FROM BEGINNING TO END . . . AND BACK AGAIN
September 24, 2009
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Looking for a Good Web Designer?
January 30, 2013
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Here’s one of their book covers. Isn’t it gorgeous?
So if you’re in the market for a new web site, logo, book cover, or business card, check them out. And tell them Sally sent you.
My Stubborn Heart
May 14, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
by Becky Wade
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Sensational CBA Debut in Contemporary Romance!
This summer author Becky Wade makes her CBA debut with a fun — and funny — contemporary romance. Amidst the light-hearted banter and laugh-out-loud moments is a compelling spiritual journey of one woman’s choice to listen to God and wait on him. Filled with humor and authentic romance, My Stubborn Heart is shaping up to be the hit of the summer.
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When Kate’s grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.
Yet, she discovers a different kind of project upon meeting the man hired to renovate the house. Matt Jarreau is attractive and clearly wounded — hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Kate can’t help but set her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light… whether he likes it or not.
If you would like to read the first chapter of My Stubborn Heart, go HERE.
Sally Says: Becky Wade enters Christian fiction with a fun bang in My Stubborn Heart. From the short but unique prologue to that happily-ever-after ending, the book was a joy to read. Kate and Matt are about as real as fictional characters get. I loved Kate’s chattiness-with-a-purpose and the way Matt put up with her in the beginning and hardly said a word. His dialogue was perfect — which is hard to do when a character says so little.
Everything else about the book worked too — the setting, the secondary characters, the main characters’ past. It all came together to make My Stubborn Heart one of the most fun books I’ve read in a number of months and a title I’ve recommended to recent editing clients as worth studying. Whether you like romance or women’s fiction, you’ll love Kate and Matt in My Stubborn Heart.
Submerged–New Dee Hendersonish Author
May 11, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Submerged • Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2012)
by Dani Pettrey
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.
Just in case you’re curious…The real Dani does love traveling. She’s been to some amazing places (Greece, Hawaii, the Keys) and there are many more she hopes to visit in the future.
And while she’s not quite up to sky-diving, cave diving or heli-skiing (too high, too enclosed, too cold!) she and her family love hiking, canoeing, wave jumping and a ton of other outdoor adventures a little further down on the risk scale.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.
Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town . . . until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a small town. She’s returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer
has settled in his town and doesn’t appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge.
She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he’s not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Submerged, go HERE.
Sally Says: Dee Henderson endorsed Pettrey’s debut novel Submerged, and there’s a reason for that. Pettrey writes romantic suspense in the style of Dee Henderson.
Right from the beginning I was hooked. I loved that the characters had a past to deal with. Isn’t that how life is today? People’s pasts haunt them, and Bailey struggled with going back to a place that held so much guilt for her. On top of that was the fascinating bits of history I really knew nothing about. And did you know Alaska has coral? Somehow I always thought that was an Australian or tropical thing. Silly me.
The plot was strong and fast , from the opening scene of a plane crash about to happen to Cole and his team searching for survivors — and finding one. The story doesn’t stop except to slow down here or there as the characters connect. From Cole and his family to Bailey and even some of the not so nice men Bailey had to face — everything in the book was done so well that it was easy to lose myself in the story. Fans of Dee Henderson and suspense in general will find Pettrey a writer worth checking out.
Prize of My Heart
March 14, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Prize of My Heart Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2012)
by Lisa Norato
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A life-long New Englander, Lisa Norato lives in a historic village with homes and churches dating as far back as the eighteenth century. She was born into a close-knit Italian family that hungered as much for the things of God as they did for lasagna. After church, the family spent Sunday afternoons gathered in fellowship around a never-ending feast that featured her grandmother’s homemade spaghetti and pizza.
From the time she learned to read, her mother impressed her with the joy of getting lost in a good book. She passed novels along to her as early as age thirteen, but it wasn’t until many years later that Lisa felt compelled to write one herself.
She first discovered a love of writing when assigned to write and illustrate a children’s book at the art college she attended. She balances writing with a career as a legal assistant specializing in corporate law. When not creating stories, she enjoys domestic pursuits like precious time with her dog and family, cooking, baking and eating vegan, reading, her Bible, her favorite television shows and crocheting.
Lisa is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Rhode Island Romance Writers (RIRW) and American Colonial Christian Writers.
ABOUT THE BOOK
An unsolved mystery separates ex-privateersman Captain Brogan Talvis from his lost son–his only living relation, his only family. Shortly before her tragic demise, his wife abandoned their infant to strangers, refusing to reveal the child’s whereabouts. Now, three years later, Brogan has discovered the boy at the home of a shipbuilder’s daughter, Lorena Huntley.
Lorena guards a dark secret about her young charge. She finds herself falling for the heroic captain who has come to claim his newly built ship, unaware his motive for wooing her is to befriend the boy he plans on reclaiming as his own–until the day anothers evil deceit leaves her helplessly shipbound, heading toward England.
As the perfect opportunity to reclaim his son unfolds, Brogan is haunted by thoughts of Lorena in her dire circumstance, and he is forced to make a heartrending choice between his child and the woman who has begun to capture his heart. But only his unselfish sacrifice can win him the greatest prize of all–love.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Prize of My Heart, go HERE.
Sally Says: Prize of My Heart is another classic historical romance from Bethany house. While at first it felt like a story I’d read before, it quickly deepened and became a fast read I couldn’t put down. Lorena and Brogan are both likable characters with Brogan being my favorite with the way he’d overcome a tough childhood. But my favorite part was the twist near the end that I never saw coming, and it was a doozy of a twist.
Historical romance fans will love Prize of My Heart. I know I’m looking forward to whatever Norato writes next.
Into the Free
February 22, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Into the Free David C. Cook (February 1, 2012)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A speech-language pathologist and literacy advocate, Julie Cantrell was the editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and currently teaches English as a second language to elementary students. She has been a freelance writer for ten years and has published two children’s books. Julie and her family live in Mississippi where they operate Valley House Farm.
Julie served as contributing editor to MOMSense magazine and wrote content for Mothers of Preschoolers, Intl. for nearly a decade. Additionally, she has contributed to more than a dozen books. Into The Free is her first book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.
In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.
For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key which unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family’s longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.
Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Into the Free, go HERE.
Sally Says: I’ve said before that southern fiction isn’t my thing. It isn’t. I’m a Chicagoan, and I hate heat. I hate even reading about heat.
So I surprised myself when I became interested in this book. And I surprised myself even more when I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. It’s a great debut novel, one that makes you think that for sure this author has written a few other novels under different names. 
I did have a bit of trouble with the opening chapter; there were some images that I skimmed because I didn’t want to dwell on them. Nothing bad, just something that made me sad. But once I got past that, the book was so good, so enjoyable, even though Millie’s life was anything but good.
Into the Free is definitely a book worth paying money for. Anyone who loves historical or southern fiction will find this book a great one to spend the weekend with.
Ruth’s Redemption
February 1, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Ruth’s Redemption Moody Publishers/Lift Every Voice (February 1, 2012)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marlene Banks has worked 30+ years combined in nursing and the business arena. Her goal as a writer is to create inspiring, gripping and realistic stories with an emphasis on African American literature. She believes her gift and desire to write is from God and desires to use it to fulfill His purposes. Marlene lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Set in the 1800s, Ruth’s Redemption, is an unusual depiction of the lives of slaves and free blacks in pre-Civil War America. Bo, a main character, was educated while a slave. He was given his freedom and now owns a farm buying slaves for the sole purpose of giving them their freedom.
Bo is also a man of God and widower whose life is destined to change when he meets the proud and hard-hearted slave girl, Ruth. Ruth has known nothing but servitude and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding, Ruth struggles to adjust to life outside of bondage. She wants no part of Bo’s Godly devotion. Yet Bo is unlike any man she’s known and her experiences with him will leave her forever changed.
A gripping slave era novel, Ruth’s Redemption is a story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God’s unconditional love in the darkness of a culture’s cruel socially accepted inhumanity.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Ruth’s Redemption, go HERE
Sally Says: What piqued my interest in the book was the story set during the Nat Turner slave revolt and the viewpoint of freed slaves. Ruth has been through a lot and has that hardened shell that, while understandable, has her keeping everyone good and bad at bay. So I expected the love of Bo Peace, the freed slave who bought her to give her her freedom, to soften her.
While the dialogue, written to reflect the character’s dialect, made the book hard to read at times, the plot was nothing like I expected, and that was the highlight of the book. Readers who enjoy historicals set around the Civil War will find Ruth’s Redemption an enjoyable read.
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
January 4, 2012
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Bethany House (January 1, 2012)by Julie Klassen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years (first in advertising, then as a fiction editor) and now writes full time. Two of her books, The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Girl in the Gatehouse also won a Midwest Book Award and The Silent Governess was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA awards.
She graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoys travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends. Julie and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt–and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?
Observing both brothers as an “invisible” servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?
On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of “serve one another in love.”
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, go HERE
Sally Says: I have yet to open this book. Which annoys me. Julie Klassen has quickly become one of my favorite writers, right up there with the best in historical fiction. Her books are on my must-read-now list.
The book came right before Christmas, and even in the week after, my schedule didn’t allow me to open it up. But without reading it, I know it’ll be a good one and one you should read. Why? Because I read Julie’s first book The Lady of Milkweed Manor. Really good. Then I read her second book The Apothecary’s Daughter. Even better. Then I read The Silent Governess — very good! — and The Girl in the Gatehouse which so far is my favorite.
My point is that each book of hers has gotten better and better. And she takes a well-loved era and finds new angles and story lines. The premise for The Maid of Fairbourne Hall hooked me right away.
If you haven’t read anything by Julie Klassen yet, go buy all her books now. You’ll enjoy time spent with a talented writer.
My Friend Pam’s Debut Book!
November 17, 2011
Pam Meyers, writing as Pamela S. Meyers, is a friend of mine from back in the Windy City. Her first book just came out, and I’m happy to share it with you.
When April Love signs on to be an in-house chef at an old lakeshore mansion in Canoga Lake,Wisconsin, she comes face to face with her long-lost love, the drop dead gorgeous Marc Thorne. It doesn’t take long for their old magnetism to recharge, but how can she trust the guy who left her nearly at the altar eight years earlier? Her gut tells her something happened to Marc in between — something he’s reluctant to reveal.
When April’s boss is murdered, Marc is accused of the crime. Unless April can find out who really killed Ramon Galvez, her chances for love will end up at the county jail. But someone else is just as determined she not solve the mystery . . . and will go to any length to stop her.
Pam, what made you want to write this book?
Pam: I’ve always loved romance and mysteries and decided to write a story that married the two elements. I grew up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and have always been fascinated by the many twentieth century mansions that dot the lake’s shoreline. I toyed with the idea of setting the story in one of those homes, but decided to create a smaller lake and village just to the east of Lake Geneva to gain more freedom with some of the details of the story.
Is there a sequel to Thyme for Love?
Pam: I’m so glad you asked. Thyme for Love is the first in a three-book series called “On the Road to Love.” Books two and three involve April and Marc, and both are set in Canoga Lake. In Love Will Find a Way, April moves into an old Victorian home with plans to turn it into a restaurant and catering business. It isn’t long before a discovery made while renovating the home threatens to hijack plans for the grand opening. In book three, Love’s Reward, April and Marc’s wedding plans are in full swing, until it becomes apparent there is someone who doesn’t want them to marry.
Uh-oh. Spoiler alert there! Have you written any other novels?
Pam: My first novel languishes in my computer at the moment. Authors seldom publish their first written work as that often turns out to be a practice project. I’m very excited to have a second novel coming that is set in my hometown of Lake Geneva. Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin comes out in June 2012 from Summerside Press. It’s a 1933 historical romance, and I had a blast researching for the story.
Which leads me to ask — how do you get your story ideas?
Pam: There’s an old adage to write what you know. I might add to always keep your eyes and ears open for a possible storyline. That first novel I wrote was sparked by something someone said to me when she showed me a picture of my great-grandfather’s grave. Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin grew out of wanting to know the history behind the beautiful recreational building that has become an icon of the area. And just today a newspaper article sparked an idea I’d like to develop into a proposal.
Sadly, though, I hear there’s more to life than writing. Not sure I agree, but whatever. (Just kidding, everyone!) What do you do when you’re not writing?
Pam: I volunteer at my church in the multicultural ministry, helping Japanese women learn to speak English and lead a women’s small group Bible study. I’m also chapter president of my local ACFW chapter which meets monthly. Also, I enjoy reading (surprise, surprise) and movies. Love to cook and find new ways of making things. You’ll find an adaptation of a recipe someone gave me called Chicken George at the back of Thyme for Love. I loved having April prepare it in the novel and look forward to experimenting with more recipes for the sequels.
You can buy Thyme for Love at here at Amazon or here at cbd.com. Thanks for stopping by, Pam.
Wonderland Creek
October 21, 2011
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Wonderland Creek Bethany House (October 1, 2011)
by Lynn Austin
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband’s work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she’d earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women’s roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve’s Daughters.
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 have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. And two of her inspirational fiction books were chosen by Library Journal for their top picks in 2003, and 2005. One of Lynn’s novels has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she’s planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.
Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.
But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated–not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. While Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and myster–and especially romance–are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Wonderland Creek, go HERE.
Sally Says: Wonderland Creek may be Lynn Austin’s best book in recent years. I know I certainly loved it, and while it was a still a historical, it had a bit of a different flavor than her other books in recent years. Maybe it was the setting — what we’d all refer to a redneck community in the hills of Kentucky. Or maybe it was the heroine who was a bit ditzy, yet likable. Or maybe it was both of those things with two mysteries and a number of unique characters sprinkled throughout. Whatever the reason, I found Wonderland Creek to be a very fun, lighthearted page-turner. I think this is one book that you don’t have to be a historical fiction fan to enjoy.
Dancing on Glass
August 17, 2011
The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Dancing on Glass B&H Books (August 1, 2011)
by Pamela Ewen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Until recently retiring to write full time, Pamela Binnings Ewen was a partner in the Houston office of the international law firm of BakerBotts, L.L.P., specializing in corporate finance. She now lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, James Lott.
She has served on the Board of Directors of Inprint, Inc., a non-profit organization supporting the literary arts in Houston, Texas, as well as the Advisory Board for The New Orleans Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans; Pamela is a co-founder of the Northshore Literary Society in the Greater New Orleans area. She is also a member of the National League of American Pen Women.
Pamela’s first novel, Walk Back The Cat (Broadman & Holman. May, 2006) is the story of an embittered and powerful clergyman who learns an ancient secret, confronting him with truth and a choice that may destroy him.
She is also the best-selling author of the acclaimed non-fiction book Faith On Trial, published by Broadman & Holman in 1999, currently in its third printing.
Although it was written for non-lawyers, Faith On Trial was also chosen as a text for a course on law and religion at Yale Law School in the Spring of 2000, along with The Case For Christ by Lee Stroble. Continuing the apologetics begun in Faith On Trial, Pamela also appears with Gary Habermas, Josh McDowell, Darrell Bock, Lee Stroble, and others in the film Jesus: Fact or Fiction, a Campus Crusade for Christ production.
Pamela is the latest writer to emerge from a Louisiana family recognized for its statistically improbable number of successful authors. A cousin, James Lee Burke, who won the Edgar Award, wrote about the common ancestral grandfathers in his Civil War novel White Dove At Morning.
Among other writers in the family are Andre Dubus (Best Picture Oscar nomination for The Bedroom; his son, Andre Dubus III, author of The House of Sand and Fog, a Best Picture Oscar nomination and an Oprah pick; Elizabeth Nell Dubus (the Cajun trilogy); and Alafair Burke, just starting out with the well received Samantha Kincaid mystery series.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the steamy city of New Orleans in 1974, Amalise Catoir sees Phillip Sharp as a charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she has known. A young lawyer herself, raised in a small town and on the brink of a career with a large firm, she is strong and successful, yet sometimes too trusting and whimsical. Ama’s rash decision to marry Phillip proves to be a mistake as he becomes overly possessive, drawing his wife away from family, friends, and her faith. His insidious, dangerous behavior becomes her dark, inescapable secret.
In this lawyer’s unraveling world, can grace survive Ama’s fatal choice? What would you do when prayers seem to go unanswered, faith has slipped away, evil stalks, and you feel yourself forever dancing on shattered glass?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Dancing on Glass, go HERE.
Sally Says: Dancing on Glass is not an easy summer read but more of a psychological thriller. The book dives into the topic of relationship manipulation and has dark overtones throughout because we know from the beginning that Phillip is not a good guy.
Ewen does a great job of showing the slow process that leads to Amalise being trapped. At first I found Amalise’s naivette a bit much, but as the book developed, I realized how sometimes we ourselves can miss signs that seem so evident to everyone else. The plot also deepened, and once I reached the halfway mark I couldn’t put the book down to the point where I found myself cooking dinner with one hand and holding the book with the other. Dancing on Glass is a well-written literary novel that will leave readers flipping pages one after another.