A recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem,
fun and faith in the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest can
only be found in Fetching Sweetness by
Dana Mentink. It should have been so simple for
Stephanie Pink: Retrieve a reclusive author's valuable new manuscript
and be promoted to a full-fledged literary agent. But when the
author's canine companion, Sweetness, makes a break for it and
Stephanie has to track Sweetness down, she meets Rhett Hastings. They’re
in for a surprising string of adventures and misadventures.
Celebrate the release of Fetching
Sweetness with Dana by entering to win the Sweetness
Unleashed Prize Pack!
About
the Book: Fetching
Sweetness (Harvest
House, July 2016)
Standing between Stephanie and
her dream is one hundred pounds of lovable trouble.
It should have been so simple for Stephanie
Pink: Meet up with Agnes Wharton in a small town in California, retrieve the
reclusive author’s valuable new manuscript, and be promoted to a full-fledged
literary agent.
But Agnes’s canine companion, Sweetness,
decides to make a break for it before Stephanie can claim her prize. Until
Agnes has Sweetness safely back at home in Eagle Cliff, Washington, Stephanie
will never set eyes on the manuscript she needs to make her dreams come true.
When Stephanie tracks the runaway mutt to a
campground, she meets Rhett Hastings—a man also on the run from a different
life and a costly mistake. Rhett agrees to help Stephanie search for the
missing dog . . . thus launching a surprising string of adventures and
misadventures.
Once Sweetness gets added to the mix, it’s a
recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem, fun and faith in the backwoods
of the Pacific Northwest.
About the Author: Dana
Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is
divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist
for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers
Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal
in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Besides
writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves
to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems,
a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.
Margie’s Comments: I had a hard time putting down this book. And
that’s not a comment I make about a book very often. I do like Dana’s books, so
I was glad when I received her latest, Fetching
Sweetness, from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I hadn’t
read one of her romances, though, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got
was a good, solidly written story, with plenty of fun and adventure—like the
author’s romantic suspense and mystery books. The characters are well
developed, from the very first sentence (“Stephanie regretted driving over the
wedding cake.”) to the last. And the theme of discovering God’s perfect plan
from Jeremiah 29:11 really caught my attention since I’m at a crossroads right
now. I highly recommend this book.
About the book: A Beauty Refined (Bethany House, July 2016)
What does it take to reveal the
true beauty of a hidden gem?
Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German
count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father
purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her
father’s intentions—both for her and the gemstones—are not what she thinks.
Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena,
finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a
little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that
her family story is based on a lie—a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian
believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.
Meeting Ian has changed everything for
Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her
father’s plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that
results when her family’s deception begins to unravel.
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling,
award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches
writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational
romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
Margie's Comments: It has been a while
since I’ve read a Tracie Peterson book, and oh what a refreshing read it was! A Beauty Refined has all the qualities of
good Christian historical fiction I’ve come to expect from Tracie: good
characters, great setting, interesting premise, and good clean romance.
Watching Phoebe and Ian’s story unfold in and around the sapphire mines of
Montana early in the last century was a joy as I relaxed with A Beauty Refined over the weekend. This
is definitely a book worth reading.
Travel back in time in Kelli Stuart's new
novel, Like a River from Its
Course, as the city of Kiev
is bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet
Union. This sweeping historical saga takes the
reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of
Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who
experience the same story from different perspectives. Based on
true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews
with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its
Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and
redemption.
Celebrate the release of Like a River
from Its Course with Kelli by entering to win a Kindle Fire
Prize Pack.
Young
Madeline and Roark are desperately running from the shadow that destroyed their
home and is threatening their lives.
One day, they encounter Tatus, an older man who
has sworn to avenge the death of his family at the hands of the shadow, and
they form an alliance with him. Tatus promises that he can keep them safe from
the shadow if they will help him build a fortress. So they build.
But as fortress-building consumes their lives,
Madeline and Roark are increasingly filled with anger and fear, and an unseen
evil threatens to ultimately destroy them. When they finally face the shadow,
he presents them with an unthinkable offer that will reveal shocking secrets of
the forgotten past, the unseen present, and the unimaginable future.
We’ve all had the feeling that something’s not
quite right with our lives. It’s bigger than any specific failure or
disappointment. It’s bigger than any person. No matter what you achieve or how
much you drink or sleep, you can’t shake it. It haunts you-night and day-and
propels you to do something. So you build. You build and build the maze that is
your exhausting life. Sound vaguely familiar?
The Seed: A
True Myth is a journey into the personal labyrinths we create to
protect ourselves and those we love from the pain of living in a broken world.
Guzman’s “true myth” takes the reader on an unforgettable journey that is, in
essence, the grand narrative of God’s redemptive work in the world. This
page-turning Christian fantasy tale is packed with mystery and drama, and
readers will feel the weight and power of redemption as they journey alongside
Guzman’s characters in their epic battle. The
Seed deftly communicates the heart of Trinitarian theology through
story—without using theological language or Christian terms—and reinforces
biblical themes such as God’s character and man’s true identity and calling.
Erik
Guzman is Vice President of Communications and Executive Producer at Key Life
Network. He’s the cohost of the nationally syndicated talk show Steve Brown,
Etc. and announcer for "Key Life." His writing has been featured in
Key Life's magazine and online at KeyLife.org, Liberate.org, Burnside Writers
Collective, and Sojourners (sojo.net). He is also a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a
drummer, and a 5th degree black belt in Aikido. Erik, his wife, and three children
live near Orlando, Florida.
Margie’s Comments:
The Seed is an interesting book on several levels, though I found it
somewhat difficult reading. I’m not sure why. I don’t normally mind reading
allegorical or mythical books. In fact I’m in the minority when it comes to
other writer/editor friends in that I like speculative/fantasy/allegorical
fiction.
But
this was hard for me to get into. Maybe because it started out rather dark. But
I kind of expected that, knowing the basic subject matter. Maybe because the
timeline jumped about rather than in a straight line. But even that I could
handle once I understood why the author chose to write it that way.
The
characters were okay, though I had trouble getting into them at first as well.
Again I think that might have been the timeline-jumping thing. Also the lack of
names and then name changes for each of the characters was a little tricky to
keep up with.
But
in the end, I did like the book. However, I think you’ve really got to enjoy
this genre if you’re going to read this book. And it does help to have a good
grasp of allegory and allegorical features and the theology behind the story. So
not a highly recommended book, but not a “don’t ever read this book,” either.
Just what the doctor ordered: heart-thumping
suspense and intrigue, courtesy of Richard Mabry’s new medical drama, Medical Judgment. Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve
stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic
deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea
what will come next. As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the
questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help
being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really
trust?
Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical
Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!
One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of Medical
Judgment
A Kindle Fire HD 6
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but
hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.
# # #
About the Book:
Medical Judgment (Abingdon Press, May 2016)
Dr. Sarah Gordon lost her husband and daughter. Now
she’s about to lose her life.
After losing the two people she loved the most,
Sarah Gordon doesn’t think life could get worse. But, after a fire in her
garage is ruled an arson, she begins to realize someone is after her—and that
person wants to see her dead. But first, they want to see her suffer.
Her late husband’s best friend, Kyle Andrews, and a
recovering alcoholic detective, Bill Larson, are trying to solve the mystery
before it’s too late, and they’re both trying to win her heart, too. Not only
does Sarah feel torn between two men, she also feels as though she cannot trust
anyone.
With creepy threats that become more and more
sinister, Sarah finds herself in constant fear, but even the best home alarm
technology won’t protect her. Who is doing this, and why are they after her?
Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes
“medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a
semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the
Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s
Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. He and his wife
live in Frisco, Texas.
Once again, “Doc” Mabry has
come through with another excellent medical suspense. Medical Judgment is his latest release from Abingdon Press. As I
read, I couldn’t help but be pulled into the story with Mabry’s latest
characters, who are varied and well developed. Although the stage was set for
the ending, it was still a surprise when Sarah’s stalker was revealed. So kudos
to “Doc” for another excellent read. Again, I can highly recommend Medical Judgment to anyone who loves to
read medical suspense.
What happens when a margrave realizes he’s
fallen in love with a servant?
The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He
invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at
Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their
true character.
Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her
deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave’s bride.
Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one
must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand
in for his daughter, Dorothea.
Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from
herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny
her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something
sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be
able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?
Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award
finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book.
Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of
Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and
two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.
Margie’s
Comments:
I love Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings, and her
latest book The Beautiful Pretender does
not disappoint. Of course who doesn’t respond well to any “Beauty and the
Beast” tale? Including Disney’s rendition of the old fairy tale. But I think
the most satisfying aspect of Melanie Dickerson’s books is the faith element
that she includes. When Avelina is forced by her master, the Earl of Plimmwald,
to stand in for his daughter at the Margrave of Thornbeck’s test for a bride
she has nowhere else to turn to for help but to her faith in God. So when she
finds herself in a situation with worse consequences than her failure to the
Earl of Plimmwald, her only recourse is to tell the truth . . . no matter the
cost. The main characters in The
Beautiful Pretender are endearing, even “the beast.” And the plot is well
developed, making for a very satisfying, and surprisingly quick, read.
Add Victoria Bylin’s new
book, Someone Like You, to the top of your must-read list and
discover if life offers a second chance at love. As Julia and Zeke, former college
sweethearts, work together on an important client’s dream wedding, the
fate of Zeke’s resort soon depends on their success. When they are
pushed to their limits both personally and professionally, will their history
put up walls between them or bring them together?
Enter to win a copy of Someone Like You—five winners will be chosen! Click
the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced
June 1 on the Litfuse blog!
About the Book:
Someone Like You (Bethany House, May 2016)
Single mom Julia Dare has a lot
on her plate.
A brand-new Christian, Julia is busy
trying to run her own business, spend time with her widowed mother, and raise
her young son, Max, despite his father’s less-than-ideal influence on him. When
a big account from her event-planning business sends her to the Caliente
Springs resort, she’s shocked to come face-to-face with Zeke Monroe, the
resort’s general manager and her college sweetheart.
With his faith in tatters, Zeke Monroe is determined
to keep the historic Caliente Springs resort running despite financial
difficulties. But when Julia walks back into his life, he can’t ignore the
feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client’s dream
wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. When Zeke and
Julia are pushed to their limits both personally and professionally, will their
history put up walls between them or bring them together?
Victoria Bylin writes contemporary and
historical romances known for their realistic, relatable characters. Her work
has finaled in contests such as the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and the RT
Reviewers’ Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make
their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Find out more about Victoria at http://www.victoriabylin.com.
Margie’s Comments: It has been a long time since
I’ve read a contemporary romance that I have enjoyed as thoroughly as I enjoyed
reading Someone Like You. The cast of
characters were all real with real-life problems and circumstances. One thing
that made this book unique—at least in my recent reading—is the fact that this
wasn’t just one couple’s love story. Plus through it all ran God’s overarching
love for all of us. Kudos to Victoria Bylin for an excellent and thoroughly
entertaining read.
Hurry and enter the contest for your chance to win!
Hunting Hope: Dig Through the Darkness
to Find the Light (April 2016, Worthy Inspired)
Hope is not an accident. Sometimes
it has to be hunted, and hunting it takes courage.
Hope hunters know how to excavate hope from hardship. There is dirt
underneath their fingernails and sweat on their shirts. They rake through the
rubble of an unwanted situation, digging into difficult circumstances because
they have come to expect that adversity will produce good. They believe that
light always triumphs over darkness. They have learned to walk through winter
with their eyes on spring.
Nika Maples became a hope hunter after suffering a massive brainstem stroke
that left her quadriplegic in her twenties. Doctors warned that she had as
little as 48 hours to live, and-if she lived at all-she would never walk or
talk again. There was no hope on the horizon. So Nika started to hunt for it.
Today, she not only walks, but she speaks to audiences everywhere about the
power of hunting hope when a situation appears hopeless. She says hope remains
camouflaged in the daily mundane. If we are not looking for it, we will miss
it, though it is right before our eyes.
Whether you or someone you know is going through a situation that feels hopeless,
you will find encouragement in Hunting Hope.
Whether you are experiencing a medical trauma, a financial hardship, or a
relational crisis, you will find empowerment in Hunting Hope. As you read, you will cling to 20 truths about
God’s character and practice 5 daily disciplines that will develop your own
character in crisis.
You will become a hope hunter.
Maybe it doesn’t matter what causes
suffering in our lives as much as it matters what suffering causes in our lives. Maybe we
were all meant to be hope
hunters.
Nika Maples is the
author of Twelve Clean Pages, the memoir of her survival of lupus and a stroke
that left her quadriplegic at age 20. After learning to walk and talk again,
she became a public school teacher, winning 2007 Texas Secondary Teacher of the
Year. She holds an MA in English Education from Columbia University and
currently is pursuing an MDIV from The King's University. When she is not
traveling to speak, she lives, writes, and laughs as much as possible in Fort
Worth, Texas.
Margie’s Comments:
Hunting Hope by Nika Maples is nothing like what
I expected. It’s better! And I could hardly put it down. Thankfully it has
short chapters, so I was able to sneak a chapter or two in between unpacking
boxes and settling in to a new home.
After coming through a series of dark years, reading this
book was like a refreshing spring rain, bringing with it the freshness of new
growth and understanding. I love the emphasis the author put into knowing God
and His Word before speaking of living out the truths that we learn only in the
dark places of life. In fact, three-quarters of the book focuses on God’s
various attributes. Only in the last one-quarter of the book does she speak of
what we are to do with the “new” information we have because of what we learn
in the dark times of life. From the introduction to the very last chapter, Nika
emphasizes the faithfulness of God—my favorite and most comforting attribute of
His! As I read Hunting Hope, not only
was I affirmed in the fact that I am a hunter of hope but also hope is the core word of my life—one the
Lord revealed to me during my most recent dark time.
I would encourage all my readers to get a copy of
Nika’s book, Hunting Hope, and become
hunters of hope with the author and me. You will be blessed!
At twenty, Nika Maples learned that when hope was
all she had, she claimed it boldly while defying all odds to recover
from a devastating stroke. The lessons from that struggle are powerful
and universal, and she shares those lessons in her new
book, Hunting Hope.
Doctors warned that she had as little as 48 hours to live, and—if she
lived at all—she would never walk or talk again. There was no hope on
the horizon. So Nika started to hunt for it. Today, she not only walks,
but she speaks to audiences everywhere about the power of hunting hope
when a situation appears hopeless. She says hope remains camouflaged in
the daily mundane. If we are not looking for it, we will miss it, though
it is right before our eyes.
A $200 Hilton gift card to give a hope hunter the chance to rest
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the
giveaway ends on 5/24. The winner will be
announced at the Hunting
Hope live author webcast on
5/26. RSVP for a chance to connect with
Nika and other hope hunters, as well as for a chance
to win other prizes!
RSVP today and spread the
word—tell your friends about the giveaway
via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and
increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the
26th!
Marjorie Vawter is a professional freelance editor who proofreads for CBA publishers, edits for individual clients, and does a little writing herself in her “spare” time.
Unless otherwise noted, all the books reviewed on The Writer's Tool are review copies the various publishers provide free of charge for the purposes of review.
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