Friday, June 29, 2012

The Doctor's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Doctor's Devotion
 
Love Inspired (June 19, 2012)
 
by
 
Cheryl Wyatt
   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born Valentine’s Day on a Navy base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. Cheryl loves interacting with her readers and can be found almost daily on Facebook.


Word from the Author:
I do regular giveaways including a Kindle for every 250 people who join (aka "Like) my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor and I'd LOVE for word to spread about that. We have a lot of fun there as I ask for frequent reader input on current books, with helpers being mentioned in the acknowledgements and fun stuff like that.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A Doctor’s Vow.

When he fled Eagle Point years ago, former air force trauma surgeon Mitch Wellington left only broken dreams behind. Now he’s back with a new dream—opening a trauma center in the rural area and saving lives. He hopes to hire the quick-thinking nurse who impressed him during an emergency. But Lauren Bates lost her faith and doesn’t believe she deserves to help anyone. Mitch knows firsthand what loss feels like. And it’ll take all his devotion to show Lauren that sometimes the best medicine is a combination of faith, community—and love.

Eagle Point Emergency: Saving lives—and losing their hearts—in a small Illinois town.


If you would like to read an excerpt of the first chapter of Doctor's Devotion, go HERE.


Margie's comments: It's been a while since I've read Cheryl Wyatt's debut novels (which were very good) and reviewed them here. So when The Doctor's Devotion came up on the CFBA list, I requested it to review. I'm glad I did. The characters are vivid, the plot is compelling, and the spiritual, physical, and emotional struggles are real. None of my pet peeves with a lot of romance books reared their ugly heads in this story. So if you like an inspirational romance with "meat" to it and one that doesn't give just a passing nod to God, then I can highly recommend The Doctor's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt. Excellent read.


Verse of the Day

"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You," (Jeremiah 32:17)

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Five Miles South of Peculiar by Angela Hunt


About the book:
Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather's legacy and she enjoys being a pillar of the community . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.

Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that a botched throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home.

Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she's created, but when she meets a man haunted by tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place. 


About the Author:
With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred 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. Learn more about Angela at AngelaElwellHunt.com.


Margie’s Comments: I always look forward to a new Angela Hunt book, and this newest release, Five Miles South of Peculiar, doesn’t disappoint. The story of three sisters at a crossroads of change but needing to deal with the issues and hurts of the past before they can move forward is one that the majority of us understand and many have lived. As I read, I was once again reminded of my brother and sister and the wonderfully blessed relationships we now share. This is a book about relationships and our perception, sometimes skews, of events and people who affect those relationships. It’s a story about God’s love, grace, and forgiveness that heals the hurts, the misconceptions, and enables us to move forward in extending love and grace and forgiveness to those who are closest to us. I highly recommend this book.

(I received this free book in exchange for a review from Glass Road Public Relations.)

Verse of the Day

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. (Ephesians 1:18–19 NLT)

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Verse of the Day

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

The Search by Shelley Shepard Gray




This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
The Search
 
Avon Inspire; Original edition (June 19, 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 second book in her Secrets of Crittenden County series, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country

The serenity of the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky is disrupted when Abby Anderson discovers the body of Perry Borntrager in an abandoned well. Perry had been missing for months. Everyone figured he had left the order during his rumspringa. As friends and family reel from this news, and are faced with the first death by mysterious circumstance to occur in their small town in over 20 years, a homicide detective arrives to help solve the crime

Before Perry disappeared, Frannie Eicher and Perry had been secretly courting. Now that it’s common knowledge that he was murdered, it’s up to Fannie to decide whether or not to tell everyone about the secrets he told her.

After much deliberation, she decides to tell Luke Reynolds, the visiting police officer, what she knows. At first, the two meet only on the context of discussing Perry’s death. Then, Luke begins to feel more and more at home, both with Frannie, and in Marion. The only problem is that he feels a romantic pull toward Frannie. Frannie feels that same attraction toward Luke, but is afraid to give her heart to him. After all, she doesn’t want to leave her faith.

As Luke uncovers more secrets about Perry and the case draws out, his time in Marion runs out. He has to decide whether to go back to his job with the Cincinnati Police Department…or stay in Marion.


If you would like to read the Prologue of The Search, go HERE.


Review to come.


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Verse of the Day

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

Monday, June 25, 2012

Verse of the Day

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17–18)

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1–2)

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Verse of the Day

These verses describe my week:
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. . . . But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. (Psalm 94:19, 22 NASB)

When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. . . . But GOD became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat. (Psalm 94:19, 22 MSG) I love this paraphrase, because the Lord truly is my high mountain retreat. He even gave me a physical reminder of that in the form of our cabin at 9000 ft. in the Colorado Rockies.  

Friday, June 22, 2012

Rebel by Linda Windsor



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Rebel
 
David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Linda Windsor
   


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda Windsor makes her home at a restored and "growing" late 18th century home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Above the Windsor front door hangs a sign saying "Fort Necke, assigned 1684, established 1830," which means the land grant is older than the current building. She purposely left off the ageing brought on by the restoration to her mind and body - not enough space to accommodate the number. Chronologically, she admits to celebrating another birthday, just like the rest of us, each year on July 8th -- which also happens to be the anniversary of the day the Liberty Bell cracked.

Amid the often chaotic "country inn" atmosphere, Windsor has written quite a collection of historical and contemporary romances as both Linda Windsor and Linda Covington. Windsor's historical novels are known for her distinctive voice and flair for incorporating history with romance and adventure, while her contemporary romantic comedies are guaranteed to warm the heart, lift the spirit, and tickle the funny bone. Windsor insists that nothing is more entertaining than life itself, be it past or present.

With a degree in education from her local university, one of the greatest rewards to the innate teacher in Linda was hearing from readers that her Irish Gleannmara series was approved for some middle school English book reports as well as being used in home-schooling. To Windsor, entertaining, or keeping the pages turning, while educating is as much as any historical novelist can ask for.    


ABOUT THE BOOK

With Merlin dead, the succession undecided, and the Celtic church on the defensive from Rome, intrigue sweeps the court of the High King Arthur. But it’s battlefield news that consumes Queen Gwenhyfar’s young scribe, Kella O’Toole: her fiancĂ© is dead and her father gone missing.

Determined to find him at all costs, Kella defies the queen’s orders and sets out for Pictish territory. Her foster brother Alyn, a disillusioned priest who questions his calling, agrees to help her. The journey itself is perilous. But it’s their secrets that land Kella and Alyn in a viper’s nest of treachery that threatens both their lives and the future of Albion.

Can they summon the love and faith they need to find their way not only out of danger, but into happiness? Brilliantly researched, vividly imagined, and movingly written—a memorable climax to the Brides of Alba series.



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

Review to come later.


Verse of the Day

"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. (Isaiah 45:2)

"And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dark Star, Full Tilt, and Nobody by Creston Mapes


About Creston Mapes:

 A proud native of northeast Ohio, Creston has been writing professionally for almost 30 years.

He earned his degree in Magazine Journalism from Bowling Green State University in 1983.

After working as a reporter and photographer for newspapers in Florida and Ohio, Creston became a corporate copywriter, then a creative director, before starting his own freelance writing business 20 years ago.

Since then, he has written marketing and magazine copy for fine organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, The Weather Channel, ABC-TV, Oracle Corporation, TNT Sports, BellSouth, Focus on the Family, Hockey News, and Random House.

Creston has edited and ghostwritten a growing list of non-fiction books, and has penned three contemporary suspense novels for Waterbrook-Multnomah, a divison of Random House. All three of Creston’s novels are available in e-Book format and have been printed in Dutch. He has finished a fourth novel and is working on a fifth.



Dark Star | Creston Mapes

Can Fame, Wealth, and Power Buy Happiness?

Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends. Everett is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return when he’s charged with the murder of his personal psychic. The only hope he can cling to comes from Topeka , Kansas , and the letters written by a prayerful young lady who lives there. Consistent and persistent, the notes cut straight to Everett ‘s empty heart, offering a fulfillment he’s never grasped before. But what if he’s found guilty of murder? Will he recognize the spiritual battle that’s raging for his soul?

Endora Crystal was my rock...

As I staggered through the chaos of rock ‘n’ roll fame-the drugs and alcohol, the selfishness and turmoil-Endora was the gentle voice in my ear telling me I was special. Telling me I was adored. She was my personal psychic, and she said I had a unique purpose, a calling to give my fans happiness. To be their god.

My band, DeathStroke, dominated the world of rock. Yet strife ruled our inner circle. My family didn’t know me. I loved no one but myself.

And yet Karen Bayliss was praying for me, that I would come to know the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ. She was not a fan. Didn’t care for my music. Karen just wanted me to know peace.

Now Endora is dead, and I’ve been charged with first-degree murder.

Everett Lester is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return. Will he recognize the spiritual battle that’s raging for his soul?


Margie’s comments: Oh. My. Word. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this compelling. And one that gave my heart such a cardio workout. Seriously. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Creston Mapes and his fiction, but this is the first time I’ve actually taken the time to read his work. And I’m hooked. To get to read three in such a short time . . . well, I can’t wait to read whatever else is coming in the future.

What I appreciate the most about Dark Star is that while the topic is gritty, showing the seamier side of life—a life many Christians would like to ignore—the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ shines through from the very beginning. The author deals with the world of drugs, rock music, superstardom, and the occult with realism. Not once was I turned off because of “language” (there isn’t any) or explicit descriptions of sin, but the author painted a vivid picture without those crutches. He also tells of Christ’s love as it is lived out in believers. The trial scenes are interspersed with Everett’s story leading up to the trial. The pacing is great, and leads to an explosive ending.

I’ve been challenged as a reader and a believer to examine how I live my life before others. Am I allowing Christ and His love to shine through me no matter what pressure is laid on me to hide Him or to turn away from those who need Him but don’t know it?

I highly recommend this book.


Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhHu 





Full Tilt | Creston Mapes

I ONCE SOWED DESTRUCTION.

Now those I love are reaping pain.
The media hype is fading and my life is no longer that of a glamorous celebrity. I’m Everett Lester, former lead singer of DeathStroke, acquitted last year of first-degree murder, now married, a Christian, and ready to take my story to the masses through music. Problem is, the turmoil of my past didn’t end when the reporters left.

My wife Karen and I have received news that has rocked our world. My brother Eddie’s gambling is so far out of control that the mob practically owns him. And Eddie’s son, Wesley—who blames me for his brother’s death—is mixed up with meth, a psychotic named Tony Badino, and a satanic voice that’s urging him to take me out.

Will my Living Water tour ever hit the road? Will former fans stop hissing long enough to hear about the transforming power of Christ’s love? Satan once used me for evil—only through God’s power can I be used for good. The question is: will my loved ones and I be able to survive the aftermath of a rock star’s life?

Everett Lester faces enemies both human and supernatural. Satan won’t give up his hold on Everett, his family, or his fans without a vicious fight. God’s victory is certain in the supernatural realm, but will Everett survive the earthly battle that’s threatening to obliterate him?


Margie’s comments: In the sequel to Dark Star, Everett Lester must still face the consequences of his former rock star lifestyle. We are introduced to Eddie’s and Wesley’s problems in Dark Star, but in Full Tilt we see how far into danger their choices have taken them. Because he knows that some of those decisions were a direct result of his own past, Everett realizes he needs to fight these battles for his family on the spiritual plane where the true battle is.

Full Tilt is another heart-stopping race against time and the worst Satan can throw at Everett and Karen Lester. The enemy is never happy when he loses control through a person’s surrender to Jesus Christ, and he will wreak as much havoc as he can to destroy that person’s testimony and influence. Again, I could not put the story down as I was catapulted to another heart-racing ending. And Everett’s story isn’t over. I’m looking forward to reading more of his and Karen’s story . . . whenever it’s published.

The only “negative” I found in this story was the use of the third person point of view as opposed to the first person in the first story. I didn’t feel as involved in the story, but that could also be a result of reading Full Tilt right after I read Dark Star.

But that aside, this is definitely another book I can highly recommend.


Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhMl 





Nobody | Creston Mapes

American Christian Fiction Writers: “Book of the Month”

They said, “He’s a nobody.”
They were dead wrong.

When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.

His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation—and perhaps a chunk of the money—into his own hands?

With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious man in the black Converse high-tops, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.


Margie’s comments: Nobody caught my attention as I was immediately catapulted into the story with Hudson finding Chester dead. So many of his initial decisions come back to haunt him as he meets more people who knew Chester and he digs deeper into the dead man’s past. Hudson tries to reconcile what he learns of the man’s life with his own. I could identify with Hudson as he struggles with his lost soul and the need to forgive. Again, I’m impressed with the author’s ability to convey the light and love of Jesus Christ in the darkness of sin and its consequences. In the midst of chaos, fighting for his life, and dealing with the concept of a living relationship with Jesus Christ, Hudson’s story takes us to another heart-stopping ending. Definitely not a read for the fainthearted.

I highly recommend this book.


Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/bzhU1 


All three e-books were given to me free of charge by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for the reviews. They are available for a short period of time at $3.77 each. Not a bad price for these excellent suspense novels.

Verse of the Day

The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (Psalm 28:7 NLT)

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mary's Blessing by Lena Nelson Dooley



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Mary's Blessing
 
Realms (May 15, 2012)
 
by
 
Lena Nelson
   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?

Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Mary's Blessing, go HERE.

Review to come.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Verse of the Day

O satisfy us with Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning [now, before we are older], that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad in proportion to the days in which You have afflicted us and to the years in which we have suffered evil. Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to Your servants, and Your [glorious] majesty to their children. And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands--yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it. (Psalm 90:14–17 AMP)

Monday, June 18, 2012

Verse of the Day

Challenging words from Jesus Christ. "Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:32–33 NLT) 

These verses made me pause and think . . . am I truly seeking God's best pathway for me, or am I following my own plan hoping God will bless it? My heart's desire is for the former, but too often I find myself doing the latter.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Treasures of Healthy Living by Annette Reeder and Dr. Richard Couey


Treasures of Healthy Living
by Annette Reeder and Dr. Richard Couey



Get ready to get healthy God's way. There are dramatic health benefits when we eat the food God provides for us instead of the processed packaged food man provides. Since changing their diet in 2003, Annette and her husband have come off of all their prescriptions, lowered triglycerides from over 900 to 140, lowered cholesterol from 300 to 160, and lowered their blood pressure to normal.

Annette Reeder, a Biblical Nutrition Consultant, is leading people all around the country on an adventure with the power of food to change lives one meal and prayer at a time. Annette is a graduate of Liberty University and Huntington College Health Sciences and the founder of Designed Healthy Living a nutrition consulting ministry.

Margie's Comments: My stress-eating weight gain at the end of last year and the first of this year brought on by Roger's year-long unemployment, moving for him to have a job, and having to short sale our house in Denver resulted in needing to lose 20–25 pounds. We already eat fairly healthy because of Roger's diabetes, but the in-between meal snacking and constantly "needing" something in my mouth while I work did me in. This book tour for Glass Road Public Relations came at a time when I was motivated to do more. The author approaches the subject of healthy eating and living with a Bible study, guiding the reader through basic principles in God's Word. She intersperses the biblical teaching with facts about eating right, getting enough exercise, and working on a living and vibrant relationship with the Lord. Reading and working through this book has reaffirmed much of what I already knew and has encouraged me to be more consistent in incorporating those principles into my life. 

(This book was provided free by Glass Road Public Relations and the publisher for the purpose of review.)

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Short-Straw Bride
 
Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Karen Witemeyer
   


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Witemeyer is a deacon's wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House.



ABOUT THE BOOK   

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.


if you would like to read the first chapter of Short-Straw Bride, go HERE.

Review to come later.

Verse of the Day

And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31)


"Do not fear nor resist My voice. When I speak to you, you will know that it is I, the Lord God. . . . Your busyness wearies Me. Your fearfulness grieves Me. I long to take it from you and give you instead the balm of Gilead. Be My ally. I will endow you with life so dynamic that You will serve Me before you have time to even think about putting forth the effort to do so." (Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved)

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Verse of the Day

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1–2)

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Love in Disguise
 
Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Carol Cox
   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   

Native Arizonan Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than 25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where deer and antelope really do play--within view of the family's front porch.

A word from Carol:
As a native of Arizona, I have a longtime interest in the Southwest and its history. My family shares my love of the Old West, as evidenced by this photo taken back in the halcyon days before my son turned to a life of crime and started robbing trains for a living...


ABOUT THE BOOK   

When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona.

Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Love in Disguise, go HERE.


Review to come later.

Verse of the Day

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP) 


"God is the One who holds the future. He guides us in the absolute right direction; therefore, it is the direction that brings us the greatest joy. Refusing to follow His path for our lives is worse than foolishness—it is self-sabotage." (Ava Pennington, One Year Alone with God)

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Verse of the Day

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, . . . your Savior." (Isaiah 43:1–3 NLT)

Friday, June 8, 2012

Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson




This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Touching The Sky
 
Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Tracie Peterson
   


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.

She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max.  She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.    


ABOUT THE BOOK

When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests--Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.

When Laura's sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister's trust and possibly endanger her sister's life. And when Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?


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


Review to come later.


Verse of the Day

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Verse of the Day

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Harvest of Rubies
 
River North; New Edition edition (May 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Tessa Afshar
  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life.  She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently.  Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School.  She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.



ABOUT THE BOOK   

Remarkable Talent Threatens to Cloud a Life

The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. Her accomplishments catapult her into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen’s favorite scribe.

Not bad for a woman living in a man’s world: so why does Sarah feel like a failure?

A devastating past has left Sarah with two conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her achievements are the measure of her worth – a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is a wife who scorns him.

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?


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


Review to come later.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Verse of the Day

I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT)

Saturday, June 2, 2012

ACFW New Releases—June

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Lily (Song of the River) by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver — Desperate for financial independence, Lily Anderson has embarked upon a riverboat venture. Will she learn to trust God’s leading or head into disaster? Lily’s partner, Blake Matthews, is initially stymied, then smitten by the Mississippi miss. Can he anchor her heart, or will Lily fall for another man’s wiles? (Historical from Barbour).

A Promise for Miriam by Vannetta Chapman — Miriam King loves the children of Pebble Creek and is content teaching in the one room schoolhouse, then Gabe Miller steps into her life and everything changes. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House).

Sophie’s Daughters Trilogy by Mary Connealy — The little girls from Petticoat Ranch are all grown up with love stories of their own…you didn’t think Sophie’s Daughters would grow up to be quiet little things, did you? (Historical Romance from Barbour).

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox — When Ellie Moore wins a job as an undercover Pinkerton operative, she finds that playing a part in real life is far different than acting out a role onstage. Will the man who captures her heart still care for her when he learns the woman he’s fallen in love with doesn’t exist? (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

A Dream of His Own by Gail Gaymer Martin — Quinn O’Neill feels to blame for his family’s death and longs to release the guilt he feels, and when he meets Ava Darnell life takes a positive turn as he helps Ava earn his trust…but suspicion nearly undermines their relationship while he perseveres to encourage Ava to have faith that dreams of healing and family just might become reality. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough — Brooks Morgan won Raven Creek Ranch in a poker game, but when he goes to claim what’s his, he finds a woman with a shotgun living in his house-and she claims she isn’t leaving. (Historical Romance from River North (Moody Publishers).

Proof by Jordyn Redwood — What does a victim do when DNA testing sets a guilty criminal free? (Medical Suspense from Kregel).

Walks Alone by Sandi G. Rog — A Cheyenne warrior bent on vengeance. A pioneer woman bent on fulfilling a dream. Until their paths collide. (Romance from White-Fire Publishing).

The Hidden Life by Adina Senft — An Amish spinster finds love where she had given up hope in the second book of the Amish Quilt trilogy. (Contemporary from Faith Words (Hachette).

Winning the Widow’s Heart by Sherri Shackelford — When Texas Ranger Jack Elder stormed the isolated Kansas homestead, he expected to find a band of outlaws. Instead, the only occupant is a heavily pregnant woman-and she’s just gone into labor. A loner uneasy with emotion, Jack helps deliver widow Elizabeth Cole’s baby girl and can’t get back on the trail fast enough. The robber and murderer he’s after killed one of Jack’s own, and he vows to catch the man. But when he returns to check on Elizabeth and her little one, he discovers that she may hold the key to his unsettled past-and his hoped-for future. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired).

Double Exposure by Susan Sleeman –When photographer Jennie Buchanan unknowingly captures a drug-cartel meeting on film and the cartel tries to kill her, her ex-boyfriend risks everything to expose the truth-about the drug smugglers, the past and the future together he still wants. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired).

The Director’s Cut by Janice Thompson– Full of the humor and crazy family dynamics Janice Thompson fans have come to love, this colorful story gives you an inside look at Hollywood and a healthy dose of romance. (Contemporary Romance from Revell).

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer — All he ever cared about were his brothers and his land, but when a good deed goes awry, Travis Archer is stuck with a bride who endangers both. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

Friday, June 1, 2012

Verse of the Day

So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)