This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Pastor's Wife Abingdon Press (February 2010)by
Jennifer AlLee
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer AlLee was born in Hollywood, California and for the first 10 years of her life lived over a mortuary one block from Hollywood and Vine. An avid reader and writer, she completed her first novel in high school. That manuscript is now safely tucked away, never again to see the light of day. Her first inspirational romance, The Love of His Brother, was released in November 2007 by Five Star Publisher.

Besides being a writer, she is a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, her husband and teenage son have learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets there without severely impacting their waistlines. God is good!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Maura Sullivan never intended to set foot in Granger, Ohio, again. But when circumstances force her to return, she must face all the disappointments she tried so hard to leave behind: a husband who ignored her, a congregation she couldn't please, and a God who took away everything she ever loved.

Nick Shepherd thought he had put the past behind him, until the day his estranged wife walked back into town. Intending only to help Maura through her crisis of faith, Nick finds his feelings for her never died. Now, he must admit the mistakes he made, how he hurt his wife, and find a way to give and receive forgiveness.

As God works in both of their lives, Nick and Maura start to believe they can repair their broken relationship and reunite as man and wife. But Maura has one more secret to tell Nick before they can move forward. It's what ultimately drove her to leave him three years earlier, and the one thing that can destroy the fragile trust they've built.


If you would like to read the first Chapter of The Pastor's Wife , go HERE

Kay's Comments: An enjoyable book! While the storyline is not a new thought (someone leaves an estate with stipulations meant to bring people together) the plot has interesting twists and turns. The writing is done well making this a good read for pleasure.

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Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist

Candid, heart-warming, heart-breaking...hilarious!

The boy-next-door goes from losing a leg to cancer at age 9 to skiing as a member of the 2006 U. S. Paralympic Ski Team. Josh tells his story as though you were sitting on his shoulder sharing every encounter. Be prepared for a wild ride!!

Josh shares of all the normal, often awkward, things most boys experience growing up... a first love, siblings, communicating with parents, wanting to go out for the soccer team, etc. Then he shares what is different...losing his hospital roommate to cancer, being interviewed on the Miracle Network, finding someone to teach a teenager with one leg to ski, etc., all while living in a small city in Virginia.

Along with all these events, add Josh's personality and spirit. He is extremely intelligent, extremely motivated, an extreme risk taker, extremely humorous, etc. In other words, Josh is extreme.

For the sake of full disclosure, I live in the city where Josh grew up. He was about to leave for college when my family moved to Harrisonburg, VA, and I never met him. However, he is somewhat of a folk hero, not just because of the difficulties of his life but for the joy and hope he has given to individuals and this community. When his name is mentioned, there are always smiles. Everyone has a Josh story and a special place for the miracle guy... miracles both earned and bestowed.

If you have never heard of Josh Sundquist, you should. His is a fabulous story of growth, faith, pain and joy. You gotta read this book!

Reviewer's rating: PG-13

"Facing Sobriety With Southern Charm" (back cover)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Walking on Broken Glass

Abingdon Press (February 2010)
by
Christa Allan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.



The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.

Kay's thoughts: This book is intense. (Read plot synopsis below.) As I began to read I thought the problems were too simplistic and obvious but as the author draws you into Leah's therapy, she peels back layer after layer of the past. The plot is anything but simple.

The early chapters seemed to be bogged down with a great amount of description, however, I came to see that this attention to detail may be part of what happens in early recovery....the fog begins to lift but the layers of reality are still undercover; therefore, attention is given to the person's enviroment disportionately. Some of the revelations that came to light floored me.

Not a pretty story but redeeming and needed. I will admit I found the book somewhat depressing. While this is not good for me personally, it will serve others as an accurate illustration of the recovery process in dealing with addictions.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.



When her best friend Molly gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.

Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new strength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.

But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE

The Language of Love and Respect: Cracking the Communication Code with Your Mate

by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs


“Each one of you also must love his wife…and wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 (NIV)

Currently, one of the most studied questions in psychology is the role of gender in today’s world. The author of The Language of Love & Respect examines this question using the Bible, research and illustrations from life today.

The first chapter is a recap of Eggerichs’ previous book Love & Respect. Based on the verse above, he shows the need of women for love as well as the need of men for respect; however, this knowledge in itself may not right the wrongs produced by hard-wired differences between men and women.

The author says that the differences are not right or wrong, just different. To work together well, each must understand the others best way of expressing needs. For example, what he said and meant is not always what she hears.

The resulting chapters provide guidelines for using this knowledge to improve couples communication. The author and his wife, who give workshops addressing this subject, admit they still sometimes goof in their own communication especially when stressed. Of course, they have the skills to analyze what happened and turn the situation around. This book helps you obtain these skills too.

A practical guide, the book also gives bits of wisdom in the form of short quotes on many pages. This points out what is most important and provides reminders of what has been read. Good stuff!

Publisher: Thomas Nelson