by admin | Jul 14, 2008 | Books
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Multnomah Publishers (May 20, 2008)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.
Robin’s first novel was published in 1988, and she has continued to write between two to five books a year. Her 63 published books include 47 novels, all of which are still in print. Sales of her popular Christy Miller Series, Glenbrooke Series and Sisterchicks Series, including Sisterchicks in Gondolas and the new Katie Weldon Series including Peculiar Treasures all of which are approaching four million copies sold, with translations in nine languages.
Robin’s passion for storytelling and travel are evident in all her books, especially the Sisterchicks novels, and she has received thousands of letters from readers around the world who have come to know Christ through her writing. She sees this as her dream come true. Her novels are traveling to foreign lands and her characters are doing what she always longed to do; telling people about God’s love.
She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.
As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin’s favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.
Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers’ Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK
SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.
Two midlife mamas hop over to jolly ole England and encounter so much more than the usual tourist stops. Liz does have a bit of a childhood crush on Big Ben, and she has hoped to “meet” him ever since her fifteenth birthday. Kellie dreams of starting an interior design business and figures Liz needs to be a part of that equation–a calculation that hasn’t added up for Liz yet.
Nothing on the excursion goes the way these two friends had envisioned. They start with a village pancake race and end up being held for questioning on The Underground. Kellie and Liz take a wild tour through the land of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and then find themselves swept up, up, and away in a hot air balloon over the Cotswalds. London beckons with the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill, and of course, reservations at the Ritz for a posh high tea.
A few detours along the way and the possibility of being lost in a London fog of wonderment aren’t enough to stop these two Sisterchicks! Each step of their regal journey is lined with evidence of God’s gracious compassion, and both come to realize that God knows their every wish. He is the One who planted every dream in their hearts.
And, oh, what a surprise awaits them when they return home!
To read the first chapter, go HERE
“Robin has done it again! You and your Sisterchicks will love taking this new adventure together!”
– Karen Kingsbury, New York Times best-selling author of Between Sundays and Ever After
“My only complaint about Robin’s latest is that now I want to hop a plane to England! But combine a cup of Earl Grey tea and this charming story and you’re halfway there. Another delightful tale about women helping women to live their lives to the fullest.”
– Melody Carlson, author of These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking and A Mile in My Flip-Flops
“Sisterchicks in Gondolas is a true delight. The characters shine, and evocative language will make any reader want to visit Venice. Biblical truths are portrayed simply, yet will touch hearts and lives with their realistic application.”
– Romantic Times magazine
MY REVIEW:
How could I do a better job of describing Sisterchicks Go Brit than the “About The Book” description above? It pretty much says it all. Sisterchicks Go Brit takes best friends Liz and Kellie on an unplanned surprise trip of a lifetime to England. As many of their plans go awry, they find that their impromptu adventures have taken them on a much more satisfying tour of Great Britain. And through the quite revelations of the Holy Spirit, Liz discovers God’s plans for her and hidden dreams fulfilled.
I would definitely recommend Sisterchicks Go Brit. As the title implies, it is definitely chick lit. Although there is plenty of humor, Gunn touches on the deep things of the heart and the mysteries of God.
Come visit those participating in the blog tour:
Adam at Northwoods Blumer
Amber at A Fiction-Filled Life
Amy at Simple Folk Schoolhouse
Amy at sprightly
Amy at My Life
Amy at Peek a boo ICU
Andie at frommipov
Andrea at The Laughs Will Go On
Angela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy
April at Projecting A
Barbara at Victoria Hill Farm
Becky at Savvy Mom
Betsy Ann at Betsy Ann “Writer at Large!”
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brandilyn at Forensics and Faith
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Camy at Camy Tang
Carla at Carla’s Writing Café
Carolyn at Serenity
CeeCee at Book Splurge
Cheri at Kudzu and Koolaid
Christy at Christy’s Book Blog
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Debra at Soul Reflections
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
Delia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats
Erica at On The Write Path
Ernie at Writing: My Adventures In Words
Georgiana at Georgiana D
Heidi at Reviews by Heidi
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy
Jenn at Adventures At Walden’s Pond
Jenny at Come Meet AusJenny
Jill at Christian Work At Home Moms
Joleen at timetotalk
Karen at Mommy of Three
Karla at Ramblin’ Roads To Everywhere
Kelly at A Disciple’s Steps
Kim at Window To My World
Krista at Welcome To Married Life
Kristi at Stamped With Grace
Kristy at I Need To Read
LaShaunda at See Ya On The Net
Laura at Laura William’s Musings
Leah at Ponderings From My Heart
Linda at Faith In Love
Margaret at Creative Madness
Marjorie at The Writer’s Tool
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
Michelle at Just A Minute
Nora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction
Pam at Mom’s Mutterings
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Rachelle at Stifled Squeal
Ruth at Booktalk & more…
Sally at Welcome To Sally Bradley.com
Sean at Bookmark Cafe
Shauna at Shaunarumbling
Stephanie at Punkin’ Press
Susan at His Reading List
Tabitha at 123pizza’s Weblog
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tami at Tree Swing Reading
Tara at Tara’s View Of The World
Tiffany at Snapshots Of Life
Tracy at Pix-N-Pens
Tricia at It’s Real Life
Virginia at CeCe Lane
Virginia at Book Reviews – Virginia “Ginny” Smith
by admin | Jul 13, 2008 | Books
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book’s FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today’s Wild Card author is:
and her book:
Revell (January 1, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. Her first book in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Most Pure, was released January 2008, to be followed by the second in September 2008,
A Passion Redeemed, and the third in May 2009, A Passion Denied (working title).
You can visit Julie at her Web site.
Product Details
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800732111
ISBN-13: 978-0800732110
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
“To the man who pleases him,
God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,
but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to
hand it over to the one who pleases God.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
– Ecclesiastes 2:26
Chapter One
Boston, Massachusetts, Late Summer, 1916
Sisters are overrated, she decided. Not all of them, of course, only the beautiful ones who never let you forget it. Faith O’Connor stood on tiptoe behind the side porch, squinting through her mother’s prized lilac bush. The sound of summer locusts vibrated in her ears as she gasped, inches from where her sister, Charity, stood in the arms of––
“Collin, someone might hear us,” Charity whispered.
“Not if we don’t talk.” Collin’s index finger stroked the cleft of her sister’s chin.
Faith’s body went numb. The locusts crescendoed to a frenzy in her brain. She wanted to sink into the fresh-mown lawn, but her feet rooted to the ground as firmly as the bush that hid her from view.
Three years had done nothing to diminish his effect on her. He was grinning, studying her sister through heavy lids, obviously relaxed as he leaned against the wall of their wraparound porch. His serge morning coat was draped casually over the railing. The rolled sleeves of his starched, white shirt displayed muscled arms snug around Charity’s waist. Faith knew all too well his clear, gray eyes held a maddening twinkle, and she heard the low rumble of his laughter when he pulled her sister close.
“Collin, nooooo …” Charity’s voice seemed to ripple with pleasure as her finger traced a suspender cinched to his striped trousers.
“Charity, yes,” he whispered, closing his eyes as he bent to kiss her.
Faith stopped breathing while his lips wandered the nape of her sister’s neck. (more…)
by admin | Jul 10, 2008 | Books
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book’s FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today’s Wild Card author is:
and his book:
Kregel Publications (May 31, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rick Acker writes his novels while commuting to and from his “real job” as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. His most recent novel, Blood Brothers, is an intense sequel to the legal thriller Dead Man’s Rule. Christy award-winning author Randy Ingermanson calls Blood Brothers “an excellent legal suspense novel, with a strong biotech backdrop. It reminded me of Michael Crichton’s latest novel, Next, except that Blood Brothers is better.” Rick is also the author of the well reviewed Davis Detective Mysteries, a series of adventure/mystery novels for “tweens.”
Rick is a transplanted Chicagoan who spent thirty-five years in the Midwest before finally trading the certainty of winter and mosquitoes for the risk of earthquakes. He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Anette, their four children, and two cats.
Visit the author’s website.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (May 31, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0825420075
ISBN-13: 978-0825420078
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
A Gift From the Past
A chill April rain fell outside Chicago’s Field Museum, drenching the wide black umbrellas that protected the designer gowns, suits, and hairstyles of the arriving guests. They came in couples or small groups, checked their coats and umbrellas, and found their way to the reception in the Founders’ Room, a venerable chamber with the feel of old money. The room’s reception area held a collection of fine artifacts never seen by the general public. A massive, ornately-carved fireplace greeted guests with a roaring blaze. Two large crystal chandeliers cast a soft light from the high ceiling onto the guests mingling below.
The room was full, but not too full—the mark of a well-planned event. White-coated servers maneuvered deftly among the clusters of chatting guests, offering appetizers or glasses of champagne. The selection of baked appetizers reflected a bias for salmon—perhaps because the hostess had been craving it when she planned the menu. Fortunately, most of the guests seemed to like salmon.
Ben Corbin, who did not like salmon, stood by a table of cheese-based hors d’oeuvres and watched his wife work the crowd. Two hours ago, Noelle had been a no-nonsense accountant, but now she had fully morphed into the role of society hostess: bright smile, well-coifed brown hair, unostentatious—but not inexpensive—diamond jewelry, and an elegant blue sheath dress that complemented her athletic figure and matched her brilliant sapphire eyes. Her dress had been let out a little in the middle to make room for her expanding belly; she was four months pregnant with their first child and just starting to show. (more…)
by admin | Jul 9, 2008 | Books
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
(Bethany House July 1, 2008)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society – Cave Diving Section.
He has launched, edited or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of four other novels: In High Places (Bethany House Publishers, 2007), Dark Fathom (Zondervan, 2005), Deep Blue, (Zondervan 2004), and Turn Four (Zondervan 2004). In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
You Can’t Outrun the Sins of Your Past
Desperate to forget what happened to him in Iraq, Tyler Perkins flees to the emptiness of Wyoming. He’s here to escape and also to fulfill a long-ago promise by accompanying his 86-year-old friend Soren Andeman on a fly-fishing trip–once more for old time’s sake. But their trek to an idyllic trout lake soon becomes something more deeply harrowing–a journey that uncovers long-held lies, deadly crimes, and the buried secrets of the past. Ty barely has time to contemplate the question of what constitutes justice when nature unleashes her own revenge. Trapped in a race back to safety, he must face his own guilt-ridden past or risk being consumed.
Powerfully imagined by the acclaimed author of In High Places, Wind River is an engaging wilderness adventure that explores the power of confession, the beauty of forgiveness, and the freedom of truth unveiled.
If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE
MY REVIEW:
It would be hard to describe Wind River any better than the content of the “About The Book” in the previous section. The last paragraph sums it up beautifully.
Wind River is a beautifully written, slow-paced tale of two men and the demons of their past that haunt them. Unlike some slow-paced novels, Wind River is not boring. The slow pace allows the reader to become intimately acquainted with Tyler and Soren while taking in some awesome scenery along the journey to Cirque Lake. As the story progresses, the simple narrative about Tyler escorting Soren on his last trip into the wilderness he loves develops into a powerful testimony of revelation and redemption.
I would definitely recommend Wind River to all readers; however in a bookstore full of romances and chick-lit, men in particular will find all of Morrisey’s books to be a welcome choice.
Come and visit those joining in the blog tour:
Adam at Northwoods Blumer
Amy at Simple Folk Schoolhouse
Amy at My Life
Angela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy
April at Projecting A
April at Living In A State Of Constant Kansas
Becky at Savvy Mom
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brandilyn at Forensics and Faith
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Caleb at Reviews Plus+
Camy at Camy Tang
Cara at the law, books, and life
Carla at Carla’s Writing Café
Carol at Blogging With Carol
Carolyn at Serenity
CeeCee at Book Splurge
Dave at Dave Rhoades
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Dawn at Book Junkie Confessions
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Deborah at Country At Heart
Debra at Soul Reflections
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
Delia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats
Elaina at Restore
Gina at Upon Reflection
Gretchen at Inspire Me
Jackie at Journey Into Grace
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy
Jason at Spoiled For The Ordinary
Jenn at Adventures At Walden’s Pond
Jill at Christian Work At Home Moms
Jill at Artistic Blogger
Jim B. at The Bedford Review
Jim T. at One Small Stone–CFBA Book Reviews
Joleen at timetotalk
Karen at Mommy of Three
Karla at Ramblin’ Roads To Everywhere
Kelly at A Disciple’s Steps
Kelly at Scrambled Dregs
Kim at Window To My World
LaShaunda at See Ya On The Net
Laura at Laura William’s Musings
Leah at Ponderings From My Heart
Linda at Mocha With Linda
Linda at Faith In Love
Lori at journey in grace
Lynetta at Open Book
Marjorie at The Writer’s Tool
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
Michelle at Just A Minute
Michelle at Michelle’s Great Blogs
Mike at wide-eyed fiction
Nicole at Into The Fire
Pam at Mom’s Mutterings
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Peg at Sips ‘n Cups Cafeteria
Rachelle at Stifled Squeal
Rel at Relz Reviewz
Rhonda at Whatever…
Sally at Welcome To Sally Bradley.com
Sean at Bookmark Cafe
Stacy at Vader’s Mom
Susan at His Reading List
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tiffany at Snapshots Of Life
Todd at A Place Called Fiction
Tracy at Pix-N-Pens
Tricia at It’s Real Life
Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.
SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.
