by admin | Jun 13, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Southern
MY REVIEW:
Tish McComb grew up hearing wonderful stories told by her father about her great-great-great-grandmother Letitia and the ancestral home in Noble, Alabama. As Letitia’s namesake, Tish takes a detour home from Florida through Noble when she learns the house is for sale just for the chance to see inside. On a whim, Tish decides to purchase the house and soon finds herself resigning her job and moving from Michigan to the south where she is surprised to learn that the McComb name is not exactly favored in her new home. Tish runs across Melanie, a young homeless woman whose family has given up on and decides to share the house with her until she can get on her feet. George Zorbas makes frequent appearances as he chases down his deceased mother’s dog who can’t seem to remember that she no longer lives in Tish’s house. Everyone in town believes Melanie is a thief so Tish as two strikes against her for being a McComb and sheltering Melanie.
“Gone South” is a wonderful story with unique and sometimes quirky characters who soon won my heart. Tish is strong but after moving around her entire life, she wants a place she can call home. Melanie knows that she has messed up more times than she can count but desperately wants to do what is right and clear her tarnished name. George is a good guy, confident and caring and who becomes much more involved in Tish and Melanie’s lives than he ever intended.
The novel makes some strong points about how a person’s life can be affected by those who judge them without getting all the facts with Mel as a prime example. Some emphasis was placed on the faith of certain characters but it was not heavy-handed. I enjoyed watching the personal growth of the characters, especially Mel and was glad when some people realized that they had been wrong about her all along. I would definitely recommend “Gone South” to all who enjoy contemporary fiction.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The charm of the South drew her back to her family’s roots. But when the town’s old resentments turn the sweet tea bitter, can Tish find a welcome anywhere?
Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. She wonders if God has given her a new dream— the old house filled with friends, her vintage percolator bubbling on the sideboard.
When Tish discovers that McCombs aren’t welcome in town, she feels like a Yankee behind enemy lines. Only local antiques dealer George Zorbas seems willing to give her a chance. What’s a lonely outcast to do but take in Noble’s resident prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and hope that the two can find some much needed acceptance in each other.
Problem is, old habits die hard, and Mel is quite set in her destructive ways. With Melanie blocked from going home, Tish must try to manage her incorrigible houseguest as she attempts to prove her own worth in a town that seems to have forgotten that every sinner needs God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.
Click here to download chapter one of Gone South.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Meg Moseley is still a Californian at heart although she’s lived more than half her life in other states. Holding jobs that ranged from candle-maker to administrative assistant, Meg eventually contributed human-interest pieces for a suburban edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Contemporary fiction remains her real love, and she’s the author of When Sparrows Fall and Gone South. She lives in Atlanta near the foothills of the Southern Appalachians with her husband.
by admin | Jun 12, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I am pretty sure that I have read ALL of Kathy Herman’s books and will continue to do so as long as she keeps writing them. She occupies a space at the top of my favorite authors list. I just finished “Not By Sight” and it met all my expectations.
Kathy’s true-to-life characters and her breathtaking setting descriptions made me want to go beyond the pages of the book to experience life in the small Ozark mountain town for myself by staying at Angel View Lodge. It was easy to identify with the Cummings family and the difficulty they had dealing with the unsolved disappearance of Micah, the husband/father and two-year-old daughter Riley Jo five years before. The fact that the tragedy had strengthened the faith of some family members yet caused others in the family to turn their back on God was also very believable. The plot advanced quickly with the perfect blend of drama, suspense, and character development. A budding romance between two young characters added a bit of relief from the grief and uncertainty. Just when I thought everything was wrapped up, Kathy threw another twist into the tale that kept me wondering how everything would turn out. I liked seeing how Abby grew in her faith and trust in the Lord as she experienced life threatening trials and also the way her brother Hawk and her mother Kate were finally able to see that God was indeed at work in their lives.
I am finding it very difficult to express how good this book is without giving away anything. Just take my word for it and pick up your own copy of “Not By Sight”.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sixteen-year-old Abby Cummings has struggled for five years with the mysterious disappearance of her father and two-year old sister, Riley Jo. One day, Abby’s in town shopping and sees a girl about seven, who looks remarkably like she imagines her sister would now. Abby takes a picture with her cell phone and shows it to her mother. Mama, having had her hopes dashed all too often, dismisses it. But Abby can’t. What if her sister is still alive? What if her father is? Abby ’s determined to find out. She confides in her best friend, Jay Rogers, but neither teenager has any idea that Jay holds the key to the truth of what happened.
Based on 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We live by faith, not by sight,” this is fast-paced suspense that will appeal to both genders–adults and mature teens.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.
She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.
Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she’s added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.
Kathy’s husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.
by admin | Jun 12, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Spiritural Warfare, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAn Open HeartDavid C. Cook (June 1, 2013)byHarry KrausABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word from Harry:
I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife’s urging: “Now doesn’t seem the right time for this dream.”
My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I’d written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn’t until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the “rules” without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I’d have made faster progress if I’d have gone to the fiction teachers sooner.
I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you’ll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels.
Learn more about Harry and his books on his Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Their Messages—From Beyond the Grave—Might Destroy Him …
They hover between life and death, their hearts stopped on the surgery table. And the messages Dr. Jace Rawlings’ open-heart surgery patients bring back from beyond the grave cannot be ignored. For they predict the deaths of people around him, and point a finger of suspicion straight at him.
It thrusts Jace into a firestorm of controversy and danger. A maelstrom blown by the darker winds of political intrigue and spiritual warfare. And the forces working against him will do anything to stop him from uncovering a truth they will kill to hide. He’d come to Kenya to establish a heart-surgery program for the poor. But what he will find in that place where he grew up will put everything at risk–his marriage, his career . . . his life.
If you would like to read the first chapter of An Open Heart, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
An Open Heart is not only a suspense-filled and dramatic novel but it is also one that can open the reader’s eyes to some previously unknown points. It is obvious from the cover description that the reader will receive a glimpse into the spiritual realm that is seldom shared. I have often wondered why many of our missionaries are not prepared for the spiritual warfare they encounter when serving in foreign lands but the author offers a very good explanation for it. The missionaries who have experienced such battles are reluctant to share because they fear they will not be believed or considered crazy. Another detail I never considered before reading An Open Heart is the fact that doctors in substandard hospitals in other countries need to be even more skilled than the ones who practice in the U.S. simply because they do not have the advanced diagnostic equipment available to them. With this new knowledge, I have even greater respect for the men and women who serve on the missions field.
Aside from those facts that stood out to me, I enjoyed the novel. The primary character, Jace Rawlings is running from God but doesn’t realize it. In fact, he is not entirely sure what motivates him. Son of missionaries to Kenya, he has made a name for himself in the states as a skilled heart surgeon but after a serious accident, he sensed that his deceased sister wanted him back in Kenya. Upon his arrival in Kenya, Jace found himself in the center of a battle between the forces of light and darkness that threatened to end his life. His determination not to serve God endangers his eternal existence but God has not given up on him.
Harry Kraus paints a vivid picture of life in Kenya, especially giving readers an inside look at the life of medical missionaries. With plenty of drama, danger, and suspense as well as an intense spiritual thread, An Open Heart held my interest until the end.
by admin | Jun 8, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed all of Irene Hannon’s suspense novels to date as well as many of her Love Inspired books so I was sure that her newest long contemporary romance “That Certain Summer” would also be good. I was not disappointed.
Skillful plot and character development paved the way for a most enjoyable few hours of reading. I liked the fact that all of the characters struggled with different problems and misconceptions about themselves. It was gratifying to watch as their personal interactions helped them to gradually understand the truth and how their lives changed for the better – even the manipulative mother of Karen and Val. Although Karen seemed to have the lowest self-esteem, she also had the most compassionate heart which influenced those around her. Val’s outward self-confidence hid a guilty conscience but she encouraged Karen to learn to stand up for herself. It was a joy to see the sisters relationship grow close as they cared for their mother together. The men who enter their lives are the perfect complement for each woman.
“That Certain Summer” is not only a wonderful romance novel but has a strong message on forgiveness and finding God’s plan for one’s life. I highly recommend it.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
New Contemporary Romance by Two-Time RITA Award-Winning Author
With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, celebrated author Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven and the complicated process of finding love.
Karen and Val are family – yet they’re anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town – and had a secret to keep – so coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.
Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their own relationship and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each sister learn how to forgive, how to let go and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its “Top 10 Inspirational Fiction” list for 2011. She lives in Saint Louis, Missouri.
For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.
