The Pastor’s Wife
February 19, 2010
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Pastor’s Wife Abingdon Press (February 2010)by
Jennifer AlLee
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer AlLee was born in Hollywood, California and for the first 10 years of her life lived over a mortuary one block from Hollywood and Vine. An avid reader and writer, she completed her first novel in high school. That manuscript is now safely tucked away, never again to see the light of day. Her first inspirational romance, The Love of His Brother, was released in November 2007 by Five Star Publisher.
Besides being a writer, she is a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, her husband and teenage son have learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets there without severely impacting their waistlines. God is good!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Maura Sullivan never intended to set foot in Granger, Ohio, again. But when circumstances force her to return, she must face all the disappointments she tried so hard to leave behind: a husband who ignored her, a congregation she couldn’t please, and a God who took away everything she ever loved.
Nick Shepherd thought he had put the past behind him, until the day his estranged wife walked back into town. Intending only to help Maura through her crisis of faith, Nick finds his feelings for her never died. Now, he must admit the mistakes he made, how he hurt his wife, and find a way to give and receive forgiveness.
As God works in both of their lives, Nick and Maura start to believe they can repair their broken relationship and reunite as man and wife. But Maura has one more secret to tell Nick before they can move forward. It’s what ultimately drove her to leave him three years earlier, and the one thing that can destroy the fragile trust they’ve built.
If you would like to read the first Chapter of The Pastor’s Wife , go HERE
Sally Says: When I saw the story blurb for The Pastor’s Wife, I was intrigued, being a pastor’s wife myself. I think being a pastor is like being a writer — or many other jobs, for that matter. There’s no nine-to-five, no time card to punch in and out, and there’s always more you could be doing. If you’re not careful, it can eclipse everything else in your life.
For some reason, I expected a women’s fiction story. I mean, a wife doesn’t leave her husband, much less a man who’s a pastor, without there being all kinds of drama, all kinds of issues and things that will take a long time to work out and overcome. And so on that level, I was disappointed.
The Pastor’s Wife is really a genre romance novel — which is fine. I’m not much of a genre romance reader; I’m more into the angst of women’s fiction, for some reason. 
But I think anyone who enjoys genre romance will find The Pastor’s Wife to be a fun, quick read. And I think the storyline of a pastor and his wife reconciling isn’t one you come across often.
I will say that, as a pastor’s wife, I was very thankful that wasn’t our church! There were many church-related things that aggravated me throughout the story, and I know a lot of that would go back to the difference between my denomination and some specific Biblical views and the author’s denomination and views. But I did finish reading the book thankful for my own husband and the people in our church. And that’s a good thing.
Hunter’s Moon
February 10, 2010
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Hunter’s Moon
Bethany House (February 1, 2010)
by
Don Hoesel
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He works as a Communications Department supervisor for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal.
Don hopes to one day sell enough books to just say that he’s a writer. You can help with that by buying whatever his newest novel happens to be.
He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Every family has secrets. Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them. Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there’s one story from his past he’s never told. One secret that’s remained buried for decades. Now, seventeen years after swearing he’d never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past. With Graham Baxter, CJ’s brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it’s no match for power and money. There are wounds even time cannot heal.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Hunter’s Moon, go HERE
Sally Says: Hunter’s Moon is a deceptively slow, relaxing story that takes you inside a lesser version of the Kennedys. The Baxters, a Catholic family from upstate New York, have had political dreams for about as long as America has been around, and as the story opens, they have their best shot at political success in CJ’s older brother.
But of course this political family has its black sheep and secrets, and CJ, the successful novelist who’s used much of his past in his bestelling books, returns after his personal life falls apart — only to find he can no longer ignore horrible childhood events. And as the story unfolds, we see those events have not forgotten him, either. As CJ takes his time ruminating on his past and his dysfunctional family, danger builds until secrets collide and threaten everything CJ has learned to hold dear.
While the first few chapters felt a bit slow, the characters were so well drawn that it was easy to keep reading until CJ’s childhood secret was revealed. And from there the story built and built until it reached a highly suspenseful, dramatic conclusion. Almost all of the characters were male, and that also gave the book a different feel from what I typically read, but I enjoyed the characters, their quirks, and CJ’s struggles to do right when doing wrong would have been so much easier. I enjoyed Hunter’s Moon and plan to read more from Don Hoesel, especially if he returns to CJ and the quaint town of Adelia, New York.
February 2, 2010
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beguiled
(Bethany House March 1, 2007)
by
Deeanne Gist
andJ. Mark Bertrand
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.ABOUT THE BOOK
In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her… Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.
Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Beguiled, go HERE
Sally Says: When I saw that Deeanne Gist had written a contemporary romantic suspense, I knew I wanted to read it. Gist is wonderful in historical romance, and Beguiled, written with J. Mark Bertrand, did not disappoint.
The book is fast-paced with the action beginning on the very first page when Rylee Monroe enters a client’s home after walking their dog and knows something is wrong. The main characters are appealing, and the plot is entertaining. The one downside for me was that I figured out quickly who the “bad guy” was, but I didn’t know their motivation. So I had to read on to find out.
The setting is also one of my favorites. I’ve never been to historical Charleston, but it’s a place I’d love to visit some day. So any time I can get my hands on a well-written story in this locale, I’m there.
I don’t know if these two authors will team up again, but if they do, I know I’ll be reading the book as quickly as I can. For all of you who love suspense mixed with romance, buy Beguiled. I think you’ll find it as much fun as I did.
Review of A Lady Like Sarah
January 22, 2010
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Lady Like Sarah
Thomas Nelson; Original edition (December 22, 2009)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this, except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”
It turns out God was and Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she’s written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a lot of prodding from God before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series. “I love writing about characters at different stages of faith,” she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, “and I’m here to stay.”
Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Sarah Prescott has never known a respectable life; just a hardscrabble childhood and brothers who taught her to shoot straight.
Justin Wells left Boston in disgrace, heading out alone on the dusty trail to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying US Marshall at her side, their journey takes a dramatic turn.
His high society expectations and Sarah’s outlaw habits clash from the start. With a price on her head and a sweet orphan in tow, Justin and Sarah make the difficult journey toward Rocky Creek. There justice will be meted out hopefully with a portion of grace.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Lady Like Sarah, go HERE
Sally Says: A Lady Like Sarah has everything fans of historical romance and westerns could ask for. There’s a family of outlaws, a rough Texas town, and a dusty journey through the Wild West. While Sarah is very much what I expected, Justin was not. He’s from cultured, civilized Boston and is very much out of his element.
I decided to read the book because I wondered how things would work evolve between a pastor and an outlaw. How was that romance going to work out, you know? And while the two were as opposite as, welll, a pastor and an outlaw, the romance between them was believable and fun.
There were some episodic moments during the story, a few things that felt a bit cliche thrown in, but I think that the target audience for this book will enjoy the story anyway. If you love genre or historical romance and find the Old West fascinating, then buy this book. You’ll enjoy Justin and Sarah’s journey.
The Silent Governess, Reviewed
January 6, 2010
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Silent Governess
Bethany House; Original edition (January 1, 2010)
by
Julie Klassen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary’s Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.
I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.
My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.
But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything–his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.
He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.
Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.
If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of The Silent Governess, go HERE. You can also sign up as a Follower when you get to that page, and get announcements of the first chapters for all the great books we tour!
Sally Says: The Silent Governess is the second book by Julie Klassen that I’ve read, and I found the story as intriguing as it claimed.
The book begins with Olivia Keene fleeing her home after her involvement in a domestic dispute. The first several chapters of the book left me extremely thankful to be a woman living today instead of in the Regency period — over and over Olivia had no rights, no ability to stand up and protect herself, and that led to her being forced into a position in Lord Bradley’s home with him even demanding that she pretend to be a mute to ensure she wouldn’t give away his secret.
I love a really good, thick novel, and The Silent Governess delivers. It’s a relaxing, enjoyable romance with plenty of secrets and intrigue that kept me guessing (and guessing incorrectly) up to the end. Fans of historical fiction and Regencies will enjoy the book, but I think the book will appeal to an even broader audience than that. The Silent Governess is a perfect book to spend a snowed-in winter weekend with.
One of 2009’s Best
December 13, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Familiar Stranger
Moody Publishers (September 1, 2009)
by
Christina Berry
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Single mother and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time to write from her busy schedule because she must tell the stories that haunt her every waking moment. (Such is the overly dramatic description of an author’s life!) She holds a BA in Literature, yet loves a good Calculus problem, as well. All that confusion must have influenced her decision to be team captain of a winning team on Family Feud.
Her debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, released from Moody in September and deals with lies, secrets, and themes of forgiveness in a troubled marriage. A moving speaker and dynamic teacher, Christina strives to Live Transparently–Forgive Extravagantly!
Her work has also appeared in The Secret Place, The Oregonian, and Daily Devotions for Writers.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Craig Littleton’s decision to end his marriage would shock his wife, Denise . . . if she knew what he was up to. When an accident lands Craig in the ICU, with fuzzy memories of his own life and plans, Denise rushes to his side, ready to care for him.
They embark on a quest to help Craig remember who he is and, in the process, they discover dark secrets. An affair? An emptied bank account? A hidden identity? An illegitimate child?
But what will she do when she realizes he’s not the man she thought he was? Is this trauma a blessing in disguise, a chance for a fresh start? Or will his secrets destroy the life they built together?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Familiar Stranger, go HERE
Sally Says: I actually bought this book for myself several months ago. I’d heard good things about it, and I wanted to support Christina since I was in the market for a book.
I was not disappointed.
This book starts out making you think you know what’s going to happen. And then it changes. In fact, that’s the way the entire book goes. Christina’s a master at making you think one thing while another is true.
If you’re looking for a good book, buy The Familiar Stranger. But don’t start it unless you’ve got a long string of hours to read it — you won’t be able to put it down.
What the Bayou Saw
November 18, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
What The Bayou Saw
Kregel Publications (March 24, 2009)
by
Patti Lacy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Though Patti’s only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.
The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.
The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti’s gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti’s WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China’s “One Child” policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.
Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, “All the Broken Pieces,” at women’s retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.
Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they’ve dubbed a “Worchestershire Terrier” for her “little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.
The past can’t stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy’s second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.
Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.
But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally’s memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally’s story comes to light, the lies she’s told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.
If you would like to read the first chapter of What The Bayou Saw, go HERE
Sally Says: I received this book a bit late so I haven’t gotten through all of it yet. And it is one of those nice, thick books which I like. In fact, I don’t know yet what the bayou saw, but I have read enough to give you my take on it.
What the Bayou Saw is a gritty, tell-it-like-it-is Southern novel. I wasn’t sure what to expect since this is the first book I’ve read by Patti Lacy, but it’s a well-written, realistic novel.
The book starts with our heroine Sally (lovely name, by the way) being “confronted” by three racist college students. From there we travel between past and present, finding out about Sally’s childhood in the sixties and what has made her the unique, flawed woman she is now.
I had a hard time connecting with Sally early on. She came across as fake — which she is, putting on fronts to hide what she really thinks and how she really feels, and it wasn’t until I met her husband Sam (in the book, of course) that I found someone likable. Even Shamika, Sally’s student who is also an important character, came across rather gruff and scratchy. So it took me a while to get involved with the story. But once I met Sam, the book took off.
The story deals with some rough things in a very blunt way — and some readers will love that while others will not. The one author I might compare Lacy to would be Mary DeMuth. They deal with the same types of topics, but Lacy has a less flowery style. It’s all just very real, all laid out there for the reader to experience. There’s no sugar-coating, no couching anything, no holding back.
As for what I feel about the book, I’m still not completely sure. It’s a bit more hard hitting than what I’m used to, but the farther into the book I get, the less I can put it down. I am enjoying it, yet I’m on edge because I don’t want to see the characters get hurt. And I know it’s coming.
So if you like realistic fiction, if you like Southern fiction, and if you love an honest, open style of writing, you’ll thoroughly love Patti Lacy’s What the Bayou Saw.
One Author’s Journey — Erica Vetsch
November 12, 2009
Today it’s my honor to interview Erica Vetsch, debut author and friend. Erica’s book The Bartered Bride has just come out from Heartsong. Here’s what it’s about:
Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or be disinherited. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennebrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this.
Melissa, too, is devestated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father’s business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Engaged to marry a man she has never met — someone “considerably” older than herself? What have her parents done?
Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?
I’ve had the pleasure of reading The Bartered Bride and found it to be a well-written romance sprinkled with comedy and surprise. Erica’s first book is really good, and I look forward to reading her many future books.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Erica about her writing journey.
Sally: Erica, what was it that made you first say, “I think I can write a book”?
Erica: This is a great question, because doesn’t it take some hubris to think that? I remember dreaming when I was a teen about what being a writer would be like. (Though I don’t actually think I was serious about becoming a writer at the time.) I remember reading books and continuing the stories in my head past the last chapter, rewriting endings to suit myself, inserting myself as a cast member in stories that I loved. Who didn’t want to be Laura’s sister in Little House on the Prairie or help Cherry Ames solve mysteries at Spencer Hospital?
Also, when I was in ninth grade, I had some time on my hands (that probably should’ve been spent studying, but with the way things worked out, I guess it wasn’t exactly time wasted) and I penned (penciled) a story in a spiral notebook. Pages and pages. Suddenly, I had written a book. I twasn’t a very good book, but it had horses and a circus and dogs, and a cute boy. What else does a story need? 
Sally: We have similar backgrounds there. And the books that first hooked me were the Little House books. So how many books did you write before your first one sold?
Erica: Not counting the one from ninth grade? (Picture me counting on my fingers, becuse that’s what I always have to do.) The Bartered Bride was my sixth book. By the time I was offered a contract on it, I had written two more.
Sally: Wow! Eight books. How long did it take from that first attempt to your first sale?
Erica: From the time I started writing seriously for publication, it was almost four years.
Sally: As you all can see, Erica’s a busy writer. So tell us how you found out you’d sold The Bartered Bride.
Erica: I pitched the book at the 2007 ACFW conference and a year later, at the 2008 conference, JoAnne Simmons called my name from the platform to come up and receive a contract for the book. It was such an amazing moment!
Sally: Erica plays that way too calmly. I wasn’t at that conference, but I’ve seen it at the past and it’s hugely exciting. Getting that first contract in front of five hundred other writers who get how awesome that is — very cool.
This is a silly question now, after hearing how much you wrote before that first sale, but here goes. Have any other books in the works?
Erica: Yep, I’m currently writing my sixth contracted book for Heartsong, and there are a few new things in the hopper as we speak.
Sally: I’m looking forward to reading them all, Erica. By the way, I love your blog posts on your quarterly goals. So motivating and eye-opening. You’re a a hard worker, for sure.
One last question — what is one thing that has surprised you the most since receiving that first contract?
Erica: That I can no longer be a linear writer. I was very used to working on one project at a time, plotting, writing, editing, polishing, and submitting. Then beginning a new project. Those days are gone. At the moment I’m working on a new proposal for a new series for down the road (sample chapters, synopsis, etc.) plotting a contracted novel that needs to be written soon, awaiting content edits on a novel, copy edits on another, and galley proofs for a third. it’s a lot to juggle, but I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve been able to compartmentalize (so far) and attend to the task at hand when i need to.
Sally: Thanks, Erica. That was fun.
If you’d like to get your hands on The Bartered Bride, you can find it here at CBD or order it straight from the publisher at 740-922-7280
Erica’s working on her web site, but in the meantime you can find her at her fun blog, On the Write Path.
A Prisoner of Versaille, Reviewed
November 10, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Prisoner of Versaille
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)
by
Golden Keyes Parsons
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic Bible teaching, combined with her vivid personal examples, moving from tears one moment, to laughter the next, all the while communicating the message that God is faithful–keep trusting Him. She has a passion to communicate the Word of God in such a manner that will lead to godly living.
Golden, and her husband, Blaine, have just retired as pastors at Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Her testimony and myriad of life experiences lend a touch of authenticity to her teaching. She loves to speak for women’s conferences, seminars, luncheons, retreats and Mother/Daughter events.
If deep Bible teaching that brings the Scriptures alive is what you want, Golden is the speaker you need.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Madeleine’s faith puts her at odds with an intimidating rival: King Louis XIV.
Having fled their homeland of France because of the persecution by Louis XIV, the Clavell family seeks refuge in Switzerland. However, the king is not about to let the recently widowed Madeleine, his childhood sweetheart, escape that easily. He sends musketeers to kidnap her and her oldest son, Philippe, holding them captive in his opulent palace. King Louis is suspicious that Philippe could be his son, and he’s enraged by the growing affection of one of his courtiers for Madeleine.
Will Madeleine escape the king with her life or lose everything that she’s fought so hard to keep?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Prisoner of Versaille , go HERE
Sally Says: I confess — I chose to review this book because I loved the cover of the first book in the series.
My husband gave me book one, In the Shadow of the Sun King, for Christmas; but I didn’t get around to reading it until October. I found it to be a good debut novel for the author. There were some writing techniques that I thought needed work, but the plot and setting were so different from anything I’d read in Christian fiction that I overlooked the flaws. It was a good book, even if it was about the persecution of Christians — Huguenots — in France. Persecution plots can tend to be a downer, you know?
But what a fantastic surprise A Prisoner of Versailles was. The writing flaws that had distracted me in book one were gone, and the plot was even stronger than the first book with one page-turning adventure after another. The characters were well drawn, the situations real and suspenseful, the history lightly done and fascinating. I consistently found myself wondering how things were going to turn out, how the heroes of the book were going to make it to the end.
What excites me the most was the great step in quality this author took between books one and two. That excites me because authors tend to get better as they go. And book two was great. Really, it was a fantastic read.
I’ve mentioned in the past that English historicals interest me, and I now have to add French historicals. I’ve not seen a lot of that setting though, and I hope Parson keeps writing these. I thoroughly enjoyed A Prisoner of Versailles and will be eagerly watching for book three in the series — and anything else Parson writes.
One Fine Season, Reviewed
November 6, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Fine Season
AuthorHouse (November 25, 2008)
by
Michael Sheehan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michael Sheehan is CEO and founder of BioResource, a company that distributes natural remedies including the popular INFLAMYAR ointment for sports injuries. He wrote One Fine Season to honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young, before they could realize their dreams.
One Fine Season is true to life. It draws on Sheehan’s religious education at a Catholic seminary and his experience as a high school baseball and collegiate soccer player. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Sheehan also earned a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. He lives in Northern California.
ABOUT THE BOOK
ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend.
Best friends Pete O’Brien and Danny Grace are gifted college athletes, both hoping for careers as professional baseball players. When tragedy strikes, Danny struggles to cope with his overwhelming grief and fulfill a pact the young men made years earlier: to play in the World Series.
Events unexpectedly thrust Danny into the spotlight with the new expansion team in Sacramento. Three guides – an aging catcher, spiritual centerfielder and wise manager – plus a beautiful woman lead him on a healing journey, revealing that even death cannot break the bonds of true friendship.
If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of One Fine Season, go HERE
Sally Says: If you know me at all, you know I’m a big sports fan, particularly a baseball fan. Go White Sox, and please don’t go through with the trade for Mark Teahan — if it isn’t already too late.
So I was excited to see a baseball book offered through CFBA. I love sports-related fiction, and a Christian sports-related novel? How cool.
But I was only a chapter or two in to the book before I found serious problems with this book. And I can’t recommend it. I hate giving bad reviews; I really, really do. But this book called itself a Christian book and because of that and its content, I have to tell readers of Christian fiction, don’t read it.
There were a lot of things wrong with the book that just got worse and worse as the story progressed. There was some pretty foul language early on, but it was in a scene where a character was drunk and really messed up. I read Christian fiction to stay away from language like this, but I thought, “Okay, I don’t like this, but I can see why the author might have thought it necessary.” I gave him the benefit of the doubt and moved on.
But the language didn’t stop there. In fact, it seemed to get worse. And that was the smallest thing I had trouble with.
On his second date, the main character, the one who calls himself a Christian, has sex with his date. And it’s portrayed as fine. In fact, later on they attend a party with women who, shall we say, were missing some pieces of clothing. And again, it was portrayed as fine. The girlfriend even went.
The last thing that bothered me was the mysticism mixed into Christianity. The main character had two friends, one who’s version of faith seemed like something straight from The Lion King. You know, our loved ones who’ve died will always be with us and help us. In fact, when the main character needed a little extra strength, he prayed for his dead friend to help him. And the dead friend did.
I’ve said before that I don’t need a book with a strong moral message or any preaching; I just want a good, clean story. But the Christians in this book did nothing that remotely came across as Christian. There was not one mention of anything in their day that would differentiate them from any unchurched person in America.
I think it’s a sad picture of what kind of a Christian country we’ve become. People make up their own version of God, and they think it will be fine. I applaud the author for wanting to write a book — it’s not easy — and for wanting to honor his two friends. And because of that, I feel bad having to write all these negatives. But standing by the truth and unveiling false Christianity is more important. I know these reviews are not what the author hoped for, but if nothing else, I hope they make him stop and think and compare his version of Christianity to what the Bible clearly teaches.
A Slow Burn, Reviewed
November 4, 2009
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.
Sally Says: Several months ago I reviewed the first book in this series, Daisy Chain. While I loved the writing and the book overall, my one complaint was that no plot line in that book was tied off. Everything was left hanging, and we’d have to read the second and third books to find out what happened.
So I’ve been looking forward to this one. I really want to find out what happened to Daisy, the young girl who went missing in the first book.
Through the grapevine, I heard the book moved on to new characters, mostly Daisy’s mom Emory, and for some reason that dimmed my interest in A Slow Burn. I really wanted to find out what happened to Daisy, you know? I didn’t want the story to veer in a different direction.
But Mary DeMuth pulled me into the book right away with new information about Daisy’s disappearance. And before long I was involved with Emory’s regrets and struggle to change her self-destructive habits, and I was able to set aside all those questions from book one.
There’s still nothing from book one that’s been resolved, though. Nothing. And that’s frustrating as a reader. But Mary’s a very talented writer, and frankly if she weren’t so good at weaving a story, I think I’d give up reading these books.
I know — this is a convoluted review. Do I like A Slow Burn? Should you read it? Yes and yes. I found A Slow Burn to be a bit of a departure in style from Daisy Chain, but I think it was because DeMuth was being true to who Emory and Hixon were as characters. Emory’s story is a real life gone bad and spread out before us. I love fiction that deals with gritty issues and what happens when we mess up the life God’s given us — because God’s always bigger than we are and He can still use us as long as we give in and follow Him. That message came through in this book.
If you haven’t read Mary’s books yet, you really should. Her first two titles, Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions, are going out of print so grab them now while you can. I think you’ll find them all encouraging, enjoyable reads.
Lynn Austin’s Though Waters Roar
October 7, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Though Waters Roar
· Bethany House (October 1, 2009)
by
Lynn Austin
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Along with reading, two of Lynn’s lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction.
Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn’s novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Thank goodness you’re such a plain child. You’ll have to rely on your wits.”
So went the words of Grandma Bebe. And for all of my growing-up years, I scoffed at the beauty of my sister and what I saw as her meaningless existence. But my wits hadn’t served me well in this instance, for here I was, in jail. And while I could have seen it as carrying on the family tradition (for Grandma Bebe landed in jail for her support of Prohibition), the truth is, my reasons for being here would probably break her heart.
So how did I end up becoming a criminal? I’ve been pondering that question all night. Perhaps the best way to search for an answer is to start at the very beginning.
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow in her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O’Reilly, to be the arresting officer.
Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family–and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness–brings Harriet to the discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Though Waters Roar, go HERE
Sally Says: This book didn’t come in the mail until noon on Saturday so I have not had a chance to read much, but so far it’s an entertaining book.
Because of the back cover copy, I did have a hard time getting into the book. If you’ll read what’s written up by the picture, only the italicized text is on the back of the book. Makes it sound like Harriet’s the main character.
Instead, Harriet’s in jail and keeps thinking back to moments with her grandma Bebe that lead to Bebe telling Harriet stories about growing up around the Civil War. I kept waiting for the story to get to Harriet and finally realized the story must be about Bebe instead.
Once I got that straight, I was able to jump into the story and enjoy growing up with Bebe. While she lived during the Civil War, the book is not a Civil War book. So far it reminds me of one of Austin’s early books Eve’s Daughters which was about four generations of women in the same family. And that makes me happy — I loved Eve’s Daughters.
If you’re a fan of any of Lynn Austin’s books, you’ll enjoy Though Waters Roar. Austin does a good job of setting historical stories in believable, vivid settings, and so far this book shows no exception.
Terri Blackstock’s Intervention
October 3, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Intervention
Zondervan (September 22, 2009)
by
Terri Blackstock
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.
In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.
In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.
Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.
Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.
The panic level rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Intervention, go HERE
Sally Says: I’ve read most of Terri Blackstock’s books, and Intervention is one of her best recent releases. A fast-paced blend of mystery and suspense, Intervention reads like a great TV crime drama. From start to finish, the story is believable and entertaining.
One of the eye-opening things in the book is that not all rehab centers are legitimate. They can be more about making money than about helping people. And that’s sad to think about.
Blackstock does a great job portraying a family torn apart by addiction. Emily is not the only one suffering — as a mother, Barbara suffers, but so does Emily’s younger brother, Lance. For those of us who haven’t dealt personally with a loved one dealing with addiction, Terri brings home the struggle, pain, and desperate love that family members deal with.
I hope you try Intervention, but once you pick up the book, be prepared to do nothing but read. It’s that good.
Just Between You and Me
September 11, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.
When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.
My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.
Okay, that’s not exactly true.
Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:
-watching E!
-updating my status on Facebook
-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and
-writing my name in the dust on my furniture
I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The only thing scarier than living on the edge is stepping off it.
Maggie Montgomery lives a life of adventure. Her job as a cinematographer takes her from one exotic locale to the next. When Maggie’s not working, she loves to rappel off cliffs or go skydiving. Nothing frightens her.
Nothing, that is, except Ivy, Texas, where a family emergency pulls her back home to a town full of bad memories, painful secrets, and people Maggie left far behind . . . for a reason.
Forced to stay longer than she intended, Maggie finds her family a complete mess, including the niece her sister has abandoned. Ten-year-old Riley is struggling in school and out of control at home. The only person who can really handle the pint-sized troublemaker is Conner, the local vet and Ivy’s most eligible bachelor. But Conner and Maggie keep butting heads–he’s suspicious of her and, well, she doesn’t rely on anyone but herself.
As Maggie humorously fumbles her way from one mishap to another, she realizes she’s going to need to ask for help from the one person who scares her the most.
To save one little girl–and herself–can Maggie let go of her fears and just trust God?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Just Between You And Me, go HERE
Sally Says: I didn’t request this book, but I got it anyway so I thought I’d post the information here. I haven’t yet read any of Jenny’s books, but I know she’s a very funny lady. And I’ve heard good things about the book from other people.
If you read the book or have already read it, feel free to post your own review here.
The Blue Enchantress by M. L. Tyndall
September 9, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Barbour Books (August 1, 2009)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul–a longing for something more.
After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.
Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.
One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she’d only give her heart to Him completely.
She had written stories her whole life, but never had the confidence to try and get any of them published. But as God began to change her heart, He also showed her that writing had been His wonderful plan for her all along!
Her other current release in the Charles Towne Belles series includes The Red Siren.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Betrayed by the man she longed to marry, Hope Westcott is about to be auctioned off as a slave to the highest bidder on an island in the Caribbean . After enduring a difficult childhood in an unloving home, Hope’s search for love and self-worth have led her down a very dangerous path. All she ever wanted was to find true love and open an orphanage where she could raise children with all the love she never experienced as a child. But how can a woman with a sordid past ever hope to run an orphanage, let alone attract the love of an honorable man?
Determined to overcome the shame of his mother’s past, Nathaniel Mason worked for many years to build his own fleet of merchant ships in an effort to finally acquire the respect of Charles Towne society. Ignoring the call of God on his life to become a preacher, he forges ahead with his plans for success at a distant port in the Caribbean , when he sees a young lady he knows from Charles Towne being sold as a slave. In an effort to save Hope, he is forced to sell one of his two ships, only to discover that her predicament was caused by her own bad behavior. Angry and determined to rid himself of her as soon as possible, Nathaniel embarks on a journey that will change the course of his life.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Blue Enchantress, go HERE
Sally Says: I’ve read a number of MaryLu’s novels, and they’re all lighthearted, fun adventurous romances set somewhere in the Caribbean with pirates and plunder aplenty.
Arg.
With all the drama and comedy of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Blue Enchantress continues the story of Hope, the I’ll-do-anything-for-love Wescott sister. What made me want to read the book was the knowledge that she was being auctioned off as a slave after stowing away on Lord Falkland’s boat — only to find he was already married. Whoops. I wondered how that predicament would work out and had to read the book.
The Blue Enchantress is a fun read about a woman who believes it might be too late for her to have a happily-ever-after, with God or with a man. Fans of historical romance and adventure (think Julie Lessman’s Daughters of Boston series) and anyone who enjoys a good pirate escape will love The Blue Enchantress, The Red Siren, and any of MaryLu’s other novels.