Over the Edge
May 26, 2011
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Over the Edge B&H Books (May 1, 2011) by Brandilyn Collins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e…”® Brandilyn’s first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.
In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Torn from the front lines of medical debate and the author’s own experience with Lyme Disease, Over the Edge is riveting fiction, full of twists and turns—and powerful truths about today’s medical field.
Janessa McNeil’s husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, a researcher and professor at Stanford University’s Department of Medicine, specializes in tick-borne diseases—especially Lyme. For years he has insisted that Chronic Lyme Disease doesn’t exist. Even as patients across the country are getting sicker, the committee Brock chairs is about to announce its latest findings—which will further seal the door shut for Lyme treatment.
One embittered man sets out to prove Dr. McNeil wrong by giving him a close-up view of the very disease he denies. The man infects Janessa with Lyme, then states his demand: convince her husband to publicly reverse his stand on Lyme—or their young daughter will be next.
But Janessa’s marriage is already rocky. She’s so sick she can hardly move or think. And her husband denies she has Lyme at all.
Welcome to the Lyme wars, Janessa.
“A taut, heartbreaking thriller. Collins is a fine writer who knows how to both horrify readers and keep them turning pages.”
–Publishers Weekly“Tense and dramatic. Holds its tension while following the protagonist in a withering battle.” –NY Journal of Books
“A frightening and all-too-real scenario. Very timely and meaningful book.” –RT Reviews
“If you know someone who suffers from Lyme, you need to read this compelling novel.” –Lydia Niederwerfer, founder of Lyme-Aware
If you would like to read the Prologue of Over the Edge, go HERE
Sally Says: Brandilyn Collins’ books really should come with a warning–WARNING: Do not start reading before five pm or you will be up until two in the morning.
Sheesh.
Each time I read one of Brandilyn’s books I think that she’s written a better one than her last. And I thought the same thing after I finished Over the Edge. Seriously. This is her best book ever. Better than Deceit. Better than Exposure.
As a rule I don’t do medical stories, mostly because I’m a wimp when it comes to anything medical. But I let that rule slide because, well, it’s Brandilyn. And I’m so glad I did! Over the Edge was a thriller that kept me turning page after page after page, even though I knew how late it was and even though I was having a hard time staying awake.
If the book sounds remotely interesting to you, go buy it! If it sounds absolutely boring to you, go buy it anyway because I’m pretty sure you’ll change your mind.
And I can’t wait, Brandilyn, to see what you do next!
An Unlikely Suitor
May 11, 2011
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Bethany House (May 1, 2011) by Nancy Moser
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery a Christy Award winner, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane (Jane Austen) and Washington’s Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novels are Masquerade and An Unlikely Suitor. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the
Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at www.nancymoser.com and www.sistercircles.com and her historical blog: http://footnotesfromhistory.blogspot.com/
ABOUT THE BOOK
New York dressmaker Lucy Scarpelli befriends socialite Rowena Langdon as she’s designing her 1895 summer wardrobe. Grateful for Lucy’s skill in creating fashions that hide her physical injury, Rowena invites Lucy to the family mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, encouraging the unusual friendship.
One day Lucy encounters an intriguing man on the Cliff Walk, and love begins to blossom. Yet Lucy resists, for what Newport man would want to marry an Italian dressmaker working to support her family?
Rowena faces an arranged marriage to a wealthy heir she doesn’t love, but dare a crippled girl hope for anything better?
And Lucy’s teenage sister, Sofia, falls for a man well above her social class–but is he willing to give up everything to marry a woman below his station?
As the lives of three young woman–and their unlikely suitors–become entangled in a web of secrets and sacrifice, will the season end with any of them finding true happiness?
If you would like to read the first chapter of An Unlikely Suitor, go HERE.
Sally Says: For reasons I’ve decided not to spend too much time thinking through, life in New York’s Guilded Age has captured my attention. I don’t know if it’s the wealth, the history — oh, wait. I wasn’t going there.
Nancy Moser’s latest book takes us to immigrant life in New York — to the notorious Five Points tenements (which would now be Soho!) and the uber wealthy Newport vacation area where the cottages are several thousand square feet in size.
Lately there have been a few novels set in this era with seamstress heroines , and the main character, Lucy, is as well. But like I said, something about the setting and the era makes these books so fun. It’s always eye opening to see how really hard it was to make it in America as an immigrant — and how segregated America was to the point of having severe consequences if you didn’t marry as you were “supposed to.”
I think that’s the thing that’s capturing my attention more and more. Most of us have a varied ethnic background — I’m English, French, Dutch, Scottish, Irish, German, and American Indian. And my kids are part Polish. We take pride in that, but a hundred years ago that wasn’t the case.
And maybe that’s what appeals so much in these books — the beginnings of that strong American spirit, the bravery in stepping outside what’s always been done, characters we admire and root for, knowing we may have some of that in our own family tree. And the details of how the wealthy used to live are fun to read about too.
So without further thinking it through 
, go get your hands on a copy of An Unlikely Suitor. I know you won’t be disappointed.