Terri's Writing Adventures

Team Novel Teen Blog Tour: The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell

2012-02-27T14:05:00.000-06:00

Sixteen-Year-Old Olivia Mansfield Dreams Of A Land Far, Far Away...

Olivia Mansfield can’t wait to escape the confines of her home, which promises nothing but perpetual torment and abuse from her stepfather while her mother turns a blind eye. She dreams of being accepted into a prestigious music school far, far away. . .but until she graduates from high school, Olivia must make the best of her dire situation.

When poor choices lead her to the brink of a complete breakdown and she finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend, Olivia comes to a crossroads. Will she find the path to ultimate hope and healing that her heart longs for? Or will the demons from Olivia’s past prove too much to bear?

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This is not the first book I have read from this wonderful YA author. But so far it has to be my favorite. Nicole has such a connection with teen girls and it comes out in her writing. Olivia reminds me of so many teen girls in her actions and her desires. The struggles she has within herself to do the right thing or do what will "make it all go away" are things we all face at that age and beyond, if we are honest.

Diamond Estates is a wonderful place filled with caring people. What a great concept that should be implemented all over this country to help lost teens. I loved the fact that it was a community of people that helped get the center started and kept it going with prayer and support. I also loved the fact that the girls dealt with real life situations. It wasn't painted over. Things were hard and needed to be faced head on. And each one had to deal with things instead of letting someone else do it for them, in most cases.

It shows us how each person has their own burdens and hardships. Things that we have gone through or are going through that sometimes even seem impossible to live through. But it also shows us that we are not fighting against things of this world, not even the person that is doing terrible things to you. We are up against Satan and his evil forces. In order to battle that we must call upon a force much greater than ourselves. Without Jesus we cannot hope to win the battle or the war.

I think this is a great book to share with teen girls in your life. I also think it is a great book to share with women of any age who have a desire to reach out to teens and might be looking for avenues to do that. What an awesome thing it would be if women all over this country joined together, with their spouses and others in their churches, to start places like Diamond Estates to help teens find Christ. Share this book with someone this year! It will be worth every penny!

(This is a re-posted review for our Team Novel Teen Blog Tour.)

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Want More:

Her Website: http://nicoleodell.com/

Her Blog: http://nicoleodell.com/category/a-blog/

Girl Talk: http://nicoleodell.com/category/girltalk/

Teen Talk Radio: http://www.choicesradio.com/

Series Description:

Diamond Estates: Three girls are on a journey to find hope and healing. Each coming to Diamond Estates seeking solace...Each with her own unique set of struggles...And each capturing hearts and challenging the faith of teen girls.

The Wishing Pearl, Book One 2011

The Embittered Ruby, Book Two 2012

The Shadowed Onyx, Book Three 2013

Scenarios For Girls, Interactive Fiction

Dare to Be Different (Truth or Dare and All That Glitters) 2011

Risky Business (Magna and Making Waves) 2011

Swept Away (High Stakes and Essence of Lilly) 2011

Girl Talk: 180 Q&A (for Life's Ups, Downs and In-Betweens) 2012

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About Team Novel Teen: We are a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Lost in Dreams by Roger Bruner by clicking on the links below, and check out the Team Novel Teen page for more information.

See what the Team had to say about The Wishing Pearl. Click on each link to view their blog post about the book.

My Life with a Mission • ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Colorimetry • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • The Librarian’s Bookshelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • Terri Harr • Virtuous Girlhood

Girl Talk by Nicole O'Dell

2012-02-07T13:58:00.002-06:00

It's Time for Some Girl Talk!....

Popular blogging trio--mom, Nicole O'Dell, along with daughters, Emily and Natalie--offer trustworthy, biblically based advice for all your ups, down, and in-betweens. Selected from actual questions they've encountered on their blog site, this fabulous resource offers real-life helps for issues including relationships, character, body image, fashion, gossip, and more. You'll find 180 questions along with answers and related scripture selections that will both encourage and challenge you in your faith walk.

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Girl Talk has over 200 pages. It is a full-color book filled with questions from teen girls. The pages are glossy and beautiful. Nicole and her daughters, Natalie and Emily answer the questions. This book can be used in different ways. A teen can read it by herself, with her sisters or friends or even for some great mother-daughter time. That is how I am using it in my home with my preteen daughter. We are going through it a page at a time and talking about the topic and the answers that were given. I let her share with me what she thinks and then I share a bit more of what I think and what the Bible says about it. We go a bit deeper with the answers given in the book and take it into whatever questions along that line my daughter might have.

It is a wonderful book. Nicole has a love for teens that shines through in her writing. I recommend this book and any other books you can get your hands on by Nicole. You can't go wrong with any of them!

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Want More:

Her Website

Her Books

Teen Talk Radio

Nicole O'Dell enjoys speaking at churches and to youth and parenting groups to offer insight into godly navigation of those rough teen years. Over the years, Nicole has worked as a youth director, a Bible study leader for women and teens, a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center, and was a veteran camp counselor for over a decade. Her writing includes teen fiction and devotionals and Bible studies for women of all ages.

The Fire In Ember by DiAnn Mills

2012-02-02T13:24:00.000-06:00

Between One Woman's Life And One Man's Heart...

A FIRE BURNS.

Bert believed returning a stolen horse was the right thing for her to do. But she never imagined rand hands would mistake her as a horse thief, then sentence her to hang. She couldn't tell them the truth. Neither did she want to die.

Deputy John Timmons's middle name is responsibility. He's been caring for his mother and younger brothers on his ranch for five years. He thought he was saving a boy from a hanging--his duty. But when he learns Bert is a girl, a whirlwind of emotions send his heart spinning.

Cattle rustlers have invaded the northern Colorado ranchers, leaving murder in their wake. Bert is a suspect, especially when she refuses to give her real name or reveal what she's running from. John knows she's afraid of something, but what? He sees a sweet spirit, not a woman who's deceiving his family.

How can John arrest her when she's stolen his heart?

Twists, turns, and unforgettable characters make this action-packed page-turner a historical romance with fire.

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I have read several of DiAnn's books and love her writing style. This one is in Colorado, a state I love. She makes the words come alive when she describes the surroundings. It is almost like you are there. And her characters are rich with personality.

John is a strong man with determination to do the right thing and provide for his mom and younger brothers. He has put off his dreams because of that and focused only on doing everything needed for others. But he is not without compassion or the sense of right and wrong. He goes about things in an honest way.

Bert (or Ember) is a young woman who has only known cruel and harsh treatment, with a minimal amount of real love from a brother who died years before. When she finds love and acceptance with the Timmon's family she dreams of what life could have been like had she been born in another family, a family like theirs. But the lies she has been told all of her life fill her head and her heart and fear keeps her from telling the truth.

Read it to see how learning about God, someone she has never known or even heard about, changes her life and how she sees and handles things. This is a great book. I recommend it if you love a great historical set in the west United States.

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Want More:

Her Website

Her Books

Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson

2012-02-01T13:05:00.000-06:00

New School = New chance for that first kiss

Summer is ending, and for once that doesn't seem like such a bad thing to Elise. She's hoping that starting fresh at a new high school will turn her first-kiss prospects around. New guys, new friends, and a new lease on life.

What she wasn't counting on was all the new pressure--to hang with the right crowd, wear the right clothes, and date the right guy. Just when it seems she's on top of the world, everything comes crashing down. Could one bad choice derail her future?

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This book is written from the point of view of a sixteen year old girl who has, you guessed it, never been kissed. It has all the attitude and sassy-ness of a sixteen year old girl. It shows how much pressure a girl can be under to say what others expect and how that can lead to more lies to cover that up. It also shows how we can misunderstand things. Things aren't always as they appear to be. It is hard when you are trusting of others. The world can have some people who are out for themselves and don't care who they hurt to get what they want.

This is a cute book for young teens to help them understand how to make the right choices and how to handle things if they are going through a really hard and challenging situation. Standing firm when no one believes you isn't always easy, but God is there to help you through it.

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Want More:

Her Website

Her Teen Books

Her Women's Books

Replication by Jill Williamson: Team Novel Teen Blog Tour

2012-01-30T10:30:00.000-06:00

When Your Life Is Not Your Own

Martyr - otherwise known at Jason 3:3 - is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he i scheduled to "expire" in less than a month. To see the sky.

Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart,confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.

As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures-the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is runny out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known.

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This was a book that was a bit different than the ones I usually read but the subject was interesting and since I am dedicated to spreading the word about great Christian fiction for all ages, including teens, I wanted to read it and find out if it was one I wanted to recommend. IT WAS!

I don't know if you have ever really thought about the whole issue of cloning people but this book will certainly change that if you haven't. Martyr may be a "clone" but it only takes a few paragraphs to find out he is a character you care about and don't want to see "expire".

Abby is a strong and spunky teenager. She has a strong faith despite the fact that her father seems to have none. Loosing her mother to cancer brought her closer to God but it had the opposite effect on her father. As she struggles to fit in at a new school she finds a good looking young man with a giant ego trying to get her attention at every turn. When she meets Martyr she thinks it is the boy from school. But they act very differently. Questions arise....

The writing in this book is very well done. I was on the edge of my seat a lot of the time wondering what was going to happen. There were some interesting twists to it that I didn't quite expect but made perfect sense. It really made you think about human life and who has the right to use it for their purposes or is all life valuable and meant to be preserved? I had never thought a lot on the subject until now. But the whole idea of using human embryo's has never set well with me. I think we need to be very careful about what we say we are doing under the pretense of finding a cure to save people. Are we testing on others to save someone else? Since this book is centered around teenagers it makes a good story for the next generation to read and think about, but it is done in a fun way.

I loved it! I am going to encourage my teenage son to read it. I really think he will enjoy the adventure and excitement of this story. I would recommend everyone, teens and adults alike, to read this. You will enjoy it but it will also make you think.

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Want More:

Her Website

Her Blog

Book Website

Watch Abby's Book Trailer

Watch Martyr's Book Trailer

Read the first chapter

What's Your Expiration Date?

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See what the Team had to say about Replication. Click on each link to view their blog post about the book.

ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Books I Recommend • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Christian Bookshelf Reviews • Fiction Fire • Gillian Adams• Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • Kurly Katie’s Ruminations • My Story Shelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • SLY Games • Terri Harr

More Precious Than Gold (Sangre De Cristo) by Lynn Dean

2012-01-18T11:23:00.000-06:00

The bullet that killed Eliza Gentry's fiance shattered her dreams as well. Clinging to her battered faith, she heads west to escape her grief and runs headlong into the man who caused it.

Tall and headstrong, Eliza expected to remain an "unclaimed treasure." Devastated in the wake of the war, she sets out for New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo mountains in search of peace and new purpose but finds that the western frontier is a wild place where former enemies--Yankees and Rebels, Freedmen and Indians--square off in the quest for land and gold.

Eliza must confront her prejudices and fears, and Jacob Craig embodies that conflict. The mountain man wins her trust with his gentle strength, but he harbors a secret. As a Union sharp-shooter, he met her fiance on the field of battle and cost him his life. Eliza must learn that she will not find purpose or peace anywhere until she finds in God a faith more precious than gold.

A real ghost town comes to life in this award-winning story of love, forgiveness, and the sovereignty of God.

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I got this book on my new Kindle because of the reference to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I fell in love with those mountains in Colorado. The part of them in this story are actually in New Mexico. This was a wonderful book. The characters are great. This is a book about loss and starting over. God sees our whole lives from start to finish but we can't see how certain things are going to work for good like He can. It is also a book about how we can be a light to others in the world. We can make a difference even if it is just planting a small seed. God can use that small seed and bring it into full bloom.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.anovelwritingsite.com/

Switched by Bill Myers

2012-01-17T11:07:00.000-06:00

Still on their quest to teach TJ Finkelstein the life lessons she’ll need to be a great world leader, 23rd-century goofballs Tuna and Herby are brewing up even more trouble for the new kid in Malibu. As the boys try to repair their futuristic gadgets, a little glitch in their Thought Broadcaster Pen lands TJ in the body of her nemesis, TV star Hesper Breakahart . . . and vice versa. And the plot thickens when Tuna and Herby decide to put TJ’s new look and superstar power to use. The time stumblers set up a concert for “Hesper” as a diversion while they sneak aboard a nuclear submarine and borrow a plutonium power pack—one of the items needed to fuel their time pod and get them out of TJ’s life. Meanwhile, Tuna and Herby are hounded by their own nemesis, Bruce Bruiseabone, who’s having a little trouble with forgiveness . . . a lesson that TJ realizes she might also need to learn as she walks a mile in Hesper’s shoes—and body!

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TJ and The Time Stumblers is a series of books. The kids in the story are out to save the world but end up in troublesome situations. They are for ages 7-10. TJ is switched with her worst enemy, a beautiful and snotty TV star. Herby and Tuna have time-traveled back from the 23rd century to help her but end up making more trouble. Other people end up switched around in the process. Walking in others shoes helps show how that person feels and forgiveness is a big theme in this book.

My son, 13, read it and said it was good but for younger kids, he felt. He said it had a good story line but really wasn't something he would choose to read on his own. My daughter, 10, liked it a little better than he did. With the main character being a girl I think that made a difference to her. They loved the funny names that the writer used for the different characters.

I received a copy of this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.

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Tyndale Publishers: http://www.tyndale.com

What Your Son Isn't Telling You: Unlocking The Secret World Of Teen Boys by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger

2012-01-16T12:57:00.000-06:00

Keys to Understanding Your Son's Heart and Mind

Your son struggles with the constant pressure to prove himself--in the classroom, on the playing field, and especially among his friends. And while he may put up a tough exterior, deep inside he hungers for family support and connection. You long to be there for him, but chances are he's put up a formidable wall of silence, leaving you wondering how to break through.

In What Your Son Isn't Telling You, teen experts Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger offer a rare glimpse into the secret lives of teen boys--behind-the-scenes footage you might miss in the day-to-day life of your son--accompanied by practical advice on how to provide the support and connection your son desperately needs.

Packed with real-life stories and emails from teen guys, this must-read will give you a new understanding of what your son isn't telling you.

What Your Son Isn't Telling You provides a rare look at the secret lives of teen boys--a world characterized by loneliness and peer fear; one in which measuring up as a man means conforming to a code of always being a tough guy, never showing weakness, and never expressing true feelings. Too many boys feel the constant pressure to prove themselves in classrooms, on playing fields, and especially among their friends. Deep inside they hunger for family support and connection--and long to be accepted by their peers. Each chapter of this must-read book is packed with real-life stories and emails from teen boys that will give parents a new understanding of what their sons aren't telling them.

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I got this book because I have a son who will be 13 in a matter of months. I do have an older son already grown and out of the home, but I wanted to be able to understand my younger son better than I did my older one. The whole learning from our mistakes and making better choices as we grow was my motivation.

This book is a great eye opener for parents into the world of a young man struggling to become a man while still dealing with things as a teenager. I think every parent, mom and dad, should read this book and then take the time to apply what they learn from it.

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Author Bio

Michael Ross is a veteran youth communicator and former editor of Breakaway, a national magazine for teen guys published by Focus on the Family. His online advice column--"HEY MIKE!"--was read by thousands worldwide each month. Michael is also the author of more than 18 books for young people, including the Gold Medallion winner BOOM: A Guy's Guide to Growing Up and a bestselling devotional, Faith That Breathes. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Colorado Springs with their young son, Christopher, and two cats.

Susie Shellenberger founded Focus on the Family's Brio magazine for teen girls and served as editor for more than two decades. A former youth pastor and a high school teacher, she has written more than 40 books (including What Your Daughter Isn't Telling You) and is in demand as an international speaker for women's groups and teens. She also started the Brio Mother/Daughter Cruise for Focus on the Family. She has been featured on numerous media outlets including It's a New Day, HomeWord with Jim Burns and Moody's Midday Connection. She recently launched Susie, a magazine for teen girls. She lives in Colorado Springs and, in her spare time, enjoys walking her 150-pound St. Bernard and sometimes eating cereal for dinner.

Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness by Candace Cameron Bure

2012-01-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

Millions first met Candace Cameron Bure when she costarred on the hit television series FULL HOUSE. Today, she is that rare Hollywood working mom who maintains a normal life -- no trainer, no nanny, no chef -- and is outspoken about her Christian faith and how it has helped overcome certain obstacles...like a serious struggle with food.

More than a biography, Reshaping It All is a motivational tool putting you on the right track toward a better physical and spiritual fitness regimen that really lasts. In addition to practical advice and fun stories from her family and career, Candace offers a biblical perspective on appetite and self-control that will encourage any woman who longs to reach a new level of freedom.

Embracing a healthier lifestyle begins by moving faith to the forefront, making some wise fundamental choices, and finding your worth in the eyes of God.

This candid account of maintaining a healthy outlook on weight despite the toothpick-thin expectations of show business and the everyday busyness we all feel will reshape your life as well.

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This book has helped me so much to realize some of the road blocks in my life towards a healthy body and mind. She is honest and upfront about the things she went through. She doesn't pretend to be a perfect person who has it all figured out. She just points you in the right direction, to God and His answers to life's issues.

I would and have recommended this book to anyone that feels they need to reshape their bodies and beyond. I am still working on my fitness goals but with this books they have become less difficult or seem more attainable.

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Want More:

Here website: http://www.candacecameronbure.net/

Roo Mag.com: http://www.roomag.com/

A Look Forward

2012-01-02T19:50:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that I read over 50 books in 2011. There were many weeks that I didn't read anything but my Bible. There were many weeks that I read 3 books in one week. I LOVE to read.

Sadly, I didn't do much writing in 2011. I had many excuses for NOT writing. But none of them were really good reasons. It is something I really want to do. I am a member of the national and local Christian Fiction Writer's groups and am on several great email loops for writers. I have many GREAT books on writing. But all of that isn't good for anything if I don't put it into practice.

For 2012 I have set some goals for myself in the area of books.

Read and review MORE than 50 books. I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and I download every free book that I find (Christian book). I also will buy books that I know the author is amazing and the price goes down to something I can afford. I also get many books from authors to read their books and review them. I love books! (I said that already, didn't I? It's worth repeating.)

Read all of the writing books I own. I have many great books on the art of writing. Not only do I want to simply read the book but put into practice what they are teaching in each chapter.

Spend time each day writing. Write at least 1,000 words a day. Doesn't matter what I write at first as long as I can get into the habit of writing each and every day.

Go to the Dallas Writer's Conference in September. This is a chance the I won't have every year. It is actually in my state, less than an hour from me. It is my chance to learn some great things and to meet some of my wonderful new friends in person! It will cost a bit but it will be so worth every penny. PLUS, I won't have to pay for airfare. I may not get to go the next year depending on where it will be.

Have a book finished by conference. I can't imagine writing something as good as I have read this year from some fabulous authors but I will allow the Lord to work through me, like they have, and give me the words to put down.

I think that is more than enough goals for the new year. I am excited about what God has in store for me this year in this area of my life. I can't wait to sit here a year from now and look back on it. It is my prayer that I will have met each of these goals and gone beyond them in some way.

What goals do you have for the new year?

Longing by Karen Kingsbury

2011-12-22T20:47:00.000-06:00

Longing, book three in the Bailey Flanigan Series, picks up where Learning ended. After a long and lonely silence from Cody Coleman, Bailey Flanigan becomes closer to her one-time Hollywood co-star, Brandon Paul. Nights on the town in New York City and long talks on the balcony of Brandon's Malibu Beach home make Bailey dizzy with new feelings and cause her to wonder if her days with Cody are over forever.

Meanwhile, Cody's work coaching a small-town football team has brought him and his players national attention. In the midst of the celebration and success, Cody finds himself much closer to a woman who seems to better understand him and his new life. Even so, never does much time go by without Bailey and Cody experiencing deep feelings of longing for each other, longing both for the past and for answers before they can move forward. Will an unexpected loss be the turning point for Cody? Will Cody and Bailey find a way back together again for the first time in more than a year? And if they do, will their brief time together be enough to help them remember all they've been longing for?

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I was so excited to get this book in my hands! And NOW I can't wait for Loving in March! I love the characters in this book. I have "watched" as Bailey has grown up and become a wonderful young woman. She shows us that even when things are difficult that God can get us through it. We may not know WHY things are the way they are at the time but if we trust that God works all things for good then at some point we will be able to look back and see how God worked through that situation.

I have been Team Cody forever. BUT in Learning I began to shift to Team Brandon. Not because I don't love Cody but because of how Brandon is growing in the Lord. In Longing he grows even more. And how can I not love someone who loves Bailey so much?

Cody is an amazing example of how you can "pay it forward". He had Coach Flanigan who came along side him when he was in high school and mentored him into the Godly man he became. Cody turns around and does the same for the kids at the high school he coaches at.

The title Longing represents how we should LONG for the Lord. And the more we do the more He shows us. When we have Christ at the center of our lives we should LONG to be with Him and be in His Word more and more.

This book is one of many that I recommend to teens and adults alike. It is especially good for those who are graduating high school and seeking what the Lord would have them do in life. This series would be an awesome gift.

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Want More?

Her website: http://karenkingsbury.com/

Her Facebook: Meet Karen Here

Bailey Flanigan's Facebook: Meet Bailey Here

Longing Book Trailer:

Bailey Flanigan Series

Book 1: Leaving Available Now!
Book 2: Learning Available Now!

Book 3: Longing Available Now!
Book 4: Loving Available March 2012

Book Review and Giveaway of Night of The Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos

2011-12-15T00:15:00.001-06:00

What Does A Transformed Life Actually Look Like?

In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos tackles this question in an entertaining and thought-provoking way-with MONSTERS!!! While Christians claim to experience Christ's resurrection power, we sometimes act like werewolves who can't control our base desires. Or zombies, experiencing a resurrection that is 90 percent shambling death and 10 percent life. Or vampires, satiating ourselves at the expense of others. But through it all we long to stop being monsters and become truly human-the way Christ intended. We just can't seem to figure out how.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is the story of Luther, a werewolf on the run, whose inner beast has driven him dangerously close to losing everything that matters. Desperate to conquer his dark side, Luther joins forces with Matt to find someone who can help. Yet their time is running out. A powerful and mysterious man is on their trail, determined to kill the wolf at all costs...

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Night of the Living Dead Christian is a spiritual allegory that boldly explores the monstrous underpinnings of our nature and tackles head-on the question of how we can ever hope to become truly transformed.

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This book is written with humor and a bit of silliness. It is written in first person by none other than...you guessed it...Matt! There are all sorts of "monsters" in the book. There is a mad scientist, his trusty side kick, zombies, vampires, werewolves, and even a monster chaser. Matt uses them to describe our different spiritual levels throughout the book. The book has some really funny parts to it. It is not a scary book at all. It does make you think about things.

It was written in a way that made it easy to read because of the humor. If you like humor and monsters you will enjoy this book. But you will also be brought face to face with some truths that you might have to deal with in your own walk with the Lord. We are all a ways away from being perfect in HIM.

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the copy of the book for review.

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Win a Copy of the Book: Post a comment below to enter. What is your favorite "monster". Or do you NOT like monster stories normally. Please include your email so I can contact you for mailed information. You will receive a certificate in the mail.

Want More:

His Website: http://mattmikalatos.com/

Author Video

watch on tyndale.com

Tyndale House Publishers

Yahshua's Bridge by Sandi Rog

2011-12-13T14:57:00.002-06:00

An Amethyst Stone Draws Him To His Past.

An Elusive Maiden Draws Him To His Future.

Alexander is born into slavery under an abusive master: a master of his own flesh and blood...a man he will never call father. Determined to break away from his master's hold, Alexander devises a plan to purchase his freedom.

But what's he to do when he finds himself shipped off in shackles to Egypt, disappearing from the lives of everyone he knows and loves?

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Iron and the Stone Series Book Two: Yahshua's Bridge

After reading Sandi's first book, The Master's Wall, I knew this book would be great, too. I loved the fact that so many of the characters from the first book were in this one. It was even easier for the book to grab my heart from the first page because of that. But the way she writes, I think it would have been the case anyway. The characters seem so real and you feel as if you are there.

She doesn't short cut around the hard stuff. She faces it head on. It is done in a very tasteful manner but it is still done. I have to say that at one point in the middle of the book my heart was ripped out and put back all in the same chapter! As I sat there reading, my eyes filled with tears and my body shook, both in sadness and joy. The way she wrote those scenes shows me that God wrote through her. I know it is fiction but I feel that somehow God gave her a glimpse of His mercy when it comes to the hardest things in a Christian's life.

One of the main background topics is forgiveness. Who are we to forgive? How much are we to forgive? Is there anyone good? Is there any amount of sin too great for God to forgive and Jesus blood to cover? How can we forgive those who hurt us the most? How can God forgive us when we refuse to forgive others and/or ourselves? These are some hard questions that have such a simple answer. Forgive everyone. Jesus blood covers it ALL. God can bring that forgiveness in your heart if you seek it.

You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading this book. You will not want to put it down. There is adventure, danger, love, romance, betrayal, friendship, etc... I could go on! It has it all. This is a great book that I recommend highly! It is on my all time list of favorite books, something I want on my e-reader AND my bookshelves.

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Want More:

Her website: http://www.sandirog.com/

Her blog: http://sandirog.blogspot.com/

Iron and the Stone Series Book One

The Master's Wall available now

My Review of The Master's Wall

Iron and the Stone Series Book Three

The Father's Rock coming soon

As a thief, all Ander knows is the master who rescued him after his parents were murdered. Ander's criminal behavior becomes an art and his passion. During a drunken stupor, his master reveals an uncut amethyst stone shaped like a star. Ander recognizes the unique jewel that once belonged to his father-a stone passed down from generation to generation. Is it possible that the man who rescued him murdered his parents? Disillusioned, Ander escapes his master and goes in search of his past. Little does he know, the past is waiting for him.

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Sandi Rog is an award-winning author. She lived in Holland for thirteen years and now lives in Colorado with her husband, four children, a cat, and too many spiders.

Important Notice:

Sandi is battling stage four t-cell lymphoma and there is a fundraiser to help with the medical expenses. If you can, please donate to help this wonderful author and her family. Got to this blog for more information and a link to give. Your prayers are also greatly appreciated!

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

2011-12-12T08:49:00.002-06:00

An Unthinkable Danger. An Unexpected Choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf le Wyse, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of the lord's bailiff - a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord le Wyse. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave dander. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

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I love fairy tales. Melanie writes with the age old story as the background to her books but takes us on a whole new adventure. Instead of the magic of the old story she puts it into a real life situation and the "magic" of Jesus' love for us. The Merchant's Daughter is based on the tale of Beauty and the Beast. That is one of my favorite stories from childhood. I love the lesson to look at what is on the inside of a person instead of what we can see on the outside. True beauty goes far deeper.

Annabel is a beautiful young woman who seeks the Lord with all of her heart. She longs to read the written Word so she can know what God wants to tell her. The local priest only shouts how evil women are and doesn't teach about the love that God has for people. But she knows there must be more, she feels it in her heart.

Ranulf is a bitter man because of his past but is not a cruel man. He shows fairness and compassion along with the gruff exterior that comes out with each word he speaks. It doesn't help that people have made up stories of horror about him and places fear into the peoples hearts. He is a man who knows the Lord and as he spends time with Annabel those barriers that he has placed between himself and God begin to fall away. Healing begins.

It was very interesting to see how the church and the judicial system worked back then. Most of the time we get to see the local church leader as a kind elderly man who teaches about God's love and forgiveness. In this one we see that not all church leaders had the right of the Bible and didn't always preach a happy message. This one preaches only of damnation and evil. A lot of them didn't have the written Word to study for themselves, either. That should make us so thankful for the access we have to the Word in many different forms today.

This is a great book for any age, even preteens and teens. It is extremely well written. If you are looking for a book for your youth book club, look no farther. This is one you need to add to your reading list. It is also a great book to give some lucky young girl for Christmas (or some lucky woman who is young at heart).

What is your favorite fairy tale? Share it with me and tell me why it is your favorite.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

Book Trailer:

The Healer's Apprentice: Available Now

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson by clicking on the links below, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

The Librarian’s Bookshelf • Rachelle Rea • ADD Librarian • The Book Fae • My Life with a Mission • Katie McCurdy • Terri Harr • Book Nook 4 You • My Story Shelf • Sugar Peach • Jill Williamson

Decision Points by George W. Bush

2011-12-08T16:42:00.001-06:00

In this candid gripping account, President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.

George W. Bush served as president of the United States during eight of the most consequential years in American history. The decisions that reached his desk impacted people around the world and defined the times in which we live.

Decision Points brings readers inside the Texas governor's mansion on the night of the 2000 election, aboard Air Force One during the harrowing hours after the attacks of September 11, 2001, into the Situation Room moments before the start of the war in Iraq, and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis. Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the twenty-first century.

President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDA in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationships with his family.

A groundbreaking presidential memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and offer new perspectives on eight remarkable years in American history--and the man at the center of events.

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I have always respected President Bush and this book just increased that respect. It also gave me a new perspective on some very important decisions that were made during those eight years. One of the things that I liked about this book was his honesty about his shortcomings. He doesn't sugar coat them. He just states them like they are. It was wonderful to see the relationships with him and his family. You get to see a glimpse of his childhood and even his college years. It also shows his faith in the Lord through many of those decisions.

This book is easy to read and has a way to making it hard to put down. I homeschool and have decided to make this book a required read for my high school students. I feel this book is so well done that it will make a great way for my kids to understand more about how our country works on the highest level.

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Want More:

George W. Bush Presidential Center: http://www.bushcenter.com

Crown Publishing Group: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/three-rivers-press

Blogging For Books: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

2011-12-02T12:51:00.000-06:00

It isn't until the Civil War comes to her doorstep that Amanda Bell must choose between love and family.

It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Amanda never thought she would marry because of a promise she made to her dying mother, but her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.

When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel aligns with the Confederate States, while Kent remains with the Union troops.

Her heart is torn between the two men she is closest to and the two sides of the conflict. Amanda prays to God for direction and support, but hears only silence. Where is God in the atrocities of war-and whose side is He on?

Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. She must trust God to deliver her family through the chaos of war with her heart and her faith intact.

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This book takes place during the Civil War. Most of the book is set in Texas. For me that made it very interesting since I have lived in Texas my whole life. It shows many of the ugly parts of the war on both sides. Often when we are in a conflict we only see the side we have chosen. We often forget that there are good and bad things on each side. And we often forget that when the war is over we need to move forward, forgive and rebuild what was torn down.

Kent and Amanda faced the fact that they were on different sides of the war but their love continued to grow. They depended on the Lord to bring them back together when the time was right. You see honest doubt in Amanda about the prayers she offers up to the Lord through the years of death and hardship. But when it comes right down to it she returns to her faith and trusts the Lord to take care of her and her family.

Kent is a man of honor and understands that even though he is a leader in the war, there is a line that should be drawn. He is not always able to keep his troops from the evil they seek to do but you see that it is a part of his heart to do so.

If you love history and romance, you will enjoy this book. I would not recommend it to younger readers since the topic tends to lean heavily on the war, unless you want to use it as part of your history lessons for older teens so that you can talk about what you have read and address the ugliness of the war with them.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.goldenkeyesparsons.com

Her Blog: http://www.goldenkeyesparsons.blogspot.com

Love Finds You in Annapolis Maryland by Roseanna M. White

2011-12-01T11:48:00.002-06:00

In 1783 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.

Never did Lark think she'd want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she's loved all her life. But when he betrays her, she flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country's capital. There Lark throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.

Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new nation he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough.

He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater--before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.

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Roseanna has done it again! The story line is different than the norm. They don't just meet and have to deal with difficult situations. They have known each other all their lives. They are betrothed. And yet, it is not the happy relationship that it should be. They are strangers. He is just going through the motions and she decides she can't live that way despite the fact that she has loved him all of her life.

The old saying "You don't know what you have until you've lost it" rings true in this story. When Lark leaves without telling him where she is going, Emerson sees for once what he had missed all along, a woman with fire and spirit. The adventure begins when he finally finds out where she is and follows her there to win her back.

The historical content makes the book even more appealing. I am a homeschool mom and we are learning about the American Revolution and George Washington. Both of those topics are a part of this book. It brought out the facts of the war that some might have forgotten, the emotional struggles of those on both sides of the war that considered America their home but were on different sides of the conflict. It brought out what the war was all about, freedom to choose. Freedom for all, not just a few.

I loved the characters in this story, as I do in all of her books. They are alive and vibrant. The banter between the young people in the story is fun and entertaining. She doesn't just make the main characters interesting but each and every character is detailed. They all seem like main characters because she does that. It was so easy to get caught up in the book. If you are like me and will stay up all night reading a great book, then prepare yourself to do that with this one. You will not want to put it down.

If you read this book or have read her other books, share with me your favorite character and why. I am sure Roseanna would love to know your answer, as well.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.roseannawhite.com/wordpress/

Her Blog: http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/

The Great ANNAPOLIS Giveaway!

Check out this giveaway! It's awesome!

Read the first chapter

Her Other Books:

A Stray Drop of Blood

Jewel of Persia

Dance of the Dandelion by Dina L. Sleiman

2011-11-27T19:31:00.000-06:00

Love's Quest leads her the world over.

Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion...with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William's predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache.

From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings.

Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance...or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun Village?

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This book is not your typical romance. It is not always clear that "the" happy ending is on the horizon. In fact, you wonder all through the book what her happy ending will be. The characters are very vibrant and alive. I could not put the book down once I picked it up. I had to find out what the next choices were and how they affected her life. It is so true to real life and how sometimes we think the choices we are making are the right ones and exactly what we want and it turns out not to be so.

As I walked through this book with Dandelion I couldn't help but understand how she felt through each new adventurous turn her life took. I felt her sorrow, disappointment, excitement and joy. This is a book you should have plenty of time to sit down and get lost in. It keeps you wondering where her choices will take her all the way to the last page of the book. It is hard to believe this is a first novel for Dina. I look forward to many more!

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Want More:

Her Website: http://dinasleiman.com

Dancing After the Wind: coming early 2012

Book Trailer

Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

2011-11-25T11:45:00.001-06:00

A Sanctuary of Secrets...

Gavin MacKenzie, a chieftain heir who is hired to restore the ancient Castle of Braigh, discovers a hidden village of outcasts who have created their own private sanctuary from the world. Among them is Serena Boyd, a mysterious and comely lass, who captures Gavin’s heart in spite of harboring a deadly past that could destroy her future.

The villagers happen to be keeping an intriguing secret as well. When a fierce enemy launches an attack against them, greed leads to bitter betrayal. As Gavin prepares a defense, the villagers unite in a bold act of faith, showing how God’s love is more powerful than any human force on earth.

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Highland Sanctuary is book two in the series. I loved book one, Highland Blessings. This one is with the brother of the lady in book one. I loved this one just as much. Jennifer is able to make the characters come alive and the setting seem as if you are right there with them.

In Highland Blessings you meet Gavin. He is actually one of my favorite side characters in that book. I am so glad he got his own story. He is a strong and compassionate person. Serena is a sweet and caring young woman who is intelligent and loving. Her friends are loyal to her and she earns the love and respect of two powerful men. But who will win her heart?

The Village of Outcasts was one of my favorite parts. I loved meeting all of the people who lived there and watching how they cared for each other like a family. It is the age old lesson of treating others as creations of God and not looking down on them because they are different.

This is a great book for any age. Another great Christmas gift for those who love to read historical romance. Take a journey to 1477 Scotland and see how Gavin and Serena meet and fall in love.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://jenniferswriting.blogspot.com/

Book Trailer:

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A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

2011-10-26T17:22:00.000-05:00

When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

Readers will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the future.

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Laurie Alice has done it again! I love these characters! Lydia Gale is strong and confident despite the fact she believes her father never approves of her actions. She loves her family beyond anything else and will do anything for them. Christien is a man of honor. He is a man of great feelings and passion. He struggles within himself to honor God in his actions and is willing to give up his ten year commitment of fighting against Napoleon to live in a way that doesn't compromise that honor. They both wonder if God has stopped listening to them because of the choices they have made in their lives.

The story is full of mystery and intrigue. I was so busy enjoying the story that I didn't take the time to "look" to solve the mystery until the end. By that time I was totally caught up in the story and sitting on the edge of my seat reading the pages over again to try to figure it out before turning to the page that would give me the answer. Not only did Lydia and Christien capture my attention so did Lydia's sisters, Cassandra and Honore. It is my hope that we will learn more about those two in the next two books of The Daughters of Bainbridge House series.

I look forward to reading many more books by Laurie Alice. She is an amazing writer that fills her books with amazing characters that grab your heart and don't let you go.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/

Her Blog: http://lauriealiceeakes.blogspot.com/

Jersey Brides

Lady in The Mist

Printed on My Heart in Highland Crossings January 2012

Hearts Safe Passage February 2012

Over a Barrel in Colonial Courtships May 2012

Life Application Study Bible Devotional: Daily Wisdom from the Life of Jesus

2011-10-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

Readers of the Life Application Study Bible-will welcome the arrival of the new LifeApplication Study Bible Devotional. Let the life of Jesus sink into your mind and heart with 312 readings from the gospels-one for each weekday and one for the weekend. In the Life Application Study Bible Devotional: Daily Wisdom from Jesus, each week focuses on a different even in Jesus’ life- drawing out daily wisdom from his parables, teachings, conversations, miracles, and interactions with people. You’ll learn important biblical principles, become inspired to put God’s Word into practical action, and be forever changed by a year spent going deeper with your Savior.

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I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale to review. It is in a form of a large paperback book, very easy to use. Each week has a devotion for Monday through Friday and one for the weekend. This book is based on The Gospels. It goes through the life of Jesus. On the side bars there are scripture references that you are to read each day plus a section called Talking To God that gives you an idea of how to lead your prayer time for the day. You are given background information to help "set the scene" for the day. It is longer on Monday. The Getting Personal section gives you questions to help you personalize the days devotion to your life. In the back of the book you will find a Topical Index and a Scripture Index.

I am enjoying this devotional. The way it is set up makes it easy and enjoyable. It isn't too long for those of us that have so much going on in our lives but helps us get into the Word on a daily basis and find ways to apply it to our daily lives. It gives us some good questions to ponder as we go about our day. I would recommend this to anyone who needs some structure in their daily devotions.

Tyndale Publishers: http://www.tyndale.com

Hailee by Penny Zeller

2011-10-09T18:28:00.001-05:00

Book #3 in the Montana Skies Historical Romance Series (Whitaker House)

For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she's still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.

Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Maxwell Nathaniel Adams Jr. would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate's parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.

When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?

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The first two books in this series were great! I have reviews for them on here for McKenzie and Kaydie. Be sure to check those out if you haven't read them. Penny has created some great characters in her books. Hailee is no exception. I love Hailee and Nate even more than the others, if that is possible.

Hailee is a sweet young woman despite the hard times she has lived through as a child. She is very sensitive and caring. It would have been easy for her to be harsh and closed up inside herself. Despite the fact that God worked a miracle in her life she still believes that if people knew what she had done as a young girl they would hate her.

Nate is a young man that seems wise beyond his 21 years. He is kind and patient even with those who test him greatly. I loved the cousin relationship between him and Davey. After getting to know Davey as a little boy in the first two books and then to see him as a 17 year old was fun. I love seeing characters in other books that I enjoyed in the previous ones.

As the last two, Hailee is a great book for any age. I would recommend this book especially to young girls who love to read and need something wholesome with good life lessons in them. For both of these young characters you see how they allowed God to lead them down the path they are on. Keep up the great work, Penny!

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Want More?

The Montana Skies Series

Book One: McKenzie

Book Two: Kaydie

Her Blog: http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com

Her Website: http://www.pennyzeller.com

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer

2011-09-28T11:56:00.000-05:00

While war rages in Europe...

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of life far beyond the family farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's to marry. While she waits for the end of the Great War and Arthur's return, her mother's sister falls ill.

And when a telegram arrives in October of 1918, she believes God has provided her way of escape. After all, caring for her estranged Aunt Adabelle means living closer to dashing aviator Arthur Samson in Dallas, well within reach of the exciting, modern life she desires. Rebekah travels to Texas, sure that her glamorous and exciting life is about to start.

But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's sickness, Arthur's indecisiveness, four children who have no one to care for them, Rebekah discovers she must choose between her desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

Will Rebekah allow God to rearrange her dreams?

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I enjoyed reading this books so much. Watching Rebekah grow from a young girl into a young woman was a process that took her through many difficult situations, not unlike our lives today. It was true to character how from time to time the young 19 year old selfish attitude and childlike behavior came out. She wasn't a person who was too good to be true. You saw her weakness and her strength.

I would recommend this book to young ladies planning their futures as well as those of us who have lived many years. It is a good reminder that sometimes God has other plans for us than we do for ourselves. We need to remember that His plans for us are greater than any we can come up with on our own. We just have to be willing to allow Him to change our dreams into the ones He has for us.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.annemateer.com/

Her Books and Stories:

Her story "Let it Snow" in "A Scrapbook of Christmas First"

Her story "Just Like Ben" in "Nancy's Christmas Eve Visitor"

Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan

2011-09-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

She is staking her future on a man she's never met. Can she learn to love him?

When Catharine Olsen leaves Holland for Wyoming as a mail-order bride, she brings some extra baggage with her: two sisters, her mother's set of Blue Willow china, and a tragic past. As she steps off the train, Peter Andersen is glad to see that she is everything her letters showed her to be. But he is a bit perturbed by her unexpected companions. How will he support them all? And what other secrets might Catharine be keeping from him?

Filled with sweet romance and vivid characters, Deeply Devoted highlights a clash of cultures as highborn European and a simple wheat farmer learn to love one another and trust God with the past - and the future.

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I enjoyed Deeply Devoted greatly. The place came alive for me so much that I dreamed of going to Wyoming while I was reading it. And the detail she gives on her research at the end of the book about the city made it even more so. I loved the three sisters. They were each unique and it is my hope that their stories will be in the upcoming books in the series. Catharine was a brave young woman who cared deeply for her sisters. She came from a life totally different than the one she was to live now but each of the girls worked very hard to learn the things needed to help out and make their new life work.

It was a sweet romance that built out of a friendship. But the secrets they each had put distance between them at times. Her secrets were of a higher degree than his and were harder to see past. Fear has a way of keeping us from telling the truth. But it is true, the truth will set you free. When you build your relationships on trust it is much sweeter.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.maggiebrendan.com/

Her Books:

The Blue Willow Bride Series

Book One: Deeply Devoted

Book Two: Three Little Words coming soon

Book Three: Timeless Perfection coming soon

Heart of the West Series

Book One: No Place For A Lady

Book Two: The Jewel of His Heart

Book Three: A Love of Her Own

Marrying Miss Marshal by Lacy Williams

2011-08-26T11:11:00.001-05:00

A Woman in a Mans Job

Filling the shoes of her late husband as town marshal hasn't been easy for Danna Carpenter. She's not only fighting criminals, she's also fighting to earn the respect of the townspeople. So crossing paths with tenderfoot detective Chas O'Grady is the last thing she needs. He's hunting a band of cattle rustlers and isn't used to the rugged Wyoming landscape. Teaming up is their only option, but when circumstances place them in a compromising situation, the town forces a more permanent partnership—marriage. If they can let down their guards with each other they might find that love is the greatest catch of all.

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This is a wonderful first novel by Lacy Williams. She has a flow to her writing that keeps the reader involved in the story. I loved Danna. She is a strong and independent woman who shows no fear when it comes to the job she is commited to doing. But she hides away the softer side of herself and the fears that lie within her heart. Chas is a man who holds himself responsible for something beyond his control and carries that with him along with the hatred towards the one who really is responsible. Can he allow the Lord to be the judge and jury or will he take justice into his own hands? Will Danna find her true worth hidden behind a "mans" job and clothing? You will have to read Marrying Miss Marshal to find out. I look forward to more books by this wonderful writer.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.lacyjwilliams.com/

Lacy Williams is a wife and mom from Oklahoma. Her debut novel, MARRYING MISS MARSHAL, won ACFW's Genesis award before being published. She promises readers happily-ever-afters guaranteed. Lacy combines her love of dogs with her passion for literacy by volunteering with her therapy dog Mr. Bingley in a local Kids Reading to Dogs program. Lacy loves to hear from readers. She posts short stories and giveaways at her website and can be found on social media at www.facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks and www.twitter.com/lacy_williams .

The Art of Romance by Kaye Dacus

2011-08-20T03:50:00.001-05:00

Misconceptions Arise When Meddling Matriarchs Connive

Sassy Evans and Perty Bradley are determined to get their older grandchildren married off, but when twenty-eight-year-old Dylan comes home after being fired from his teaching position because of the betrayal of his ex-girlfriend, Perty knows her grandson has more important issues to deal with first.

Sassy understands her friend's reservations about timing, but she also sees so many ways in which Dylan would be the perfect match for her thirty-four-year-old granddaughter Caylor. With his record of acclaimed paintings and Caylor's bestselling novels, they could complement each other's talents and provide each other support and encouragement. And there's no denying the spark of attraction between the English professor with the untamed red hair and the painter with the unusual tattoos.

English professor Caylor Evans moved in with her grandmother five years ago when Sassy’s eyesight became too poor to get her driver’s license renewed. Though she is now writing sweet/inspirational romance novels, Caylor still draws inspiration for her heroes from the portfolio of covers and sample images drawn/painted by Patrick Callaghan for the steamy romances she used to write (as “Melanie Mason”), and dreams of meeting a man like that cover model.

After losing his teaching position and being shunned by the fine-arts community in Philadelphia, artist Dylan Bradley has returned home to Nashville to regroup and determine the next step for his life. His grandparents offer him their guesthouse for as long as he wants it—along with plenty of opportunities to meet young women. Though it was years ago, Dylan is uncomfortable with the fact that his face—only slightly disguised—is on the covers of half a dozen steamy romance novels by Melanie Mason, the artwork he did to put himself through college under the pseudonym Patrick Callaghan. Especially after he meets Caylor Evans, a woman who has her life together in a way he only dreams of.

But neither grandmother realizes the secrets both Caylor and Dylan are keeping from each other. Will pain and embarrassment from the past keep Caylor and Dylan apart, or will they develop the courage to be truthful with each other and discover the true art of romance?

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Kaye has done a wonderful job of making an large cast of characters easy to keep up with and care about. She is a very detailed writer and you get the full picture of what is going on throughout the book. The grandmother's are a wonderful bunch of ladies, old friends who care so much about their grandchildren they want to see them happily married. Three of the grandchildren are best friends and they are the center of the three books in this series.

This book points out that we make mistakes as we grow and then learn as we get older that we need to make different choices because it is how God wants us to live. We all have to come to different growth periods where God is growing us up in something that we didn't see as wrong at earlier times in our lives. God grows us little by little until we are ready to see what needs to be changed. This book also reminds us that we need to understand that what a person did in their past is part of that past and that if they are in Christ then they have been made new in Him. We are not to judge because we all have things that we have done things we shouldn't have. We have to learn from those mistakes and more foward.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://kayedacus.com/

Books:

The Matchmakers

Book One: Love Remains

Book Two: The Art of Romance

Book Three: Turnabout’s Fair Play November 2011

The Ransome Trilogy

Book One: Ransome’s Honor

Book Two: Ransome’s Crossing

Book Three: Ransome’s Quest

Brides of Bonneterre Series

Book One: Stand-In Groom

Book Two: Menu for Romance

Book Three: A Case for Love

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

2011-08-18T17:26:00.000-05:00

In the splendor of gilded age America, their worlds collide after twelve years apart. The spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible. But time has changed them both.

Clara Endicott is beginning to make a name for herself as a journalist who is intent on exposing the dark side of industry. She is determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Daniel Tremain has risen to become a powerful industry giant with powerful enemies. He had always idolized Clara, but when she writes an exposé about his company, it will trigger a series of events that threatens to destroy the only woman Daniel has ever loved.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts and lives hang in the balance?

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I absolutely loved The Lady of Bolton Hill. The mystery and intrigue in the story was a surprise. Throughout the second half of the book I was anxious to know the out come of certain situations with a mysterious character so I was having a very hard time setting it down for any reason.

It was very well written and the characters stole my heart from the beginning. Elizabeth has a wonderful flair for writing that makes you want to follow the charcters into the book. I do hope that a couple of the secondary male characters in this book will have their own story. I think their stories would be just as wonderful as Clara and Daniel's.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://elizabethcamden.com/

Her Blog: http://elizabethcamden.com/blog

Read an excerpt HERE

The Rose of Willow Street: Coming January 2012

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

A blacksmith with a criminal past. A librarian with pacifist ideals. Do they have a fighting chance at finding love?
Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets. . . .

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

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I enjoyed To Win Her Heart very much. It was very easy to get caught up in the small town of Spencer, Texas. The characters were wonderful and somewhat unique in their background from anything I had read before. I loved the easy pace of the time period. And I enjoyed the library. If I had lived in that time period that would have been my dream, to own and run a library.

The lessons about forgiveness that you will find on these pages are ones we all need to remember when we live our daily lives. It's easy to judge someone for where they live, how they dress, who their parents are, and their past mistakes, etc. But God loves the person, faults and all. And His forgiveness covers the mutitude of sins in each of our lives if we ask. We need to learn to let them go and allow people to move forward in the new life they are given through Christ.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com

Her Other Books:

A Tailor-Made Bride Available Now

Head In The Clouds Available Now

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig

2011-08-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

Betrayal begins with trust

In Venezuela, Danielle Roark and her Army Corps of Engineers team is captured. After six months of captivity, Dani escapes, only to end up charged with espionage and forced to return to the jungle to prove that a nuclear facility exists. On the mission, she feels abandoned by God and country. Will she live long enough to make those responsible pay?

Haunted by memories of a mission gone bad, former Green Beret Canyon Metcalfe wrestles with his developing feelings for the feisty Dani. But, drawn by a powerful need to ensure she returns unharmed, Canyon urges Nightshade to accept the mission to help Dani unravel her lethal secrets.

Separated from the team during a deadly storm, Dani and Canyon are left vulnerable--then captured. Can Dani and Canyon fight the nightmare armed with only forgiveness and raw courage? Or will they lose their lives, minds, and each other?

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Ronie has done it again! Wolfsbane is awesome! She has written about some really hard topics but done it in a way that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable or unable to continue reading. Quite the opposite. I sat on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of the book as it got more and more intense waiting to see how things would turn out.

Canyon and his family have a lot more depth than I had imagined. But you could tell from the first book that there were secrets that needed to be uncovered about him. Dani is a great new character and fits into this line perfectly. She is strong, determined and a fighter. She goes through so much but find the will to survive.

I can't wait for the next book to come out in January. And I can only hope that her publishers will approve other books in the series. I love the characters and want to know their stories, too.

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WANT MORE:

Her Website: http://roniekendig.com

Her Blog: http://roniekendig.com/blog

Discarded Heroes Series

Book 1: Nightshade Now Available

Book 2: Digitalis Now Available

Book 3: Wolfsbane Now Available

Book 4: Firethorn January 2012

Recognition for Nightshade:

2011 RWA Faith, Hope & Love’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award – Romantic Suspense Finalist

2011 Christian Retailing – Reader’s Choice Award finalist

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – #8 Favorite New Release

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – Ronie named #3 Favorite New Author

2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction from The Christian Manifesto

Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

2011-08-14T08:29:00.016-05:00

An Intriguing Woman Draws a Former Marine into a Deadly Game

Colton Neeley left his military career to take care of his four-year old daughter. Although he’s firm in his faith now, the repercussions of his former life are still evident—namely in the form of his daughter and his debilitating flashbacks from combat-related trauma. Can he muster the courage to step out of his self-imposed isolation and embrace the new woman in his life?

Piper Blum is hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. Although smitten by Colton, she fears the day he discovers her secrets. Does their relationship, built on a foundation of lies, have a chance?

When an attempt on Piper’s life leads to another’s death, the black ops group Nightshade steps into the line of fire. Will Colton and Piper survive the mission with their love—and lives—intact? Will love cover their multitude of sins?

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Ronie has created another masterpiece! Her writing is amazing and I am continually surprised at her imagination and creativity. The more I read the more I want.

Colton is one of my favorite characters of Ronie’s. He is strong and faithful. He is there for his friends. He’s that ‘good old boy’ cowboy that everyone can’t help but love. But we find out that he carries scars on the inside like the most that serve in the military and/or see the terrible things he has seen and had to do. Piper is a strong woman that needs love and family but has been isolated from the ones she cares about most. When Colton comes into her life she is drawn to him despite the fact she knows it could put her or others in danger. You will love Colton and Pipers story and the intrigue that is intertwined throughout the pages of this book.

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WANT MORE:

Her Website: http://roniekendig.com

Her Blog: http://roniekendig.com/blog

Discarded Heroes Series

Book 1: Nightshade Now Available

Book 2: Digitalis Now Available

Book 3: Wolfsbane Now Available

Book 4: Firethorn January 2012

Recognition for Nightshade:

2011 RWA Faith, Hope & Love’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award – Romantic Suspense Finalist

2011 Christian Retailing – Reader’s Choice Award finalist

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – #8 Favorite New Release

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – Ronie named #3 Favorite New Author

2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction from The Christian Manifesto

Nightshade by Ronie Kendig

2011-08-11T20:44:00.012-05:00

This former Navy SEAL is fighting a new battle…the homefront.

Can Max yield to a force greater than himself…love?After a tour of duty in a war-torn country, embattled former Navy SEAL Max Jacobs finds himself discarded and alienated from those he loves as he struggles with combat-related PTSD. His wife, Sydney, files a restraining order against him and a petition for divorce. Max is devastated.

Then a mysterious man appears. He says he’s organizing a group that recycles veterans like Max. It’s a black-oops group called Nightshade. With the chance to find purpose in life once again, Max is unable to resist the call of duty and signs on.

The team handles everything with precision and lethal skill–until they’re called upon to rescue a missionary family from a rebel-infested jungle and avoid a reporter hunting their identities.

Will Max yield his anger and pride to a force greater than himself–love?

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Ronie is an amazing writer and has captured the dangerous yet heroic lives of people in the military. She has managed to put it in book form in such a way that demands you keep reading to find out more about the characters and what happens to them. You just can't help but care about them.

Nightshade introduces you to the team but focuses on the leader or "Alpha", Max. It also takes you to an island in the Philippines where missionaries are being held captive. It was a twist that I didn't expect when I picked up the book but it was a great addition. As the team learns to work together and become one on each new mission you begin to understand how they depend on each other to do the very best job they can and how they give their lives for what they have been called to do.

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WANT MORE:

Her Website: http://roniekendig.com

Her Blog: http://roniekendig.com/blog

Discarded Heroes Series

Book 1: Nightshade Now Available

Book 2: Digitalis Now Available

Book 3: Wolfsbane Now Available

Book 4: Firethorn January 2012

Recognition for Nightshade:

2011 RWA Faith, Hope & Love’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award – Romantic Suspense Finalist

2011 Christian Retailing – Reader’s Choice Award finalist

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – #8 Favorite New Release

FamilyFiction Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award – Ronie named #3 Favorite New Author

2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction from The Christian Manifesto

I'm Still Around

2011-08-07T21:27:00.002-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that follows this blog that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, like it may seem. We went to Africa for three weeks in June (you can check out updates on that trip on our mission blog and my personal blog) and since my return have been super busy with church day camps and a week long trip to Colorado. I have not meant to let my reading go astray but I am afraid that I haven't read much except my Bible since early June. I am working my way back into it and will have many book reviews to post soon. I took several books with me to Kenya but didn't touch a one. The only book I opened there was my Bible. And while that is a GREAT thing, I know I have responsibilities to read and review these wonderful authors books. It is my passion so I will catch up!

I am a homeschool mom and we are starting back Monday morning, August 8. Yes, it is earlier than our public school friends but we finished very early last school year and I have many wonderful new things planned for this year so we need to get started. The kids will be doing book reviews instead of book reports for each book they complete this school year. I will post some on here but all on our homeschool blog. It is my hope that we will post more on that this year than in the past.

Please keep us in your prayers as we start our new year and work towards getting new and better routines in place so that our lives will be enriched and blessed in all we are able to accomplish.

Learning by Karen Kingsbury

2011-06-06T20:35:00.003-05:00

Learning, book two in The Bailey Flanigan series, picks up where Leaving ended. Bailey Flanigan and Cody Coleman are not only sparated by physical distance, they are also face with great emotional distance. While Bailey grows closwer to her dream to be an actress and dancer in New York, Cody coaches a small high school football team...on and off the field. But neither feels complete without the chance to share their dreams with one another.

Can distance truly make the heart grow fonder? Or will Cody learn to turn to others to share in his happiness? And in the face of tragedy, who will be there to provide comfort?

As Cody's past catches up with him, he must learn to reach out for help or risk withdrawing permanently inside himself. Both Bailey and Cody find themselves learning significant life lessons in this poignant love story, featuring members from Karen Kingsbury's popular Baxter family.

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I have enjoyed every KK book I have ever read. Learning is no exception. The characters in this book and many others are some of my favorites, Bailey especially. To watch her grow from a young teenager into a strong young woman off on her own in New York is quite exciting. It almost felt like I was there with her as she started her job and learned the routines. I love the special relationship she has with her mom. I think every teenage girl and mom should read these books and desire to have a relationship like that. I have to admit I am not too sure about what is best for Bailey as far as her man. I love seeing how happy she is when Brandon Paul treats her so special. I am upset with Cody for ignoring her, no matter his reasons. I can see many good things about it each way. I have always loved when her and Cody were together. I see such a special relationship between them that neither can have with anyone else. But Cody has made some choices that have kept them apart. And those choices have hurt Bailey greatly. So each of them has to live life down the path that those choices have put them on. It's like real life, the choices we make effect our lives and we can allow God to use them for good or we can keep making more bad choices. God is able to do great things no matter what our choices. And like the message that is throughout these books, God has a plan for our lives, a plan for good. That is something that I love about her books. She brings out how even through hard times and through things that we find impossible to live through God can and will bring us through if we will cling to Him through it. I cannot wait for the next two books in this series! They are going to be awesome, I know.

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Want More?

Her website: http://karenkingsbury.com/

Her Facebook: Meet Karen Here

Bailey Flanigan's Facebook: Meet Bailey Here

Learning Video

Book 1: Leaving: Available Now!

Book 3: Longing November 2011

Night of the Cossack by Tom Blubaugh

2011-06-03T12:56:00.004-05:00

Night of the Cossack is a compelling adventure by Tom Blubaugh about a teenager who is forced to grow up quickly. The main character, Nathan Hertzfield faces many life or death situations during his saga.

Join Nathan on his exhilarating journey through parts of Russia and Europe during the early 1900's. Don't miss the adventure and suspense in the riveting story, Night of the Cossack.

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When I read the introduction to the book it made me want to start reading right away. The author talks about this story being how he imagines his grandfathers life to have been when he was a young man. I was drawn to the many details about Russia, the Cossacks and the Russian army. There are many things about that time period that I don't know anything about. One of the things that I love about historical fiction, when done well, is that it takes you to a time period and shares it with you in a way that becomes much more real than a history book. This book did that. It was very well written and the story just flowed naturally.

I am passing this book along to my 12 year old son. I can't wait to talk to him about what he has read and what he thinks about Nathan's adventures and hardships. One thing we enjoy doing together is discussing great literature we are reading.

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Want More:

His Website: http://tomyblu.com/index.html

Read Chapter One

Bound By Faith Publishers: http://boundbyfaithpublishers.com

The iShine Bible

2011-06-02T11:39:00.001-05:00

The iShine Bible helps tweens understand their Value, Identity, and Purpose (VIP). Tweens will see how they are valued by God, how their identity is found in Jesus and the purpose that they have because of this.

QR codes and URLs in the Bible link to videos on these topics and other online faith-building content. This compact Bible for tweens brings together the popular Christian tween brand iShine with the clearly understandable New Living Translation. The iShine Bible answers questions relating to many of the issues that tweens face with a tween-friendly index.

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I received two complementary Bibles from Tyndale House Publishers and was thrilled to review them. I got a copy of each the boy and girl Bibles. Perfect because each one of my kids got their own. These pictures only show part of the cover. The boys iShine Bible has a guy playing a guitar on the cover. It is a dark navy and light orange color. The girls iShine Bible is light and dark pink with stars on the cover and outlines of three girls at the bottom. It has a pink ribbon for a book marker. I can place my hand on the Bible and reach from top to bottom and with my fingers together almost tough the sides.

I asked my 12 year old what he liked about the Bible. This is what he had to say. "I like it because it's small and easy to carry. The cover has a nice feel to it. (It's a leather type cover). The words are a little small if you have bad eyesight. (We discussed that if you have bad eyesight you probably have glasses and could see it just fine.) He also likes the name of the Bible.

My 9 year old fell in love with the little pink Bible and has used it from day one. She likes the size, too. It is different from the NIV version that she is used to but it is still easy to understand.

The website links are great. They have a website that has all sorts of fun stuff on it. It has music, videos, games and such. The kids spent a lot of time when they first went on it. I asked them to go on there and then let me know what they thought. One of the videos we found was a new song by Toby Mac. It is such a fun song to sing along with. I love the fact that this Bible has some neat things to help the kids learn and understand the way they should live and react to things that come up in their lives.

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Want More:

The official iShine site: http://ishinelive.com/

iShine Ministries: http://www.ishineministries.com/

Tyndale House Publishers: http://www.tyndale.com

Tyndale House Publishers iShine Bible: http://www.tyndale.com/iShine-Bible-NLT/9781414348148

The iShine people made a great promo video with some insight as well, check it out here.

iShine Bible-A Video Overview: http://www.nltblog.com/index.php/2011/04/ishine-bible-a-video-overview/

Swept Away: Scenarios for Girls 5 & 6 by Nicole O'Dell

2011-05-31T11:04:00.002-05:00

Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?

What Would YOU Do? . . .

High Stakes

"Cheating for a good reason is okay, isn’t it?” Seniors and best friends, Amber and Brittany, are neck and neck in a good-natured competition for a car being given away by a local business. The winner? Whoever maintains straight As without being absent one day during the school year. When Amber cheats on her final exams to win the car and Brittany gets blamed for it, Amber is torn. Will she let her friend take the fall? Or will she admit she cheated and face the consequences? What will Amber do?

Essence of Lilly

“How far is too far?” Sophomore Lilly Armstrong is always looking for ways to escape the confines of her unhappy home. She “invents” youth group activities just so she can hang out with her boyfriend, Jason—the only one in Lilly’s life who makes her feel special. When Jason convinces Lilly to lie to her parents about a church overnighter so she can stay at his house while his parents are out of town, how far will she let things go? What will Lilly do?

Help Amber and Lilly make the difficult decisions and see how your choice creates consequences with life-altering results.

Nicole's Thoughts: These two stories lead the Scenarios series down a slightly older path. Some tough, but necessary issues are tackled in hopes that the reader will use her own choices to help commit to good future decisions. It was definitely a bit difficult to tackle issues like purity for a teen audience. I pray these stories will help you when you come face-to-face with pressures like these.

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My Thoughts: One of the things I loved about these books is the way you got to choose at the end of the book what the main character would do. I read the "wrong" choice first and then went back and read the right one. It's easy to say you would choose the right path when you aren't in the middle of it. But part of making the right choices is knowing how you would want to react before you have to make the choice. I think these books help with that process. If we know how we want to react to something ahead of time then when it comes up we don't have to struggle so much back and forth trying to figure out what we ought to do.

These are books that preteens and teens will enjoy and can relate to. It was nice to go back into that way of thinking because I have a young preteen that could be dealing with some of these very issues in the near future. I want her to be prepared with her answer before she has to make the decision.

The "wrong" choices led to some pretty hard consequences. But with Christ at the center of their redemption it showed how even when you make mistakes and have to live with the consequences there is life after those mistakes. You can still make the right choices and move on with your life. And it can be a good life even if it isn't the one you had planned before you made those mistakes. That is a good lesson for our preteens and teens, but also for us.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://nicoleodell.com/

Her Blog: http://nicoleodell.com/category/a-blog/

Girl Talk: http://nicoleodell.com/category/girltalk/

Teen Talk Radio: http://www.choicesradio.com/

Shadowed In Silk by Christine Lindsay

2011-05-09T10:47:00.003-05:00

She was invisible to those who should have loved her

After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.

Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.

Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.

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Shadowed in Silk was a wonderful surprise. I knew the book would be great because some of my writer friends had said it was. But there were things about it I didn't expect even reading the description. I was stuck in the usual and normal way of doing things, I suppose. It wasn't just a historical but one that took me to India, a place and time I had never read about. It gave me some wonderful insight into that time period. As someone with a heart to reach out to those of other nationalities this really spoke to me. I have been learning so much about different cultures. This helped further those lessons. I was never really interested in history when I was in school but now that I am a homeschool mom and writer history has taken on a whole new excitement.

The characters were vibrant and alive throughout the story. Abby is such a caring and loving person. She doesn't hold prejudice's against others because of their skin color. She respects the cultural boundaries. Geoff is a strong man of good character. He is a great leader. They each understand the boundaries that are set because of who they are and the position in life they are in. While Abby doesn't quite understand the one true God Geoff has strayed away from Him. His relationship isn't the close one he used to have. As the story unfolds God does a mighty work in each of their lives.

This is a book that shows us how to love people for who they not the color of their skin or where they live. Sadly it shows us our mistakes where our actions have caused others great pain on both sides of great wars and disputes. But that is our fallen world. It isn't the world God wanted for us. It is a great book that I recommend anyone to read who loves a great historical. I can't wait to read her next book.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.christinelindsay.com

Her Blog: http://www.christinelindsay.org/

Read Chapter One: http://shadowedinsilk--chapterone.blogspot.com/

Read a Sample Scene: http://shadowedinsilk--chapterone.blogspot.com/2011/04/another-sample-chapter-you-may-enjoy.html

Book Two: Captured by Moonlight Autumn 2012

Kylie's Kiss by Delia Latham

2011-04-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

On a dare, Kylie Matthews lands smack in the middle of Solomon’s Gate—Castle Creek’s new Christian dating agency—and she finds herself revealing exactly what she’s waiting for in a relationship: “The kiss that steals my breath away.”

What she doesn’t reveal is her lack of self-esteem or her irrational reaction to facial disfigurement. Neither is applicable to her quest to find the perfect match. But that seemingly superficial malady becomes all-important when her first agency-arranged date is Rick Dale—a man who is everything Kylie is searching for. He’s handsome, smart, fun. Rick has it all…including an angelic six-year-old daughter with severe scarring on one side of her face.

Hard at work founding a therapy camp for young female victims of deformity or disfigurement, Rick wants Kylie to be a part of those plans. She’d love to say yes…but how can she, when every contact with the facility’s guests—and Rick’s own daughter—will make her violently ill?

Kylie is ready to admit their relationship doesn’t stand a chance, but she’s forgotten that God makes a way where there seems no way.

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Solomon's Gate Series: Book Two

Kylie's Kiss is a book that will touch your heart. In today's world vanity is becoming more and more an issue for our young daughters. So many things point to outward beauty and perfection as being the most important thing regardless of what is on the inside. We are sending these young girls the wrong message. Beauty is more than skin deep. It goes all the way to our core. If a person is ugly on the inside it doesn't matter what is on the outside. The same is true with inner beauty. It radiates to the surface and over shadows whats on the outside. We need to understand that God made us the way we are. And in His eyes we are beautiful and He wants us to be beautiful on the inside.

This book didn't just focus on beauty. It was an example of how one person caring and doing their part could make a huge difference in someones life. Or even a great number of people. One person taking the time to care for another can have a huge impact. We also need to realize that the world's standards of a "good life" aren't always God's standards. If you are going through life and it feels like it has no meaning then you need to examine it according to God's ruler. How can you make God number one in your life instead of you?

This is such a sweet book that touches some deep hurts. I think this is a great book to give young preteens to young adult women. I am much older than that and loved it but I do feel it would be a great book for girls that age to read. It could dispel some untruths that they have already started believing about themselves. It is a book with humor and joy. A book of redemption and mended relationships. A book of healing. A must read.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.delialatham.net/

Her Blog: http://my-book-bag.blogspot.com/

Delia's Designs: http://www.deliadesigns.webs.com/

Solomon's Gate Series:

Book One: Destiny's Dream: Available now

Book Three: Gypsy's Game: Coming soon

Her Other Books:

Mine (A new children's book)

Yesterday's Promise

Goldeneyes

Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West

2011-04-20T22:14:00.001-05:00

Yesterday's Tomorrow

It's 1967 and Kristin Taylor wants to go to Vietnam to report on the war, and honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning journalist like he was. but no editor will send her. So she strikes out on her own and steps into a world more terrifying than she'd Imagined.

As she encounters the horrors of war, Kristin struggles to report the truth while desperately trying to keep tabs on her only brother who enlisted some time ago, but both tasks seem impossible.

When she meets photographer Luke Maddox, Kristin knows she's found a story. They mystery beneath his brooding eyes triggers her curiosity. She's convinced he's hiding something and determines to discover his secrets. The only trouble is, he won't let her within three feet of him.

In an unexpected twist, Kristin and Luke are forced to work together. With war raging all around them, they engage in their own tumultuous battle of emotions. Headstrong and willing to risk it all for what they believe in, they'll do whatever it takes to fulfill their own private agendas. Kristin is after a story that might get her the Pulitzer. Luke wants retribution from the enemy that took away his family. In the face of death, Kristin and Luke must decide if they're willing to set aside selfish ambition for the love that seems to have ambushed them and captured their hearts.

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Yesterday's Tomorrow was captivating. I was just a child when these things took place and the only knowledge that I had of that war was hearsay and of course the famous TV show that ran for 11 seasons. It took me back to that time and showed me some realities that are often over looked, in any war, not just that one. It was personal and devastating to everyone who was there. The characters in the book took on a life of their own as I turned page after page. I had to find out how their story unfolded and what lives they would touch.

There is a very real love story throughout this book but there was a sense of realism to it that isn't always in some books. Sometimes people don't want to read things that are too real. Real can be painful. There were times in this book that I cried. Of course, I cried. It was a book in the middle of a war and the aftermaths of that war. It affected their lives for many years after they left the war zone. And it had an impact on the lives of those who were waiting back in America. It touched on the ugliness of war, the innocent who are in the middle of war, the aftermath of the war, and the healing that must take place after experiencing things that no one should ever have to witness.

I loved this book for the excellent way it was written and for the realism that came through the pages of the story. It reminded me that even in hard situations that there will be a place for God to use you to shine His light in the darkness. He gives us moments to cherish even in the midst of such pain. It is not a dark book by any means. She writes it in such a way that you can picture things but she doesn't go into huge details that would keep you up at night. But it does make you think AND feel.

It is an excellent debut novel by Catherine West and I look forward to reading more. It isn't for the faint of heart. It will touch you to the very core!

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com/

Her Blog: http://www.internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/

Delivered With Love by Sherry Kyle

2011-04-19T11:37:00.000-05:00

An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited 1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small town of Capitola, California. There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.

Claire James, age twenty-three, is ready to make it on her own. When she's fired from her job as a waitress and subsequently kicked out of her sister's home, she sees it as an opportunity to start over. But even before moving, a thirty-five-year-old love letter written to her mother keeps Claire stuck in the past. Michael Thompson, a middle-aged real estate agent, wants to keep the past where it belongs - at least until his grown daughter is married. But, then a young woman comes to town . . .

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Delivered With Love is a book that shows how God can place others in ours lives at just the right time to make a difference in how we see Him and ourselves. It also shows how a life can go from a terrible situation to something better if we will put forth the effort and make the move to do it. I loved the characters in the book. Claire was strong in many ways even though she had her doubts and fears about loving others. She didn't back down or run away from situations that were less than pleasant. Along the way she met many special people that became a part of her new life. One of my favorite characters was Geraldine. She reminded me somewhat of my own grandmother, spunky and fun loving. The book dealt with some hard situations but it all came back to forgiveness and second chances. We need to mend those bridges in our lives with our loved ones and move forward in God's love.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://www.sherrykyle.com

Other Books:

The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style: Girls will have fun exploring and creating their own personal style while strengthening their character on the inside. Fun fashion facts, quizzes, and inspiration will guide girls as they discover their unique blend of creativity and confidence that lets their personality shine! Received a Mom's Choice Award!

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

2011-04-12T13:16:00.002-05:00

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets: the names of fathers of illegitimate children, the level of love and harmony within many a marriage, and now the identity of a man who may have caused his wife's death.

Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, what he, a British nobleman, is doing on American soil working as a bondsman in the home of Mayor Kendall, a Southern gentleman with his eye on a higher office.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and...love. But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love's discovery.

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Lady in the Mist was captivating. There was so much going on in the book that it kept my attention from start to finish. It was filled with mystery and a "who done it". I had a hard time being certain of who did do it until the end of the book.

Tabitha is a caring young woman who desires to be loved by a husband and have children of her own. She is a strong woman who is confident in her abilities. Yet, she has turned away from God because she believes He has done the same to her. Dominick is a young man who shows his youth while other times he is the man who knows what needs to be done and does it. He hides any fear or uncertainty behind a mask of humor.

Several of the characters thought their sins were too great for the Lord to forgive. Some thought they had to do great deeds in order to be forgiven. There are so many people in this world that believe just that. They think they have done too many really bad things that there is no way back, no way of redemption. And there are those that think if they can do enough big things it will somehow be good enough. But the Bible tells us that there is no way we can do enough to make up for our sins. And we don't have to. All we have to do is trust in Jesus and ask for forgiveness. That His love covers our sins.

This is a book I recommend because of the characters, storyline and the redemption it teaches us. I am looking forward to reading many more from this wonderful author.

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Her Website: http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/

Her Blog: http://seizethechance.blogspot.com/

Jersey Brides March 2011

A Necessary Deception October 2011

Printed on My Heart in Highland Crossings January 2012

A Heart Held Captive February 2012

Over a Barrel in Colonial Courtships May 2012

At The Captian's Command by Louise M. Gouge

2011-04-08T19:54:00.001-05:00

At the Captain's Command (Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical) was awarded a 4-star RT rating. In this story, a heroic British naval captain, son of an influential earl, dares to fall in love with a provincial American girl. Then he discovers her family's devastating secret.

Duty and career—Captain Thomas Moberly of His Majesty's Navy prizes them above all. So why is he tempted to relinquish both for Dinah Templeton? Though Dinah seems sweet and charming, the difference in station between an East Florida belle and the son of an earl is too marked to ignore. And all other obstacles pale with the discovery that Dinah's brother James is not what he seems….A war is brewing on the colonies' horizon, and James has chosen his side—in opposition to the country Thomas has sworn to defend. But what of Dinah? Where does her heart truly lie—with her family, or with the man she claims to love?

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This book gives you a glimpses of history and what people went through during the time of America's fight for independence. Like in any war, families can be torn apart or brought together. We can fall in love with those on the other side of an issue and have to choose which is more important, the issue or the person we love.

The characters came alive to me as I read. They are easy love and care about. There are a few that are just as easy to dislike. It takes place in Florida, a place I never thought of when it came to the Revolutionary War. I didn't know Florida was under British rule then. That is one of the things I love about Historicals, I get a history lesson intertwined in a great story.

It also gave you a look at how families need healing and forgiveness for things in the past that have driven a wedge between them. It showed even though you may not have an earthly father as an example of love you could still learn to understand and accept God in that roll.

I recommend you get this book, as well as the two before it (they are listed below). You will enjoy this time reading about the Moberly family as they sort out their lives and loyalties in the midst of the Revolutionary War.

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Want More:

Her Website: http://blog.louisemgouge.com/

This is the third book in her Revolutionary War series, which follows the Moberly siblings, two English brothers and their sister who find themselves inconveniently falling in love with Americans during a time when their two countries are at war. Look for the first two stories: Love Thine Enemy and The Captain's Lady.

I Called Him Dancer by G. Edward Snipes

2011-04-05T13:03:00.000-05:00

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turns his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman’s enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.

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I Called Him Dancer was a wonderful book. I wasn't sure what to expect. I normally read Christian romance but have recently started reading other fiction genres and enjoying them. While this isn't a romance you normally think of it is a love story at its very core. One between God and man. Michael grabbed my heart and attention from the beginning. I was eager to follow his story and find out where it lead. I felt drawn to this sweet little boy who was left with no one, or so he thought. He failed to see the many people who did care for him because he had withdrawn so far within himself. But all through his life there were people in his path that did care for him and helped him with his dreams.

Raquel is a young girl who found Jesus and saw how it changed her life. When she met Michael she just knew there was a connection. Through years of distance she never let that go because it was something God put in her heart. She demonstrated that unconditional love towards Michael.

The preacher was an amazing character, one of my favorites. I loved his conversations with the Lord and how even when he didn't want to do what he was told he was faithful. God blessed his willing and loving spirit for others.

This is a book about Gods forgiveness and love for even those who feel they cannot be forgiven. For those who have reached the bottom and feel there is no way up. It's a book about listening to what God is leading you to do even when it sounds like nothing good will come from it. We may never see what comes from the seeds we plant but God is faithful to bring them to fruition. I believe it should encourage us to see the world and people through the eyes of Jesus. We don't know their story, but He does. And He can use us to reach them with His love.

It also gives you something to think about when it comes to your Christian walk. Remember that those who don't know Jesus will expect something different from you. If someone who says they are a Christian and acts in a way that isn't godly we could be leading them to believe that God doesn't care about them either. There are many people out there that say they are Christians but their actions don't show it. We need to make sure we are showing others Jesus' love through our actions and words.

If you love to read inspirational stories filled with characters that seem to come alive on the pages of the book and draw you into the story, this book is for you. It's a book that even young teens would benefit from and enjoy.

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Want More:

Eddie Snipes balances writing between a full-time job, five children, and participating in professional organizations. In 2011 began serving as president of the Christian Authors Guild. He has been actively writing since 1998. Eddie contributes to OnePlace.com / Sermon Search, is a speaker, and has served as a Pastor and interim pastor. He actively participates in three writing organizations – The Christian Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Atlanta Writers Club, and has won several writing awards. He has had three award winning short stories, and regularly has articles published on several online ministries. He is the founder of Exchanged Life Ministries.

His Website: http://www.eddiesnipes.com/

His Ministry Site: http://www.exchangedlife.com

The Unforgivable by Tessa Stockton

2011-04-04T13:28:00.002-05:00

The Unforgivable

Accused of the worst war crimes in the history of Argentina, Carlos Cornella is despised by a wounded nation…

“I’m in love with a monster. That’s what people call him anyway: monster, murderer, kidnapper, torturer, sociopath, even the devil. His crimes are so terrible that he may be unforgivable. But I have come to know him as something else. I know him as God’s Treasure. And I’m not sure what to do about that. So, here’s my story.”

Wounds of South America is a political intrigue series focusing on some of the political conflicts that have plagued the continent. Each book is set on a different country, portraying stories of redemption and love in the midst of desperate circumstances. The Unforgivable is set in Argentina, against the backdrop of the Dirty War–the military dictatorship of the 1970s that saw thousands of people disappear by the government.

“I invite you to enter into the complexities of a devoted Christian woman, Genevieve, who falls in love with a man, Carlos, who is accused of war crimes,” Tessa Stockton says. “Many years ago, the Lord spoke to my heart while involved with human rights groups. He compelled me to dig farther into that shady realm, but pull from it, the deeper, more spiritual significance of the people and events affected by war and its atrocities. I found a remarkable truth about forgiveness and unconditional love that many deny.”

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The Unforgivable is a challenging book. It forces you to address what you believe and how you feel about other peoples sins. The Bible tells us all sin is equal and that none is greater or lesser than the other. Sin is sin. But I believe as human beings we have an invisible scale that we JUDGE sin on. "This sin is worse than this one. This one can never be forgiven. This one is for when you are really evil and should be damned to hell without a chance of forgiveness." We aren't the judge and shouldn't try to be. The Unforgivable touches on these very things. It makes you look at others and yourself differently. Yes, some sins are terrible and hard to forgive. But God loves us ALL. And HE wants us ALL to love one another and to forgive.

This is a book about faith and trust in what God is leading you to do and how He wants you to love those that are unforgivable in the worlds eyes. We live in a world of sin and pain. War and violence are everywhere. I recommend you read this book and allow it to open your heart to the love only God can show you.

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Want More?

A choreographer, dancer and musician, Tessa worked in the Christian performing arts for over twenty years, including directing the International Christian Dance Theater under the auspices of missionary organization, Global Ministries.

Her Blog: http://www.tessastockton.blogspot.com/

Her Website: http://www.tessastockton.com/

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpYVOR9gEJo

Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington

2011-03-22T10:15:00.002-05:00

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:
Bound by Guilt

by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Roxi Gold is a throwaway, shuttled from one foster home to another for most of her life. She longs for a family and will do anything to fit in--even if it's against the law. Soon she's traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores, until a first edition of The Great Gatsby catches up with her.

Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society, and not just at work. The job she once loved has become a chore, the world isn't any safer, and there's no joy in her life. One fateful night a man's innocent blood changes both Roxi's and Abby's lives forever.

One searches for justice; the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free, or will they both remain bound by guilt?

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Bound by Guilt is a book about what true love and happiness are. The world teaches us differently than Jesus does about those two things. Sometimes we think that love is about getting something from someone or being perfect to be loved. Jesus doesn't stop loving us when we mess up. We can be loved by someone for just being who we are. Sometimes we are our own worst critic. No one judges us as harshly as we judge ourselves. We need to stop being the judge and jury. God can see through all of our mess and loves us anyway. This is another wonderful book by C.J. Darlington. This is not a book you want to miss.

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C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site www.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats.

Today CJ joins us on her blog tour for the debut of her second novel, Bound by Guilt. CJ, thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions about yourself. As a homeschool mom I am very interested in your personal story and your writing journey.

How old were you when you started writing?

I remember being eight or nine and sitting at my dad’s old word processor typing up a story. My first epic was called “The Horse’s Story” and was about Joshua of the Bible’s horse. It was going to follow him through the walls of Jericho falling down. When I was eleven or so I started my next epic called “Moby”. It was about a Labrador Retriever searching for his place in the world. As you can tell, I love animals, and most of my early stories revolved around them. My sister and I also had a newspaper we peddled around our neighborhood for 50 cents.

How did you realize that writing would be something you wanted to do as a career?

At first I didn’t. As a teenager I had all the usual, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” questions. I knew I liked to write, and even back as a kid I would dream about someday, maybe, having a book published. But my parents really encouraged me to pursue the things that interested me. Now as an adult I believe that God often plants desires in our hearts as children to guide us into our callings. I think the biggest clue for me was that only when I was writing was I truly content. Sure, it was hard work at times. It still is. But it’s as if something inside me only turned on when I was fulfilling what God had called me to do.

Tell us about your business you started with your sister and how old you were when you began that adventure.

This was something else that I think the Lord orchestrated in our lives. One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was going to the library. So it only made sense I’d start to haunt used bookstores as I got older. There is this amazing bookstore in West Chester, Pennsylvania called Baldwin’s Book Barn. It’s five stories tall and contains over 300,000 used and rare books. You can literally get lost in it. One day we were perusing the shelves and saw a book for $20 or $30, and something clicked. We’d seen the book before. Only it was $1 or $2 at a different used bookstore down the road from us. We asked ourselves, could we buy the cheaper book, sell it to them wholesale and make a profit?

It all started from there. We were seventeen years old, and we didn’t know our little idea was called book scouting. Soon we were scouting for several bookstores in our area and turning a small profit. But it was a lot of work. Within a year we realized we needed to cut out the middle man and sell the books directly to consumers ourselves. The internet was just taking off for used book dealers, and we jumped into the foray with both feet and started our own online bookstore.

We began traveling to used book sales all across the country, and the business quickly grew into something we couldn’t handle on our own. Mom was the first to join us, and then our dad followed suit. Now that little book business started by two ambitious teenagers is our entire family’s business.

I was able to incorporate a lot of what I learned about rare books and the book business in both my novels. A first edition of Ernest Hemingways’ For Whom the Bell Tolls plays an important role in the Thicker than Blood story, and a first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in Bound by Guilt.

How old were you when you started writing "Thicker Than Blood".

I was fifteen when I started the story that would become Thicker than Blood. I still have the notebook with those early writings.

I know you won an award for that book. Can you tell us about that and how that felt to be such a young author with such a great accomplishment?

It was truly an honor. It took almost fifteen years of hard work to learn the craft of writing well enough to complete Thicker than Blood. I’d actually submitted an early version of the novel to the 2004 Operation First Novel contest sponsored by the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and Tyndale House. It placed as a semi-finalist but didn’t win. So I began to revise it and started submitting to publishers directly. I received many rejections but learned from them how I could improve the story. Even so, I became discouraged after four years passed and it hadn’t found a home yet. Then one night I had the thought . . . what if I submitted the revised story to that year’s Operation First Novel contest (it’s a yearly contest)? With only two weeks to spare, I did. It was such a blessing to win in 2008. A year later Thicker than Blood was published by Tyndale House.

Did it take you a shorter amount of time to write "Bound by Guilt"?

Yes, during the time I was submitting Thicker than Blood to publishers, I was writing Bound by Guilt. It took me about four years to complete. I hope to speed that process up with my future projects!

Is there a third book on the way?

I’m currently writing my third novel. I don’t have a contract for it yet, but we’ll see what happens in the future!

I am sure your family is very proud of you. What part have they played in your writing career?

My family is a HUGE encouragement to me. I wouldn’t be here talking to you today if it weren’t for them. Mom is my first editor and is incredible in helping me edit my stories and brainstorm possibilities. My dad is my first reader and often has great insights. Tracy, my twin sister, listens to me ramble on and on about my characters and plots and always asks great questions!

What advice would you offer those who have a desire to write and become published?

I think it’s important to go in knowing it can take time, often many years, to be published. And often our first novels are learning experiences and it’s the second or third or fourth book which is published. Writing is an apprenticeship in many ways. If we know that ahead of time it can help us not be discouraged when things take longer than we might want. I didn’t know it would take fifteen years for my first book to be published. But during that time I was learning so much and am glad I wasn’t published when I first wanted to be.

Is there any special advice for the young writer?

Write what interests you! That’s huge. Don’t worry about being published or markets and things like that in the early stages. Just write the story that’s in your heart to write. Your passion will come through on the page.

Do you have any other writing projects in the works?

I have a story coming out in the compilation The Dog Next Door : And Other Stories of the Dogs We Love. It’s being published in June by Revell Books. My story is about my childhood dog named Cindy and how she impacted the life of my grandmother. I called it “The Purpose Driven Dog"!

Want More?

Her Website: http://www.cjdarlington.com/index.htm

Her Blog: http://www.cjdarlington.blogspot.com/

Read Chapter One: http://www.cjdarlington.com/excerpts/bound-by-guilt-excerpt.htm

Watch Book Trailer: http://www.cjdarlington.com/books/bound-by-guilt/trailer.htm

Thicker Than Blood: Her first book-see my post below.

Title Trakk Bound by Guilt Blog Tour: http://www.titletrakkblogtours.blogspot.com/

Thicker Than Blood by C.J. Darlington

2011-03-15T16:03:00.000-05:00

Winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged, younger sister, May, who she abandoned in their childhood after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. May’s Triple Cross ranch could be the safe haven she’s searching for, but will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

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Thicker Than Blood Book Trailer

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Thicker Than Blood

C.J. is one of those remarkable people who allows God to shape them at a very early age. She is a homeschool graduate and started a business when she was still in school. (We will learn more about that in an interview with her in a few days.) I knew she had to have talent in order to win the novel contest. But to be very honest, I had no idea she was as gifted a writer as she is. It didn't take long after I started reading Thicker Than Blood for me to see just how good she is at her craft.

Thicker Than Blood touches on some pretty difficult topics. I believe most people who do not know and understand the love of God feel the way Christy Williams does. She feels alone and like no one, not even God will care for her after the terrible things she has done and choices she has made in her life. Many feel they are unloveable because they can't even love themselves. Even Christians can be deceived into believing those lies when we are at our lowest point. God uses people to show us His love and that we really can be loved by Him and others despite our shortcomings.

This is a book of forgiveness and new beginnings. Sometimes we have to reach the very bottom before we can start to climb our way out. Christy hits rock bottom and is lead to the strongest connection she has to her past life, her sister May. When May lost her parents and then her sister fifteen years earlier she found someone who could get her through anything, Jesus. May thought she was over her pain of Christy leaving right after their parents funeral but as she spends time with her the pain comes back and makes her question herself and her sister. Can she show Christy the love she found in Christ or will her pain keep her from being what Christy needs most, a sister who loves her? Read Thicker Than Blood and find out. You won't want to miss this great book.

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Want More?

Her Website: http://www.cjdarlington.com/index.htm

Her Blog: http://www.cjdarlington.blogspot.com/

The story behind the story: http://www.cjdarlington.com/books/thicker-than-blood/story-behind.htm

Read Chapter One: http://www.cjdarlington.com/excerpts/thicker-than-blood-excerpt.htm

Bound By Guilt: Available Now! (My book review and an interview with CJ coming later this week. Check back!)

Freelance Writing Courses from Author Janice Thompson

2011-03-12T15:35:00.000-06:00

Want to learn how to write? Interested in making money with your writing? Check out these work-at-your-own-pace courses from author Janice Thompson. Whether you're interested in fiction, non-fiction, magazine articles, public speaking, editing or teaching, these courses will meet your need. Best of all, you can make money doing the thing you love to do...writing!

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

2011-03-08T11:31:00.000-06:00

The Bailey Flanigan series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime. She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City.

Bailey is determined to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city? And what of Cody? His disappearance has her worried about their future and praying that their love can survive.

In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis. New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan.

Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey Flanigan/Cody Coleman story.

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Leaving Book Trailer

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The Bailey Flanigan Series Leaving

I have followed the story of Bailey Flannigan through so many of Karen's books. It is wonderful to see her with a series of her own. I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I was so excited to be picked to be one of the first to review Leaving. I told everyone. I have almost all of her books in my home library. I stayed up until two in the morning because I just had to know what happened next. One of the things that I love most about Karen's books is the fact that scripture is intertwined throughout the book. It helps the reader to see how God can speak to us in similar situations.

In Leaving there were many things that stood out to me. The biggest was the fact that life is precious. It passes too quickly and we should live each day to the fullest. We should never spend our days worrying about what is coming up but take that day to laugh and live. It also points out something we don't often think about, the lasts. We focus on our child's firsts, the first time they walk, the first time they play a ball game, etc. But what about the last time they crawl, the last day of elementary school, the last day of high school, the last ... you fill in the blank. There can be so many lasts. And sometimes we don't know they are the last one. So don't worry about your days, enjoy them to the fullest.

Cody shows respect to an authority figure even though that person isn't deserving of that respect. He prays for God to change things instead of him trying to change things himself. That spoke volumes to me. In this world where everyone is out to get what they deserve and wants justice no matter what, this was refreshing. He always keeps his example to the youth he works with pure.

It focused a lot on growing up and moving away from home. It changes for everyone not just the child that has grown up and is now ready to spread their wings in the world. The parents and children still at home have to readjust life as they know it. There is a change in the dynamics. We all have to grow up and move forward in life. The lesson I learned from this book (and the others that had this family in them) was to have no regrets because you spent the years building up to that, supplying them with what they needed to make it. To make sure they are grounded in their faith in God. To make sure your relationship with each other is strong. Then place them in God's hands and love them all the more.

The characters have had my heart from the beginning. I already knew them from previous books. I have walked with them through their ups and downs. Karen has a way of making her characters so real that you just have to know what they are doing. Even she can't stop writing about the Flanigan's and the Baxter's. I cried many times throughout this book. In some of her books I have had heart wrenching cries and others it is just a quiet time where the tears just roll down my face. God uses Karen to speak to my heart through so many situations. What a blessing that this lady is willing to allow God to speak through her writing.

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Want More?

Her website: http://karenkingsbury.com/

Her Facebook: Meet Karen Here

Bailey Flannigan's Facebook: Meet Bailey Here

Book 2: Learning June 2011

Driven by Shellie Neumeier

2011-03-04T12:47:00.000-06:00

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

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Driven Book Trailer

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Driven is YA fiction that takes us for a wild ride into the supernatural. No one knows for certain how that works but some authors have done a great job of giving us possibilities. Shellie Neumeier is one of them. We are introduced to Sebastian. He is the demon sent to bring Robyn's ministry down. There are demons in the story but there are also angels, called Heavenlies. Robyn is a caring and bright 17 year old who loves the Lord and her friends. She doesn't always have perfect thoughts but tries very hard to follow what God would have her do.

I love the fact that while she does show her weaknesses and her human thoughts, like pride, she also admits it and sees it for what it is, sin. She has a great relationship with her parents, youth leader and her prayer team. She can talk to them about the big issues and does. She isn't afraid to put herself in hard situations if she feels that is what God would have her do.

This book shows us how forgiveness is not just something we need from others but from ourselves as well. It allows us to understand that we are fighting things that are not of this world. We should have the full armor of God on daily so we are better equiped to fight the demons that desire to sift us like wheat. We need to be aware that the thoughts in our mind, if they do not line up to what God has told us in His Word, should be cast out of our mind. They are not truth. It also reminds us that we have power in the name of Jesus.

I think this is a great book for teens. If they are grounded in their faith then the talk of demons will not scare them. They will be encouraged to see how the power of God is there to protect them. They just need to call out to Him whenever the Spirit prompts them to. But we need to believe spiritual warfare is real because the Bible tells us it is. And that we fight against them daily. If we can ground our teens in this knowledge at an early age and teach them how to over come it, then they will have strength in that. It's also a lesson adults should learn.

It is an easy book to read and hard to put down. I am hopeful that these characters will live on in more books soon.

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Want More?

Her website: http://shellieneumeier.com/

Get the 1st Chapter: http://shellieneumeier.com/driven-chapter-1/

The Wishing Ring: February 2012

The Master's Wall by Sandi Rog

2011-03-02T13:34:00.002-06:00

He fights for his freedom. She fights for her life. Together, they fight for each other.

After watching Roman soldiers drag his parents away to their death, David, a young Hebrew, is sold and enslaved to serve at a villa outside of Rome. As David trains to become a skilled fighter, he works hard to please his master and hopes to earn his freedom. However, an opportunity to escape tempts him with its whispering call. Freedom beckons, but invisible chains hold him captive to the master's granddaughter, an innocent girl with a fiery spirit. David vows to protect Alethea from his master, the murderous patriarch, and contrives a daring plan--sacrifice his own life to save hers.

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Iron and the Stone Series Book One

The Master's Wall

Historicals are a favorite of mine and I have been drawn to biblical fiction in the past year. Sandi Rog does an excellent job of describing the setting in which the book takes place. In The Master's Wall you meet the two main characters when they are young children. Some books do a great job of just giving you glimses of the characters past and that works out wonderfully for that book. I am so glad she started at the beginning of their story and worked her way through it. Each moment builds on the next and has such impact on their relationship and their actions. The book caught my attention from the very first page and didn't let go of me even at the last. It is a must read!

David is a strong young man of God. He is only 10 at the opening of the book but you see right away that his father has taught him the truths of the one true God. His mind echos his father's teachings when hard situations confront him. All through the book you see his faith winning out over his own human desires. As he grows he shares his faith with those around him. In a way he reminds me of Joseph because he went through many hardships and could have been angry with the Lord but chose to believe God had a purpose for where he was.

Alethea is a strong willed and adventurous little girl. She is a couple of years younger than David but right away is drawn to him and wants to be his friend. David believes in the God that her father believed in, before he was killed by her grandfather. She cannot look at her family in the same way since that day. Her grandfather is a cruel man who will punish even the ones he loves the most in a way that goes beyond abuse. While she spent the first years of her life learning about Jesus from her father she is still surrounded by the Roman gods that her family worships. She knows her father died because of his belief in the one true God. She lives with the fear that her grandfather will kill her too if he thought she believed in Him.

As they grow up together their lives take the different paths that their status demands. David is a slave but is trained to fight better than anyone in the household and those that visit there. Alethea is betrothed at the age of 11 to a man her grandfather chooses. She doesn't want to marry him and tries to find a way out of it before it is too late. She only has until she is 14. David vows to protect her from a very young age. It keeps him from running away when he has the chance.

Much happens between the two. For a time they are torn from each other because of a lie and unforgiveness. Will they find a way back to each other? Will he find a way to save her life and gain his freedom. Is there a way to gain both? Find out how they survive during a time that men wanted to harm but God used it for good.

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Want more?

Her website: http://www.sandirog.com/

Her blog: http://sandirog.blogspot.com/

Iron and the Stone Series Book Two

YAHSHUA'S BRIDGE coming Fall of 2011

An amethyst stone draws him to his past. An elusive maiden draws him to his future.

Alexander is born into slavery under an abusive master: a master of his own flesh and blood . . . a man he will never call Father. Determined to break away from his master’s hold, Alexander devises a plan to purchase his freedom. But what's he to do when he finds himself shipped off in shackles to Egypt, disappearing from the lives of everyone he knows and loves?

Patchwork Dreams by Laura V. Hilton

2011-02-08T16:09:00.000-06:00

One fateful decision...Two renewed hearts

Ever since returning from her rumspringa pregnant and unwed, Becky Troyer has been a pariah in her Amish community. Even after she confesses her sin and rejoins the church, her peers continue to shun her. A distraught Becky wonders if she will ever marry for love.

Becky's world changes, however, when the handsome Jacob Miller arrives at her family's farm. The assumption is that he's there to help with chores during the summer, and then he'll return to Pennsylvania. But Jacob's father actually sent him away to introduce new blood into the Amish community of Seymour, as well as to distance him from his sweetheart, Susie.

As their friendship deepens, the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Can Jacob cheer up the lovely yet listless Becky by offering her the only unconditional friendship she's ever known? Or will he honor his pledge to Susie and turn his back on Becky, as others have done in the past?

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Patchwork Dreams

What a wonderful, sweet story of healing and coming of age. In the Amish community they have a time in a young persons life where they go from being children to adults. It is called a rumspringa. After that time period they have to decide if they will then join the church and be fully committed to the Amish way of life or to choose to live a life outside the Amish community. As with any teenagers, the world has many temptations to draw them into things that will only get them into trouble.

Becky made some mistakes during that time by allowing a boy outside the Amish community to sweet talk her into seeing him. Because of that boys lies and the fact that she had a baby from that relationship she was shunned by her community. She had made amends in front of the church but people didn't forgive her mistakes the way the Lord did.

Jacob thought he had his life all figured out. He was dating Susie and was planning on marrying her during the upcoming marriage season. But when he meets Becky he sees something in her that he doesn't see in Susie. His feelings for Becky are very different, as well. As he works with Becky's dad in the blacksmith shop he starts to see things from a mans point of veiw instead of a boys. Jacob changes from the boy who liked to run around and be irresponsible to a man with a trade that he can use to provide for a family and a desire to have a woman who followed the Amish order of life instead of someone trying to drag him away from it.

This book shows you honor and commitment to the Lord, a way of life and people you love. It shows you how a simple life can be one of fulfillment and happiness. It was a pleasure to read Patchwork Dreams and I recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet romance.

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Want more?

Her Blog: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/

The Chronicles of Narnia

2011-01-30T17:31:00.000-06:00

Last week and this week I have been and will be reading through the entire Chronicles of Narnia. I have never done that before. For someone who loves to read I have really failed in reading some of the greatest works of literature there is out there. It is my plan to change that in the coming months and years. While I will continue with great pleasure to seek out and read new Christian fiction, I want to read some of the classics in between those.

I am on the fourth book, Prince Caspian. I have seen the movies, all three. After seeing The Voyage of the Dawn Treader it made me want to read the books. So many people told me that it was their favorite of the Narnia books. So I can't wait to read it.

I am finding the books very interesting. They are short enough that I can usually read one in about a day and a half, when I have the time to spend. I would encourage you to read it, if you are an adult or a child. You won't be disappointed. I won't review each book on here. I just wanted to let my readers know what I was up to this week. Happy reading!

Kaydie by Penny Zeller

2011-01-20T12:21:00.000-06:00

A fresh start and a new life

For the first time in years, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer can breathe easily. Although she is still haunted by memories of her abusive husband, Darius, she takes comfort in knowing the man is dead. Staying with her sister McKenzie and brother-in-law Zach Sawyer at their ranch, Kaydie is still wary of men, especially now that she has another life inside of her to guard. As she looks forward to her baby’s birth, she builds a protective wall around herself that won’t be easy to tear down.

Ranch hand Jonah Dickenson views his boss, Zach, like a brother. He does not, however, envy Zach’s new role as a husband. Deserted by his mother at a young age and forever despised and rejected by his own father, Jonah has few close relationships. But there’s something about Kaydie that draws him to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor. When Cedric Van Aulst, an old friend of Kaydie’s, comes to town, an unforeseen prospect of marriage arises. Cedric is someone Kaydie trusts. Will she settle for a safe union with him, or can she trust God to guard her heart and her life in the arms of Jonah?

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Kaydie

We get to know both Kaydie and Jonah in the first book of the series, McKenzie. I love books that carry on with the same characters because I have a hard time letting go of them when they become so real to me. The books that Penny Zeller writes are like that for me. I can't get enough of the characters she has created. And I love that they are not limited to adult readers. Young readers can read them without fear of inappropriate situations and words. Even young preteen girls will enjoy these books. And still adult women will enjoy it just as much.

Back story: Kaydie is a shy girl who dared to go against her parents to marry a man who talked of adventure and daring. She didn't know at the time that it was all a lie and he was not the man she thought he was. As soon as they married and were away from her family he allowed his true colors to show. He was a cruel man and his death was a welcomed escape for Kaydie. After his death, she is taken in by a Christian woman who leads her to the Lord. When she sees a notice that her sister has married and moved to Montana Territory looking for her she makes plans to travel where her sister is. She goes there to recover from the years of abuse her husband put her through and have her baby, the one blessing from her marriage to Darius.

Kaydie struggles with the pain she went through and wonders if she can ever trust another with her heart. When she meets Jonah for the first time there is an attraction between them but Kaydie cannot accept it as that and it turns to fear. She becomes uncomfortable and avoids him.

Jonah understands her pain and doesn't blame her for how she is reacting to him. He prays for God to help him show her she can trust him as a friend. He has no intention on it getting any farther than friendship. He doesn't want to get married because his mother left his father when he was three and his father didn't treat him well. But that doesn't stop him from caring for Kaydie and wanting to be her friend.

They grow closer in their friendship. But there is so much history for both of them that it holds them back from what they truly want, each other. All the while her parents are planning for her to go back to Boston and marry someone there. But the life she wants is the one she has in Pine Haven.

Both of them seek God's guidance throughout the story. They allow themselves to become the best of friends. Kaydie learns to laugh and have fun again. But...

Can she overcome her fears of the past? Can she go against her parents again or will she move back to Boston to make them happy? Can Jonah take a step of faith and trust that God will guide him in being the husband and father he needs to be? You'll have to read and find out! You won't be sorry.

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Want More?

The Montana Skies Series

McKenzie available now

Kaydie due to be released in April 2011

Her Blog: http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com

Her Website: http://www.pennyzeller.com

McKenzie by Penny Zeller

2011-01-19T11:31:00.000-06:00

Desperate Times

Desperate times call for desperate measures" is the reasoning that prompts McKenzie Worthington, a young lady of Boston’s high society, to respond to an ad for a mail-order bride for a man in the Montana Territory. McKenzie is desperate, after all, to save her beloved younger sister, Kaydie, from her evil, abusive husband, who robs banks for a living. And so, it is with reckless determination that McKenzie runs away from the comforts of home and hearth to head West and meet her new husband—whom she’ll divorce, of course, after she rescues her sister.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" is the reasoning that also prompts Zachary Sawyer, a rugged rancher after God’s own heart, to post an ad for a mail-order bride in various newspapers across the country. Managing a ranch and caring for his adoptive son, Davey, has become more than one man can handle alone, and Zach prays for God to send him a wife with whom to build a life and share his dreams.

When McKenzie arrives at Zach’s ranch, she immediately puts her plan in motion, searching for her sister and doing all she can to keep her new husband from forming an attachment. But his persistent kindness and significant self-sacrifices begin to change her heart—and ruin her plans. God has a way of working things out to the good of those who love Him, though, as McKenzie will soon see.

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McKenzie

McKenzie Worthington is not what I expected when I started reading. At first she seems like the usual nice Christian heroine. But we find out that she isn't what she seems in many ways. It is a welcome change to see how this young woman grows and changes when she finds out that her Bible isn't just something to carry around and church isn't just a social event. She goes from lying easily to feeling guilt for doing so.

Zachary Sawyer is a strong godly man who has known sadness and loss in his life but his faith has grown through it. From the beginning you see him taking it all before the Lord and trusting Him to guide him. He actually shows her how to have a relationship with God. That is him being the spiritual leader in his family and I loved it!

I recommend this book to readers of all ages. It is wonderful to see a romance that is an option for younger readers, too. I wish there had been romance like this when I started reading romance at the young age of 11. I am so pleased to see more and more available like this.

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Want More?

This is the first book in the Montana Skies Series. Be on the look out for book two: Kaydie due to be released in April 2011

Her Blog: http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com/

Her Website: http://www.pennyzeller.com/

Watch for my review on Kaydie coming soon!

Finding Becky & Caroline's Choice by Martha Rogers

2011-01-14T12:37:00.000-06:00

Will Becky's newfound independence lead her away from friends, family, and even God?

Rob Frankston has waited four years for Becky Haynes to come home, but she arrives back in Barton Creek newly graduated from college with an independent spirit that puzzles him. What's more, she is accompanied by Geoff Kensington, a recent acquaintance who is showing more than a passing interest in her.

Becky is flattered and taken in by Geoff's attentions, but when strange accidents start happening around the town, Rob becomes suspicious. Believing the old Becky is hidden beneath her facade of new found independence, he is determined to find and bring her back. Is it just jealousy? Or will he find answers and convince Becky to return to the faith of her childhood before it's too late?

Book three in the Winds Across the Prairie series brings you back to the town of Barton Creek, providing a glimpse into everyday life at a time when Oklahoma was drawing homesteaders to its territory before the days of statehood.

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Finding Becky

This is my favorite out of the four. In book one, Becoming Lucy, you meet Becky as a young girl. Throughout Morning for Dove, you see her grow up just a bit more. When Becky comes home from college with all the new ideas you see her trying to act like a city girl. Deep down, she is still the country girl she always was. At the same time you see her new knowledge of what woman could be a part of as Oklahoma draws closer to becoming a state. She forsakes her faith for a time, thinking herself to independent to need God. What a blessing to see that in a story about such a strong young lady and how she finds out God isn't just there for us when things go wrong but when things go right.

Martha is a gifted writer and has made these early days in Oklahoma seem so real to the reader. It was interesting to read about how the country was changing so rapidly and how it effected the people living in the area.

Check out her website: http://www.marthawrogers.com/

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Will Caroline finally find the adventure she longs for- or is she fleeing the very things that matter most?

At age twenty-six, Caroline Frankston is certain life is passing her by in the town of Barton Creek. Her feelings for Matthew Haynes appear unrequited, so she decides the time has come for her to move to the big city for a fresh start.

Once in Oklahoma City, Caroline is fascinated by the many opportunities there and begins moving on with her life. As time passes, Matt realizes his true feelings for her and plans to tell her on her next trip home. When Caroline goes missing after her train is in an accident, Matt sets out in search of her, wondering if any chance of spending his life with Caroline has disappeared.

Book four in the Winds Across the Prairie series brings you back to the town of Barton Creek, providing a glimpse into everyday life at a time when Oklahoma draws closer to statehood.

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Caroline's Choice

This book is filled with all of the wonderful characters we met in the other three books plus more. It is a great book of discovery and growth. One of finding and seeking God's will for our lives and understanding that His plan is the best for us. It also shows us that love can overcome many obstacles.

I would recommend this series to anyone. They are good for any age.

Check out her website: http://www.marthawrogers.com/

Jewel of Persia by Roseanna M. White

2011-01-06T12:35:00.000-06:00

How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?

Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes' wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.

Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but they’re not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovah–even if it costs her her marriage.

Years of prayers are answered when Kasia's childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?

Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus's Histories, Jewel of Persia is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.

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Jewel of Persia

I knew a little more what to expect from this book since reading A Stray Drop of Blood. I had also read Chapter One that was offered on the website. Like her first book, the characters came alive from the very beginning. The ones you are supposed to love, I loved deeply. The ones you are supposed to despise, I despised just as deeply.

I love how Roseanna intertwines history with fiction is such a way it is hard to tell where the truth ends and fiction begins. She has lots of historical information listed on her website to help you see how she wove her story around those facts. She is very clear on what she created and what is factual. It is done so beautifully that it is easy to see how it could have happened the way she wrote it. But make sure you check it out AFTER you read the book. There are spoilers in her information.

Esther has always been one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Roseanna has created a most intriguing story that shows what life could have been like in the house of the King of Persia during that time. I recommend that everyone read this book. It is a must have in my library collection. I got the digital copy but will get the paperback when it comes out in June of 2011. I look forward to many more novels from this wonderful author.

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Want more?

Read Chapter 1

Her Blog: http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/

Her Website: http://www.roseannawhite.com/

Jewel of Persia: Companion Guide and Discussion Questions

Do you want an autographed copy of Jewel of Persia?

Check out: http://www.crosspurposesbooks.com/

Make sure to leave her a message on her website that you ordered it and would like it autographed.

A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna M. White

2011-01-03T19:12:00.000-06:00

Beautiful is a dangerous thing to be when one is unprotected.

For seven years, Abigail has been a slave in the Visibullis house. With a Hebrew mistress and a Roman master, she has always been more family than servant . . . until their son returns to Jerusalem after his years in Rome. Within a few months Jason has taken her to his bed and turned her world upside down. Maybe, given time, she can come to love him as he says he loves her. But how does she open her heart to the man who ruined her?

Israel's unrest finds a home in her bosom, but their rebellion tears apart her world. Death descends with Barabbas's sword, and Abigail is determined to be there when the criminal is punished. But when she ventures to the trial, Barabbas is not the one the crowd calls to crucify. Instead, it is the teacher her master and Jason had begun to follow, the man from Nazareth that some call the Son of God . . .

Born free, made a slave, married out of her bonds, Abigail never knows freedom until she feels the fire of a stray drop of blood from a Jewish carpenter. Disowned by Israel, despised by Rome, desired by all, she never knows love until she receives the smile of a stoic Roman noble.

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A Stray Drop of Blood

I am not sure what I expected when I picked up this book. But I got much more than I could have ever dreamed. The story sounded great. I was hooked from the first paragraph. The characters came alive as I read. And not just a few but each one that came through the book grabbed my attention as if I were in the same room watching it all happen. It was a powerful story that gripped my heart.

It is not your typical romance and it isn't your typical Christian romance. It takes into account the way things were done in the time period with the Roman and Jewish cultures mixed together. The fact that it had so many different twists, just like real life was one of the reasons it was so good. In some books everything seems to work out too easily and the book is over too quickly. This one had so many twists, some good and some not so good. But you could see how God worked through each of those situations to bring about His purpose for their lives.

I have to tell you that this is one of my very favorite books. I have many but I just fell in love with this book and can't wait to read it again. I purchased it on Kindle but after reading it I knew I HAD to have it in a hard copy. I ordered it from the link below and am getting Roseanna to sign it for me! On her website she shares how this story came to be. Make sure you check that out, it is amazing!

You just have to read this book! If you don't, you will be missing a great blessing and a great read. Enjoy!

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Want more?

Her Blog: http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/

Her Website: http://www.roseannawhite.com/

A Stray Drop of Blood: Companion Guide and Discussion Questions

Do you want to order an autographed copy of A Stray Drop Of Blood?

Check out: www.CrossPurposesBooks.com

Make sure to leave her a message on her website that you ordered it and would like it autographed.

Masquerade Marriage by Anne Greene

2011-01-02T23:28:00.000-06:00

A SECRET LIST

He was born to a clan of noted warriors and musicians. Yet to protect his loved ones and escape the dark fate of his brothers, he abandons his identity. Hiding from relentless soldiers who want him dead, he vows to protect the woman he loves more than life, more than freedom, more than Scotland. But his presence throws her into danger.

A VOW HONORED

She weds a stranger to save his life. But do vows make a marriage? When does a marriage become a marriage? What if she holds a different love inside her heart?

A SACRIFICE MADE

Steeling himself against the pain, he condemns himself to a life of heartbreak without her. Wanting her desperately, knowing he can’t have her, he surrenders her and heads alone to certain death. Outlawed, with a price on his head, does she love him enough to give up castle, lands, and family, and risk the agony of surrendering her heart a second time?

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EXCERPT FROM MASQUERADE MARRIAGE

Like a determined hero, the fugitive warrior strode through the door at the far end of the tiny stone kirk.

Megan’s eyes widened. Her clenched jaw relaxed. Some of her dread dissolved.

“Impressive.” Molly, Megan’s Irish maid, whispered from where they stood together in the vestibule.

He stopped in front of the hand-carved altar and half-turned toward her. Megan pulled in an uneven breath. This Highlander, wearing formal kilts, was no scrawny lad grown older, nor was he a big, hairy Scot with a bushy beard. The tall, strapping soldier stood with legs braced as if about to do battle.

Her heart skipped. Though she’d known Brody when she wore short skirts, this blond warrior was far more than she expected. Her pulse throbbed in her temples. Doubt niggled her brain. Brody was too tall, too obviously a Highlander. How could she hope to pass him off as a Lowland Laird? He appeared to have too big a chip on his shoulder to let her command him.

Brody’s thick sandy hair swept the collar of his linen shirt. Lace-trimmed cuffs matched the white jabot at his muscular throat. A silver broach clasped his crimson and black tartan to his wide right shoulder. His Claymore, dirk, and thick sword belt startled her.

Megan suppressed a shudder. The English outlawed kilts. With his dress, Brody spat in the face of the English and further imperiled his life. Why?

His intense sapphire stare blazed a trail across the empty wooden pews toward her. His eyes made her feel dizzy as if she just danced a fast reel with a lively partner.

Molly grinned and handed Megan the bridal flowers.

What had she gotten herself into?

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Masquerade Marriage begins on April 16, 1746 in Scotland during the battle at Culloden. Brody MacCauley survives the battle. Orders to kill all remaining highlanders cause him to hide to stay alive. He is given an option that will protect himself and his remaining family. He struggles with hiding his identity and pretending he is something he is not, a lowlander.

Lady Megan MacMurry is the younger daughter of a lowlander family. The purpose of marrying Brody is two-fold. She wants to help one of the highlander survivors but also wants a way out of an arranged marriage to a violent man. She picks his name off the list because she recognizes it from their childhood. She thought he hated her because he picked on her to no end but....

From the first page I was drawn into this time period. The facts of the war at that time are intertwined throughout the book. I fell in love with Brody and Megan very quickly. This book is a wonderful historical romance that is filled with love, adventure, strong characters and wonderful storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in some exciting Christian romantic fiction. I look forward to more books from Anne Greene.

Check out her website: http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/