This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A Matter Of Character

Zondervan (May 25, 2010)

by

Robin Lee Hatcher


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon


ABOUT THE BOOK

It's 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. But Daphne has a secret.

A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories ... except Daphne.

When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.

Robin is conducting a contest for the new book. Join in the fun HERE.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of A Matter Of Character, go HERE.






Kay's Comments:  This is a delightful, enjoyable read. Robin Lee Hatcher always presents engaging characters with humor. Check out the contest above for a chance to win a free Kindle!

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann

A Feast for Book Club Discussions!

The intrigue begins with the title, asking the question, “What/Who is indivisible?”


Police Chef Jonah Westfall, a recovering alcoholic, has a past. So does Tia Manning who runs the local family business… although the family is strangely absent. But today their small town is plagued by a maniac who finds sick pleasure in hurting animals. Jonah fears the acts will escalate to humans. Is this the threat of a cult, a stranger or someone who has been hiding in their midst?


Set in a small town in Colorado, this contemporary mystery and romance will keep you searching for answers until the last page… and then some. I found myself pondering the many facets of this multi-layered novel for quite some time. This is the sign of a great parable, a story that parallels and reveals the nature of our lives.


This book is a keeper. As an instructor of psychology at the university level, I can see using this as a text not only for book clubs but also for psychology or English classes.


Highly recommended!


Catch the trailer at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1-RWoce750


P.S. The trailer is scarier than the book!


Hear an interview with the author and read an except of Indivisible at
http://www.christianbook.com/indivisible-kristen-heitzmann/9781400073092/pd/073092?show_all_cr=1&event=ESRCN


Note: For many of my reviews, the book is provided free by the pulishing company in exchange for an honest and open review. This book was NOT provided by the publisher but was purchased; however the review is still honest and open. ;-)

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Crossing Oceans Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 1, 2010)



by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.

Kay's Comments:  Bittersweet and Beautiful

I'm not sure I knew what I was getting into when I requested to review this book. Reading of a woman who is dying is not one I would have typically chosen, but I'm so glad I did.

The emotions, conflict, sacrifice and love come through as complicated as reality. The dialog makes one wonder if the author has spoken and heard the words. Honest and touching. A mixture of all feelings in one book.

In an interview with the author, she says, "I wanted to write novels addressing tough issues in a fresh way." She did. Well done. Highly recommend.

Read the interview from Christian Fiction Online Magazine at:
http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/best_interview.html

If you would like to read the first chapter of Crossing Oceans, go HERE.

Watch the Video Book Trailer:

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


A Woman Called SageZondervan (April 1, 2010)by


DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

They took away everything she loved...now, she’s out for revenge.
 
Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution.

Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it’s found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.

In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.

Kay's comments:   DiAnn Mills, as usual, does not disappoint. While containing some elements typical of historical fiction such as revenge, lost love and a tenacious woman,  A Woman Called Sage is much more. Some of the unique elements include a hawk as a protector and guide as well as the question of whether the murdered husband was what he said or a deceptive hoodlum.

I read many books of this genre. This one is among the best!

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Woman Called Sage, go HERE.

Watch the Video Book Trailer:

Saved by Her Enemy: An Iraqi woman's journey from the heart of war to the heartland of America

by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak

The war came into my home...and my heart...

When the headlines come up on my home page, I can no longer just skip over how many bombs went off in Baghdad today. Now it's personal. Through this book I meet two people who survived the daily chaos and death that is war. I was surprised at the maturity of this young woman who had to grow up quickly in a war torn city. I am astounded at the contrast between her life in Baghdad and her life in Florida. I am amazed at the faith of a family who took the risk and invested the time to make her a part of their family in the United States. Only by a reliance on God can this type of miracle happen... including the change in my heart.

I only have two complaints about this book. 1) The point of view in this book changes often and sometimes takes a moment of thought to deciper which author is talking. This may be distracting but it's still worth the read. 2) I wanted to know more. I'm hoping for a sequel.

Visit my review for the Amazon Vine Program at:
http://www.amazon.com/Saved-Her-Enemy-journey-heartland/product-reviews/1439159106/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#RVHC2CVBUCB0W

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing

Sixteen Brides



Bethany House (April 2010)


by


Stephanie Grace Whitson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four home schooled children Nebraska history.

She was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year.

Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children, two college students, and a high school senior, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends.

Her passionate interests in pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community."

Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledgling community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival! Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them.

These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Sixteen Brides, go HERE.

Kay's Comments: To read any of Stephanie Grace Whitson's novels is a delight! This one is no exception.

To me, the title is somewhat of a misnomer. The sixteen widows who set out on this journey are not necessarily looking for husbands.  Of course,with a praire full of single men, it would seem reasonable that marriage may be a result. One of the women may have a live husband looking for her.

The title is also somewhat of a misnomer because the storyline follows only five of the women in depth. These two observations are not a negative. Whitson does an excellent job of writing about five women at the same time. Her intricate knowledge of the history surrounding the setting makes the reading all the more real and interesting.

My favorite books by Whitson are The Prairie Series, A Garden in Paris, AHilltop in Tuscany and Nora's Ribbon of Memories.

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing




She Walks in BeautyBethany House (April 2010)by




Siri Mitchell


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including in Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

ABOUT THE BOOK

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor.

Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries.

When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her marriage at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

If you would like to read the first chapter of She Walks in Beauty, go HERE.

Kay's Comments: Siri Mitchell's books have a story to tell beyond the fiction novel. In this book, she exposes the rules of society at the time that lead to dangerous consequeces. The debut of young women appreared to be an innocent game. In truth, it was often a game of chess with the goal to see who could reach checkmate first. In the quest, lives are made or ruined, all for the sake of status or money.

The lingering question for me as I read this book is what is it in society's rules today that I accept as normal, yet is a dangerous game. Is it multi-tasking? Over scheduling? Social networking? Will someone, someday look back at our time and ask, "What were they thinking?! Couldn't they see it ruined their lives?" A question worth asking now.