CFBA Book Review: The Hope of Shridula

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Hope of Shridula Abingdon Press (March 2012) by Kay Strom

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from Kay:

Kay Marshall Strom… who am I? Well, I’m a traveler… a railer against social injustice… a passionate citizen of the world. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. I’m a 21st century abolitionist who speaks out against slavery of all kinds. I am a beach walker and a gardener and the off-key singer of songs. I’m a wife… a mother… a sister… a daughter… a friend.

Most people, though, know me as a writer and a speaker. So here is a bit more about that part of my life:

Of my 39 published books, seven have been book club selections, twelve have been translated into foreign languages, and one has been optioned for a movie. My writing credits include numerous magazine articles, books for children, short stories, television scripts and two prize-winning screenplays. Along with my husband Dan, I also have produced a series of booklets for writers. My writing has appeared in a number of volumes including three versions of the NIV Devotional Bible and the devotional book My Heart—Christ’s Home, Through the Year.

I love to write, and I love to share about topics close to my heart. I speak at seminars, retreats, writer’s conferences, and special events throughout the country. And because I do enjoy travel, I even speak on cruise ships!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Blessing in India series is a saga set in India’s heartbreaking history and breathtaking present that points toward a future of hope. Along the way, name-only Christianity collides with Hinduism, and then is confronted by an entirely new understanding of the call to follow Christ.

India: 1946. For forty-eight years, Ashish and his family toiled as slaves in the fields of the high-caste Lal family, and all because of one small debt. At fifty-four, Ashish was old and worn out. Every day was a struggle to survive for his family including his only daughter.

His wife had named the girl Shridula—Blessings. “Perhaps the name will bring you more fortune than it brought me,” Ashish told his daughter. His words proved to be prophetic in ways he could never have imagined. And when the flames of revolt brought independence to India, they seared change into the family of Ashish.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Hope of Shridula, go HERE.

My Thoughts

This is book #2 in the Blessings of India series, I did not read the first book but I don't really think you need to, although it is always fun to read an entire series!

I have mixed feelings about this book, while I enjoyed the story line, the struggles, the hope of the less fortunate in India, I had a difficult time reading the book because of the names.  This is not any fault of the author, it's just that I'm not used to reading names of an Indian culture which made it so the book did not flow quite as well for me.  As far as the story line, it was quite interesting as well as informative.  From the very beginning I felt a pull towards Shridula and her struggles, as well as the struggles her family faced and had endured.  You will feel the strong class difference as you read this story and you will feel for the people of India as you read about the revolt.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

CFBA Book Review: The Chase

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Chase Zondervan (March 27, 2012) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills

ABOUT THE BOOK

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

Watch the book video!



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

My Thoughts

Just the title alone gets your blood racing, then once you open the book and begin reading everything gets a little faster!  I enjoyed this book, it was full of action and attitude, and yet it was a good clean read.  What's really neat about this book is that a real FBI cold case is solved as part of the story line, it's quite incredible.  Kariss and Tigo have some friction, yet they're able, usually able, to be adults about it and even become rather appreciative of one another.  After reading The Chase I was fully ready to go on another Kariss and Tigo adventure!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

CFBA Book Reivew: Missing

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Missing Avon Inspire; Original edition (March 20, 2012) by Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the first book in her new Secrets of Crittenden County series, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country

Perry Borntrager had been missing from the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky, for months when his body was discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well. Everyone had assumed Perry left Crittenden on his own, seduced by the wider world he discovered during his rumspringa, but now the truth has thrown this once-peaceful town into chaos. The first death from mysterious circumstances in Crittenden in more than two decades has invited the scrutiny of the outside world: a police detective arrives to help their local sheriff with the investigation. His questioning begins with Lydia Plank, Perry’s former girlfriend, and Perry’s best friend, the Englisher Walker Anderson.

Lydia and Walker know they didn’t have anything to do with Perry’s death, but they both hold secrets about his final days. Do they dare to open up about the kind of man Perry had become? In the oppressive shadow of these dark times, they discover strength in a most unlikely companionship that offers solace, understanding, and the promise of something more.

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

My Thoughts

A good Amish mystery, you don't generally think of the Amish being wrapped in mystery and death, you think of them as peaceful.  Problem is, they're human too, just like the rest of us there are the good and the bad, and every know and then the bad takes a turn for the worse and the unthinkable happens.

This book keeps you wondering and wondering, and seriously wondering since even on the very last page you still don't know who the killer is, which is of course one of the reasons I can't wait for the next book in the series!  This is a good book, I enjoyed the characters, and Lydia, she's one Amish gal who has good reason to question whether or not she should be Amish...she has some secrets of her own, but then you learn that things are being kept from her as well.  You'd think the entire book was full of secrets, it's not.  There's some good old fashioned forgiveness as well and with that comes the mending of a few broken hearts!

If you enjoy reading Amish stories I think you'll enjoy this book, it's refreshingly different and quite a fun read. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

CFBA Book Review: Final Shot

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Stuart Brannon's Final Shot Center Point Pub; Lrg edition (March 2012) by Stephen Bly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephen Bly (August 17, 1944 – June 9, 2011) authored 106 books and hundreds of articles and short stories. His book, The Long Trail Home (Broadman & Holman), won the prestigious 2002 Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction in the category western novel. Three other books, Picture Rock (Crossway Books), The Outlaw’s Twin Sister (Crossway Books), and Last of the Texas Camp (Broadman & Holman), were Christy Award finalists. He spoke at colleges, churches, camps and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He was the pastor of Winchester Community Church, and served as mayor of Winchester, Idaho (2000-2007). He spoke on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. He was an Active Member of the Western Writers of America. Steve graduated summa cum laude in Philosophy from Fresno State University and received a M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. The Blys have three sons: Russell (married to Lois) and father of Zachary and Miranda (married to Chris Ross) and mother of Alayah; Michael (married to Michelle); and Aaron (married to Rina Joye) and father of Keaton and Deckard. A third generation westerner, Steve spent his early years working on California farms owned by his father and an uncle.

Janet Chester Bly received a B.S. degree in Literature & Languages and Fine & Performing Arts from Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho. She speaks at women’s luncheons and retreats and does writers’ workshops. She is a member of Winchester Community Church where she serves as music director. She has authored eleven nonfiction and fiction books and co-authored twenty others, as well as contributed to five books. Janet’s hobbies include decorating her home in “country clutter,” reading almost all genres of fiction and mall walking. She lives in Winchester, Idaho–elevation 4,000 feet, population 300– situated on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.



ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1905, at 58 years old, legendary lawman Stuart Brannon - now a rancher and widower - had no intention of leaving his beloved Arizona Territory to attend the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, nor to participate in the celebrity golf tournament for the Willamette Orphan Farm. Even an emotional appeal for his longtime friend didn’t persuade him. His life no longer consisted of bloodthirsty men to track down . . . people trying to kill him . . . lawless gangs preying on the innocent.

Then the telegram came: Stuart, I need you in Portland. Tim Wiseman is missing. I think there’s a cover-up going on. Tell folks you’re going to the Exposition. Nose around. Find out how a U.S. Marshal can disappear and no one knows why. I’ll contact you there. T.R.

How could he refuse a request from the President of the United States?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stuart Brannon's Final Shot, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

There is nothing like a good old fashioned Western, and this book fits the bill.  It is sad though to think that only 7,000 words of this book were written by Stephen Bly before he passed away, but kudos to his family for completing the book and for doing it so well. This book is action packed and will keep you on your toes, there is a strong sense of right and wrong, as well as honor and a good dose of humor is thrown in as well.

I fell in love with the characters in this book quickly and was quite sad when I came to the end.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

CFBA Book Review: The Dog That Talked To God

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Dog That Talked To God Abingdon Press (March 2012) by Jim Kraus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He attended the Paris-American Academy in 1971 and has spent the last twenty years as a vice-president of a major Christian publishing house. He has written more than 20 books and novels (many with his wife, Terri). His book, The Silence, was named as one of the top five releases in 2004 by the Christian Book Review website. He is also an award-winning photographer. He and his wife and 14-year-old son live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A wonderfully quirky, heart-breaking, heart-warming and thought-provoking story of a woman's dog who not only talks to her, he talks to God.

Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a miniature schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief. It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God.

Mary has no choice except to believe Rufus, the miniature schnauzer, who claims to speak to the Divine.

The question is: Will Mary follow the dog's advice, and leave everything she knows and loves? Is this at the urging of God? Or is it something else?

Will Mary risk it all or ignore the urgings of her own heart?

If you would like to read a chapter excerpt from The Dog That Talked To God, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS
I seriously, truly enjoyed this book!  If you are a dog lover you will too!  Do you ever find yourself talking to your dog?  I do, and sometimes I wonder what he would say if he could talk back, sometimes I'm glad he cannot.

Well, Rufus is one dog that CAN talk, or is Mary just losing her mind?  Rufus seems to know just what to say and when to say it.  He has a way of making Mary think, and Mary has quite a bit to work through in her life.  She is very lonely, which is of course why she got Rufus in the first place.

This book isn't just a happy book, there is a great big bit of sadness surrounding Mary due to the death of her husband and son.  As with everyone who has suffered a great loss, Mary struggles each day to overcome her grief, she struggles with church, she struggles with the mundane...and Rufus, well, he's going to help her, and even before he begins to talk, you'll see his healing powers!

Dog lovers beware, you're going to fall in love.  Non-dog lovers, you may change your mind when you give this little guy a chance!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

Book Review: Song of My Heart

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and numerous grandchildren.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

Thad McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive

MY THOUGHTS

I always enjoy reading a Kim Vogel Sawyer books, and once again, I was not disappointed. You have to give Sadie a lot of credit, she leaves her home to earn money for her family, she loves her injured step-father dearly, they have a wonderful relationship. She is full of spunk and drives her step-cousin crazy on a regular day, but even crazier when preacher wanna-be Sheriff Thad is around. Then you add to the mix a couple of hysterical twins who own the store where Sadie works and their Opera House owning brother and you get a story that will keep you on your toes! Not everything is as it looks though.

A very good read.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!


One "songbird" winner will receive:

• A Nook Tablet
• Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of March 29th for an evening of fun.

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

Book Review: Love's Sacred Song

About the Book

Standing in the massive shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, wisdom and folly. In the uncertain world of alliances and treachery, Solomon longs for peace and a love that is true and pure--a love that can be his cornerstone.

A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah remembers the first time she laid eyes on Solomon in Jerusalem when she was just seven years old. Since then she has known that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father, a leader of their tribe, secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams may come true.

But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon's harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

Mesu Andrews expertly weaves the words of the Song of Solomon into this touching story of the power of love. Readers will be transported from the glowing fields of Shunem to the gleaming city of Jerusalem as they experience this rich and textured novel from a master storyteller.

My Thoughts

I was excited for the opportunity to read another book by Mesu Andrews, and I was not disappointed.  This book honestly depicts life in King Solomon's time, there is danger, there is suspense and there is love...every thing you'd expect from novel, but yet, it is solid in Biblical history, which is exactly was a book should be like when written about a Biblical person or event.  Once again, Mesu Andrews has left me anxiously awaiting her next book.

“Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing group.

Amazing Knit Scarf

Have any of you seen this photo?  I love it, someone knitted this 50yd scarf and placed it on a Pier, it depicts all of the different Olympic events, quite incredible if you ask me!  The knitter is unknown.  To read the story go HERE.

CFBA Book Review: Before the Scarlet Dawn

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Before The Scarlet Dawn Abingdon Press (February 2012) by Rita Gerlach

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rita Gerlach lives with her husband and two sons in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains, amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland.

"Romantic historical fiction that has an inspirational bent, is one way people can escape the cares of life and be transported back to a time of raw courage and ideal love," she says. "The goal of my writing is to give readers a respite, and inspire them to live fully and gratefully."

In many of her stories, she writes about the struggles endured by early colonists, with a sprinkling of both American and English history. Currently she is writing a new historical series for Abingdon Press entitled 'Daughters of the Potomac'. See her 'Novels In Progress' page on her website to learn more.

There are other novels on her list to be published, and a proposal for another book series.

She was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in a large family in the Maryland suburbs. Her family claims that storytelling is their blood, handed down from centuries of Irish storytellers. Rita believes there just may be something to that theory.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1775, Hayward Morgan, a young gentleman destined to inherit his father’s estate in Derbyshire, England, captures the heart of the local vicar’s daughter,

Eliza Bloome. Her dark beauty and spirited ways are not enough to win him, due to her station in life.

Circumstances throw Eliza in Hayward’s path, and they flee to America to escape the family conflicts. But as war looms, it's a temporary reprieve. Hayward joins the revolutionary forces and what follows is a struggle for survival, a test of faith, and the quest to find lasting love in an unforgiving wilderness.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Before The Scarlet Dawn, go HERE.

Watch the book video:

My Thoughts

There is no doubt in my mind that when Eliza is described as spirited that the correct word was used!  She's a girl with some serious pluck and determination, and to tell you the truth she needs it.  I am continually amazed when I read Historical Romances by the difference in behaviors between now and in times long past.  Eliza was left without family when her father passed away, yet she refuses to accept a marriage proposal, instead she offers her own.

Desperate, not knowing what is going to happen with her future, Eliza puts in all on the line, will she end up a maid, off in some foreign country or worse?  Eliza's strength is something we can all learn from, and when she loves, she loves with her all.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be anxiously awaiting Rita Gerlach's next book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

Aboriginal Gold

Have you heard of Aboriginal Gold?  It's an amazing product, the cleansing bar is gentle on your skin and great for Impetigo, Infection, Poison Ivy/Oak, Itching and more!  The cream works great for Impetigo, Infection, Poison Ivy/Oak and Itching as well, but is also great for Athlete's Foot, Eczema, Burns, Boils, Shingles, Warts, Acne, Age Spots, Ring Worm, Scar Tissue, Rosacea and more!!!  You can also purchase an Aboriginal Gold Facial Clay Mask, and Anti-Dandruff shampoo, I have not tried the Mask or Shampoo, but am loving the cream for my dry skin.

True Story:  My mom had a fungal infection on her chin, the dr. gave her several prescriptions that did not clear it up, finally after a year she learned about Aboriginal Gold Cream, she gave it a try and within approx. a week her chin cleared up!  She was pretty excited!

About the Product
For centuries, Australian aborigines have survived in extreme environmental conditions that challenged their skin. Fortunately, they discovered Centipeda C., an extract from daisies with remarkable skin soothing and healing properties. Now, their treasure is available in Aboriginal Gold, a product series that provides natural solutions for skin, hair, and scalp.

Are you wondering where to buy this product?  From me!  It is one of many products that we sell at Unicity, Unicity Bios Life is not just for weight loss, we have skin care, supplements and more, if you'd like to give this product a try send me an email, and/or check out my website at www.drinkslim.net

CFBA Book Review: Prize of my Heart

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Prize of My Heart Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2012) by Lisa Norato

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A life-long New Englander, Lisa Norato lives in a historic village with homes and churches dating as far back as the eighteenth century. She was born into a close-knit Italian family that hungered as much for the things of God as they did for lasagna. After church, the family spent Sunday afternoons gathered in fellowship around a never-ending feast that featured her grandmother's homemade spaghetti and pizza.

From the time she learned to read, her mother impressed her with the joy of getting lost in a good book. She passed novels along to her as early as age thirteen, but it wasn't until many years later that Lisa felt compelled to write one herself.

She first discovered a love of writing when assigned to write and illustrate a children's book at the art college she attended. She balances writing with a career as a legal assistant specializing in corporate law. When not creating stories, she enjoys domestic pursuits like precious time with her dog and family, cooking, baking and eating vegan, reading, her Bible, her favorite television shows and crocheting.

Lisa is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Rhode Island Romance Writers (RIRW) and American Colonial Christian Writers.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unsolved mystery separates ex-privateersman Captain Brogan Talvis from his lost son--his only living relation, his only family. Shortly before her tragic demise, his wife abandoned their infant to strangers, refusing to reveal the child's whereabouts. Now, three years later, Brogan has discovered the boy at the home of a shipbuilder's daughter, Lorena Huntley.

Lorena guards a dark secret about her young charge. She finds herself falling for the heroic captain who has come to claim his newly built ship, unaware his motive for wooing her is to befriend the boy he plans on reclaiming as his own--until the day anothers evil deceit leaves her helplessly shipbound, heading toward England.

As the perfect opportunity to reclaim his son unfolds, Brogan is haunted by thoughts of Lorena in her dire circumstance, and he is forced to make a heartrending choice between his child and the woman who has begun to capture his heart. But only his unselfish sacrifice can win him the greatest prize of all--love.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Prize of My Heart, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

I fell in love with this book right from the start.  I'm not going to spill the beans, but the story has quite a funny beginning, you can't help but chuckle at the predicament that Lorena and Brogan find themselves in.  As the story unfolds you feel the love that Brogan has for his son and you are left wondering how far Brogan will go to capture his son.

This is a story of deceit, forgiveness and love.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

Book Review: Shore Excursion

About the Book

Travel agents might be a vanishing breed, but Sidney Marsh, a New York transplant from Mississippi, is holding her ground—at least on land. She is the tour leader on a cruise from Scandinavia to Russia for a group of eccentric senior citizens who call themselves the High Steppers. Sidney expects her days to be filled with long meals, shopping expeditions and visits to museums, churches and fjords. But this cruise is anything but routine. There is a killer on board, targeting the High Steppers and quite possibly herself.

After the first suspicious death, the captain and his crew are grimly determined to carry on as usual. Frustrated and dismayed by their inaction, Sidney decides to take matters into her own hands and launch her own investigation. She enlists the halfhearted help of her friend and business partner, the flamboyant and fun-loving Jay Wilson.

Suspects abound. What about those two handsome young men who stay mysteriously aloof? One of them has his eye on Sidney. So does another passenger, far too charming and again too young to fit the “High Stepper” mold. Then there’s Captain Vargos, the arrogant ladies’ man whose plans to thwart Sidney’s investigation might include seduction. Who is that crew member shadowing Sidney? Is the theater really haunted? Even the High Steppers themselves are not as predictable or harmless as they seem.  The closer Sydney gets to the truth, the less she understands.

My Thoughts

Shore Excursion is the first book in this new mystery series....one that will keep you on edge, waiting for the next to arrive!

Do you love to travel?  You may change your mind after sleuthing on a trip with Sidney Marsh, and finding dead bodies on a cruise ship...not exactly a relaxing way to take a vacation!  Sidney will keep you on your toes and guessing as she goes about sleuthing, this is a highly entertaining and fast-paced read.  This first book of Marie Moore is sure to be a great seller and leaves you highly anticipating the next mystery!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from Tribute Books.

CFBA: The Messenger

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Messenger Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2012) by Siri Mitchell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a speaker and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith

...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers believe they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. Can she sit by and do nothing while he suffers?

Jeremiah Jones has an enormous task before him. Responsibility for a spy ring is now his, and he desperately needs access to the men in prison, whom they are seeking to free. A possible solution is to garner a pass for Hannah. But while she is fine to the eye, she holds only disdain for him--and agreeing would mean disobeying those she loves and abandoning a bedrock of her faith.

With skill and sensitivity, Mitchell tells a story of two unlikely heroes seeking God's voice, finding the courage to act, and discovering the powerful embrace of love.

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

MY THOUGHTS

I have read many of Siri Mitchell's book and this book was another great read!  A Historical fiction with a bit of romance, Quakers and a British jail don't seem to have a lot in common, but you'll find them all in The Messenger.  While reading this book you may ever learn more about the Revolutionary War, I know I did!

If you like Historical Fiction give this book a try, it's a very good read, the romance does not take main stage in this story but there is enough to keep the book 'spicy'!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA

Book Review: Sarai

 

Sarai: A Novel
By Jill Eileen Smith
Sarai, the last child of her aged father, is beautiful, spoiled, and used to getting her own way. Even as a young girl, she is aware of the way men look at her, including her half-brother Abram. When Abram finally requests Sarai's hand, she asks one thing--that he promises never to take another wife as long as she lives. Even her father thinks the demand is restrictive and agrees to the union only if Sarai makes a promise in return--to give Abram a son and heir. Certain she can easily do that, Sarai agrees.

But as the years stretch on and Sarai's womb remains empty, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain--lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. To what lengths will Sarai go in her quest to bear a son?

And how long will Abram's patience last?

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling Michal, Abigail and Bathsheba, all part of The Wives of King David series. She has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has garnered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Endorsements for Sarai
"What a marvelous retelling of an old and sacred story! Though I knew it well, I could not put Sarai down. Smith takes us into the minds of the characters as they struggle with their flaws, fears, and disappointments, armed only with an often fragile faith. Sarai is an inspiring offer of hope for all."--Linda Windsor, author of the Brides of Alba series
"Jill Eileen Smith's research shines in this gem of a novel detailing the lives of Abram and Sarai. Fans of biblical fiction will be delighted by Smith's retelling of two of the most beloved personalities from the book of Genesis."--Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, author of the Genesis Trilogy
"In Sarai, Jill Eileen Smith takes the reader back to ancient times and the nomadic life of Sarai and Abram. This is an absorbing visit to the past, filled with wonderful details and fascinating characters, including Abram's nephew Lot and his wife. Smith reveals timeless doubts and struggles, along with the triumphs of some and the ill-fated but fascinating paths of others. Remarkable research is folded into a story that builds to an unforgettable ending. Smith truly brought the era to life!"--Maureen Lang, author of Springtime of the Spirit and Whisper on the Wind

MY THOUGHTS

I have read several of Jill Eileen Smith's books and each book has been excellently written so I was thrilled to receive Sarai for review.  I love reading Biblical fiction, it brings the people from the Bible into a new light, and while it is written in the author's point of view, there really is much that can be taken from the story of Sarai.  Sarai is a very strong woman, and she has to live up to her wedding vows, but will she ever do so?  Her struggles are similar to many modern day women but in her time, the means to overcome her struggles are quite different.

This was an exceedingly wonderful read and if you have interest in the people of the Bible, I'm quite certain that you will enjoy the story of Sarai and Abram.

“Available March 2012  at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing.