by admin | Sep 18, 2013 | Books, Mystery, Romance, Texas, Western
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFired Up(Bethany House March 1,byMary ConnealyABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.
The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.
The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.
Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.
The Sophie’s Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.
She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she’s one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.
Learn more about Mary and her books on her Website .
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rollicking Wild West Adventure and Romance from Bestselling Author Mary Connealy
Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can’t let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he’s trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.
Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she’s determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she’s terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner–never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.
Glynna can’t help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There’s the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna’s diner into Dare’s back. Are Flint’s cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna’s son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Fired Up, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Fired Up is classic Connealy with a bevy of handsome cowboys, a feisty heroine, a little mystery and danger, plenty of action, a romance or two and of course Mary’s trademark humor. What more could a fan of western romance novels ask than the latest addition to the Trouble in Texas series?
In this second installment of the Trouble in Texas series, the story continues with many of the characters who first appeared in “Swept Away”. It was fun to catch up with Ruthy and Luke as well as Vince and Jonas but Fired Up is mostly Glynna and Dare’s story. Peppered with misunderstandings, suspicious accidents, and plenty of interference from others plus Glynna’s determination to avoid involvement with all men in her future, things do not look very promising for Dare’s attraction to the pretty widow even if he manages to stay alive.
Fired Up is a fast-paced tale with an emphasis on friendship, loyalty, and forgiveness. I was not 100% happy with the way the book ended but have high hopes that everything will be resolved to my satisfaction in the next book in the series. I just hope I don’t have to wait too long to find out.
by admin | Sep 17, 2013 | Books, Gilded Age, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
It is probably a good thing that one does not have to actually like the primary character to enjoy a book. I had a difficult time with many of Sarah’s choices and her motives. I could understand her desire to improve her lot in life but deception is never the way to achieve that. Reading about Sarah’s ever growing web of lies was like waiting for the inevitable crash of everything she had built on those lies.
On the other hand, I did like Simon. I have to hand it to him – he was much more forgiving and long-suffering toward Sarah than most men would have been. In some ways he was being Jesus to her by loving her despite her evident sins and trying to help her see herself the way she was meant to be.
I enjoyed revisiting characters from the first two novels in the Avenue of Dreams series. I was quite happy to watch Sarah’s repentance once she was found out and the way she finally made some right choices in her life.
I have enjoyed the entire Avenue of Dreams series and would love to see it continue. Nevertheless, I will look forward to Olivia Newport’s next novel, whatever she decides to offer her readers.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In a world where everyone is putting on a show, there is a love that is genuine.
Sarah Cummings has one goal in life–to break into Chicago’s high society. Desperate to stop serving dinner to members of the wealthy Banning family and to start eating at society tables, Sarah spends her meager free time altering cast-off gowns to create the perfect wardrobe for her future life.
When opportunity knocks at a chance meeting, she presents herself as Serena Cuthbert, weaving a fictitious past to go with her fictitious name. But as she gets closer to her goal–and closer to Simon Tewell, director of St. Andrew’s Orphanage–Sarah finds that she must choose between the life she has and the life she dreams of.
Can she piece together the perfect life from scraps? Or will it all come unraveled in the face of true love?
“Newport’s touching historical romance sweeps readers into another time and place, where elegance and wealth are abundant and where dreams really can come true. Highly recommended for fans of Tamera Alexander.”–Library Journal
Praise for the Avenue of Dreams series:
“Chicago’s history comes alive on each page.”–Andrea Boeshaar, author of Seasons of Redemption series
“With attention to historical detail and an artful sense of place, Olivia Newport gives readers a fascinating glimpse into . . . the roles of women in the world.”–USA Today, Happily Ever After blog
“Newport’s characters are by turn charming, conniving, or trying to be true to themselves in spite of what society expects of them.”–RT Book Reviews
For more information visit HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport is the author of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow. Her husband and two twentysomething 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 daylilies grow as tall as she is. Find out more at www.OliviaNewport.com.
For Olivia Newport’s website, Facebook or Twitter visit:
http://www.olivianewport.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport
https://twitter.com/
Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell,
a division of Baker Publishing Group.
by admin | Sep 17, 2013 | Books, England, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingBorn of PersuasionTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2013)byJessica DottaABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born in the wrong century–except for the fact that she really likes epidurals and washing machines–Jessica Dotta writes British Historicals with the humor like an Austen, yet the drama of a Bronte.
She resides lives in the greater Nashville area—where she imagines her small Southern town into the foggy streets of 19th century London. She oversees her daughter to school, which they pretend is an English boarding school, and then she goes home to write and work on PR. Jessica has tried to cast her dachshund as their butler–but the dog insists it’s a Time Lord and their home a Tardis. Miss Marple, her cat, says its no mystery to her as to why the dog won’t cooperate. When asked about it, Jessica sighs and says that you can’t win them all, and at least her dog has picked something British to emulate.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.
With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Born of Persuasion, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
There was a time in my life when I devoured Gothic romance novels by authors Victoria Holt, Phillipa Carr, etc. As I read Born of Persuasion I was reminded of those novels and how much I enjoyed them with their mysterious and ominous mood.
With its intricately woven plot, Born of Persuasion allowed me to tag along with Julia Elliston on her dangerous quest for safety after her mother’s death. At times I was not in favor of the choices made by Julia but I remained as confused as she was about who she could believe and/or trust for the entirety of the book. Only as the story neared its end were some of my questions answered and even then I believe I will be forced to wait until the next volume is published to gain more satisfactory answers.
I found Born of Persuasion to be both enjoyable and frustrating but that is the mark of a skilled author. I eagerly anticipate the release of “Mark of Distinction” and hope the wait is not too long.
by admin | Sep 16, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mexico, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Most movie companion books leave me a bit underwhelmed but when I saw that Unlimited was written by Davis Bunn I was intrigued. I have never been disappointed by any novel written by this author and I have the utmost respect for his talent. I am happy to report that Unlimited lived up to my high expectations.
What I found in Unlimited was a well blended story of suspense and political intrigue with a touch of science fiction, a subtle romance, some danger and adventure. The plot is well-paced and populated with remarkable characters who quickly made me care what happened to them. I enjoyed seeing the changes in Simon as he worked beside the others in the orphanage. Harold was an inspiration and Pedro, Sofia, and Juan were also wonderful examples. The theme of finding purpose in one’s life and depending on God’s help to achieve it came across strongly. I did suspect the primary villain before he was revealed but that did not detract in any way from my enjoyment.
After reading Unlimited, I find myself eager to view its companion movie. I hope it will come to my city.
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited
from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Simon Orwell is a brilliant student whose life has taken a series of wrong turns. At the point of giving up on his dreams, he gets a call from an old professor who has discovered a breakthrough in a device that would create unlimited energy. He needs Simon’s help.
Upon crossing the border, nothing goes as the young man planned. The professor has been killed and Simon is assaulted and nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel.
Now he must take refuge in the only place that will help him, a local orphanage. There, Simon meets Harold Finch, the orphanage proprietor who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause.
With Harold’s help, Simon sets out on a quest to uncover who killed the professor and why. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.
Read Chapters 1-3 of Unlimited for free HERE.
Watch the Unlimited Movie Trailer:
About Unlimited:
ISBN (Trade Paperback): 978-1-4336-7940-7
320 pages
September 1, 2013 from B & H Publishing Group
About Davis Bunn:
Davis Bunn is a four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author now serving as writer-in-residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Defined by readers and reviewers as a “wise teacher,” “gentleman adventurer,” “consummate writer,” and “Renaissance man,” his work in business took him to over 40 countries around the world, and his books have sold more than seven million copies in sixteen languages.
Unlimited is Davis’s first screenplay to be released as a major motion picture. The book, Unlimited, is a novelization of the screenplay.
The inspiration behind the Unlimited film and novel is Harold Finch’s book, Success: Four Keys to Unlock Your Unlimited Potential. Download a free copy of Success HERE.
Q & A with Davis Bunn:
The storyline in Unlimited is inspired by true events. What actual events inspired the story?
Harold Finch was formerly the founder and CEO of the first management-leadership consulting groups in the US. In the mid-seventies he sold the company to H&R Block for over a hundred million dollars—back when a hundred million actually meant something. Answering God’s call, he has spent the past three decades traveling the world, teaching his concepts for free and helping underprivileged children learn that they do indeed have both a purpose in God’s eyes, and the potential to succeed. His experiences form the basis for this story.
What ignited your idea for the characters to create a device that would convert raw wasted energy into useable power?
I actually wrote the screenplay for the film before writing the novel. This happens occasionally—Godfather and Love Story were both conceived in this order. While working on the film script, the producer and Harold and I were discussing what might work as a basis for the story’s suspense element. We were looking for something that had the means of revealing this ‘unlimited’ potential in people. I don’t actually remember who first came up with the idea of wasted energy, but soon as it was said, we all jumped on it.
Simon Orwell, the protagonist in Unlimited, is a brilliant, cynical electrical engineering student who finds danger irresistible. Did you model his character traits after yourself or anyone you know?
Alas, we all know a Simon. These days, this type of person is all too common. An individual with huge potential, who allows himself or herself to become distracted by the multitude of temptations that basically define modern life. And yes, I do know several such people. Some turn this into hugely productive directions, thank goodness. Usually to do so requires divine help, a clarification of focus, and strength they must reach out and ask to receive.
Armando Vasquez and Harold Finch are important mentors in Simon’s life. Who has been a critical mentor in your life, Davis? How has that person encouraged you to push beyond the boundaries of what you thought possible?
There have been several such mentors, for which I remain extremely grateful. One such person is Carol Johnson, who recently retired as editor-in-chief at Bethany House Publishers. Carol has been instrumental in my becoming the best writer I could be, and continues to act as a sounding board for new ideas and characters. Another, I am happy to say, is Harold Finch. His lessons on combining God’s teachings with lifelong aims have been a genuinely rewarding experience with far-reaching results.
Many of the characters in the story are orphans. What parallels do you see between the orphans in the story and real-life spiritual orphans?
A beautiful question. While researching the core components of this story, orphanage leaders repeatedly stressed the need to teach orphans to believe in themselves and their natural abilities. Too often they see themselves as lost, without purpose, without a role to play, without chances, without love. What made this story work, I think, is how Simon Orwell shares these same feelings about himself. And how he comes to realize God is the only one to fill this need.
Many people believe they must wear a mask to hide the parts of themselves they are ashamed of. How is this story about removing that mask?
So much of life remains hidden away. The darker elements of a life without God only amplify this falseness. Simon has spent so much of his life, so much of his energy and time, in hiding. As the story unfolds, he discovers that an essential element of arriving at his full potential is being honest with himself. This is where the mask is most damaging, and also where it is often hardest to release. We seek to hide the truth, even when we know the act is a lie in itself. And the mirror we require to see the truth about ourselves is the one that God offers, in infinite patience, in gentle love.
The title, Unlimited, has multiple layers of meaning. What does that title mean to you?
Unlimited was the title brought to me by the film’s producers. When I first began working on this story, it was just that, a title. But as I grew to know Harold, and heard him teach, and read his lesson plan, and then actually applied what he has come to call his ‘Dynamic Life Retreat’ (see Harold full teachings on his website, HaroldFinch.com) I have come to agree with them in their choice. Bringing God into the equation of life’s direction, success, and reaching full potential does reveal the true meaning of Unlimited.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com
Subscribe to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ — check out my “Scenes from Unlimited” board.
Twitter: @davisbunn – http://twitter.com/davisbunn
SWEEPSTAKES:
You could win a $50 Fandango gift card plus UNLIMITED, Davis Bunn’s new suspense novel. Ten additional winners will receive a copy of UNLIMITED. Enter right now by clicking this link:
Note: Pinning is NOT required to enter (the pins are just for fun). Simply enter your name and e-mail address in the form on Davis Bunn’s Facebook page. You can enter once per email address per day.
Rack up lots of bonus entries each day by sharing the contest with your Facebook and Twitter friends!
by admin | Sep 14, 2013 | Books, Love Inspired, Military, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Liz Johnson’s latest Love Inspired Suspense novel “SEAL Under Siege” offers the reader page-turning suspense coupled with a romance that develops despite adverse conditions. Navy SEAL Tristan Sawyer (L.T.) is a true hero who is devoted to protecting his country and its citizens. When Staci Hayes was rescued from a mideastern prison, she left with valuable information about pending terrorist activities that placed her life in danger. When no one would listen to her, she turned to the only other person she could trust – the man who rescued her.
Although “SEAL Under Siege” is a mass market paperback with a shorter length, the author has managed to expertly develop both the characters and a fast-moving and exciting plot. Not a word is wasted as Tristan and Staci race against time in their endeavor to keep Staci alive and circumvent what could be a devastating terrorist act. Both Staci and Tristan have secrets that they believe are obstacles to their chances for a permanent relationship but could it be possible that God has other plans for them?
“SEAL Under Siege” is a fun action-packed novel that once again illustrates the time proven theme of taking your hands off the situation and letting God handle it.
This book was provided for review by the author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
SHE’S NOT SAFE YET
When Staci Hayes is rescued from a Mideast prison by navy SEAL Tristan Sawyer, she thinks the ordeal is over. But back in San Diego, a new threat arises. Staci has information that could prevent a hit on U.S. soil, and the terrorist will stop at nothing to silence her. Tristan insists on being her bodyguard, but his constant presence makes her long for things beyond her reach. Protecting Staci is the second chance Tristan needs to put the past behind him. Yet with a spy on the naval base, anyone could be a threat. Can he offer her safety…and love?
Read an excerpt HERE.
Links to retailers carrying the book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
ChristianBook.com
The Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager for a Christian publisher. She finds time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring local music, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings and blogs about her adventures in writing at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com. Follow her online at Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks or Twitter.com/LizJohnsonBooks.
