Proof by Jordyn Redwood

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Proof Kregel Publications (June 1, 2012) by Jordyn Redwood
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jordyn Redwood has served patients and their families for nearly twenty years and currently works as a pediatric ER nurse. As a self-professed medical nerd and trauma junkie, she was drawn to the controlled chaotic environments of critical care and emergency nursing. Her love of teaching developed early and she was among the youngest CPR instructors for the American Red Cross at the age of seventeen. Since then, she has continued to teach advanced resuscitation classes to participants ranging from first responders to MD’s.

Her discovery that she also had a fondness for answering medical questions for authors led to the creation of Redwood’s Medical Edge at http://jordynredwood.com/. This blog is devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction.

Jordyn lives in Colorado with her husband, two daughters, and one crazy hound dog. In her spare time she also enjoys reading her favorite authors, quilting, and cross-stitching.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?

Endorsements:

“Jordyn Redwood makes quite a splash with her debut novel. PROOF is a hard-edged mix of medical thriller and crime chiller that grabs you on the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. This one will keep you up way past your bedtime.”
—Rick Acker, best-selling author of When the Devil Whistles

“From the very first chapter, the first page even, Jordyn Redwood pulls the reader into a story that won’t let go. PROOF is proof enough for me that Jordyn is the real deal: an author who knows how to weave a tight story, write descriptive, authentic prose, and deal with some pretty hefty issues. I’m a fan!”
—Mike Dellosso, author of Frantic and Rearview (a 7 Hours story)

“Debut novelist Jordyn Redwood has used her experience as an ER and ICU nurse to craft a blend of medical thriller and police procedural with twists and turns to keep fans of either genre turning pages.”
—Richard L. Mabry, MD, author of Lethal Remedy and the Prescription for Trouble series

“A rollercoaster of a story. Jordyn Redwood’s PROOF has everything you could want in a thriller—believable characters, a villain who makes your skin crawl, a touch of humor, and a twisting plot—all bound by fascinating medical and scientific details. What a fabulous debut!”
—Sarah Sundin, award-winning author of the Wings of Glory series

“Jordyn Redwood may be new on the scene, but she writes like a seasoned pro. PROOF is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time with well-drawn characters including a villain I despised and a hero and heroine I rooted for. I thought I would just take a peek at the first chapter and finish the story later. I thought wrong. I read late into the night, lost sleep, and put off my own writing to finish this book. I’m eagerly awaiting Jordyn’s second book and will be first in line to purchase it the day it releases.”
—Lynnette Eason, best-selling author of The Women of Justice series

“I love a great medical thriller and I’m glad to add another author to my list. Jordyn Redwood writes like the medical insider she is. A gripping tale laced with realism, sleep-robbing excitement, and something every reader loves: hope.”
—Harry Kraus, MD, best-selling author of The Six-Liter Club

“PROOF by Jordyn Redwood is a gripping medical thriller written with vivid detail from an author who knows her subject firsthand. A serial rapist is at large in the town—in the hospital, even? Can Lilly trust anyone? Even her closest friend? And just when you think you can relax, the stakes get even higher.”
—Donna Fletcher Crow, author of The Monastery Murders

“Jordyn Redwood’s debut novel is a page-turner with an ingenious premise and solid Christian values. A satisfying read.”
—Frank J. Edwards, Medical Director, Delphi Emergency Physicians,
author of the medical thriller Final Mercy

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

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Love on the Line Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Deeanne Gist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm--all from the comforts of home.

Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.

After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a "corporate executive" was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.

Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, three RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.

Her latest releases, Beguiled, Maid To Match, and Love on the Line are now available.

Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-eight years and their border collie. They have four grown children. Click here to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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

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

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love on the Line, go HERE.

**********************************************************

Christy here..........

Wow, what an introduction for an author & an interesting road to publication!  

These books became parts of my life based on good ol' word of mouth. A friend of mine had already claimed Deanne's books as her favorite and told me I needed to check her out. Well, I did and I've read them all except one of the earlier, Courting Trouble, and her latest with J. Mark Bertrand Beguiled. But these are on the to-be-bought list!!!

Love on the Line was a fun story. Ms. Gist didn't disappoint with her latest release. As always, there is good humor, high caliber romantic tension and the story is peppered with characters which help make the world come to life. But wait, there's train robberies, bird watchin' and bird huntin' all packed in this story.  There's a story twist, too, that will definitely catch you by surprise. 

This is a book I recommend. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads!

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Sweetest Thing • Bethany House (June 1, 2011) by Elizabeth Musser



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, studied English and French literature at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at Vanderbilt, I had the opportunity to spend a semester in Aix-en-Provence,



France. During her Senior year at Vanderbilt, she attended a five-day missions conference for students and discovered an amazing thing: God had missionaries in France, and she felt God calling her there. After graduation, she spent eight months training for the mission field in Chicago, Illinois and then two years serving in a tiny Protestant church in Eastern France where she met her future husband.



Elizabeth lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. She find her work as a mother, wife, author and missionary filled with challenges and chances to see God’s hand at work daily in her life. Inspiration for her novels come both from her experiences growing up in Atlanta as well as through the people she meets in her work in France. Many conversations within her novels are inspired from real-life conversations with skeptics and seekers alike.



Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon's editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Compelling Southern Novel Explores Atlanta Society in the 1930s.



The Singleton family’s fortunes seem unaffected by the Great Depression, and Perri—along with the other girls at Atlanta’s elite Washington Seminary—lives a life of tea dances with college boys and matinees at the cinema. When tragedy strikes, Perri is confronted with a world far different from the one she has always known.



At the insistence of her parents, Mary ‘Dobbs’ Dillard, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, is sent from inner-city Chicago to live with her aunt and attend Washington Seminary. Dobbs, passionate, fiercely individualistic and deeply religious, enters Washington Seminary as a bull in a china shop and shocks the girls with her frank talk about poverty and her stories of revival on the road. Her arrival intersects at the point of Perri’s ultimate crisis, and the tragedy forges an unlikely friendship.



The Sweetest Thing tells the story of two remarkable young women—opposites in every way—fighting for the same goal: surviving tumultuous change. Just as the Great Depression collides disastrously with Perri's well-ordered life, friendship blossoms--a friendship that will be tested by jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets...



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

Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingParadise ValleyBethany House (January 1, 2011)byDale Cramer





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dale Cramer was the second of four children born to a runaway Amishman turned soldier and a south Georgia sharecropper's daughter. His formative years were divided between far-flung military bases, but he inherited his mother's sense of place—



He took on small construction projects at night to help make ends meet— "and to preserve the remainder of my sanity," he says. While building an office in the basement of a communications consultant, a debate over labor/management relations turned into an article on mutualism which found its way into an international business magazine. It was Dale's first published article, and he liked the feel of it. He bought books, studied technique, and began participating in an online writers' forum, writing during the boys' naps and after they went to bed at night. Before long he was publishing short stories in literary magazines and thinking about writing a book.



Three storylines vied for Dale's attention when he finally decided to write a novel. His first two choices were commercially viable secular stories, and a distant third appeared to be some kind of Christian saga about a broken-down biker. The process of determining which novel to write was settled by a remarkable encounter with his youngest son, a lost set of keys, and God. His sense of direction was suddenly clarified. In 1997, Dale began work on Sutter's Cross, which was eventually published in 2003.



His second novel, Bad Ground (July 2004), while it is not autobiographical, contains a great deal of material drawn from his own experience as a construction electrician.



He and his wife and two sons make their home in northern Georgia.





ABOUT THE BOOK

An Amish settlement in Ohio has run afoul of a law requiring their children to attend public school. Caleb Bender and his neighbors are arrested for neglect, with the state ordering the children be placed in an institution. Among them are Caleb's teenage daughter, Rachel, and the boy she has her eye on, Jake Weaver. Romance blooms between the two when Rachel helps Jake escape the childrens home.



Searching for a place to relocate his family where no such laws apply, Caleb learns there's inexpensive land for sale in Mexico, a place called Paradise Valley. Despite rumors of instability in the wake of the Mexican revolution, the Amish community decides this is their answer. And since it was Caleb's idea, he and his family will be the pioneers. They will send for the others once he's established a foothold and assessed the situation.


Caleb's daughters are thrown into turmoil. Rachel doesn't want to leave Jake. Her sister, Emma, who has been courting Levi Mullet, fears her dreams of marriage will be dashed. Miriam has never had a beau and is acutely aware there will be no prospects in Mexico.


Once there, they meet Domingo, a young man and guide who takes a liking to Miriam, something her father would never approve. While Paradise Valley is everything they'd hoped it would be, it isn't long before the bandits start giving them trouble, threatening to upset the fledgling Amish settlement, even putting their lives in danger. Thankfully no one has been harmed so far, anyway.


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

*******************************************************

Friends, I am in the process of reading this book... and will return in a few days with a review.

Christy

Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Embers of Love Bethany House (October 1, 2010)


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

The logging industry in eastern Texas is booming, and Deborah Vandermark plans to assist her family's business now that she's completed college. Unexpectedly, her best friend, Lizzie Decker, accompanies her back home--fleeing a wedding and groom she has no interest in.



Deborah, the determined matchmaker, puts her sights on uniting her brother and dear friend in a true love match. Deborah soon meets Dr. Christopher Clayton, a much-needed addition to the town. As their lives intersect, Deborah realizes that she has a much greater interest in medicine and science than the bookkeeping she was trained in.



But when typhoid begins to spread and Lizzie's jilted fiance returns, Deborah wonders if true love can overcome such obstacles...for those dearest to her, and for herself.



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

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Within My HeartBethany House; Original edition (September 1, 2010)


byTamera Alexander





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of Rekindled, Revealed and Remembered, the critically acclaimed Fountain Creek Chronicles historical series with Bethany House Publishers. Her second historical series, Timber Ridge Reflections (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart), penned in her style with deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers—and multiple industry awards.



These awards include the 2009 and 2008 Christy Award, the 2007 RITA for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2009 and 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best Award, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction for 2006, among others.



After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville with Tamera's father, Doug. They enjoy life there with Joe and Tamera's two adult children, and Jack, a precious—and precocious—silky terrier.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Widow Rachel Boyd struggles to keep her ranch afloat and provide for her two young sons, though some days it feels as though her efforts are sabotaged at every turn. When her cattle come down with disease and her sons' lives are endangered, she must turn to Rand Brookston, Timber Ridge's physician and reluctant veterinarian. While Rachel appreciates his help, she squelches any feelings she might have for Rand--her own father was a doctor and his patients always took priority over his family. Rachel refuses to repeat the mistakes her mother made. But when she's courted by a wealthy client of the local resort, she faces a choice: self-sufficiency and security or the risk inherent in the deepest of loves.



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

**

Christy: I will post a review soon...due to traveling, illness and work I have not had a chance to settle down and dig deep into this book. I've just begun the first pages and they are great so far!

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

Hi everyone,

When I received this book, Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist, I could hardly wait to read it! A while back, I was introduced to Deeanne's books through my friend Lindi. She highly recommended the books and she was right.

Maid to Match was a wonderful story about two employees of the Biltmore House in North Carolina. Tillie, a dedicated servant who'd been trained by her mother since childhood, had her eye on one thing: being Edith Vanderbilt's personal assistant. And then, there's handsome Mack, a mountain man who has become a footman at Biltmore not because he has high aspirations to move up to a Butler, but because he's trying to bring his brothers and sister back together as a family again.

I love how "real" the characters were portrayed. Just because this is Christian fiction, doesn't mean it's all fluffy and foo-foo. Mack reminds me of my husband in so many ways, such as:  Mack uses his fists to settle scores. Mack cares fiercely about his family. And when he falls for Tillie, my oh my! He's fierce about his love for this woman.

Ms. Gist didn't hold back on this story. From the first page, from the first scene in the Biltmore House, I felt as though I was there. The thorough way she describes the setting, from the dress of the characters to their whole demeanor painted the picture clearly.

There are a few things you will be guaranteed to receive when you read a book by Deeanne Gist:

1. Amusing stories, with a lot of heart.
2. Cast of characters we care about. (I posted a comment on Ms. Gist's Facebook page - Please write a story about Mack's brother!!! He needs to be tamed and Deeanne is just the writer to give him the perfect story... but, alas, she replied, she doesn't like sequels... She assured me Earl met the right woman, settled down and lived happily ever after... somehow, this just isn't the same for me...)

3. Sensual romance, written tastefully, honestly, and so well you know the couple is blessed by our Heavenly Father.

4. Her hero, Mack, is all Alpha. He's tough. He fights first and apologizes later. But his heart is pliant and can be softened by the right lady.

5. Her heroine, Tillie, is a girl who loves fashion and wants to travel. She wants a family, she wants to please her family. She wants it all. We can all relate to her. But what, or whom, will she decide is most important in the end?

6. Deeann Gist books leave us wanting more!!!

Now, read a little more about Deeann's latest book, that I highly recommend!

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Maid to MatchBethany House (June 1, 2010)



byDeeanne Gist





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm--all from the comforts of home.



Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.



After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a "corporate executive" was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.



Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.



Her 2010 books, Beguiled and Maid To Match are now available for order.



Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-seven years and their two border collies. They have four grown children. Visit her blog to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.







ABOUT THE BOOK

Falling in love could cost her everything.



From the day she arrived at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled, by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid, After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.



But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangles in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations...their hearts.



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





Join this SPECIAL GETAWAY (Click on the Button):

Author Spotlight: Debut Author Jennifer Hudson Taylor

I'm so excited to welcome my friend and fellow F.A.I.T.H. girl Jennifer Hudson Taylor to my blog today!

I am giving away a copy of her debut novel (Oh! I love the sound of that!) Highland Blessings that just released last month. Please leave a comment with your email address either here on blogger or on my FACEBOOK Profile under the article. However, for Facebook friends, I can only ship within the United States.

Without further ado, let me introduce our author in the spotlight!

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is the author of historical and contemporary Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas. Her fiction has won awards in the American Christian Fiction Writers' Genesis Contest. Her debut novel, Highland Blessings, was released May 2010. Other works have appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Everton’s Genealogical Publishers, and The Military Trader. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Journalism. When she isn't writing, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, genealogy, and reading. She resides with her husband and daughter in the Charlotte area of NC.


CL:     Welcome to At Split Ends, Jennifer!!


JHT:   Thank you, Christy, I’m glad to be here today.

CL:     One reason this blog is named At Split Ends is because life tends to get hectic   and I’m pulled in all sorts of directions. I want to go one way but have to go another.
I know you have managed to maintain family time, as you continue to work on your book and become published, all while holding down a full time job. Can you offer any insight or advice on how you have successfully managed this?


JHT:   I’m blessed to have a husband who does all the cooking and cleaning around the house. He takes our daughter to swim practice, for her allergy shots, picks her up from school. I couldn’t write in the evenings and on the weekends the way I do without his support and assistance. When we go on family picnics, to other people’s homes, he’s in charge of picking up the food or cooking the food we bring. He also does the grocery shopping.


I have to be disciplined, and meticulous in my note taking and outlines. Since I may have 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there, an hour or two at other times, my outlines and characterization charts help me to remember where I left off and where to pick my story back up again.


I am in the process of revising my book. I’m not alone, many of my readers are in the same boat. What techniques have you found to work for you in the writing/revision process?


It helps to write through the rough draft and not look back at it until it is done. That way once I’ve finished and I read back through from the beginning, those chapters are fresh again. Sometimes I may need to set aside a manuscript and do something else so I can have a fresh perspective.


CL:     ACFW conference is quickly approaching. I know I’m not alone in considering what editors and agents to meet and pitch… What are some things we should consider when choosing an editor or agent?

JHT:    I always tried to look at the types of manuscripts they are seeking and acquiring. If they appeared to be looking for something similar to what I write, then I would create a list. I would inquire about personalities and work ethics with other clients and authors.



 
And now, more about Highland Blessings.

Highland warrior Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. . .Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst . . . and murder is the ultimate weapon.
You can watch the book trailer and read the first chapter by clicking here.



CL:     Jennifer, thank you so much for being on my blog today!


JHT:   Thank you for having me!

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Crossing OceansTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 1, 2010)



byGina Holmes



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.



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



Watch the Video Book Trailer:

A Woman Called Sage by Diann Mills

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



A Woman Called SageZondervan (April 1, 2010)by



DiAnn Mills





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.



DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.



Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.



DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.



She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.





ABOUT THE BOOK

They took away everything she loved...now, she’s out for revenge.



Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution.



Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it’s found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.



In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Woman Called Sage, go HERE.



Watch the Video Book Trailer:

Book Giveaway & Author Spotlight: Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss: Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana

ABOUT THE BOOK:


In 1890, Julia Cavanaugh travels west from New York City to unite orphans in her care with new families.

Imagine her horror when she discovers that she's to be "delivered," too--as bride to an uncouth miner! But with no return fare, Julia's options are bleak.

What does God have planned for her on the lonesome prairies of Montana?

Read more!



***************





ABOUT THE AUTHORS:


Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana. To find out more visit her website.







Ocieanna Fleiss is a published writer and has edited six of Tricia Goyer's historical novels. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. Connect with Ocieanna on Facebook!













************************** My Review****************

Thank you, LitFuse, for providing a copy of Lonesome Prairie, Montana for me to review.

Once Julia gets off the train in Lonesome Prairie, one of the first men she lays eyes on is Parson Isaac Shepherd. Soon after, she sees her betrothed, Horace, a goldminer in desperate need of a wife: And Julia is it. He's paid for her fair and square.

There are other stories going on in this book, Isaac's best friend Milo's death and the seemingly unmending heart of Warren - Milo's stepson. The redemption of Giant Jim and the woman he loves, the same woman who killed Milo. Julia, an orphan herself, finds a "home" with Isaac's family as the Shepherd's family open their home to her while she awaits the next train to come through Lonesome Prairie. Meanwhile, the story centers around Julia and Isaac and a love neither one of them can deny, over and beyond the proddings of Isaac's friends and family who would love to see him have a wife.

The problem is, Isaac has vowed to the Lord he will never marry after his mother was killed by an Indian raid when he was very young while his father was working away from home. And then, years later, Isaac's fiancee Bethany was brutally killed in an attack. From those two incidents, Isaac decides he was not meant to be married. That's a vow he'll have to reconsider when he finds it isn't so easy to dismiss his feelings for Julia.

This was an enjoyable story I looked forward to coming back to every day. I found myself wanting to hurry through the subplots trying to get to the ending to find out what happens. But there was plenty of entertainment in those subplots as well, with each character shining on their own. Goyer and Fleiss bring an entertaining story to the table with this one and it is a book I would recommend.

I'm excited to share this book with you. Leave a comment with your email address and on Tuesday, December 1st I'll announce a winner for this book.

If you're not the lucky winner here, but would like to buy your own book, visit Tricia's website.

Also, check out the link on my side bar for a contest running by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss for a "Fall in Love with Lonesome Prairie" contest where the lucky winner will win a lovely Montana gift basket filled with many, many goodies!!

But don't forget to leave a comment here to win a free copy of this book.

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Slow Burn
Zondervan (October 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.



ABOUT THE BOOK


She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.


Watch the video:



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson

Book Tour for Wednesday September 16 through Friday September 18...

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dawn's Prelude
(Bethany House - October 2009)
by
Tracie Peterson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels. She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Ephesians 1:18 has become a cornerstone verse for a new non-fiction book she's been working on -- its also become a cornerstone in her life. The verse reads, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Tracie and her family live in Belgrade, Montana.






ABOUT THE BOOK

Newly widowed Lydia Sellers discovers that through an unforeseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves.

Lydia, longing to put the memories of her painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt. Lydia's arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn't expect.

One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father's fortune? Lydia soon finds her life--and that of her child's--on the line.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dawn's Prelude, go HERE

******************

This is a late post y'all. I've been at ACFW Conference and never could figure out how to get on the internet on my wireless laptop! Anyway, I had the pleasure on Saturday to share an elevator with Tracie Peterson. I let her know I'd read and enjoyed Dawn's Prelude, but hadn't had the opportunity to post my review yet with CFBA Tour. She and her husband Jim taught at Conference. We were all headed to the ACFW Banquet at the time... more on that later. For now, Dawn's Prelude....

This novel was a web of intresting characters both good and bad. Lydia is a heroine coming out of an abusive and arranged marriage. Luckily, a carriage accident took Floyd's life, but, as an interesting note, Lydia's father and Floyd's business partner, was also in the same accident. A will is read and Lydia finds herself full heir to the family business, much to the displeasure of Floyd's four children. Three of Lydia's step children have always hated her, and being greedy like their late father, they wanted all they could get out of their father's business.

Lydia flees to Alaska where her aunt lives, not realizing she is pregnant. Soon, Floyd's son finds out where Lydia is and follows her there. Lydia's life is endangered, as her aunt's and her son is abducted. Meanwhile, her new love and husband, Kjell, fights to find her son and prays for Lydia's life.

There is no lack of action in this story and the setting is unique. I love stories that take place in a location I've never been. In historicals, we can transport ourselves into another time and place.

This is the first Tracie Peterson novel I've read and I enjoyed it. I also love it when secondary characters catch my interest and I wonder if Book 2 will be their story. I'm speaking of Lydia's stepdaughter Evie and Kjell's employee Joshua... Suppose we'll have to wait for Book 2 in this series to find out!

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

Ahhh... It's ROMANCE, Connealy style! I shall return with a review! Loved it!!!
************************************

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Montana Rose
Barbour Publishing, Inc (July 1, 2009)
by
Mary Connealy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary's writing journey is similar to a lot of others. Boil it down to persistence, oh, go ahead and call it stubbornness. She just kept typing away. She think the reason she did it was because she was more or less a dunce around people—prone to sit silently when she really ought to speak up(or far worse, speak up when she ought to sit silently).

So, Mary had all these things, she want to say, in her head; the perfect zinger to the rude cashier, which you think of an hour after you’ve left the store, the perfect bit of wisdom when someone needs help, which doesn’t occur to you until they solve their problems themselves, the perfect guilt trip for the kids, which you don’t say because you’re not an idiot. She keep all this wit to herself, much to the relief of all who know her, and then wrote all her great ideas into books. It’s therapeutic if nothing else, and more affordable than a psychiatrist.

So then a very nice, oh so nice publishing company like Barbour Heartsong comes along and says, “Hey, we’ll pay you money for this 45,000 word therapy session.” That’s as sweet as it gets.

Mary's journey to publication is the same as everyone’s except for a few geniuses out there who make it hard for all of us. And even they probably have an Ode to Roast Beef or two in their past.

Mary has signed an exclusive contract with Barbour that will have her writing eighteen (18) books for them over the next four years! This book is the first in the Montana Marriage Series. The second book will be the Husband Tree, and the third will be Wildflower Bride



ABOUT THE BOOK


Fire up your love of romance with Montana Rose.

When surrounded by a mob of ill-bred, foul-smelling, women-hungry men, the newly widowed and seemingly spoiled Cassie “China Doll” Griffin has no choice. Marrying handyman Red Dawson seems the only alternative to Cassie’s being hitched to a brutal rancher. But can this “China doll” bear exchanging smooth silk for coarse calico? Red was reluctant to be yoked to an unbeliever, but sometimes a man has no choice. Will Red change Cassie’s heart by changing her name? Wade Sawyer is obsessed with saving Cassie from a marriage of convenience. How far will he go make her his own?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Montana Rose, go HERE
*********************************
My Review:

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Bride In The Bargain
Bethany House (June 1, 2009)
by
Deeanne Gist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

Since the debut of those novels, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.



ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wedding Is All Planned...
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride
In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE

**************************************************************

My Take:

If I had a rating on the At Split Ends Blog, I'd give this book a 5, for the best.

I just love books by Deeanne Gist. I giggled when I saw this cover. A beautiful girl (who's actually Deeanne's daughter) in a lovely bridal gown with her chin propped on the handle of an ax! How fun!

A Bride in the Bargain is based on fact. Asa Mercer did collect $300 from Washington Territory bachelors in exchange for an eastern bride. The author put her own spin on the story by bringing to life Anna Ivey and Joe Denton who spent most of the novel not married, though Joe needs a wife to win his land. Yet Anna is harboring memories of her past that cause her to feel that anyone she loves will die, just as her father, mother and brother did.

I loved the tension between these two characters. The old-fashioned attraction of two people who find each other beautiful in every sense. The sexual tension was tight, yes even in Christian Fiction, because both characters wanted each other and loved each other. But Anna didn't believe she could be good for Joe and then an accident proves to her, she is right. Yet Anna nurses Joe to recovery, proving by her actions and her words that she truly loves this man.

A Bride in the Bargain is wonderfully enjoyable from the start with enough twist in the plot to keep you wondering how its really going to play out. This was a book I read in stand still traffic and was disappointed when it ended. Somehow, the characters just came alive. I am reading it a second time around slowly, to enjoy the past, the rich setting and the beloved characters.

His Forever Love by Missy Tippens

I just love stories that make you feel good. That feeling is just what you get in Missy Tippen's latest release His Forever Love.

About the Book:
In Magnolia, Georgia, local legend says that a couple who holds hands around the "forever" tree will have an unending love. Even so, Bill Wellington held Lindsay Jones's hands around that tree years ago…and then left her behind. He chose the big city, and now he wants to bring his grandmother there. But to his amazement, he finds that Granny has a boyfriend—and a vibrant life. A life that includes Lindsay, Granny's caregiver. Bill never thought he'd want to come home, yet Magnolia clearly has its charms. As does Lindsay, who makes him long for a second chance at forever love.


````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

The characters in His Forever Love were some of my favorites. Who couldn't love the geek who turned hunky, successful professor. Bill still had some doubts when it came to leading lady Lindsay, but that made him even sweeter.

Granny Bea reminded me of my own grandmother, who won't be stopped from doing what she wanted to do no matter how many times she fell on the ground or out of the attic.

And then there's Lindsay, duped at the altar by the guy she thought was perfect for her, then duped by her best friend Bill, is living the single life believing her life is made up of taking care of Granny, her father, her brothers and nephews along with running Jolly Time Day Care Center.

But there's more to Lindsay than dedicated care-giver. She's determined to keep Granny in Magnolia and will stoop to all levels to derail Bill's plans of returning to Boston with Granny. She's also determined not to listen to her best friend swearing she's meant to end up with Bill all because they held hands around the forever tree. But Donna Rae's got that feeling and Lindsay knows when her best friend gets one of those feelings, she usually right.

Some parts of this story made me giggle. Some places made me get a lump in my throat. All in all, it was a book that kept be interested and up until 2 am reading because I had to be sure of how it would end. Well done, Missy! Well done!

About the Author:
Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-plus years now and have been blessed with three wonderful children. Missy is an award-winning writer and, after ten years of pursuing her dream, she made her first sale to Steeple Hill Love Inspired in 2007. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened! Read more about Missy and her other books on her website.

Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace

Are you like me? Have you followed Amy Wallace's Defenders of Hope Series? If so, you read Ransomed Dreams with your nails dug into the pillow, wondering how Gracie and Steven were ever going to escape the madman? And you read through a veil of tears to find out if Clint and Sara could take any more trials in Healing Promises?

I enjoyed both journeys every step of the way. Yet there was one item I pondered once I'd read the last words of each book and that was...

What about Hannah and Michael?



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Secrets Can’t Last Forever

A PAINFUL PAST

Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER

As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE

A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?


Good Links:
**Buy the book at Amazon by clicking here.
** Read the first two chapters of Enduring Justice
** Sign up for the Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy Wallace is a wife, homeschool mom, author, speaker, and avid chocoholic. She loves crafting high-action suspense that delves deep into heart issues, but who she really is can be summed up in a few short words: Amy is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter.Amy is also the author of the Defenders of Hope series: Ransomed Dreams, Healing Promises, and Enduring Justice, a contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes, and God Answers Moms’ Prayers. Visit Amy at www.amywallace.com and join the Dark Chocolate Suspense newsletter http://www.amywallace.com/Newsletter.html


*********************************************************

This book is definitely one I recommend. The characters are flawed. They are real. No paper doll types you think you may find in Christian Fiction. No, modeled after real life people, these characters are trying to live up to what God wants but they still fail. Sound familiar?

Michael still deals with his promiscuous bachelor past while trying to constantly prove his dedication to Hanna and find a racially motivated lunatic. Hanna's challenges in reliving her past will clench your stomach. The situation reminds you how difficult it is to trust anyone and the consequences when things go wrong. And if those challenges aren't enough, we are thrust into the mind of the murderer behind the plot that is threatening Hanna, Michael and their friend's lives.

I am amazed again at what a sweet spirit I know Amy is, how she manages to make the bad guys so darn bad. I guess she's just that good at this writing gig.

If you're in Georgia, here's a special invitation from Amy:
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25th - Come celebrate the launch of Enduring Justice, the third Defenders of Hope story, with an awesome book launch party! The Enduring Justice launch party will be held at the Lifeway Christian Bookstore near the Mall of Georgia from 11 am to 2 pm. Please join us for great food (including a chocolate fountain), door prizes, and the chance to win a huge and very cool treasure chest stuffed with books from many beloved authors and lots of Defenders of Hope merchandise. I hope you’ll be able to join us!