COTT: So Many Places to Go!

How relaxing to sit on a beach and watch the waves roll onto shore. No, maybe to plop down in a rocking chair and overlook distant mountains.


How about a day shopping in Paris? Oh yeah, that’d be nice. It might be fun to browse at an open market on a Caribbean Island or go to a Luau in Hawaii. What about walking where our ancestors walked? Find out more about ourselves. Or better yet, walk where Jesus walked.

Even the most seasoned traveler can find new places to go. Thanks to all the writers who transport us to sites we’ve never seen or show us something different at the ones we have. We hear so much about a book’s plot and characters and rightly so, but the characters need to live in interesting surroundings.
If a writer’s plotting a scuba diving expedition, the diver needs to see clear water, coral reefs and exotic fish and know all about boats and dive equipment. If a character is in the kitchen cooking grits while looking out a window at blue tinted mountains, that person’s in the south in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A character walking on a crowded street surrounded by high rise buildings with Times Square in the distance is in New York City. The setting also can make characters seem real when they smell newly mowed grass, watch a sunset, listen to the wind howl or feel the onset of a sudden shower.



It’s fun to sit back in a favorite easy chair or curl up on the sofa with a cup of coffee or tea with visions of new places to go and read until the heart’s content. If the character in the novel sees something the reader’s never seen, that’s traveling by book.


Do you have a favorite setting for a novel? The Civil War? The beach? Paris? Do share!


Gail’s husband, Rick, says she’s the only person he knows who can go in the grocery for a loaf of bread and come out with someone’s life story. That’s probably because she inherited her mother’s love of people and enjoys talking to them. Working as an editor and freelance writer, Gail published a couple hundred articles. While some of them are in anthologies, two ended up in museums. In 2004, the American Christian Writers Association named Gail a regional writer of the year. She recently published her first romance, Love Turns the Tide. When she isn’t writing she likes reading, swimming, and getting together with friends and family. Gail wants to write books of faith that show God’s love. She and Rick live in Georgia.




Contact Gail at pallotta[at]gailpallotta[dot]com. Visit her Web site at http://www.gailpallotta.com or her blog at http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com>

CFBA: Bridge to a Distant Star by Carolyn Williford

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Bridge to a Distant Star  David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2011)  by  Carolyn Williford  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carolyn Williford has authored seven books, including Jordan's Bend, Devotions for Families That Can't Sit Still, and Faith Tango, as well as numerous articles. She and her husband, Craig, live in Deerfield, Illinois, where he serves as president of Trinity International University. They have two children and four grandchildren.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It All Comes Tumbling Down


As a storm rages in the night, unwary drivers venture onto Tampa Bay’s most renowned bridge. No one sees the danger ahead. No one notices the jagged gap hidden by the darkness and rain. Yet when the bridge collapses vehicles careen into the churning waters of the bay below.

In that one catastrophic moment, three powerful stories converge: a family ravaged by their child’s heartbreaking news, a marriage threatened by its own facade, and a college student burdened by self doubt. As each story unfolds, the characters move steadily closer to that fateful moment on the bridge. And while each character searches for grace, the storms in their lives loom as large as the storm that awaits them above the bay.

When these characters intersect in Carolyn Williford’s gripping and moving volume of three novellas, they also collide with the transforming truth of Christ: Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Bridge to a Distant Star, go HERE.

The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop

The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After reading all the raving reviews about this book, I really thought I would enjoy it. The book is loosely based on the author's great great grandparents and the letters they wrote back and forth. It is set in the 1800's and talks of the horrible way of prairie life.


Jeannie and Frank have to move. They can no longer be the upstanding socialites of Des Moines after what Frank and Daddy did. They decide to give homesteading a go. Tragedy after tragedy leads these characters down depressing roads. Can love be recovered? Can forgiveness be given?


This book was so tragic that it became boring to me. I almost put it down but I just had to know so I kept reading. The book is written so that Katherine is having flashbacks to the family's time on the prairie. I have never really enjoyed books that are written in this manner. Jeannie's character is forced to the point that I have no sympathy for her whatsoever. The only character I really enjoyed was James.


I will say that the ending somewhat surprised me and I'm glad I finished this one. Others may have more of an appreciation for this but it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Jessica Hickam for providing a review copy of this book.


View all my reviews

CFBA: She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing She Makes It Look Easy David C. Cook (June 1, 2011) by Marybeth Whalen



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marybeth Whalen is the wife of Curt and mom of six children. The family lives outside Charlotte, NC. Marybeth is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team and a regular contributor to their daily devotions. Her first novel,The Mailbox was released in June 2010. Her next novel, She Makes It Look Easy, will be released in June 2011. Additionally, she serves as director of She Reads, Proverbs 31 Ministries' fiction division.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood play dates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.



Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.



If you would like to read an excerpt of She Makes It Look Easy, go HERE.

CSFF Touring Mike Dellosso's Darkness Follows

I do hope you've been following other CSFF'ers around this week to see what they have to say about Mike Delosso's Darkness Follows! I noticed I failed to link back to my original post, so if you'd like to read my thoughts on it, please do so! Darkness Follows is a rather haunting book...one that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Who is Lincoln and can he be saved? Check out what these other bloggers have to say about this riveting read as well!


Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

Teaser: The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop

Today it is my pleasure to offer you a teaser of a debut novel by Kathleen Shoop! I am just getting started with this book but I'm hooked so far! 
Katherine's mom is dying and ends up on Katherine's doorstep. There are some issues from the past (I'm just now finding out what some of those are but I'm not going to ruin it for you!) and Katherine has to try to find a way to forgive her mom before it's too late. 
From what I've read so far, it's a bit creepy, mysterious, and obvious that Katherine has had a troubled life. There is a deep dark secret that has caused her family to lose their life of luxury and they find themselves homesteading.
My only problem with this book so far is that it switches back and forth from present day to the past. For those of you who have faithfully read my blog since it's inception, you know that I struggle with these types of stories. However, the chapters are fairly short and I'm able to keep up with this one better than previous books such as this in the past. 
I do hope you will take the time to check this book out. Also be sure to check back soon for a full review on this book! 
Many thanks to Jessica at BookSparks for offering this book for me to read!

COTT: Winner's Article

-guest post by April W Gardner


Rosslyn Elliot--Winner of the 

Best Protagonist Clash

Fairer Than Morning was voted as having the best protagonist description by Clash of the Titles readers. Her worthy competitor was Pamela Thibodeaux's Tempered Hearts.

A snapshot of her winning excerpt:

Will groaned. His eyes still would not focus, though the barn’s spinning was slowing.

The barn door rattled as Master Good left. Will raised his fingers to the side of his head, where he could feel a huge lump already forming. A sharp sting revealed a break in the skin. His fingers were slick and red when he held them up close enough to focus on them.

He would live. Tom’s head had bled worse than this, when the master hit him with the poker two weeks ago. He thought vaguely that he would have to wash the blood off before dinner, or he would get another thrashing. Read full blurb here

A couple reader comments:

• Tom's scene gave vivid picture of the protagonist was, and the dream of who he might become. I wonder what angel of mercy found him in such a state...
• Taking on slavery from a historic and spiritual perspective seems really important and challenging. I liked the way you allow your protagonist to experience fear.

Rosslyn says:

For me, a good protagonist is admirable but also real, which means he must have sympathetic traits and also flaws. I find the most sympathetic traits to be courage, compassion, faith, sincerity, and loyalty. I want the protagonist’s weakness to be a significant problem, not just a cosmetic story device. Read full interview here:

Want to get in on the voting action? Head over to Clash of the Titles now and cast your ballot for this week's Clash!

PLEASE CHECK 

OUT OUR EXCITING NEW VENTURE:

Join us in June as we premier COTT's book club! Karen Witemeyer and her COTT winning novel, A Tailor-Made Bride is up as our first read . More details and to vote for July's book, CLICK HERE. 

--April W Gardner is the senior editor at the literary site,

 Clash of the Titles. She is also the award-winning author of Wounded Spirits.

Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso

This week, the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy book club is reviewing Mike Dellosso. I read this book a few weeks ago and enjoyed it! It's a great mystery with some sci-fi interaction involved. I would encourage everyone to grab a copy and read it! I have passed my copy along to the history teacher in the high school where I work. He loves Civil War stories and one like this would really be enjoyable to him! Once you've checked out this book on Amazon or your other favorite book retailer, take a minute to see what others are saying about this book! You don't want to miss out on this one for sure! 

Visit these fine folks and leave them some comment love!


Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

CFBA: Winning Him Without Words by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Winning Him Without Words  Regal (February 15, 2011)  by  Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller  


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Lynn Donovan

Verse: John 15:5 Apart from Me you can do nothing.
Tagline: Challenging Women to Live in Truth

A passionate writer and speaker, Lynn is a woman who presents a compelling message to encourage women to thrive in their marriage. She speaks at events nationwide where she challenges the myths women believe about love, pointing them to life-changing freedom through a relationship with Jesus. She reveals the zany yet meaningful stories of marriage challenges, truths, and triumphs in her life and invites women to share her view from her front row seat to an amazing journey; life lived for Christ.

Married since 1992 to her best friend and biggest enthusiast, Mike, she lives in Temecula, California. They have a son and a daughter and a wacky dog named Peanut. She loves to laugh, enjoys a strong cup of coffee and Fantasy Football and not necessarily in that order.

She lives each day in awe of the grace of God in her ordinary life.

Dineen Miller

Verse: Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Tagline: Igniting the Soul

Dineen readily admits that one of the greatest lessons she’s learning about life is that there’s purpose in our trials. And it’s all about trusting God and putting our hope in Him. Her favorite stories will always be of the miracles God has wrought in the lives of her family.

Through this lens she also believes her years as a youth counselor, a Stephen Minister, a women’s ministry leader, and a small group leader have prepared her for God’s calling on her life—to write for and speak to those in mismatched marriages like hers.

In addition to writing for Spiritually Unequal Marriage, Dineen writes for Laced with Grace and various other fiction online magazines and newsletters. She’s also won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine.

Married for 23 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her husband, two precious daughters, and their dog Shasta, who no doubt is an angel in disguise.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Week after week, they sit in church . . . alone. They are the spiritually mismatched, those who are committed to a spouse who does not share their faith. Feeling abandoned by their spouse and forgotten by their church, they live out their faith in survival mode, guarding the spiritual flame yet never feeling free to share it. But God wants them to thrive—not just survive.


Winning Him Without Words presents 10 Christ centered keys to thriving in a spiritual mismatch. Readers are encouraged to commit to Christian community, to release their spouse to God’s capable hands, to find peace in their relationships with Christ and with their spouse, to continue their pursuit of a growing faith and to love their spouse with fresh enthusiasm. God wants every marriage to exude peace and love, and Winning Him Without Words empowers readers to create that environment in their homes and thrive as God works.

Watch their book video:



If you would like to read a sample chapter of Winning Him Without Words, go HERE.

A Light At Winter's End by Julia London

A Light at Winter's End by Julia London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wynn is still trying to recover from the blow that was dealt to him and Macy last year...Macy's first husband "returning from the dead" after being a prisoner of the Taliban and reported dead by the Army. Not only that, Macy is pregnant with their child. Gracie is a beautiful little girl who Wynn is completely enamored with.


Holly and Hannah have just lost their mother. Hannah is all over Holly for never helping take care of their mother and is even more upset when she finds out everything has been left to Holly. She never amounted to anything spectacular so Hannah can't figure it all out. After all, what good is a songwriter who jumps from job to job? Hannah is married to a successful lawyer and her life is on the up and up....or is it?


Hannah rushes over to her sister Holly's house (when was the last time they talked? Oh, right, the funeral when Hannah chewed Holly out for everything) and dumps off her adorable son Mason. Hannah needs Holly to watch her kid but won't give her any specifics for anything. Holly doesn't know the first thing about taking care of a child! How can Hannah do this to her? Holly can't figure it all out...where to keep Mason in her small studio apartment, how to continue to work, and how to shut him up when he cries.


Holly decides to take Mason to her mom's old house. There is more room and she will be able to write her songs there. She runs into Wyatt and suddenly, her life isn't so bad.


I have always loved Julia London's books for my "guilty pleasure" reading. She weaves beautiful love stories and this one was particularly inspiring. I look forward to reading even more of her stories!


View all my reviews

A Shattered Mind by Julie Cave

The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Dinah Harris mystery series. Dinah is still recovering from her recent firing from the FBI and has decided to contract out her services. She received a call and off she goes. The first body is a young girl found in an alley with no obvious trauma except a snapped neck. The only clue the killer left is a sympathy card with a cryptic message. Can Dinah solve this one before anyone else loses their life?


This book focuses on eugenics and euthanasia. The killer is bound and determined to "cleanse" the location where he resides. There is heavy dialogue concerning Christianity and the reasons that euthanasia and eugenics do not fit into the Christian religion. I learned many of the historical aspects of these topics while reading this book (even though it's a work of fiction, the history is correct).


I thought I had the killer figured out fairly early on only to find out I was way off! I love when I can't figure it out before the author reveals the culprit! This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I do recommend this book to all who love a good mystery and can appreciate dialogues in Christian living!


View all my reviews

Pieces of Light by Julie Cave

Pieces of Light by Julie Cave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Julie Cave's newest novel, Dinah Harris is at it again. She has a church bomber on her hands and when Ferguson calls to ask her to help out, she's more than ready to work with her former partner again.


Isabelle and Michael have just lost their dad, but they aren't really grieving. After all, he beat them and their mother so many times growing up, he deserves to die. Why can't people at church see that he wasn't the saint that everyone makes him out to be? Isabelle is also dealing with a husband who's become very elusive. He's never home for dinner anymore yet when she's not there to make him dinner, her life crumbles. What's with the double standard Scott?


This book does deal heavily with Dinah working to get her life back on the right track, which includes loving and serving her Lord and Savior. She's not opposed to sharing her faith with others either. Can Dinah save another church from being bombed? Will she come through in the end or will this be her last job?


I have come to really love Julie Cave's work and I look forward to more in this series. Somehow I had overlooked The Shadowed Mind so as soon as I finished reading Pieces of Light, I immediately purchased Th Shadowed Mind to read! It's equally as great as this one!


Be prepared to finish this one in a couple of settings. It's fast paced, hair raising adventure will keep you turning the pages!!


Many thanks to Jennifer White of New Leaf Publishing for providing a review copy. Also my thanks to Julie Cave for the tweets!


View all my reviews

CFBA: Pompeii by T.L. Highley

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Pompeii  B&H Books (June 1, 2011)  by  T.L. Higley  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A fiction aficionado since grade school, T.L. Higley, author of Pompeii: City on Fire (B&H Publishing House, June 2011) started her first novel at the age of eight.


Now the author of nine historical fiction novels, including the popular Seven Wonders series, Higley isn’t just transporting readers: She’s transporting herself, too.

“My Iifelong interest in history and mythology has taken me to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Rome, Turkey, Jordan and Israel, where I’ve gotten to study those ancient cultures in rich detail,” says Higley. “It’s my desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past, and I figure what better way to do that than to visit the cultures themselves?”

In addition to her accomplished novelist career, Higley is a business entrepreneur and a mother. In fact, for Pompeii, she brought her daughter along with her to Italy for the research trip.

“We gave it to her as a graduation present, not only because Italy is terrific, but because I believe in exposing children to global cultures,” says Higley, who became a student herself again this year. She’s now a graduate student at American Public University, earning her master’s degree in Ancient and Classical Studies.

When Higley isn’t traveling on research trips, writing her novels, or studying for class, she operates four online retail companies, including KoolStuff4Kids.com – a family-run business that began as a way for her oldest daughter to make some extra money for camp. Today, it is a go-to site for parents, children and teachers all over the country, looking for beads and other kid-friendly craft supplies.

Higley lives with her husband and her three other children (aforementioned daughter now in college) just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pompeii, a city that's many things to many people. For Cato, it's the perfect escape from a failed political career in Rome. A place to start again, become a winemaker. But when a corrupt politician wrongfully jails Cato's sister, he must oust the man from power to save her.


For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom.

But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political corruption, religious persecution, and family peril threaten to destroy Ariella and Cato, who are thrown together in the battle to survive. As Vesuvius churns with deadly intent, the two must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love, before the fiery ash buries Pompeii, leaving the city lost to the world.

Watch the book trailer:

If you would like to read the Prologue of Pompeii, go HERE.

CFBA: The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  The Sweetest Thing  • Bethany House (June 1, 2011)  by  Elizabeth Musser  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, studied English and French literature at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at Vanderbilt, I had the opportunity to spend a semester in Aix-en-Provence,


France. During her Senior year at Vanderbilt, she attended a five-day missions conference for students and discovered an amazing thing: God had missionaries in France, and she felt God calling her there. After graduation, she spent eight months training for the mission field in Chicago, Illinois and then two years serving in a tiny Protestant church in Eastern France where she met her future husband.

Elizabeth lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. She find her work as a mother, wife, author and missionary filled with challenges and chances to see God’s hand at work daily in her life. Inspiration for her novels come both from her experiences growing up in Atlanta as well as through the people she meets in her work in France. Many conversations within her novels are inspired from real-life conversations with skeptics and seekers alike.

Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon's editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Compelling Southern Novel Explores Atlanta Society in the 1930s.


The Singleton family’s fortunes seem unaffected by the Great Depression, and Perri—along with the other girls at Atlanta’s elite Washington Seminary—lives a life of tea dances with college boys and matinees at the cinema.  When tragedy strikes, Perri is confronted with a world far different from the one she has always known.

At the insistence of her parents, Mary ‘Dobbs’ Dillard, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, is sent from inner-city Chicago to live with her aunt and attend Washington Seminary.  Dobbs, passionate, fiercely individualistic and deeply religious, enters Washington Seminary as a bull in a china shop and shocks the girls with her frank talk about poverty and her stories of revival on the road.    Her arrival intersects at the point of Perri’s ultimate crisis, and the tragedy forges an unlikely friendship.

The Sweetest Thing tells the story of two remarkable young women—opposites in every way—fighting for the same goal: surviving tumultuous change. Just as the Great Depression collides disastrously with Perri's well-ordered life, friendship blossoms--a friendship that will be tested by jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets...

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sweetest Thing, go HERE.

CFBA: How Huge the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  How Huge the Night  Kregel Publications (March 9, 2011)  by  Heather Munn and Lydia Munn  


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Heather Munn was born in Northern Ireland of American parents and grew up in the south of France. She decided to be a writer at the age of five when her mother read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books aloud, but worried that she couldn’t write about her childhood since she didn’t remember it. When she was young, her favorite time of day was after supper when the family would gather and her father would read a chapter from a novel. Heather went to French school until her teens, and grew up hearing the story of Le Chambonsur-Lignon, only an hour’s drive away. She now lives in rural Illinois with her husband, Paul, where they offer free spiritual retreats to people coming out of homelessness and addiction. She enjoys wandering in the woods, gardening, writing, and splitting wood.

Lydia Munn was homeschooled for five years because there was no school where her family served as missionaries in the savannahs of northern Brazil. There was no public library either, but Lydia read every book she could get her hands on. This led naturally to her choice of an English major at Wheaton College. Her original plan to teach high school English gradually transitioned into a lifelong love of teaching the Bible to both adults and young people as a missionary in France. She and her husband, Jim, have two children: their son, Robin, and their daughter, Heather.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Fifteen-year-old Julien Losier just wants to fit in. But after his family moves to a small village in central France in hopes of outrunning the Nazis, he is suddenly faced with bigger challenges than the taunting of local teens.


Nina Krenkel left her country to obey her father's dying command: Take your brother and leave Austria. Burn your papers. Tell no one you are Jews. Alone and on the run, she arrives in Tanieux, France, dangerously ill and in despair.

Thrown together by the chaos of war, Julien begins to feel the terrible weight of the looming conflict and Nina fights to survive. As France falls to the Nazis, Julien struggles with doing what is right, even if it is not enough-and wonders whether or not he really can save Nina from almost certain death.

Based on the true story of the town of Le Chambon-the only French town honored by Israel for rescuing Jews from the Holocaust-How Huge the Night is a compelling, coming-of-age drama that will keep teens turning the pages as it teaches them about a fascinating period of history and inspires them to think more deeply about their everyday choices.

Endorsements

“The Munns have written an engrossing historical novel that is faithful to the actual events of World War II in western Europe during the tumultuous year 1940. But How Huge the Night is more than good history; it is particularly refreshing because the reader sees the conflict through the lives of teenagers who are forced to grapple with their honest questions about the existence and goodness of God in the midst of community, family, and ethnic tensions in war-ravaged France.”—Lyle W. Dorsett, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University


“Seldom have the horrors of war upon adolescents—or the heroism of which they are capable—been so clearly portrayed. I loved this coming-of-age story.”—Patricia Sprinkle, author of Hold Up the Sky

“The book expertly weaves together the lives of its characters at a frightening moment in conflicted times. As we read of their moral dilemmas and of their choices, we too wonder, Would I do has these in the story have done?”—Karen Mains, Director, Hungry Souls

If you would like to read an excerpt from How Huge the Night, go HERE

Watch the book video:

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

For starters, I love this cover! It conveys elegance, beauty, and suspense! This book is packed with all three!
I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this one is a bit different than others I've read. Clara and Daniel confront issues that are not normally in books of this genre. There love and admiration for each other will be tested throughout time. One of my favorite scenes is where Daniel tells of how he met Clara. For the time period, this is pretty significant. 
I do think Clara is a bit overdone. She tries and tries and tries to get Daniel to mold to her ways. She tries to hard to the point that her pleas become ridiculous. She is very persistent for a woman of the time and some may see that as a positive. 
I do not agree with a situation in the book concerning Daniel and his mother (it's towards the end when he visits a particular place). I want to point that out that I do not support that notion in this book. 
There is another character in this book that I really hope to see mentioned again. I'm not sure if a sequel is planned but is so, I'd love to know more about his story. I enjoyed reading about his part in Clara's life. 
I give this one 4 out of 5 stars! 


Would you like to read this book?? I'm giving it away! Check out my current giveaway!!  

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.





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.

COTT's First YA Champ: Shellie Neumeier

Shellie Neumeier has just received the honor of being named a COTT Champ with her teen novel, Driven. This is a first for COTT, having a YA title take the crown. And Shellie deserves high accolades. She had some stiff competition: Julie Carobini and her book Fade to Blue.
So how did this story come about?
"The plot [for Driven] morphed over several dinner conversations with my kids and my hubby," Neumeier says. "It started with a whole lot of what-if questions and ended with a girl, a demon, and a whole lot of forgiveness."
You can read COTT's excellent interview with Shellie here.

A clip of her winning excerpt:

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Read the full blurb, along with that of her competition, here

About the book:

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

Shellie's reaction:

Oh wow!! I'm wordless! Especially since, Julie's Fade to Blue has such a wonderful blurb. (Actually, I can't wait to go get her book, now:D.)

Thank you, COTT crew and Jennifer for letting me be a part of your competitions. And a big thank you to all the folks who left encouraging notes. That means so much!!

Here's what our readers had to say:
"Good work . The books you write help us go to a different place in our lives."
"Both blurbs are very appealing. I have to say that if I was a teenager I would be more attracted to "A", but because I'm older and love anything to do with art "B" is my choice. Very Close!"
"I'm wanting to know just how big a role this demon plays in the story. I've always been fascinated by books that give glimpses into the spiritual realm. (i.e. Frank Peretti, Randy Alcorn")
Visit Shellie Neumeier's website to find out more about her and her writing. Then visit Amazon to get a copy of Driven.

Congratulations, Shellie!!

Make sure to hop on our to the Clash of the Titles Book Club to join the fun discussion on Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride. (In July, we'll dive into Elleanor Gustafson's novel, The Stones.)
And if you'd like to get your vote on, head over to COTT for their current Clash and BE HEARD (not to mention be entered to win a free copy of a contending title.)
COTT Assistant Editor Michelle Massaro is married to her high school sweetie, Mike, and they have four amazing children. They attend Living Truth Christian Fellowship in Corona, CA where they are involved in teaching the youth- primarily about origins science- and where Michelle is involved in the worship ministry. Michelle is also a new homeschooling parent and an aspiring author of contemporary Christian fiction. Above all, she is a follower of Christ Jesus, unashamed to stand upon the Word of God from beginning to end!
Contact Michelle: michelle_massaro(at)hotmail(dot)com
Michelle's Blog Find Michelle on Facebook.

CFBA: Hope Rekindled by Tracie Peterson

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Hope Rekindled  Bethany House (June 1, 2011)  by  Tracie Peterson  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.

She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents.  She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella.  Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max.  She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books


ABOUT THE BOOK

Will Love Escape Her Grasp?


Life seems to be falling into place for Deborah Vandermark. On the cusp of finally marrying Christopher, the man who claimed her heart, she is devastated when he receives an urgent telegram. Bound to his family obligations, Christopher travels to Kansas City, uncertain of what he will find there.

When her fiancé returns to Texas, Deborah is faced with a very different future than she expected. She finds herself plagued with questions and uncertainty...about marriage, motherhood, and her passion to train as a physician. And when an old adversary reveals a contract that may spell ruin for Vandermark Logging, Deborah's life seems to be spiraling out of control. Can Christopher and Deborah find a way to claim the future they long to share when so much stands in the way?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Hope Rekindled, go HERE.

CFBA: Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso

Darkness Follows is incredibly haunting. Mike Dellosso draws the reader into the story so quickly you don't know whether to keep reading non-stop or get up and lock all the doors and close all the blinds! I've never read anything by Mr. Delloso before so I can't give you a review based on other books. If his others are like this though....wow! I'm going to be looking for his other books!


Sam is a troubled man...by no doing of his own. He had a fall on the job and has some residual brain injury. He also has a troubled past concerning his brother Tommy. His wife Molly and daughter Eva do what they can to deal with his issues but it's tough. Things get even tougher when Eva admits to talking to Jacob. He keeps telling Eva that she needs to tell her daddy that she loves him and that Jesus loves him. 


For no apparent reason, Sam starts writing about a man named Sam Whitfield. He isn't aware that he's doing all of this writing and it's a bit cryptic. Who is this Lincoln person? 


I really don't think I've read a book haunting. It grips you and won't let go until the final word. The mystery of the letters was intriguing and I wasn't expecting the ending the way it fell. I will definitely be checking out more of Mr. Dellosso's books! 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Darkness Follows Realms (May 3, 2011)

by Mike Dellosso



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He writes a monthly column for Writer . . .Interrupted, was a newspaper correspondent/columnist for over three years, has published several articles for The Candle of Prayer inspirational booklets, and has edited and contributed to numerous Christian-themed Web sites and e-newsletters. Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer's Network, the International Christian Writers, and International Thriller Writers. His short stories have appeared with Amazon Shorts and in Coach's Midnight Diner genre anthology. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.



Mike Dellosso writes novels of suspense for both the mind and the soul. He writes to both entertain and challenge. In addition to his novels, Mike is also an adjunct professor at Lancaster Bible College and a faculty member at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Sam Travis lives in a Civil War era farmhouse in Gettysburg, PA, where he awakens one morning to find an old journal with an entry by a Union soldier, Lt. Whiting…written in Sam’s own handwriting. When this happens several more times, both at night and during waking “trances,” Sam begins to question his own sanity while becoming obsessed with Lt. Whiting and his bone-chilling journal entries. As the entries begin to mimic Sam’s own life, he is drawn into an evil plot that could cost many lives, including his own.



Can the unconditional love of Sam's daughter, Eva, break through his hardened heart before a killer on the loose catches up with them and Sam’s past spurs him to do the unthinkable?



If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Darkness Follows, go HERE



Watch the book video:





Many thanks to REALMS  publishing for providing a copy of this book to read and review. These words are mine alone. I was not coerced in any way to write a positive review. What you have read above are my thoughts exactly on this book.