Scorned Justice

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Scorned Justice Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013) by Margaret Daley  

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.
Margaret was the president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of Christia writers with over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.
Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.
On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

Margaret can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.

Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody's help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case. However, as Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence which involves cattle rustlers, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Scorned Justice, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

I have really enjoyed this The Men of The Texas Rangers series by Daley!  Scorned Justice is by far my favorite!  Daley has masterfully weaved tenderhearted romance, mystery and suspense.  While reading, I kept saying each night, "Just one more chapter."  Then I would get to the end of that chapter and was propelled forward until...well it didn't take me too many nights to finish this one!  Daley keeps you turning the pages...the action and emotion almost palpable in your own chest as you read!  If you like action packed suspense and mystery with emotion filled romance and family dynamics...you should go get this entire series!  The next installment Severed Trust will be available October 15, 2013...and YES...I will be reading it!!

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

Threads of Hope

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Threads of Hope Abingdon Press (March 1, 2013) by Christa Allan  

A true Southern woman who knows that any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, Christa is a writer of not your usual Christian Fiction. She weaves stories of unscripted grace and redemption with threads of hope, humor, and heart. Christa is the mother of five adult children, a grandmother of three, and a brand new retired teacher. She and her husband Ken live in New Orleans with their three cats and do their best to dodge hurricanes.
Christa can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.

Passed over for promotion and dumped by her boyfriend, Nina O’Malley is further frustrated when her editor assigns her one of the “soft” stories she despises—covering a gala benefit supporting the AIDS Memorial Quilt. More determined than ever to prove she deserves a promotion to the NY office, Nina decides to write a series featuring a local quilting group raising money for AIDs research. At the event, she runs into her high school nemesis: Greg is a widower and the adoptive father of Jazarah, an HIV positive girl from Ethiopia. Unlike Nina, Greg has faith in a loving God, and he trusts in God’s plan for his life. Greg and Nina grow closer, and as Nina interviews the quilt families, she begins to question the choices she has made and her lack of faith. Nina suddenly finds herself facing two possible dreams, two paths for her life.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Threads of Hope, go HERE. 

 

My Thoughts:

I've been reading all of the books in The Quilts of Love series and have loved them!  Threads of Hope did not disappoint!  While I found the book to be a little slow in getting my attention in the beginning, I soon found myself loving the characterization in this installment in this series.  I'm using the word "series", but each book is a stand alone story and can be read independent of the others.  I absolutely loved Aretha; Nina's friend and room mate.  Oh how I wish we all had an "Aretha" to spur us on in life!!  The book includes instructions for making a quilt panel for The AIDS Memorial Quilt and partnering with the NAMES Project Foundation.

 

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

The Survivor

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Survivor Zondervan (March 5, 2013) by DiAnn Mills  

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.
DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas.  DiAnn can be reached through the Contact link on her Website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills.

Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into a viper's pit of danger. Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss's new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold-case? 

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Survivor, go HERE. 

 

 

My Thoughts:

After reading Mills previous book in this series, The Chase, I've been sitting on pins and needles to see what was going to happen next for Tigo and Kariss!  The Survivor certainly did not disappoint!  Mills is a master suspense/romance writer.  The tension between Tigo and Kariss in this latest offering by Mills is so thick and she portrays it in such a way that the reader is caught up immediately.  Mills also does an excellent job of sharing the story from both Tigo's and Kariss's points of view as well as catching us up on what has transpired between them between The Chase and The Survivor.   How beautifully she tells almost two different plot lines within one story and ties them together in the end.  Believe me...you will want to read both The Chase and The Survivor.  And like me...sit on pins and needles again to see what the future holds for Tigo and Kariss!

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

The Woman's Study Bible

One of the things I enjoy most about reading and reviewing books and other resources here on the blog is having the honor and privilege of letting you know about quality resources that will aid you in your walk with God.  It is my honor today to tell you about the latest offering in Thomas Nelson's Signature Series Bibles - The Woman's Study Bible.  

The Woman's Study Bible includes the New International Version with the most recent copyright of 2011.  Other study resources included are:

• Inspiring articles by Anne Graham Lotz, Stormie Omartian, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Roberta Hromas, Kimberly Daniels Linda Dillow Kathy Troccoli, Dee Brestin, and Emilie Barnes.  
• Character portraits of over 100 women in the Bible
• Hundreds of verse-by-verse notes
• Over 300 articles on topics for women
• Book introductions and outlines
• Hundreds of insightful quotes by inspiring women throughout history
• Topical index to Scriptures and special features
• In-text maps and charts of plants and herbs, clothing and animal life
• Concordance
• Presentation page with family tree, memory pages and the Ketubah Marriage Contract
• Full color maps

The color scheme of this Bible is earth-toned, soft, feminine and attractive, but not too "frilly" as to be distracting.  My review copy (received from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of this review) is a hard copy version. 

The following video gives you a few glimpses into the aesthetics of The Women's Study Bible:


Mother's Day is coming up soon and this would be a wonderful gift for that special mother, spiritual mother or mentor in your life.  The articles are spot on with many issues important to women and point you to appropriate and related scripture for further study on your own.  The study notes are helpful without impeding the readers motivation for their own personal interaction with God's Word.

The Bible can be ordered at Amazon.com by going HERE.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Wings of Glass

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of Glass Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Gina Holmes  

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.
Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

Gina can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.
When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

While Wings of Glass is a very emotional novel to read, Gina Holmes has told a very important story.  Connection with her characters is instantaneous.  I love how she didn't just tell the story of Trent and Penny, but wrote the entire book as a "letter" of sorts from a mother to her son.  This technique adds a depth and emotion to the story that is amazing.  I can't imagine the book would have been as outstanding written any other way.  After turning the last page, I just had to lay the book down and lay down myself.  I'll be contemplating Penny's story for sometime.  For me...that's the sign of an excellent book...one that doesn't let you go after you've finished reading.  I think a sequel to this one would be nice.  I would love to know how Penny's life turns out and what kind of man Manny grows up to be!  Any chance Gina????

Blessings,

Jennifer

Firefly Island

Lisa Wingate is an award-winning journalist, magazine columnist, popular inspirational speaker and a national bestselling author of 16 books.  Her first mainstream novel, Tending Roses, is in its fifteenth printing from Penguin Putnam.  Tending Roses is a staple on the shelves of national bookstore chains as well as in many independent bookstores.
Recently, Lisa’s Blue Sky Hill Series, set in Dallas, received national attention with back-to-back nominations for American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award for A Month of Summer (2009) and The Summer Kitchen (2010). In 2011, Lisa's Novel, Never Say Never, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award.  Pithy, emotional, and inspirational, her stories bring to life characters so real that readers often write to ask what is happening to them after the book ends.
Lisa is one of a select group of authors to find success in both the Christian and mainstream markets, writing for both Bethany House, a Christian publisher, and NAL Penguin Putnam, in mainstream fiction.  Her bestselling books have become a hallmark of inspirational southern fiction. Her works have been featured by the National Reader's Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, American Profiles and have been chosen for numerous awards.
When not busy dreaming up stories, Lisa spends time on the road as a motivational speaker. Via internet, she shares with readers as far away as India, where her book, Tending Roses, has been used to promote women's literacy, and as close to home as Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the county library system has used Tending Roses to help volunteer mentors teach adults to read.  Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life.

You can interact with Lisa via her website found at www.lisawingate.com. She also blogs on Mondays at www.SouthernBelleView.com.

Firefly Island is the third book in Lisa's Moses Lake Series.  Previous books in this series are Lakespur Cove and Blue Moon Bay.

Book Synopsis:
Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love.  After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas - with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.  A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change.  But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West.  Jack's presence - and mysterious past - set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers...and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save.

I think you will enjoy this interview with Lisa, where she shares some of the real life inspirations behind the story in Firefly Island:



My Thoughts:
I love Lisa Wingate's writing!  Firefly Island is a story of motherhood, marriage, and the things in life that mold us into the people we are.  I loved Mallory from page one!  I could connect with this character on multiple levels.  In the story she discovers blogging which is something I love to do.  Lisa is a master storyteller in that she doesn't just tell a story; she creates a story that is believable and one which leaves you contemplating what you've read long after you've turned the last page. Lisa even leaves a little mystery dangling at the end of this one.  She beautifully incorporates the themes of love, loss, courage, scandal and a bit of mystery into one masterpiece.  The descriptive aspect of her writing makes you feel as if you live right there in Moses Lake yourself.  I always know I've read an exceptional book when I'm a little sad to let the characters go and I'm kept wondering for days after what "so and so" is up to as if they were real people!
I'm not ready to leave Moses Lake!!

Thank you Bethany House for sending me a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of this review!

Blessings,
Jennifer

Breakfast With Bonhoeffer

Jon Walker volunteers as the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life On-line Daily Devotionals".  He is a former pastor at Saddleback Church and is the author of Costly Grace:  A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship and  In Visible Fellowship:  A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's Classic Work Life Together.  He is managing editor of the Daily Hope devotionals from Rick Warren with a readership of over 500,000.  He's also served as editor-in-chief of LifeWay's HomeLife magazine and founding editor of Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox.  His articles have appeared in publications and websites around the world. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

You can read more from Walker at Power to Change  and Grace Creates. 

Breakfast with Bonhoeffer:  How I Learned To Stop Being Religious So I Could Follow Jesus is Jon's latest book.  Here is the synopsis from his website Grace Creates:
While Jon Walker was encountering Bonhoeffer every day as he wrote the books Costly Grace and In Visible Fellowship, he found his world collapsing and his faith faltering. After almost twenty years in ministry, Walker was laid off twice, lost his home and savings, was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, and then his wife filed for divorce just a few days before their twenty-fourth anniversary. Reading like a non-fiction novel with a story both heart-breaking and heart-warming, Walker brings to a new generation the timeless teachings of Bonhoeffer, especially the teaching that calls Jesus’ followers to break free from the tyranny of popular culture and religious thinking. It also offers hope for those who face loss or have been hurt by the economic downturn.  

I'm not sure there are many people (if they are honest) who have not at one point or another felt abandoned by God or doubted His plans for their life.  In Breakfast with Bonhoeffer, Jon offers his very moving story of loss and unexpected gain (in some very unlikely places).  He reminds his reader of the biblical promise that God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3) and that God never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31). 

Breakfast with Bonhoeffer reads like a non-fiction novel.  In the pages of this very well written book, Jon offers the reader his very genuine self - warts and all.  He doesn't sanitize his struggles but offers them to the reader as a backdrop that allows the story of God's redemption and grace to shine forth.  READ THIS BOOK and be prepared to be humbled, blessed and released to evaluate your own story in the light of God's amazing grace.

Thank you Ryan Self (publicist for ACU Press & Leafwood Publishers) for sending me a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Strands of Deception

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Strands of Deception B&H Books (March 1, 2013) by Robin Caroll  

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? 

Robin can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.
Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.
But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Strands of Deception, go HERE.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer

gods at war

"Idolatry isn't AN issue - It is THE issue."

"Your heart is a battlefield."

"What if it's not about statues?  What if the gods of here and now are not cosmic deities with strange names?  What if they take identities that are so ordinary that we don't recognize them as gods at all?  What if we do our 'kneeling' and our 'bowing' with our imaginations, our checkbooks, our search engines, our calendars?  What if I told you that every sin you are struggling with, every discouragement you are dealing with, even the lack of purpose you're living with are because of idolatry?"

Those are the claims made by Kyle Idleman in his latest book gods at war:  Defeating The Idols That Battle For Your Heart.

Kyle Idleman is Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, the fourth largest church in America.  He is the author of the award-winning and bestselling book not a fan.  he is also the presenter of several video curricula, including not a fan, H20, and the newly released study gods at war.  

Kyle Idleman, best­selling author will be the first person to tell you that any success he has had, or any good he has done, has been because of Christ alone. As he likes to say, “Any good God does is not because of me, but in spite of me.  Kyle, who continues on his journey from fan to follower, graduated from Ozark Christian College. After planting a church in Los Angeles county, Kyle moved to Louisville, KY where he presently lives with his wife and four children.

His website can be found at kyleidleman.com.

"In gods at war, Kyle helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. What keeps us from truly following Jesus is that our hearts are pursuing something or someone else.  While these pursuits may not be the “graven images” of old, they are in fact modern day idols.  Behind the sin you’re struggling with, the discouragement you’re dealing with, the lack of purpose you’re living with is a false god that is winning the war for your heart.  We’re all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire."

(Taken from Idleman's website.)

You can watch a complete episode from the study gods at war by going HERE.

Book Trailer:

My Thoughts:

gods at war is a book to be savored, read slowly and studied.  This is not a book to sit down and give a quick read.  The nature of Kyle's writing won't let you do that.  Rather than giving one more discourse on idolatry, Idleman strategically carries you through your own heart evaluation.  He asks the reader introspective questions along the way.  Really, rather than a book, gods at war is a guide...a guide to de-throning those things in your life that have taken the place of God.

I would recommend gods at war for personal study or it would be excellent for use in a one on one discipleship relationship.  I would dare say that if you have the resources for only one book this year, let it be this one.

*I received this book from Thomas Nelson as a part of the Booksneeze blogging for books program.  All opinions regarding the book and its content are my own.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Afterlife

Where is heaven?

Will there be animals and pets in heaven?

Where is hell?

Is there a hell?

Do people in heaven know what is presently happening on earth?

Don't all religions lead to heaven?

Does suicide prevent people from going to heaven?

When will the second coming happen?

Those questions and many more are explored in Hank Hanegraaff's new book Afterlife:  What You Need To Know About Heaven, The Hereafter & Near-Death Experiences.

Hank Hanegraaff, otherwise known as The Bible Answer Man, serves as president and chairman of the board of the North Carolina-based Christian Research Institute.  He is also host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man radio broadcast, which is heard daily across the United States and Canada- and around the world via the internet at www.equip.org.
Widely regarded as one of the world's leading Christian authors and apologists, Hank is deeply committed to equipping Christians to be so familiar with truth that when counterfeits loom on the horizon, they recognize them instantaneously.  Through his live call-in radio broadcast, Hank equips Christians to read the Bible for all its worth, answers questions on the basis of careful research and sound reasoning, and interviews today's most significant leaders, apologists, and thinkers.  Hank is the author of more than twenty books, which have cumulatively sold millions of copies.  Hank and his wife, Kathy, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and are parents to twelve children.

Afterlife:  What You  Need To Know About Heaven, The Hereafter & Near Death Experiences answers many of the questions being asked today by Christians and non-believers alike.  The book is organized into three parts: 

• Life after Life-after-Life:  The Eternal Heaven and Earth
• Life after Life:  The Transitional Heaven
• Life: What You Do Now Counts for All Eternity

In each of the above sections, Hank carefully and in detail answers multiple questions.  He is transparent in the places where "we just don't know".  I appreciate that he doesn't force a concrete answer in those instances.  He is also quick to make the point that "Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture".  In the process of answering each question, Mr. Hanegraaff goes straight to the biblical text and cites multiple places for the reader to go to in their Bibles and study for themselves.  The book also offers an extensive glossary of terms as well as a reading list for further study.

The book can be ordered at Amazon.com by going HERE or at Barnes & Noble by going HERE.

*This post is part of a tour for the book hosted by Glass Road Media and Management.

Blessings,
Jennifer

The Icecutter's Daughter

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Icecutter’s Daughter Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Tracie Peterson  

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.
She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.
In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.
She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.
Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.
Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.

Tracie can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.

As the lone female in a houseful of men, Merrill Krause dedicates her life to caring for her family and their business, as her dying mother asked. Besides, it suits her; she's never felt like she fits what most people expect in a girl--she'd rather work with her father's horses and assist with the ice harvest. And though she's been mostly content up to this point, a part of her wonders if there will ever be anyone who will notice her amid the bevy of brothers determined to protect her from any possible suitors.
When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small Minnesota town to join his uncle's carpentry business, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, who are often frightened away by her older brothers, Rurik isn't intimidated by them or by Merrill's strength and lack of femininity. The attraction between them begins to build...until Rurik's former fiance shows up with wild claims that bring serious consequences to Rurik.
Can Rurik and Merrill learn to trust God--and each other--when scandal threatens their newfound love?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Icecutter’s Daughter, go HERE. 

 

My Thoughts:

This is my first Tracie Peterson novel to read.  Actually, I am only 1/4 of the way into the book.  I've had a sick little boy over the weekend and wasn't able to finish the book yet.  However, I can tell you that I love Tracie's writing.  I was immediately drawn into the story and characters with Ms Peterson's excellent descriptive writing.  Her characters have a depth to them.  The story feels natural and believable.  I already absolutely love Merrill!  This is one I can't wait to complete...the suspense is killing me!  Thankful to discover yet another excellent Christian fiction writer!

 

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

The Return of Cassandra Todd

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Return of Cassandra Todd Realms (February 5, 2013) by Darrel Nelson  

I am a schoolteacher by profession and have taught school for (thir—ahem!) years. I grew up in Raymond, Alberta, and attended the University of Lethbridge after graduating from high school and serving a two-year mission to Japan. During university, I met and married Marsha Smith, and we are the parents of four children, which has grown to include their spouses and our ten grandchildren.
I have always loved to write. I started writing stories before I was old enough to realize I was writing stories. It seemed a natural thing to pick up a pencil and paper and create a world simply by using words—worlds of adventure in steaming jungles (Tarzan was an early influence on me) or realms of adventure in outer space (Buck Rogers). But as I have grown older, I have discovered that the real inspiration for me is exploring the theme of love and how it can make such a difference in the world.
I’ve had an article published in Lethbridge Magazine and have written several dramatic plays, two of which won provincial recognition and were showcased at a drama festival. I won the CJOC radio songwriting contest two years running, and have had one of my songs receive international airplay. I have written four novels intended for the juvenile market. They are unpublished as yet, but I read them annually to my fourth grade students and my students tell me they love them, the darlings. 

Darrel can be reached through the Contact link on his Website.

When the girl he hated in high school suddenly reenters his life, little son in tow, and asks for his help, Turner must put the past behind him if they are to survive.
Turner Caldwell works at a local motel as a handyman while attending college full-time. On his way to class one day, he passes the bus depot just as Cassandra Todd and her young son arrive. He is shocked to see her, remembering how cruel she was to him in high school. She was the popular head cheerleader and he the target of her mean-spirited pranks. Turner could never have imagined that the outdoor training and survival skills he learned at Camp Kopawanee, a summer youth camp where he worked three years as a leader, would one day become so crucial. But when Cassandra and her son check into the motel where he works and she asks for his help in eluding her abusive husband, Turner finds himself entangled in a situation that will require every skill he has in order to survive.
If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Return of Cassandra Todd, go HERE. 

 

My Thoughts:

Mr. Nelson weaves a story with which to many women would be familiar; young women like Cassandra Todd.  The story carries current themes making the book identifiable and contemporary.  I liked the overall story; however, there were many parts of the book that seemed a bit unrealistic and unbelievable.  Mr. Nelson's humor fell flat for me in many places and was awkward in the theme of the book.  Some of the "excitement" and "drama" in the book felt a little forced.  With all of this said, I'd be interested in reading more of Mr. Nelson's writing.  I would give this book 3 stars out of 5.

 

Happy Reading, 

Jennifer