by admin | May 13, 2012 | Books, Gilded Age, Historical, Revell, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“The Pursuit of Lucy Banning” gives readers an inside look at the lives of the wealthy residents of exclusive Prairie Avenue of Chicago during the late 1800’s just prior to the opening of the World’s Fair. As the gilded age is nearing its end, lifestyles are indulgent among the rich with heavy emphasis on their social standing. Making the proper marriage connection is of utmost importance within the upper class.
Lucy Banning is the only daughter of one of the Prairie Avenue families. She has been groomed to marry the son of her parents’ best friends for most of her life. As Lucy is pressured to set a wedding date and spend her time planning the event, she is much too involved with her secret college class and her orphanage work, the true loves of her life. When she meets her brother’s friend Will, she realizes that she loves Daniel like a brother and can never marry him. His resistance to her decision and his increasingly unusual behavior haunts her every move. A subplot that features a new maid in the Banning household adds extra interest to the story and just might be the lead-in to the next installment of this series.
“The Pursuit of Lucy Banning” has just the right blend of drama, romance, and even a bit of suspense. The neighborhood of Prairie Avenue was so well described that I could imagine walking down the street and viewing the marvelous architecture of the homes there. Lucy was a strong character with many redeeming qualities, especially her tender heart toward those less fortunate than herself. Will was the perfect match for her even if he didn’t measure up to her family’s social standards.
I very much enjoyed my brief look into the world of the rich and famous of Chicago and a lifestyle that no longer exists. I can’t wait for the next book of the series.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Riveting Story of Love, Wealth & Secrets as Historic Chicago Prepares for 1893 World’s Fair
Marshall Field, Henry Studebaker, Pullman, Kimball, Glessner, Bissell, Armour and Rothschild— these names add up to business inventiveness and unbounded wealth in turn-of-the-century Chicago – but changing social classes are threatening the luxury of the elite Prairie Avenue, the playground for the rich and powerful. Olivia Newport introduces readers to a world of luxurious mansions, secrets and forbidden love in the Windy City.
Set on Prairie Avenue, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning gives an inside look to the rich and powerful on the eve of the 1893 World’s Fair in the Windy City. Olivia Newport transports readers to a time of opulence in the first installment in the Avenue of Dreams series.
Lucy Banning may live among Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work–and the classes she is secretly taking at the newly opened University of Chicago. When she meets an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family’s expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is?
From lavish upper-class homes to the well-worn rooms of an orphanage, Newport breathes life and romance into the pages of history–and everyone is invited.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport‘s novels twist through time to discover where faith and passions meet. Her husband and two twenty-something children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where day lilies grow as tall as she is.
by admin | May 12, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult
MY REVIEW:
Sam Hopkins is a preacher’s kid who is tired of not fitting in with his schoolmates. He has no outstanding attributes to help elevate his status – he’s average looking, a bit smaller than normal and has no strong athletic abilities – just an ordinary kid. Most of the other kids just ignore him or act like they don’t know how to behave around him. So when the opportunity arises to hang out with the school thugs, he jumps at the chance although he knows it is a bad decision. And that is just the beginning of his troubles.
Jennifer is a classmate of Sam’s who is even more of an outcast than he is. She can’t seem to speak without making strange rhymes that tend to make others keep their distance. Then there are the voices and visions that torment her at night – voices she believes are demons. When Sam comes to her rescue one afternoon, Jennifer latches onto him as her hero and Sam, being the kind of fellow he is, befriends her.
Told primarily in first person narrative in the voice of Sam, “Crazy Dangerous” chronicles events in the lives of Sam and Jennifer over a short period of time. Sam’s rash decisions take him from one crisis to another as he attempts to sort out the truth and to protect Jennifer and possibly his entire town. The plot moves at a rapid pace with a mixture of drama, suspense and humor which makes the book a quick read for its length. Characterization is excellent and it is easy to imagine each of the protagonists in the story. While entertaining, the book also presents a strong message about doing the right thing and how people can’t be judged by outward appearances.
“Crazy Dangerous” is the first book I’ve read by this author but I would highly recommend it. This is one book that most teens should enjoy.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“You probably want to hear about Jennifer and the demons and how I played chicken with a freight train and-oh yeah-the weird murder . . . you’re definitely going to want to hear about that.”
Sam Hopkins is a good kid who has fallen in with a bad crowd. Hanging around with car thieves and thugs, Sam knows it’s only a matter of time before he makes one bad decision too many and gets into real trouble.
But one day, Sam sees them harassing an eccentric schoolmate of his named Jennifer. When Sam finds the courage to face the bullies down, he loses a bad set of friends and acquires a very strange new one.
Because Jennifer is not just eccentric. To Sam, she seems downright crazy. She has terrifying hallucinations involving demons and the devil and death. And here’s the really crazy part: Sam is beginning to suspect that these visions may actually be prophecies–prophecies of something terrible that’s going to happen very soon. Unless he can stop it.
With no one to believe him, with no one to help him, Sam is now all alone in a race against time. Finding the truth before disaster strikes is going to be both crazy and very, very dangerous.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrew Klavan was hailed by Stephen King as “the most original novelist of crime and suspense since Cornell Woolrich.” He is the recipient of two Edgar Awards and the author of such bestsellers as True Crime and Don’t Say a Word.
His books and screenplays have been turned into films directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Michael Douglas, Ed Burns, Michael Caine among others.
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
Books Sold to Date: over 1.5 million.
Read what other bloggers are saying about Crazy Dangerous HERE.
Celebrate with Andrew by entering his Crazy Dangerous giveaway and connecting with him during the Author Chat Party on 5/29!
One fortunate winner will receive:
- A $100 Visa Cash Card
- A copy of Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan for YOU and 5 of your Friends!
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on May 28th. Winner will be announced at the “Crazy Dangerous” Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/29. Andrew will be hosting an Author Chat, testing your survival trivia skills, giving away books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don’t miss a second of the “danger”!
Grab your copy of Crazy Dangerous and connect with Andrew on the evening of 5/29/12 for an author chat and lots of giveaways.
Don’t miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends
via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on the 29th!
by admin | May 10, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSubmerged• Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012) •byDani PettreyABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.
Just in case you’re curious…The real Dani does love traveling. She’s been to some amazing places (Greece, Hawaii, the Keys) and there are many more she hopes to visit in the future.
And while she’s not quite up to sky-diving, cave diving or heli-skiing (too high, too enclosed, too cold!) she and her family love hiking, canoeing, wave jumping and a ton of other outdoor adventures a little further down on the risk scale.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.
Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town . . . until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a small town. She’s returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn’t appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge.
She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he’s not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Submerged, go HERE.
Learn more about Dani and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Looks like I have yet another debut author to add to my need-to-read list. Submerged by Dani Pettrey quickly grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until the end. The story began with a crisis and the momentum built from that point on. Great characters were realistically portrayed with their strengths, weaknesses, and enough back story to make them interesting. The well described Alaskan setting was the perfect background for the story. The slowly building romance between Bailey and Cole and a strong but subtle message of faith were woven believably into the suspenseful plot.
Although still haunted by shadows of her past, Bailey was a strong, loyal and caring person who just needed to understand the truth about her salvation and to forgive herself. Cole was the perfect hero even though he had a few issues of his own. The rest of the McKenna family as well as Cole’s friend Landon played prominent roles and their strong personalities stood out. I am hoping to see another book or two that will continue their stories.
Submerged was a thoroughly satisfying read and could stand on its own next to books by many well established authors. I predict a long and successful writing career for Dani Pettrey and look forward to her future books.
by admin | May 10, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
After an act of terrorism at a wedding, the small town of Seagrove Village was once again on the alert for more activity by the international terrorist organization known as NINA. The subsequent disappearance of Sara’s husband adds to the strained relationship between business partners Beth and Sara. Evidence of a violent murder but no body ramps up the fear and tension in the community. To Beth, it is evident that someone she knows is responsible but there is not enough evidence to determine who it could be. Is it possible that Beth and Sara’s multi-million dollar business could be at the center of the plot? Can they discover who is responsible before there are more deaths? Can Beth trust Joe, a man from her past who is quickly becoming much too important to her?
With it’s intense, high velocity plot, “Not This Time” is a suspense filled novel that kept me turning the pages until its end. Several subplots that might or might not be connected kept me guessing about a potential outcome for the story. Several characters were possible candidates for the role of bad guy (or gal) but it was difficult to discern the culprit(s) until near the end. Every time I KNEW the answers, the author threw in a new twist that changed everything.
“Not This Time” has all the required elements for a great romantic suspense novel. I highly recommend it to lovers of the genre. I do however suggest that the three books of the Crossroads Crisis Center series be read in order for a better understanding of the characters and the plot.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group (Blogging for Books).
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.
Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of multiple novels including Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties. Hinze’s willingness to take risks in writing and genre has earned her a reputation for trail-blazing skill. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Doctorate in Philosophy, Theocentric Business & Ethics and served as vice president on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. She lives in Florida with her husband.
by admin | May 7, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Spiritural Warfare
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Soul Saver• Barbour Books (May 1, 2012)byDineen MillerABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dineen Miller readily admits that one of the greatest lessons she’s learning about life is that there’s purpose in our trials. It’s all about trusting God and putting our hope in Him. Her favorite stories are of the miracles God has wrought in the lives of her family.
Through this lens she also believes her years as a youth counselor, a Stephen Minister, a women’s ministry leader, and a small group leader fuel her desire to ignite the souls of others through words of truth.
In addition to writing for Spiritually Unequal Marriage, Dineen has won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine. She’s also a C.L.A.S.S. Communicator and has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Family Life and Focus on the Family Radio.
Married for 24 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two adult daughters, who surprise her daily with their own creativity.
She is the co-author of Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage and the author of The Soul Saver.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Trusting God Is the Only Way Out
On an average day, God started her missions in her sculpting studio, revealing the face of the person she would meet at the grocery store, bank, or playground. The goal was always the same. Reach the lost, bring someone back to God, restore hope. But then came the tough missions—the ones that sent Lexie Baltimore into real battle. And she had a few battle scars to show for it.
Tormented that she can’t reach the one person she loves the most—staunch atheist and husband Hugh—Lexie finds her own hope waning when the battle comes to her doorstep in the shape of a pastor who represents everything she wants and everything her husband is not—a godly man.
Then false accusations and rumors spin her husband and family into a precarious position, and the only way out is to trust God. But how can she convince her husband when she’s struggling to trust God herself?
This time Lexie is the mission.
ENDORSEMENTS:
“Never before have I felt as if I were seeing someone’s life play out across a page until I read Soul Saver. Dineen Miller’s prose had me sighing at the beauty of her word pictures. This is not a book to be missed – Life changing!”
— Robin Caroll, author of the Evil series and Injustice For All
“When you combine stellar writing, intriguing characters, and a fascinating plot the result is a story like Soul Saver. It’s the kind of novel I wish I had written.”
— James L. Rubart, bestselling author of ROOMS, Book of Days, and The Chair
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Soul Saver, go HERE.
Learn more about Dineen and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Lexie Baltimore, a talented sculptor, has a unique spiritual gift. Quite often, she is awakened during the night with the urge to sculpt the image of the next person to whom God wants her to minister His love. While she has faithfully followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, she can’t help but wonder when her atheist husband will be saved. Little does she know that her next few assignments will not only be related but will involve her in a battle for her faith, her marriage, her family, and possibly even her life.
In the tradition of Frank Peretti’s two “Darkness” novels and John Aubrey Anderson’s more recent series, The Black & White Chronicles, The Soul Saver provides the reader with a fictional account of the very real need for spiritual warfare. Miller graphically illustrates just how far our enemy will go to keep a soul from Christ and the temptations and lies that are designed to trip up even the most faithful believer. Miller’s characters are well defined with realistic challenges and choices in their lives.
The Soul Saver is a gripping story that is not only entertaining but gives us a clear view into the wiles of the devil while reminding us of the real source of power. A story of faith, perseverance, and obedience, the final outcome is victory and redemption. A book that I couldn’t put down, The Soul Saver has earned a prominent place on my keeper list. I can’t wait to read what this author has to offer next time.
