by admin | Jun 7, 2011 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I thought the premise for this novel was a good one. What if the “answer lady”, the woman with all the answers about how to make a marriage thrive, suddenly and unexpectedly found that her own husband wanted a divorce? Desert Gift begins with Jill’s husband breaking the news to her just as she is leaving to promote her new book, the book that she couldn’t have written without his collaboration. Shell shocked, Jill attempts to fulfill her speaking commitments while trying to hide the fact that she is falling apart on the inside.
The author takes the reader through all the emotional turmoil suffered by Jill as she goes through the stages of anger, pain, grief, denial, blame, and finally deep soul searching and surrender to God. Her encounters with family, strangers, and friends provoke and encourage her. Before the book ends, Jill has learned quite a bit about herself and her motivation. The reader is also treated to Jill’s husband Jack’s side of the story as he goes through his own self examination. He is bewildered by his actions but also relieved. He doesn’t understand the reasons but only knows that he is extremely unhappy with their marriage. He also learns a few things about himself .
Desert Gift is filled with some wonderful characters who are able to speak into the lives of Jack and Jill. This is a wonderful story of forgiveness and reconciliation that goes beyond the Galloway marriage. Overflowing with wisdom, this book should prompt the reader to examine the relationships in her own life and apply the lessons learned.
This book was provided for review by Tyndale House Publishers.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What does a nationally known marriage expert do when her own marriage falls apart? Just as Jillian Galloway sets out for a publicity tour to promote her new book, her husband drops a bombshell: He wants a divorce. Jill flees to her parents’ home in the California desert, wondering whether everything she’s built her career on—indeed, everything she’s built her life around—is a sham. Navigating this “side road” of life is an uphill climb that leads to new understandings about herself, her marriage, and her relationship with the One who created marriage.
Read the first chapter of Desert Gift HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
When the going gets tough—or weird or wonderful—the daydreamer gets going on a new story. Sally John has been tweaking life’s moments into fiction since she read her first Trixie Belden mystery as a child.
Now an author of more than fifteen novels, Sally writes stories that reflect contemporary life. Her passion is to create a family, turn their world inside out, and then portray how their relationships change with each other and with God. Her goal is to offer hope to readers in their own relational and faith journeys.
Sally grew up in Moline, Illinois, graduated from Illinois State University, married Tim in 1973, and taught in middle schools. She is a mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award, she also teaches writing workshops. Her books include the Safe Harbor series (coauthored with Gary Smalley), The Other Way Home series, The Beach House series, and In a Heartbeat series. Many of her stories are set in her favorite places of San Diego, Chicago, and small-town Illinois.
She and her husband currently live in southern California.
by admin | Jun 6, 2011 | Books, Historical, Romance
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Lady of Bolton Hill
Bethany House (June 1, 2011)
by
Elizabeth Camden
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
A word from Elizabeth: I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.
As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.
Learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London’s poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel’s success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara’s deeply-held beliefs about God’s grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara’s very life is endangered by one of Daniel’s adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.
When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain’s worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.
But time has changed them both.
Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.
Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts, and lives, hang in the balance?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Before I finished the first chapter of The Lady of Bolton Hill, I suspected that I had yet another new author to add to my ever growing list of favorites. By the end of the book there was no question in my mind. Elizabeth Camden grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it until the very end. Usually a fast reader, even I was surprised how quickly I finished the book.
The Lady of Bolton Hill is first and foremost a historical romance but it is so much more. Although the stage is set in the prologue that highlights the special friendship between Clara and Daniel much of the story focuses on conflicting values that threaten to drive them apart. A sinister plot designed to destroy Daniel adds even more drama and intrigue.
The Lady of Bolton Hill accentuates the pitfalls of revenge and the need of forgiveness and illustrates redemption beautifully. With a well paced plot, strong and endearing characters, plenty of action, mystery, and romance, The Lady of Bolton Hill covers all my requirements for a good book. My only complaint is a loose end regarding the evil professor. Hopefully that will be wrapped up in a sequel (Please!). I would love to see future books featuring both Bane and Clara’s brother Clyde.
If you are a lover of historical fiction, this is one novel you need to pick up.
by admin | Jun 4, 2011 | Books, Speculative, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The Canary List is speculative fiction that is based in part on facts which are referenced in the afterword. If Brouwer’s speculations were true, it would be truly frightening.
The primary character of this story is Crockett Grey, a schoolteacher who is drawn into a sinister web of danger and subterfuge when a frightened student comes to him for help. As his life spirals out of control, Crockett is determined to get answers about who is responsible and why. Crockett’s student Jaimie, a twelve-year-old girl, constantly feels that she is hunted by evil but doesn’t understand the cause. The two of them are pulled into an international conspiracy that extends all the way to the Vatican.
With frequent references to demons, exorcists, satanic rituals, child abuse and the involvement of the Catholic Church, The Canary List is a fairly dark tale. The spiritual aspects are contrasted by modern technology that includes hackers, genetic code, and powerful secret agencies. Crockett’s emotional response to his unwarranted accusations and subsequent events are realistic although some of his experiences seem to be somewhat extreme.
For the most part, The Canary List was an intriguing story that made me want to find out how everything turned out. However, there were times when I had to backtrack a few pages to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Brouwer has woven a twisted story that ended with more questions than answers. But then, maybe that was his intention all along.
If you enjoy speculative fiction and conspiracy theories, The Canary List should probably be on your reading list.
This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group Blogging For Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?
She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.
All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone.
But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.
Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.
Read the first chapter of The Canary List HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sigmund Brouwer is the author of eighteen novels with nearly three million copies in print. His recent novel The Last Disciple was featured in Time magazine and on ABC’s Good Morning America. Sigmund is married to Christian recording artist Cindy Morgan, and they and their two daughters divide their time between homes in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and Nashville, Tennessee.
Praise for The Canary List and Sigmund Brouwer
“Speculative Christian fiction is rare, and Brouwer does it with the skills of an episodic storyteller that make a reader wonder when the movie is coming out.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“Recommended for readers of visionary and science fiction and for larger Christian fiction collections.”
—Library Journal
“Sigmund Brouwer is one of my favorite authors. His versatility and the ease that he switches between genres and styles never cease to amaze me.”
—Melissa Willis, TheChristianManifesto.com
by admin | Jun 3, 2011 | Giveaways
To celebrate her debut novel, Catherine and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away a Spring For Susannah
Prize Package worth over $150!
One grand prize winner will receive:
* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen
* Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (for KINDLE)
To enter just click one of the icons below and then tell your friends! But hurry, giveaway ends on June 27th. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th at 5 PM (6PM MST, 7PM CST, & 8PM EST) during Catherine’s Spring for Susannah Book Club Party on Facebook! Catherine is rustling up some fun for the party – she’ll be chatting about the story behind her novel, hosting a book club chat, testing your mail-order bride trivia skills, and giving away some GREAT prizes! Don’t miss the fun and tell your friends!
