallow and meaningless. Why? Because the most important things in life are invisible: love, honor, trust, faith, emotion, passion, philosophy, God. The hidden realities of life affect everything you do—whether you know it or not. They affect how you conduct your business, what kind of person you decide to marry, how you raise your children, how you look at suffering, how you face death. The invisible is the lens through which you filter all the experiences of your life. By learning about the invisible world, your life will become much fuller and richer and more balanced. Also, if you have a strong faith in the invisible world, then no amount of suffering—physical, mental, or emotional—will ever be able to destroy the profound inner sense of peace that you’ll experience on a daily basis.

The Invisible World: Understanding Angels, Demons, and the Spiritual Realities That Surround Us by Anthony DeStefano Doubleday Religion ~ March 15, 2011Hardcover/208 pages/ISBN 978-0-385-52223-6/$19.99

www.anthonydestefano.com

Thanks to the B&B Media Group for this review copy.

GROUNDWIRE NEEDS YOU!!

2011-04-04T20:19:00.000-04:00

Are you compassionate and caring?

Are you a good listener?

Do you want to share the message of hope with others?

Groundwire needs you!

Teens today can be overwhelmed searching for meaning amidst depressing hopelessness, negative self-image, and the pressure to be perfect. Groundwire, a current and innovative outreach, has become a ministry where teens find comfort, guidance, and answers delivered through multi-media communication. Groundwire leverages media and technology to meet teens exactly where they are — viewing, listening, texting, or chatting — and to invite them to voice their questions and struggles so they can find answers in the message of the Gospel.

The ministry builds its impact through broadcasting that strategically places television and radio spots on secular stations. Teens listening to popular radio broadcasts or viewing favorite shows on networks like MTV, VH1, Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming, and Comedy Central are interrupted by direct spots. These spots catch their attention, resonating with where they are today. Teens responding to the broadcast messages are invited to visit Groundwire’s website where they can chat with a live spiritual coach available day and night, as well as find a collection of resources such as podcasts by Groundwire’s founder and executive director, Sean Dunn, and daily devotionals.

To meet the needs of hurting teenagers across the country, Groundwire is looking for additional online coaches. Are you interested?

FAQ’s regarding volunteer spiritual coaches

What is Groundwire?

Groundwire is an international ministry aimed at broadcasting hope to students all over the world by leveraging the most effective media formats. Their radio spots are heard on both mainstream and Christian stations and their TV commercials are aired on MTV, VH1 and the Cartoon Network among others. Each spot points their audience to the Groundwire website where spiritual coaches are available to answer questions, encourage with biblical hope and pray for chatters.

What is the Coaching Line?

www.grounwire.net does not simply offer content, but conversation. The coaching line is an instant message platform that connects chatters with trained coaches in order to provide one-to-one real time conversation. Volunteers all over the world offer their time and talents in order to meet the needs of those searching.

Who is capable of being a spiritual coach?

Spiritual coaches are sold-out Believers who are committed to the Great Commission and love people. They realize that although they are not perfect, God can and desires to speak through them and they realize that technology offers amazing opportunities to minister to people all over the world. Coaches need to be over eighteen and willing to submit to a background check and go through the necessary training.

What are some of the needed qualities of a coach?

Compassionate, teachable, good listener, sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, patient, resilient and authentic.

What type of commitment are you looking for?

The typical coach offers two to four hours weekly on line, however some offer up to ten. Coaches set their own schedule on a monthly basis and coordinate with team leaders to offer the line sufficient coverage.

Can I coach from home?

Once a coach has been trained and given their log in information they can offer support from any location with internet connectivity.

Who would I be talking to?

Although Groundwire media buys are aimed at youth and young adults, and the majority of chats are in that age range, chatters have ranged from eleven to sixty-seven years of age and from over one hundred countries. The issues are very diverse ranging from the extremely depressed and suicidal person to the fifteen year old who is struggling with relationships.

What does the training look like?

Training begins when an application is completed and returned to the Director of Coaching. From that point the majority of training is done online and consists of learning how to deal with the different types of conversations that might take place. There are a series of written responses that take place in email format and then an online mock chat as well.

What type of oversight is offered?

In order to protect the integrity of the Groundwire mission and message, layers of organization and accountability are built into our procedures. Coaches are encouraged and offered additional training on an ongoing basis. Each chat is read to protect volunteers from accusations of inappropriate behavior as well as to ensure a consistent message is being presented. Each coach is assigned a team lead that will act as a mentor in an ongoing manner.

How will this benefit me as a person?

Seeing God speak through you to comfort someone who is struggling builds your confidence. On top of that the skills and discernment you will discover as you serve the Lord in this type of face to face ministry translate into your everyday life and the other areas where you serve.

Let your audience know how they can become Groundwire spiritual coaches!

For more information or to get download an application, visit www.groundwire.net/coaching.

A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

2011-03-23T14:26:00.005-04:00

Anytime I want to escape for a day and treat myself to a romance that is innocent and clean I reach for a book by Denise Hunter. Denise is known for romances that will tug at your heart strings while keeping your thoughts pure. Her characters always learn a lot and therefore, so does the reader. A Cowboy's Touch is no different. It's a delightful book and isn't your average cowboy story. To be honest, when I heart she was writing a cowboy story I wasn't all that interested because I'm not a fan of the cowboy genre. This book is anything but stereotypical.

Abigail Jones is doing her family a favor by spending the summer in a spot on the map in Montana. In a town without even one stoplight, she keeps close watch on her great Aunt Lucy, who the family is sure is going a little senile. Before she knows it, Abigail finds herself agreeing to be a nanny to the daughter of the cutest cowboy in the state. But with Abigail fighting to keep her secrets to herself and Wade trying to keep his past hidden to protect his daughter will these two find that what they really need is to trust....each other?

Kudos to Denise for another attention-grabbing book that won't let you go. I read this one in one day. Well worth the time.

Thanks, Denise, for this CLEAN READ!

Thanks to BookSneeze for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

2011-03-22T09:11:00.003-04:00

I can't even tell you how much I loved this new book by Meg Moseley. It's about Miranda Hanford, a widowed mother of six, who is caught up in a cult-like church with a very demanding leader. When Pastor Mason Chandler announces that the church is moving out of state, Meg finally sees a way out and decides not to follow the pastor and the rest of the congregation. Her only fear is that the secrets he knows from her past will be used against her. She's caught in a struggle about what to do when an accident puts her in the hospital and a call for help brings the only family she knows, her dead husband's half brother-who she only met once. Jack arrives, assesses the situation and takes matters into his own hands.

When Sparrows Fall is a story that will hit close to home for anyone who's ever been in a church with an overbearing leader, one who makes decisions for the body to benefit his own life. Unfortunately these things happen far too often. While this novel is fiction it does have a lot of truth to it. I'm thankful to Meg for writing it and hopeful that it will help people who are drawn into this type of church.

Thanks, Meg, for this CLEAN READ!

You can read more about this book and purchase it here.
Thanks to Multnomah publishers for this review copy.

I Called Him Dancer by G. Edward Snipes

2011-03-22T08:50:00.002-04:00

From the back cover:

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but on bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washed windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remail: faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.

I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman's enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeles man who has given up on life.

G. Edward Snipes is a freelance writer, president of the Christian Authors Guild, and founder of Exchanged Life Ministries. He has had three award winning short stories, and regularly has articles published on several online ministries. Visit his ministry site here. Or his personal blog here.

Bound By Guilt by CJ Darlington

2011-03-09T13:29:00.005-05:00

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Thicker than Blood
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Winner of the
2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest!

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon, Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could May’s Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS:

CJ Darlington is back with her sophomore release, Bound by Guilt. This is one author that you've got to read. With two books under her belt, and the second one as good as, if not better than the first, you're going to want to remember her name. Bound by Guilt has everything that I look for in a novel. Characters that come to life, suspense that won't let you go, and a plot with twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end.

Teenager Roxi Gold has had a life full of rejection and hurt. In and out of foster homes since she was a child, she finally ends up with a distant relative with hopes that she's found a family to take care of her. What she finds is an aunt and cousin who travel the country in an RV, looking for bookstores from where they'll steal rare and valuable books only to resell them in the next town. This way of life is taking its toll on Roxi and it catches up with all three of them in one store where their robbery ends up including murder. Now on the run, the three try to get away from everything without leaving clues behind. Roxi is torn between loyalty to her family and doing the right thing.

With careful attention to detail, emotion, and scene-setting, C.J. Darlington scores with her debut effort. Here is a special writer you won’t want to miss.
--Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times best selling author

If you love a good read filled with adventure and ultimately redemption, I encourage you to brew the tea, settle into your favorite chair and pick up the page turner that is C.J. Darlington’s imaginative new novel of a modern day sisterhood that triumphs over separation and the raw challenges of life to find the real endurance of both family ties and God’s amazing grace.
--Rebecca St. James, Grammy award winning Christian singer and bestselling author

With Thicker than Blood, C.J. Darlington proves she's a novelist for the long-haul, a strong new voice in Christian fiction. This book speaks to the heart, from the heart, about the heart. Readers will not soon forget it.
--Sibella Giorello, Christy award-winning author of The Rivers Run Dry & The Clouds Roll Away

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:
C. J. began writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood (her first novel) when she was a fifteen-year-old homeschool student. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over a decade, scouting for stores similar to the one described in the novel before cofounding her own online bookstore. Thicker than Blood was the winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel.

C. J. co-founded the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com for more info.

QUICK LINKS:

Thank you, CJ, for this CLEAN READ!

What's it Like to be Married to Me? By Linda Dillow

2011-03-08T09:09:00.002-05:00

This is, hands down, the best book on marriage that I've read. What's it Like to Be Married to Me (and other dangerous questions) by Linda Dillow is one that every married woman who aspires to be a godly wife needs to read. Linda touches on subjects that aren't usually talked about, the things that we don't talk to our friends about but all struggle with. Some of the chapter titles are: What does it feel like to be my husband? (ouch!!) Am I willing to change my attitude? What's it like to make love with me? Why do I want to stay mad at you? and many more. This book also includes an outline for you to create your own Marriage Purpose Statement. The back of the book holds a ten (or twelve) week Bible study. What a great way to connect with other women and learn how to care for your spouse at the same time.

If you are willing to be vulnerable and if you desire a deeper intimacy with the man you're married to then you need to read this book. I plan to keep this in my collection and refer back to it when I'm slacking.

About the book:

Women everywhere wonder if there is more to marriage than what they have. Best-Selling author Linda Dillow, helps women shape their marriage by design rather than letting circumstances shape it by default. What's It Like to Be Married to Me? And Other Dangerous Questions, is a book about knowing the difference between having a desire for a better marriage and setting the goal of having a better marriage—as women look in the mirror to see how they can change. Extremely intimate and honest, Dillow shares the best and worst things she has done in her nearly fifty years of marriage, guides women to make their own Marriage Purpose Statement, and leads them into God’s heart for what their marriage could be.

About the author:
Linda Dillow is no stranger to publishing and adventure. She's the author of Creative Counterpart, Calm My Anxious Heart, The Blessings Book, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, and co-author of the Best-Selling book Intimate Issues. Linda and her husband Jody lived in Europe and Asia for 17 years training Christian leaders in closed countries with Biblical Education by Extension, during this time, Linda traveled extensively in Romania, Russia, Hungary, Poland and Asia. She taught women and helped them launch women's ministries. She is a mother of four children, as well as a grandmother.

Purchase this book from Amazon.

Thanks to Coast to Coast Publicity for this review copy.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

2011-02-27T21:56:00.004-05:00

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris is probably the best book for teens that I've ever read. This is written for teens by teens and I'm pretty sure that makes a difference. If you are a teen or are a parent of a teen the best thing that you can do for yourself this year will be to read this book. Released in 2008 by Multnomah, this book explains the Rebeloution that the Harris brothers started when they launched a website urging teens to step out of the stereotype and do something productive TODAY. Fanstastic reading that not only shares stories of things other teens have done, but that also gives practical ideas of how you can start doing hard things of your own. You don't have to be the typical lazy teen. You can make a difference in this world!

You can read the first chapter of this ground-breaking book here.

You can purchase this book here.

Get to know Alex & Brett here.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for this review copy.

Delirious by Martin Smith & Craig Borlase

2011-02-25T11:00:00.002-05:00

Before I opened this book I had no idea who Martin Smith was. Delirious? was a band that I'd heard of but, other than a duet with Amy Grant, had never listened to. Once I learned that he was the mastermind behind such songs as, "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble" and, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" I was excited to read about this worship leader and his thoughts on life, touring, music, family & more.

What struck me the most was his love for India and the people he met while there. It changed his life and that first encounted eventually led to the break-up of the band and a change in Martin's vision and view of life.

This book is a beautifully written insight into the life of this man who wants nothing more than to serve Jesus and His people. You may also be interested in reading the book that his wife wrote. The two books go hand in hand and when you read them together it's interesting to note how these two people compliment each other so well. You can see where one has strengths and the other has weaknesses.

About the book:
Remembering How to Breathe

Martin Smith shares his story, his insight, and his challenge to change the world Martin Smith, one of the men behind the modern Christian worship movement, challenges readers in his autobiography, Delirious: My Life, Mission, and Reflections on the Global Worship Movement. Martin Smith fell in love with God early in his life. By his teen years, he was captivated by songs that expressed true intimacy with God. As he grew, he married a pastor’s daughter and became involved in his church’s outreach events. He began playing his own songs with a band at the events. Then, in 1995, Smith was involved in a near-fatal car accident. During his weeks of recovery, he decided to become a full-time musician. His new career quickly took off and he became the lead singer for the band Delirious?. Touring with groups such as Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Matchbox Twenty, and Switchfoot, Smith’s life became a whirlwind of balancing work and family.

Yet Martin still wrestled with questions every Christian faces: How do I balance my “ministry” with my family? How do I know what God is leading me to do? Can I hold on to my first love for God while still holding on to the wisdom gained over years?

Then, while visiting India in 2007, Smith met Farin, the daughter of a prostitute living in a Mumbai slum. This girl was the same age as one of his daughters, and without help she too would end up facing life as a sex worker. Within a matter of hours, Smith’s life was challenged and changed like never before. He returned home, his head confused, his heart wrenched. How did this compassion find its place in a life already so full? In his book, we follow Smith’s journey as he realizes that it isn’t his job to fix everything but instead to be in a relationship with his Saviour. “I love the story of God telling Moses to go back and command Pharaoh to set his people free. Moses knows that the only way of it working is if God goes with him. If God goes with us. How’s that for a guide to making those big decisions? Forget the profit or the profile, why not just ask Dad and see if He’s in it? I’ve not seen enough decisions made this way. But if we got better at going back to God instead of charging on alone, don’t you think the world would be a better place? Couldn’t this be the clearest signpost to transformation?” Smith asks.

Smith reflects on everything from the craft of leading worship to the challenges of parenthood to finding a place of compassion within a culture of consumerism. Along the way, he challenges readers, “Are you going to be spectators or agents of change? Are you going to read history or make it happen? Are you just going to sing the songs or will you live them out?” Always personal and often surprising, Smith’s story will spur readers to embrace the action God wants them to take.

About the Author: Martin Smith is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter from England. He was the front man for the Christian rock and worship band Delirious? for seventeen years. Delirious? released numerous records, with some of their songs hitting the top twenty UK charts. In their career, Delirious? played many major conferences, festivals, events, and crusades. They won numerous Dove Awards, were nominated for a Grammy Award, and produced songs such as “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” and “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?” Smith collaborated with the other members of Delirious? for the book I Could Sing of Your Love Forever and with other artists to complete The Art of Compassion book and the CompassionArt CD and DVD.

Delirious: My Life, Mission, and Reflections on the Global Worship Movement by Martin Smith with Craig Borlase David C Cook/February 2011/ISBN:9781434702371/ 240 pages/softcover/$14.99 www.davidccook.com ~ http://www.delirious.co.uk

Thanks to The B&B Media Group for this review copy!

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn & Robert Lewis

2011-02-24T10:14:00.003-05:00

The Life Ready Woman is the latest in self-help books by Shaunti Feldhahn, this time she's joined in her writing by Robert Lewis. Of all of the books Shaunti has released, this one is my least favorite. Maybe it's because of where I am in life, but I didn't connect with any part of this book. The one thing that jumped out at me was where she mentioned that young women who are widowed should seek to marry again (she backed it up with scripture). I suppose that may be, but I wonder how long a young widow would grieve before even giving a thought to that?

This book breaks down a woman's life into several segments and gives advice on what to do during each particular time. When you look at your life as a series of chunks like that you realize what a short time you really have here on earth.

About The Life Ready Woman:

Are you a ‘Doing it all’ or ‘Do what matters’ woman?

Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.

Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God's best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a LifeReady Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.

God has given every wonderfully unique woman different skills and abilities, different desires, and different temperaments -- and every woman around the planet and through the ages is certainly living in different circumstances. But no matter what a woman’s life looks like, the Bible says that God has an individual mission and plan that He’s carefully designed for each of us. And He wants us to find it. Starting January 2011, The Life Ready Woman and the Life Ready Woman Video Series will help every wonderfully unique woman to thrive as she identifies and courageously pursues God's unique design and callings for her. LifeReady Woman puts you on a roadmap to make decisions that will lead to relief, delight, and fulfillment instead of regret.

You can purchase this book here.

About Shaunti Feldhahn:

Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.

About MomLife Today:

At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.

Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!

We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? www.momlifetoday.com

About The Weekend To Remember Get-Away Giveawy:

In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!

Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!

Weekend To Remember Getaways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:

2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)

2 Life Ready Woman DVD packs. $149 value each (Two different people will receive this gift.)

5 Life Ready Woman books. (Book will go to 5 people.)

To enter click here then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.

MomLife Today provides encouragement, advice and resources to help YOU with your daily Momlife! Because…every MOMent counts!

This book was provided for review by LitFuse.

See what others are saying about it here.

An Unlikely Blessing by Judy Baer

2011-02-16T09:21:00.004-05:00

An Unlikely Blessing by Judy Baer is the first book in the A Forever Hilltop series by Guideposts. This book introduces us to Pastor Alex Armstrong as he meets the people who attend Hilltop Church and All Saints Church. Two very different congregations, in a remote part of North Dakota, they've anticipated the arrival of this preacher, even though they are the start of his ministry experience. He's forty-two, single and starting over after leaving his career as a college professor. He's not sure what to expect and keeps hearing stories that one congregation tells of the other, will he be able to bring the two together? What separated them to begin with? He quickly makes new friends, turns the eyes of the single women in town and even adopts a three-legged dog.
This book was a nice, relaxing read. Not too much drama or conflict, this is obviously the beginning of a new series that has many plots and subplots to draw from. The author has written several recipes into this book, which is always fun.

Purchase An Unlikely Blessing here.

In celebration of the release of An Unlikely Blessing,

Judy is giving away a

KINDLE prize package worth over $175.

One lucky winner will receive: Brand New KINDLE with Wi-FiA $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com To enter just click HERE

See what others are saying about An Unlikely Blessing here.

About the book: An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastor and life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota. Hilltop Township, a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there.

Unlikely Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens' land. But can even God's minister help save this rural community?

There are a lot of firsts for the new pastor—the annual Hunter's Breakfast, julebukking (also called Christmas fooling), King Oscar's fish balls, and the melody of the musical saw. And the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Whether performing weddings, counseling his flock, or herding cattle by snowmobile, Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them. Day by day, he falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church. People may leave Hilltop, but Hilltop never leaves them.

About the author: Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy’s blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com/

This book was provided for review by LitFuse.

Springtime of the Spirit by Maureen Lang

2011-02-12T16:48:00.002-05:00

Do you love historical fiction set during the first World War? Then read on...

By the fall of 1918, the Great War has ended and the world is at peace, but there is little to celebrate in Germany. After four years of fighting for his homeland, Christophe Brecht returns to find there isn't much left of what he once called home. So when family friends ask him to travel to Munich to bring back their runaway daughter, Christophe agrees.

He soon locates Annaliese Duray, but discovers she is far different from the girl he once knew. Headstrong, idealistic, and beautiful, she is on the front lines of the city’s political scene, fighting to give women and working-class citizens a voice in Germany’s new government.

As the political upheaval ignites in Munich, so does the attraction between Annaliese and Christophe. With an army from Berlin threatening to squash everything Annaliese has worked for, both she and Christophe are forced to choose between love, loyalty, and their lives.

This book is new this month from Tyndale.

Get to know Maureen at her website.

The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

2011-02-08T14:35:00.002-05:00

About the book: Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali, a Thai prostitute, into America. A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba. A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.

You can purchase this book here.

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 atwww.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites. Patti's longer bio here.

Read what others are saying about this book.

Enter to win your very own Nook eReader in Patti Lacy’s Rhythm of Secrets Giveaway! Enter at the link below and then be sure to attend The Rhythm of Secrets Book Club Party on February 16^th to see if you won (and to chat about books and win one of the MANY other prizes Patti is giving away – including gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, & iTunes!) Enter to win here.

Thanks to LitFuse for this review copy.

Meet Mrs Smith by Anna Smith and Carolyn Johnson

2011-02-06T16:42:00.003-05:00

Meet Mrs Smith by Anna Smith and Carolyn Johnson is a look behind the scenes of the family of Delirious? front man Martin Smith. While Martin and the band grow from a local worship team to a world renound music group they leave family behind to tour everywhere they can. This is a look at the Smith family from Mrs. Smith's persepective. The years of raising children (mostly alone) have forced this one-woman show into a very organized routine. Her love for her family is evident between the pages. Her humble heart shows also.

While I'm not familiar with this band and their music I could relate to the time that Anna spent alone while her husband ministered (although not to the same extent!) Some parts of this book were a little confusing because the words are a jargon that isn't used in the States. Anna and Martin are Brittish, so the spelling of some words is different too (that didn't take away from the book, it just caused me to read slower).

My heart ached for Anna as she shared about miscarrying mid-flight, trying to get pregnant, rushing her child to a hospital in a foreign country and I just felt plain tired for her. This mom of six kids who has an open door policy at her home should be awarded a tiara and given a years supply of chocolates.

This was an interesting look into the lives and hearts of people who truly care about others and live out the Christian life as it should be. It will inspire you to stay faithful to the One who is always faithful to you.

Thanks to the B&B Media Group and Cook Publishing for providing this review copy.

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

2011-02-02T13:43:00.004-05:00

New from Waterbrook Press is The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan.

Back cover copy:

Mercy Land has made some unexpected choices for a young woman of the 1930s. The sheltered daughter of a traveling preacher, she chooses to leave her rural community to move to nearby Bay City on the warm, gulf-waters of southern Alabama. There she finds a job at the local paper and spends seven years making herself indispensable to old Doc Philips, the publisher and editor. Then she gets a frantic call at dawn–it’s the biggest news story of her life and she can’t print a word of it.
Doc has come into possession of a curious book that maps the lives of everyone in Bay City–decisions they’ve made in the past, and how those choices affect the future. Mercy and Doc are consumed by the mystery locked between the pages–Doc because he hopes to right a very old wrong, and Mercy because she wants to fulfill the book’s strange purpose. But when a mystery from Mercy’s past arrive by train, she begins to understand she will have to make choices that will deeply affect everyone she loves–forever.

My review:

I'd not heard of this author before requesting this book to review and the back cover copy drew me in. I felt let down after reading it though. The "curious book" that's found by Doc is never really explained and the hint of being able to change the past is never brought to fruition. The characters open the book time after time and hint about seeing things, but nothing is shown clearly. The mysterious man who arrives by train has something happen to him after looking at the book, but even that isn't fully explained. The choices that Mercy has to make weren't as difficult as I'd hoped they'd be, again, I felt that many parts of this story were gently touched on instead of being dug right into. This book left me with more questions than answers. If it is an allegory of some sort I truly didn't get it.

On the up side, it is a clean read and for that I'm grateful. I enjoyed the bits and pieces about life in the early to mid 20th century. Mercy was a girl who wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted and she landed a dream job at a newspaper when she was just nineteen. Mercy lives in a boarding house and is very independent. The story rushes a little and at times I was left wondering if I'd missed something.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

2011-01-31T13:37:00.004-05:00

There are a billion reasons why I love this new book by Kristin Billerbeck. The first is that it's a delightful romance, second, it's got a lead character who's in love with all things 40s and I totally got all of the references. The third reason I loved this book is because it's a clean read, safe enough for small children. Fourth is that it's unique, not like any of Kristin's other books (by that I mean sometimes it seems that some authors write the same story over and over again. I will not mention names though....) It's a breath of fresh air. Simply lovely.

Katie McKenna (name alone makes me want to have another kid, wouldn't McKenna be a great name?) is happily living her life in California and is about to be engaged to a very safe man named Dexter. Her life is perfect. Until Luc DeForges steps back into it. Katie and Luc have a long history and before she knows it, she's off in his private jet to New Orleans where she'll sing at his brothers wedding and collect her family-heirloom engagement ring so that she and Dexter can make it official.

Of course, there's always more to the story and this one is no exception. Katie tries to push Luc out of her mind. Dexter comes in for a surprise visit. Katie learns secrets from her past. And Katie learns what love is and what love isn't.

Don't miss this special treat! Just in time for Valentine's Day. It's a perfect read.

The only thing that bothered me about this book is that Katie is pronounced a redhead throughout the story and someone made her have black hair on the cover of the book. I know the author isn't at fault for that. Someone at the publishing house didn't read the book before they chose a cover. Bummer.

About the author:

Kristin Billerbeck is a successful novelist from northern California. She has authored more than 30 novels, including the Ashley Stockingdale series and the Spa Girls series. She is a leader in the Chick Lit movement, a Christy Award finalist, and a two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times.

This book releases Feb 1, 2011 from Thomas Nelson

Thanks to the B&B Media Group for an ARC of this title for review purposes only.

Another Dawn by Kathryn Cushman

2011-01-25T15:46:00.003-05:00

Another Dawn is the latest thought provoking novel by Kathryn Cushman. If you've not yet discovered this author then you need to find her books and start reading. Each of her novels are full of characters that come alive (you know, the kind you begin to care about.) This volume is no exception. Kathryn dares to tackle the controversial issue of whether to immunize your children or not to and she presents both sides of the argument exceptionally well. If you're a fan of Karen Kingsbury then you'll fall in love with this author. Her books are refreshingly different and always give the reader a welcome escape. Grab a box of tissues and start reading.

This book releases on Feb 1, 2011 and you can purchase it here.

About Another Dawn:
What Would You Give for a Second Chance to Make Things Right?

When life gets complicated, Grace Graham runs. She's left romantic relationships, friendships, and even her family after the death of her mother. But now her sister, Jana, is giving her once last chance: Come home and help care for their father--whom Grace still blames for her mother's death--or never show her face in Shoal Creek, Tennessee, again.

With her son, Dylan, in tow, Grace returns home from California. But is she returning for the right reasons? And when costly decisions from the past suddenly put her son's life and the lives of other children in town at risk, will she have the strength to stand strong and await Another Dawn?

About the author:
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy and practiced as a pharmacist in Georgia, Tennessee, and California. She is the author of three previous novels. She lives in California with her family.

Kathryn's other books are must-reads too. You can find out more about her here. Read about her other books here.

Thanks, Kathryn, for this CLEAN READ!