The Advocate

In addition to being an author, Randy is both a pastor and lawyer. He calls it his “Jekyll and Hyde thing.” You can guess which is which.  About twelve years ago, Randy began pursuing a passion to write. Tapping into his courtroom and ministry experience, Randy now pens legal thrillers designed to entertain readers while confronting them with biblical truths on controversial issues. His first novel, Directed Verdict, won the Christy award for the best Christian suspense novel. Recently, Randy was named a finalist, along with John Grisham and Michael Connelly, for the inaugural Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction sponsored by the American Bar Association and the University of Alabama Law School for the novel that best exemplified the role of lawyers in our society.

Randy is married to Rhonda and together they have two grown children. Rosalyn graduated from South Carolina Law School, clerked at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and moved back to Virginia Beach to complete her hostile takeover of the Singer Legal Group. Joshua is a wrangler in Colorado headed to vet school. Rhonda teaches high school English and wonders how she ended up with two lawyers and one cowboy in the family. Fortunately Lambeau, the family’s black lab, keeps everyone sane.

You can connect with Randy via his website.

At the trial of Christ, Theophilus, brilliant young "assessore" raised in the Roman aristocracy, stands behind Pontius Pilate and whispers, "Offer to release Barabbas." The strategy backfires, and Theophilus never forgets the sight of an innocent man unjustly suffering the worst of all possible deaths--Roman crucifixion. Three decades later, Theophilus has proven himself in the legal ranks of the Roman Empire and has an opportunity for redemption. He takes the case of Paul of Tarsus, defending the outspoken apostle in front of Nero, Rome’s cruelest tyrant. Can Theophilus mount a defense that will keep another innocent man from execution? The advocate's first trial altered the course of history. His last will change the fate of an empire.

*You can visit HERE to read an interview between Randy and his publisher (Tyndale) about the writing of The Advocate.

My Thoughts:

I know you think I say this about almost every author, but Randy Singer is absolutely my favorite in the legal thriller genre...no really...he is!  His latest book The Advocate may be my favorite he's written yet and I'm sure I'll keep believing that until he writes his next one!

In The Advocate, Randy takes us back to biblical times to two of the most pivotal trials that too place:  the trial of Jesus Christ and the trial of Paul before Nero.  Randy's steller research and attention to historical detail is showcased in the story of a biblical character about which little is known beyond his name - Theophilus.  

Because of his ambiguity in scripture, it would be obvious that Singer takes some artistic liberties with Theophilus's life story.  However, Singer does this in such a way that the truthfulness of the overall scriptural picture and historical evidences of the time period are not compromised.  Theophilus's story as Singer tells it in The Advocate is gripping and one that you won't soon forget after turning the last page of the book.  It's about forgiveness both between man and between man and God and about the legacy we leave with a life that has been captured by the lavish grace of our Lord.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer

Magnificent Tales: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times

READ ALOUD FUN FOR FAMILIES

God mad Adam a beautiful place to call home,
a garden with flowers and trees.
The garden of Eden had plants of all kinds 
that swayed in the warm, gentle breeze.

Featuring lyrical stories that will make you laugh, this colorful collection is perfect for reading out loud.

Magnificent Tales are rhyming Bible stories with clever art and clear lessons the whole family will enjoy.  The stories and illustrations are so engaging that you won't grow tired of reading a Magnificent Tale night after night!

From "The Salty Tale of Noah's Ark" to "The Lasting Story of the Last Supper", the rhyming tales in this book remind us that God loves His people - in the Bible and today!



MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Pulley has illustrated dozens of books in The Beginner's Bible series and has authored and illustrated several other children's books, including Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn and The Cycling Wangdoos.  He enjoys spedning time with his four grown children and his beautiful wife, Vickie, in the Nashville area.






My Thoughts:
If you and your children like Dr. Suess books, you will love Magnificent Tales:  Treasury of Bible Stories - Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times.  I am particularly excited to have this book to read with my kindergartner.  The repetition of sounds is a great way to help little ones just learning to read and to instill good comprehension in beginning readers.  The illustrations add so much to the stories. They are very eye-catching!  I appreciated that the biblical references were given at the beginning of each story so that older readers in the family can go to the Bible and read the biblical account from Scripture.  Thank you Mr. Pulley for giving a tool that the entire family can use to engage in the story of redemption from the Bible!
*I was given a complimentary copy of the book for my review and participation in a blog tour hosted by LitFuse Publicity.

  

Happy Reading,
Jennifer

Decieved

A grieving mother. A mysterious child. And a dedicated PI who's determined to solve the puzzle.
For three years, Kate Marshall has been mourning the loss of her husband and four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on a mall escalator, she's convinced it's her son. With police skeptical of her story, she turns to private investigator Connor Sullivan for help. As the former Secret Service agent digs into the case, the boating "accident" begins to look increasingly suspicious. But if Kate's son is alive, someone is intent on keeping him hidden--and may go to lethal lengths to protect a sinister secret.
As Irene Hannon's many fans have come to expect,Deceived is filled with complex characters, unexpected twists, and a riveting plotline that accelerates to an explosive finish.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon has written more than 45 romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, three HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award, a Booksellers’ Best Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a two-time Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing.  A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

You can connect with Hannon via her website, Facebook and Twitter.

My Thoughts:

Deceived is my first Irene Hannon novel to read.  I am only sorry that it has taken me this long to discover her novels!  Hannon writes a gripping and at times heart-stopping story; the kind of story you do not start at bedtime, because you likely won't get any sleep.

Hannon keeps the action and suspense moving and writes in such a way that you are engaged with the characters from the very beginning.  Plot is well-developed and the twists and turns the story takes keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.  I will be adding more titles by Hannon to my "keeper" shelf.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Happy Reading,

Jennifer 

Before Amen

About the author: More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Find Max online: website, Twitter,Facebook.

About the book: 

We all pray . . . some.

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.

But wouldn't we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?

Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.

We aren't the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.

And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn't we use the same?

In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.

Pre-order a copy of Before Amen by 9/29 and receive a FREE ebook copy of Max's best-selling Second Chances: More Stories of Grace.

Purchase a copy:  http://ow.ly/BbwcL.

My Thoughts:

If you have ever read a Max Lucado book, then you are familiar with his gift of story telling.  In typical Lucado style, Before Amen is the perfect blend of superb story and pastoral exhortation to re-think the way we approach God in prayer.  Lucado doesn't provide a "prayer formula" but encourages his readers to draw near to the heart of God in conversation and fellowship.  Lucado guides the reader like a father might gently lead his child to stop doubting and being afraid we are "getting it all wrong" when is comes to having a conversation with God.  He concisely lays out the essential elements of biblical prayer and encourages those reading to begin the conversation in faith.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of this review.

    

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

Veil of Secrets

Can a mother face the secrets of her past in order to protect her daughter from the same mistakes?

Melanie and Will Connors seem like the perfect couple, but their marriage only looks good on the outside, having withered inside from a lack of intimacy.

The barriers Melanie faces to intimacy are hidden in her past—a misguided tryst with a trusted friend of her father's, a pattern of promiscuity as a teen, empty relationships in early adulthood. The only way Melanie sees to save herself from herself is to turn off her desires—even in her marriage.

Will insists they either work on the marriage—or work on the divorce. Their attempt at restoration occurs in the midst of a New Hampshire presidential primary that is rocked by violent protests and razor-sharp character assassinations. For the first time, their marriage begins to feel like a safe place.

As Melanie tries to sort through her own past, she sees her 16-year-old daughter's head turned by a charismatic older man on Will's campaign team. Can Melanie sift through her own rubble and find the voice to help guide her daughter—and possibly find the joy that God intended for her marriage?

My Thoughts:

Shannon Ethridge (http://www.shannonethridge.com/) and Kathryn Mackel (http://www.kathrynmackel.com/) author's of Veil of Secrets (follow-up to To Know You) is a gritty and "real life" look at the relationship of a power house political couple struggling to balance high profile positions, parenting and deep relational pain.  

Ethridge and Mackel do not hold anything back.  They write a well thought out plot with engaging characters who don't "have it all together".  Melanie and Will are characters who are well-developed and feel genuine.  They both struggle with their faith and present a true picture of what it is like to grapple and fight for their marriage all the while leaning on and trusting in a God Whose plans they don't completely understand.

Having read the first book, I appreciated how the authors continued the story from To Know You from a completely different angle without "re-telling" the story from book one. While this book could be read as a stand alone novel easily, you will want to begin with the first book and then move on to this one simply because of the progression of events.  Sitting on pins and needles for book 3!

*I received a digital copy of the book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the purpose of this review.

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

Hidden In The Stars

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hidden in the Stars Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.

My Thoughts:
Robin Carroll writes a gripping and emotional story in her latest installment in the Quilts of Love series.  Full of mystery, danger, tragedy and tender love, Hidden In The Stars has everything that makes for an intriguing read.  Sophia's character will reach out and grab the reader and cause them to feel almost every emotion possible...sometimes even in the span of one scene.  I have enjoyed this series of books and I know I say this every time; however, Carroll's story has taken the place of "my favorite"...so far that is.  I can't wait to read the next book in this series.  I'm sure it will be my "favorite" too!

Happy Reading,
Jennifer

The Desire

Can faith build a bridge between their dreams?

For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby. The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts--and their relationship. Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time--and their money--on supporting displaced children in Africa. Something's got to give. But they both hope it's not their marriage.

Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .



MEET THE AUTHORS:

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, The Discovery, and What Follows After. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such asOprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury and The Dance and The Promise with Dan Walsh. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.

My Thoughts:
The Desire is the third installment in Walsh and Smalley's The Restoration Series.  I had not read the other books in the series prior to reading this one, but wish I had!  While this book read well as a stand alone novel, I think the reader's experience with the Anderson family will be enhanced by reading the books in the order they have been written.
In this collaborative effort, Walsh and Smalley present readers with characters that feel like "next door neighbors".  They have a genuine feel to them which endeared them to me as I read. Because of excellent character development and real life faith struggles presented, I was immediately drawn into the story and didn't come up for air until I turned the last page.  The hope of the gospel is clearly shown within the story.  I can't wait to read Doug's story in the next book! The author interview in the back of the book sheds much understanding into the purpose of this particular series.  The seamless way Walsh incorporates spiritual principles from Smalley's book Guarding Your Child's Heart adds another valuable and intriguing layer to the book.
Don't miss this series!
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Happy Reading,
Jennifer