CFBA: Hidden in the Stars

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hidden in the Stars Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS
This book is a bit different than many of the Quilts of Love books.  It takes quite a while to get to the actual quilt part of the book.  The beginning strongly focuses on Sophia and her attack, her inability to speak....there is a definite mystery in this story and it is really rather sinister.

I loved Sophia, so much is taken from her, yet she keeps her spunk.  You can feel the fear as well as the urgency to find the killers.  Of course, the love story softens everything up a bit!

Loved this story!

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

Chunky Infinity Scarf

I found this beautiful scarf pattern over on Craftsy the other day.....it knit up quickly, and is nice and cuddly!  The pattern is FREE so I'll share the link with you HERE.  One note though, I first knitted it up with the 5 strands of yarn like it calls for, but it felt too stiff, so I knitted a new one with only 4 strands....much much better!  Share your photos if you make one of your own!

CFBA: The Curious Case of the MIssing Figurehead

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead David C. Cook (September 1, 2014) by Diane Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning novelist Diane Noble writes stories that tap into the secrets of the heart.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She recently finished writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one, The Sister Wife, and book 2, The Betrayal, which are published by Harper Collins/Avon Inspire, are now in bookstores.

Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor

El Littllefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS
When I looked at the cover of this book I thought it screamed "FUN" ....and yes, it was fun!

This is the first book in this series...so it will be fun to follow along on this sleuthing trail.

A whodunit with witty characters who tell the story in their point of view, which may take a bit of time to get used to, but well worth it.  From dinner guests becoming ill, to missing people and relics, this story is fast paced and just plain enjoyable.

Cannot wait for the next book in this series.

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

Cake Decorating

Do you bake and decorate your own cakes, or do you buy them at the store?  Waaaay, back when my daughter was born I decided to take Wilton classes so I could do my own.  I thought store bought tasted awful and the decorating usually left quite a bit to be desired.  So began my journey!

I took Wilton levels 1-3 and went crazy!  My nieces and nephews love to 'order' their birthday cakes from me....they call me the 'Cake Lady'...not very original I know..but it works!

After 18+ years of cake decorating, word has spread that I make cakes, I now get occasional orders, which is kind of fun, just yesterday I posted an ad on a local face book group and received 2 cake orders within 30 minutes, kind of exciting.

So, I thought I'd share some of my cakes with you...I like to do a lot of gourmet style cakes, I highly dislike fondant, guess I'm old school that way.

Cupcakes are fun too!

How about you, do you decorate cakes?  Want to share any tips, photos, favorite flavors?  I'd love to hear from you!

CFBA: Thief of Glory

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Thief of Glory WaterBrook Press (August 19, 2014) by Sigmund Brouwer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of nearly thirty novels, with close to 4 million books in print. Based on his inspiration for Thief of Glory, which Sigmund wrote as a way to learn and honor the his parent’s stories, especially of his father’s boyhood in a Japanese concentration camp, Sigmund leads The Chapters of Our Lives memoir seminars across the United States and Canada. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan and has two daughters.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A boy coming of age in a time of war…
the love that inspires him to survive.

For ten year-old Jeremiah Prins, the life of privilege as the son of a school headmaster in the Dutch East Indies comes crashing to a halt in 1942 after the Japanese Imperialist invasion of the Southeast Pacific. Jeremiah takes on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings when his father and older stepbrothers are separated from the rest of the family, and he is surprised by what life in the camp reveals about a woman he barely knows—his frail, troubled mother.

Amidst starvation, brutality, sacrifice and generosity, Jeremiah draws on all of his courage and cunning to fill in the gap for his mother. Life in the camps is made more tolerable as Jeremiah’s boyhood infatuation with his close friend Laura deepens into a friendship from which they both draw strength.

When the darkest sides of humanity threaten to overwhelm Jeremiah and Laura, they reach for God’s light and grace, shining through his people. Time and war will test their fortitude and the only thing that will bring them safely to the other side is the most enduring bond of all.

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

MY THOUGHTS
War. Love. Hope. Faith.  This story is an amazing Historical Fiction read filled with amazing detail and will cause you to laugh, as well as cry as you follow along with the incredible characters in this story.

This is one of those books that grab you and transport you right into the very book itself, when it ends you'll find yourself missing your new found friends.

A learning experience that you will not want to miss.

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

CFBA: Driftwood Tides

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Driftwood Tides Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2014) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain was a Christy Award finalist. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore. When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making drifwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.

Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

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

MY THOUGHTS
Wow...this book was fabulous.  A page turner that kept me engrossed for hours.  Who needs to eat, clean or do anything else when they have a book this great in their hands!?

The characters were so down to earth and believable that you could be reading about your neighbor, your friend or a relative.  Of course, some characters are warm and fuzzy, while others take a bit of time to warm up to, but that's ok, it's not fun when everyone is charming and likable.

The way that author, Gina Holmes, writes about this tough subject is amazing, you will most definitely want a box of tissue nearby, no worries, you'll find yourself smiling too, but this book will stir up your emotions.

Can't wait to see what Gina has up her sleeve for her next book, it can't come fast enough!

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