Thicker Than Blood by CJ Darlington

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Thicker than Blood
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Winner of the
2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest!

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon, Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could May’s Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

I've been biting my nails with anticipation going stir crazy patiently waiting for this book for quite some time. I would get these emails from Title Traxx about this new book that was going to be released the first week of January 2010. Let me tell you, this book was WELL WORTH THE WAIT!! This is a 5 out of 5 stars book! RUN OUT AND GET IT NOW AND READ IT!

So, why is it so good? You have a story of 2 sisters who've not seen each other in years. Christy doesn't really want to see May for fear of how she'd view her. May just wants her sister back, no matter what. In some ways, I could empathize with May. I don't have Christy for a sister (mine is just not involved in all the things that Christy is!) but I do miss my sister. We've had a falling out and don't speak anymore. I could feel May's pain in this regard. I love how the author was not afraid to tackle difficult subjects. Ms. Darlington did so with grace and love. I appreciate that this book was not full of profanity and the situations discussed were not done so in a way to turn off someone from reading the book. However, there is one situation that is (somewhat) graphically described but I feel that it was more than appropriate in order to understand Christy more.

I also loved the book titles that were dropped throughout this book in discussions of the books coming in through the bookstore. I just loved the smell of these books that permeated through the pages and descriptive language. Having formerly worked in a bookstore, I understood the love the author put into this part of the book.

If you aren't convinced yet that you should read this book, here is the opening paragraph...I couldn't put the book down after this!

Christy Williams didn't see the cop until his red lights flashed in her rearview mirror. By then it was too late. He was tailing her, and she had no choice but to ease her Honda Accord onto the snowy shoulder of the freeway and let the cruiser slide in behind.

If that doesn't grab you...

With careful attention to detail, emotion, and scene-setting, C.J. Darlington scores with her debut effort. Here is a special writer you won’t want to miss.
--Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times best selling author

If you love a good read filled with adventure and ultimately redemption, I encourage you to brew the tea, settle into your favorite chair and pick up the page turner that is C.J. Darlington’s imaginative new novel of a modern day sisterhood that triumphs over separation and the raw challenges of life to find the real endurance of both family ties and God’s amazing grace.
--Rebecca St. James, Grammy award winning Christian singer and bestselling author

With Thicker than Blood, C.J. Darlington proves she's a novelist for the long-haul, a strong new voice in Christian fiction. This book speaks to the heart, from the heart, about the heart. Readers will not soon forget it.
--Sibella Giorello, Christy award-winning author of The Rivers Run Dry & The Clouds Roll Away

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:
C. J. began writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood (her first novel) when she was a fifteen-year-old homeschool student. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over a decade, scouting for stores similar to the one described in the novel before cofounding her own online bookstore. Thicker than Blood was the winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel.

C. J. co-founded the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com for more info.

QUICK LINKS:

• The 1st chapter of Thicker than Blood
• The "Story Behind the Story" of Thicker than Blood
• More endorsements from Jenny B. Jones, James Scott Bell, Susan Meissner, and more!
• Our interview with C.J. at TitleTrakk.com
  
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Christianbook.com
• Buy Thicker than Blood at Amazon.com
• List of the other 85+ Thicker than Blood blog tour participants!