Fab Four Book Picks

INTEVIEW WITH OUR OWN CAMY TANG!!!

2007-09-11T01:51:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

As part of her SUSHI FOR ONE Blog Tour.......I am SUPER, DUPER THRILLED to present an interview with my good friend and debut Zondervan author Camy Tang.

Enjoy and PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO STOP BY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF CAMY'S DEBUT NOVEL!

To enter for the book drawing, simply leave a message stating so in the comment section. Leave contact info or check back THIS FRIDAY to see who won.

Also, Camy is having a fantabulous contest on her blog. See the info at the end of this interview for a chance to win baskets of Christian Fiction, AND an iPod Nano!!!

> 1. When did you first know you wanted to write?

When I read Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, especially Dragonsong and
Dragonsinger. It totally made me want to create my own fantasy world
and cool heroine. So I took over the family's Apple IIe computer (am I
dating myself? LOL) and chugged out my 500+ page fantasy manuscript.

> 2. What are your other passions besides writing?

I've really gotten into knitting the past few months. I've discovered
that it helps me to write because I need the tactile stimulation when
I'm in right-brain creative mode. I also really like the challenge of
making things for myself and for others. I just recently finished a
knit skirt edged with hand-knit lace (for me to wear to church).

> 3. If your three current heroines from your Sushi Series could write a blurb
> about you, the author of their stories, what would they each say?

Lex (from Sushi for One): She's an okay volleyball player, and she
gets hit by so many balls it's past coincidence and it's gotten into
scarily freaky, but she's nice.

Trish (from Only Uni): She's cool! She leads a rockin' worship team on Sunday.

Venus (from Single Sashimi): I like her. She's efficient, logical, and
she says what she means.

> 4. What would be the highest compliment a reader could give you regarding
> your writing?

"This book was so fun, I told all my friends to go out and buy a copy!"

> 5. What do you have to have each day before you begin to write...as in
> something you bring to your desk with your hands, or something on your desk,
> and why?

There isn't anything in particular I need each day to write, unless
it's the fact that I've elevated my monitor, keyboard, and trackball
so that I can stand as I write. I alternate sitting and standing at my
desk during the day because it's better for my back.

> 6. Is your writing journey how you envisioned it? Or different? If so, how
> so?

It's funny, but my writing journey is nothing like I envisioned it.
For one, the first book I shopped around was DREK and I'm embarrassed
so many editors and agents saw it. I had always envisioned polishing
my work and sending out a jewel of a manuscript, but my knowledge of
the craft was so poor that what I thought was a jewel wasn't even
close. That's the "Bad Book," which is buried in the depths of my
computer somewhere.

For another, I didn't realize how bad I am at time management until I
started writing full-time. I suck at it! I thought it would be heaven
(and a piece of cake) to spend only an hour at emails and the rest of
the day on writing, but I quickly discovered that wasn't the case. I
have to work really hard to be efficient during the day, and while
some days I do well, other days i don't do so well. I'm ashamed to say
that I had better time management when I was working full-time.
However, thankfully I'm getting better at it.

However, one thing I did envision about my writing journey that's come
true is how much I love what I do. I really enjoy what I'm doing now
and I'd do anything--even going back to work in biology in order to
pay the bills--just to be able to keep writing fiction.

> 7. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep learning more writing craft. I'll be brutally honest here, what
you think is brilliant is not as great as you think it is (remember I
mentioned the "Bad Book"?). My mistake was in shopping my manuscript
when it wasn't ready. I should have just spent my time working on more
books, learning and improving my writing craft, finding more critique
partners. Some writers sell their first or second book, but most have
to write several manuscripts before they perfect their craft enough or
hit on that really unique story idea that makes an editor sit up and
listen.

> 8. It's unusual for debut authors to contract (especially three books! WOO
> HOO YOU!) with a bigger house such as Zondervan. What advice would you give
> to those targeting bigger houses? Do you think it's easier to break in with
> category romance versus single title? And why?

I certainly don't think it's "easy" to break into category romance. In
fact, it's darn hard. Even though category romances are shorter books,
the editors still require a high standard of writing. Krista Stroever
has the reputation of being one of the best and hardest editors in the
business. I get very frustrated with writers who flippantly dismiss
category romances.

I think the decision to target category versus single title depends on
the writer. Sometimes, you're just a big book writer. Other times,
you're able to write succinctly and emotionally at the same time.

I'm actually a rather succinct writer, but the manuscript that sold
for me happened to be a single title. It's actually a shorter book
than a lot of other novels out there.

There's also the undeniable fact that a lot of category writers
eventually write single title novels. Some of the biggest names in the
business have done that--Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Cathy
Marie Hake.

Whether you target single title or category houses, I think all
writers need an agent. For one, a lot of houses are relying on agents
rather than their slush pile for manuscripts--in fact, many houses
don't even accept unsolicited manuscripts anymore.

However, writers need to be SMART about picking their agent. Spend
time talking with them and with their clients. Figure out their
working style and communication style, and determine if it's a good
fit for you.

> 9. How much emphasis do you think authors should put on promoting themselves
> before they're published? What are some of the things you did?

I always tell writers to only do what you WANT to do. Don't do
anything you don't want to. If you don't like blogging, then don't
feel pressured to do it. If you don't like teaching, then don't do it.
If you don't like booksignings, then don't do it.

If you only do what you like doing, then you actually find you're more
open to occasionally moving outside your comfort zone for promotion. I
don't like doing booksigning, but I'll do one occasionally. The rest
of the time, I do what i enjoy most--blogging.

The only non-negotiable for a writer is a website. It's your business
card on the web, telling people what you're writing and about
yourself. They're very inexpensive and very easy to set up.

Marketing before you're published is helpful but not necessary. I
happened to have an internet presence before I contracted, and that
helped to beef up my marketing plan in my proposal, but the difference
was that I was blogging within my marketing brand. If you blog about
something totally different from your brand, it doesn't help your
career much. If you market yourself before you're contracted, be very
selective about how you do it, what your focus is.

> 10. How much emphasis do you think authors should put on promotion and
> marketing once they're contracted? What are some of the best marketing ideas
> you've heard of? I just loved your homemade cards by the way! I might use
> that idea. LOL! and by the way, Camy's chopsticks are THE coolest marketing
> tool I've seen!

Thanks, Squirly. Again, I think writers should only do what they want
to do, what they can afford to do. I also think writers need to be
SMART about what they choose do spend their money on. The chopsticks
were both cheap and fit in well with my brand.

> 11. How important is your faith to your writing?

God has really impressed on me the importance of being faithful in my
quiet times with Him. I couldn't write without His blessing on it. I
couldn't write without the right attitude in my heart, and that only
comes through vigilant prayer and study of the Word. Francine Rivers
and Debbie Macomber both spend an hour or two with God every morning,
and while I'm not up to a couple hours yet, I do try to emulate their
faithfulness and discipline. I earnestly want that time to become
vital and important to my day, every day, no matter what I have to do.

> 12. What are you working on now, and when can we expect another release from
> you?

I'm working on a new series proposal right now, but my next release is
Only Uni, Trish's story, which comes out in February 2008.

> 13. You are big on networking. How important do you feel networking was to
> your journey to publication? What are some effetive ways to network in your
> opinion?

Networking was one of the most important things I could ever do. After
all, that's how I met you!

Meeting and becoming friends with other writers--both published AND
unpublished--is vital for a writer's journey. I met my prayer partners
and critique partners through online discussion boards and
conferences. I met a few published authors who were able to give me
advice for the journey. I personally think a writer becomes too
arrogant and delusional without other writers for critique, prayer,
and accountability.

> 14. Who has been your favorite character and why?

Venus, whose story is Single Sashimi, releasing in the Fall 2008. I
like how brutally honest she is. She's also as slender and sexy as I
wish I was (sigh).

Thanks for the interview, Squirly!

>You're very welcome, Camy!

Also, Camy has a huge website contest going on right now. She's giving away baskets
of Christian fiction and an iPod Nano! Only her newsletter YahooGroup
subscribers are eligible to enter, so join today!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft/join

Please visit Camy's web site here:
http://www.camytang.com/

THE RESTORER by Sharon Hinck

2007-05-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

The Restorer (The Sword of Lyric, book 1) by Sharon Hinck

Susan Mitchell needed a change--any kind of change. Nearly twenty years of marriage to her college sweetheart, Mark, had given her two teenagers and two grade-schoolers, along with miles of unmatched socks, sticky countertops, and the ever-growing hum of sheer bedlam. When had she become so . . . insignificant? Hadn't God once had a plan for her?

Well, at least Mark had a plan: for an attic hideaway free of iPods and science projects and cookie crumbs. But before Susan can finish her first journal entry, she finds herself pulled through a portal into a world grappling for its soul and waiting for a promised Restorer.

Someone does have a plan for her--one she never would have imagined.

While she struggles to adapt to a foreign culture full of unfamiliar technologies and taboos, she faces unexpected battles, mind-poisoning enemies, and a profound spiritual journey. Her adventure will forever change her family, her faith, and how she experiences love--from the One.

Camy here:

I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop--I finished it in two days.

I like the fact that the heroine is a soccer mom--it's such an unusual story premise and it made it easy for me to relate to Susan. There were a few times I didn't quite sympathize with her emotions or actions, but on the whole, I enjoyed following her through her story.

She's an ordinary woman whose faith enables her to do extraordinary things. She's not perfect, but she keeps trying. She picks herself up after her mistakes and keeps going. It's inspiring for any Christian woman struggling with purpose and worth.

The plot takes a lot of neat twists that I didn't see coming. I enjoyed the minor characters--they each seemed to have specific roles, and their differing personalities made for interesting dynamics.

The world itself isn't like your typical high fantasy world. It's a mixture of various types of technology, but nothing too high-tech, nothing too esoteric for the reader to grasp.

Unlike Karen Hancock's Arena, The Restorer is not allegorical. The world of the Restorer is unique in itself, and exciting to journey through.

Christians as young as junior high school age would enjoy this book, although younger readers might not relate to the older mom protagonist as much as their parents.

The great thing about this book is that it's a story both parents and kids can read and enjoy. Kids who read fantasy and speculative fiction will like the new world, and parents who don't usually read speculative fiction will like the everywoman protagonist, Susan, and relate to her all-too-familiar personal struggles.

I intend to hand this book to the kids in my youth group to see how they like it.

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DEBBY GIUSTI

2007-04-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

1. Squirrel: Welcome to Fab Four, Deb! Nowhere to Hide is your debut release novel. CONGRATULATIONS! Is it the first book you'd written, and can you tell us a little about your journey to publication?

Hi Cheryl! Thanks for inviting me to your blog and for your interest in NOWHERE TO HIDE. Yes, it's my debut novel, but I've been writing for a number of years and have other completed manuscripts. Actually, I started doing articles for magazines years ago, then put everything on hold to raise my children. When they were in high school, I wrote for a medical laboratory magazine and a number of women's publications while I was also working on full-length fiction. Now, I'm spending all my time writing inspirational romantic suspense for Steeple Hill.

2. I just loved Matt Lawson, the hero of this book. How did you manage to pin down the male point of view so well?
Since I grew up as an Army brat, married a guy in the Army and now have a son who's followed in his dad's footsteps, the take-charge type of guy seems to come naturally to me. Matt is a former cop from Miami who's seen it all, but he's got a big heart and a tender side, especially where Lydia and Tyler are concerned.

3. Do you plot your stories? Or fly by the seat of your pants when writing?

Because my books are suspense, I like to have a detailed outline before I begin to write. Of course, inspiration often takes over and new plot ideas sometimes appear. Usually, I keep any of the "surprises" in place until I finish the first draft. Then I decide it they need to be cut. More often than not, those jewels that seem to come from out of the blue provide new facets that enrich the story.

4. How do you get to know your characters? What is that process like?

I jot down a list of traits and have a good idea about my characters' back story, motivation, goals and conflict. Then my critique partners quiz me by asking all sorts of unusual questions about my hero and heroine. I end up learning even more about what makes them tick during the Q&A.

5. What is a typical writing day for you?

I try to start everyday with prayer and scripture, then settle in at my computer mid-morning and work until late afternoon. After dinner, I often return to my office to catch up on emails.

6. How do you manage your writing time, with family time and church committments, etc?When my children were young, they always came first. That's probably why it took me so long to write anything in those days. Now that they're grown, I have the luxury of a full workweek. Saturdays are usually filled with meetings, shopping trips or errands. Sunday morning is church, and the afternoon is spent relaxing and getting ready for the upcoming week.

7. This plot was really intriguing. What kinds of things spark story ideas? And when do you know that an idea is a keeper...ie, will turn into a full fledge book?

An idea usually perks around my brain for a few months while I'm working on another story. When I'm ready to get serious about the idea, I do a modified version of Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Priniciple by starting with a one-liner, then building to a one-page outline, then chapter outlines, then finally a fairly detailed outline of the book. By getting the main points on paper, I'm able to see the holes that need to be filled. All that prep work makes writing the book so much easier.

8. This book was both riveting, and moving. What is your secret for evoking emotion in readers with a scene?

I'm going to get a big head, Cheryl, with all your compliments! No secret formula for emotion, but I think that making the characters take risks increases the emotion, whether they're emotional risks or physical.

9. Given a choice between riding a roller coaster, or feeding ducks at a park, which would you choose? Why? What about your heroine, Lydia? Which would she choose and why?

Lydia and I are both afraid of roller coasters and would prefer to sit at the park and feed the ducks. However, if Lydia's son were in danger, she'd do anything to protect him--even ride the big coasters!

10. I loved this story so much, I'm wondering what else you have in the works? When is your next release? Title? Publisher/line? When and where can we pick it up?

SCARED TO DEATH, my second Inspirational Romantic Suspense from Steeple Hill, will be in bookstores in August. It's set in a small fictional town in Georgia, called Mercy, where bad things are happening to good people. My third book from Steeple Hill will be out in March 2008.

11. Do you have a website you'd like to share with readers of this blog, so they can come visit?

I hope everyone will stop by my web site at http://www.debbygiusti.com/. Sign my guest book and learn the details of the Cross My Heart contest I'm running from now until the end of May.Thanks so much, Cheryl, for this great interview. Your readers might like to know that we met at the Romance Writers of America conference in 2005 when we were both unpublished and hoping an editor would be interested in our work. Now, we're both Steeple Hill authors. Congratulations on all your success! And thanks for letting me visit.

Yes, Deb! I still get giddy thinking about it. And also, for those of you attending Nationals (RWA this year) Debby will be presenting a workshop and I hear she's a FABULOUS speaker. I plan to be there. Debby and I and hope to see some of you there.
Warmly,
Cheryl (Squirrel of the Fab Four)

While you're at the store, pick up a copy of Nowhere to Hide IN STORES NOW!!! These characters stuck with me weeks after finishing the book. Very strong characterization and moving plot. Excellent read! And I'm NOT just saying that because I know Deb. This book is FABULOUS...as is her writing. No wonder Steeple Hill nabbed her right up.

Be on the lookout for Deb's upcoming releases too because I'm fairly certain we'll be hearing news on a release date for book three SOON! Wink. Wink.

Squirrel

The Reliance

2007-04-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

by M. L. Tyndall

I dasn't be havin' th' aft co'er copy o' this here log.

Pammer here: I like th' first book. This, book two o' th' Legacy o' th' King`s Pirates, be e'en better! Th' characters be havin' grown an' changed. In this here log they be faced wi' e'en bigger obstacles such as a presumed Davy Jones' locker an' losin' touch wi' God an' His will.

I jus' be havin' t' remark on how real th' characters be. I love these characters. (I be really tryin' nay t' give anythin' away here.) This here log at one point had me cryin' so bad I couldna be seein' th' page anymore. An' sea dogs an' land lubbers in me house has picked 't up an' started readin' 't. Me husband caught me readin' 't an' asked me if I`d gotten t' a certain part. I spake Nay. He smiled an' nodded an' spake, "Ye`re gonna love 't." Me husband`s matey asked me exactly what an ARC be. He confessed that he`d been readin' 't too. So know that th' story goes o'er pretty good wi' men too.

I love well written novels that happen on ships an' this one fits th' bill. Good job. Waitin' fer Book Three.

Continued. . .

2007-03-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Lawyer Rachael Flynn has only been at her new job in the Ramsey County attorney's office for four months when she recieves an unsigned letter with the startling message.
Two days later the predicted body is found, but to everyone's astonishment, the remains have been buried for at least 20 years. When the body is identified as that of a 15-year-old boy, the police begin to dig for clues. Rachael continues to receive anonymous notes. . .adn the questions keep coming. . .
Was it really and accident or was it murder? Why has it taken so many years for this story to come to light? And why did the young man "deserve" to die?
As Rachael searches out the identity of the writer, she finds herself drawn to the neighborhood where the body was found--and to an abandoned house that no longer exists, but seems to call out to her nonetheless. . .

Pammer here: These two book are what I hope are only the beginning of the Rachael Flynn mysteries. Wonderful!!! Susan has the most wonderful way of telling story that draws you in from page one. You forget you are reading even.
As always the plot is spectacular, spine-tingling action and adventure and the characters are so likeable, so real.
I definately recommend these two great reads, or any of Susan's books to date. You will not be disappointed by her work.
Keep rolling them out. :) (I just have to add on a personal note, since I've met Susan Meissner, I have to admit she is just as delightful in person as she her writing is.)

The Amazing Susan Meissner

2007-03-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Widows & Orphans

When attorney Rachael Flynn's mother calls her with the news that her ministry-minded brother has been arrested, Rachael at first takes it in stride.

After all, Josh has been arrested before for blocking entry to abortion clinics, resisting arrest, obstructing the legal process, interfering with police procedure, trespassing, breaking and entering, loitering, making false statements to the police.

But this time the charge is murder, and Joshua has confessed to the crime. Rachael, certain that her brother can't be guilty, begs him to let her represent him. . .but Joshua refuses her offer of counsel.

As Rachael works the case on her own, she begins to suspect that Josh knows who the real killer is, but she's unable to get him to cooperate with his defense.

Why won't he talk to her? What is Josh hiding?

When Rachael asks her husband Trace, and his fellow artists to sketch the scene of the crime as they see it, a new piece of the puzzle become apparent. . .a piece that ultimately leads to the truth that has eluded the police. . .and Rachael.

So Dark the Night

2007-03-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

by Margaret Daley

A lonely cabin. Deadly secrets. Danger in the woods.
On a tragic night, photographer Emma St. James lost not only her vision, but her memory. The police believed She'd witnessed her beloved brother's murder, but her mind refused to remember. She was lost and alone, until a stranger reached out with a touch she couldn't see.

Rev. Colin Fitzpatrick would never forget the moment he saw Emma's lovely face just seconds before she ran out in front of his car. She'd been fleeing something--or someone--but she was his responsibility now. But with the killers desperate to find Emma, it would take divine intervention to keep them both alive.

Pammer here: LOVED this book. LOVED. I couldn't stay away from it. I started it on a Saturday (thankfully else I might have had to take off work, LOL) and finished it in the afternoon. I barely did anything but read that book.
The suspense is spine tingling and the story is perfectly woven with the thread of faith. It brings to mind things you would never think of, until you imagine losing your own sight.
I recommend this book to everyone.

Susan May Warren's Reclaiming Nick

2007-01-29T06:43:00.000-08:00

Nick Noble hadn’t planned on being the prodigal son.

But when his father dies and leaves half of Silver Buckle—the Noble family ranch—to Nick’s former best friend, he must return home to face those he left behind. And to make sure that the Silver Buckle stays in the Noble family. Award-winning journalist Piper Sullivan believes Nick framed her brother for murder, and she’s determined to find justice. But following Nick to the Silver Buckle and posing as a ranch cook proves more challenging than she first anticipated. So does resisting his charming smile. As Nick seeks to overturn his father’s will—and Piper digs for answers—family secrets surface that send Nick’s life into a tailspin. But there’s someone who wants to see the Silver Buckle leave Noble hands, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen, even if it means taking a life.

******

I have been a Susan May Warren fan from way back when…you know, when no one knew who she was. She burst on to the scene with her first book Happily Ever After…which okay to be honest the only reason I bought this book from an unknown author was because there was a endorsement on the cover from Dee Henderson. I have followed her career ever since.

Susan’s books never disappoint me. She has a voice that is so uniquely her own. Her characters are awesome… especially in her new book “Reclaiming Nick”. Now let me tell you… I would LOVE to claim Nick! Have you seen the cover of this book??? Swoon. I’ve even asked Susie if I could have Nick, unfortunately she doesn’t know if the real Nick is single. Sigh.

Reclaiming Nick I think is my new favorite from Susie by far. Reclaiming Nick has everything you’ve come to expect from a Susan May Warren book. Page turning suspense and romance. But she went deep with this book than any of the others. I love how she wove in Psalm 103. Particularly the part about how far the Lord has taken our sins from us… Farther than the distance from east to west! That’s just too cool to me.

This book is well worth the read!

******

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia , was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia , Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

AUTUMN DREAMS by Gayle Roper

2007-01-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

Autumn Dreams
Multnomah Publishers
ISBN: 1-59052-127-7

AUTUMN DREAMS is Book Three in Gayle's Seaside Seasons. While I haven't read the first two, the setting of this book alone would make me want to read the others. At times, this story seemed to drag, or the characters' dialogue rambled a tad, but the actual story was so good it hardly bothered me. I really, really, really, really liked this hero. I love how he treated the heroine, and came alongside her to help with family matters. I like how he dealt with the teens, and complimented the heroine unabashed. Gayle did a great job of helping me understand what made the heroine tick. The villain in this book was nice and creepy too. The parts where we glimpsed him offset the emotion with suspense just when you thought things were going well...here he pops up again with an evil agenda. I like how this book was executed. The plot, although a little predictable, was intricate and the characters real and distinct. Warm read. Oh, and did I tell you the book has a B & B in it? You can never go wrong with a B & B book! If you've ever had anyone in your family suffer with dementia or altzheimers, you will surely identify with Cass (heroine) of this book, as her mother suffers from it. I absolutely loved the opening scene too, and how Gayle portrayed a dementia patient and how that affects a family.

Squirrel

Lanterns and Lace

2007-01-02T21:06:00.000-08:00

by Diann Mills

Suspense and Romance tangle in Texas
Moments before she dies giving birth, a tormented resident of the Kahlerville brothel persuades the doctor to adopt her infant daughter.

Two years later, Jessica Martin's younger sister, Jenny, arrives in Kahlerville determined to gain custody of her neice. But as soon as Jenny steps off the train, her best-laid plans begin to go awry. From her encounter with the mysterious Aubrey Turner to her humiliation in front of the seemingly dedicated physician Dr. Grant Andrews, unforseen events cause Jenny to falter in her purpose.

Should she leave Kahlerville before she ruins more lives than her own? The secretive Mr. Turner will stop at nothing to get what he's after--including Jenny's affections--while Dr. Andrews fears for Jenny and his daughter's safety.

What twisted plots and unexpected evils await the residents of Kahlerville, Texas? How many lives will be lost in the chaos?

Pammer here: I really liked this book. If possible it's even better than the first one in the series. I adore the characters (warning: prepare to fall in love with the most adorable two-year old you can imagine) and the place. The setting comes alive under the skillful touch of Ms. Mills. I wanted to shake Jenny, but at the same time I wanted to take her in and love her. And the Dr.? Well, he's an awesome hero, although there were times I wanted to shake some of his logic lose. :)
If you read the first one, you need to read this one. If you haven't read the first one, that's okay, you will still love this one. Then you'll want to go get the first one.

I look forward to the next installment of the characters of Kahlerville--and boy are some of them characters, too.

Review of A BIGGER LIFE by Annette Smith adn Author Interview

2006-12-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

NAVPRESS PUBLISHERS
ISBN: 1-57683-995-8

RELEASES FEB. 2007
$12.99,

AUTHOR BIO:

Annette Smith, author of a dozen books, is a writer by day and a hospice nurse by night. Her first book of short stories, The Whispers of angles, sold more than 100,000 copies. A lifelong Texan, Annette lives in Quitman, Texas with her husband Randy. The intimiate scenes and emotions she witnesses in her hospice work brings a richness and poignancy to her writing.

INTERVIEW COURTESY OF GLASS ROADS PUBLICATIONS

How has A Bigger Life been different from other novels that you've written?

My other novels have been what I call gentle fiction, as in Mayberry meets Mitford. In those books, I wrote about the struggles and challenges of flawed but faithful Christians. The characters were much like people I know, similar to the folks I cross paths with every day. The setting was one in which I felt comfortable. The endings were tidy and happy.

A Bigger Life is a much grittier novel, one that deals with difficult, contemporary issues and problems. The main character is someone very different from me. The ending is hopeful, rather than happy. When writing the book, I had a bit of anxiety about how readers of my earlier works would respond to this novel. So far the response from early readers has been overwhelmingly positive.

Tell us how this story came to you.

Nearly two years ago, at my young adult daughter's insistence that I do something about my hair, I visited a new salon. It was there that I met Paul C. He was a twenty-seven-year-old, straight, male hairstylist who was the single parent of a three-year-old little boy, whose mother had died only weeks before. During the two hours I sat in his chair, Paul shared bits and pieces of his life. His story was incredibly poignant, rich, and true. I was so moved by his words, so captivated by his voice and his spirit, that I could not get home fast enough to get him down on paper.

A Bigger Life is fiction. The plot of the book is completely different from Paul's life story. However the voice, passion, and sensitivities are his.

Since that first meeting, Paul and I have become friends. We communicate regularly. It's an odd relationship, me, a forty-something, mainstream wife and mom who's been a Christian all my life, him a post-modern, single dad who only recently came to know God. We could not come from two more divergent worlds, yet somehow it works. The love and respect we have for each other has enriched my life. I am not the same person I was two years ago. I believe Paul would tell you the same is true of him.

Has your hairdresser Paul read the book? What does he think?

Paul has read the first chapter of the book. It is posted on my website. However, he has chosen to wait until the book is released to read the rest. I think it must be an weird feeling to know someone is writing about you and your life. However, from the very beginning, Paul has been enthusiastic and supportive. He gave me free rein to write about anything and everything he's shared.

It will be an exciting day for both of us when I place a finished copy in his hands. My hope is that he will feel that I have honored him and his life.

What difficulties did you encounter writing this novel?

Writing from the male point of view was a challenge but great fun. I had two male readers who let me know when I veered off course. They were a tremendous help. It thrills me to hear readers' disbelief that the book was written by a woman.

Another challenge was the book's touchy subject matter. This is a story that deals with temptation, sin, and its consequences. Certain scenes were difficult to write realistically and emotionally without offending or titillating. I worked very hard to get them right. From the responses I'm getting, I believe I succeeded in reaching a good balance between realism and propriety.

What do you see as the central theme of this novel?

Everyone suffers. Everyone is in need of God's unconditional love and mercy. We, His children, are called upon to see each other with His eyes, to love as He loved, to serve as he served.

==============================
CHERYL HERE:

A BIGGER LIFE is a book I won't soon forget. Had I not previously known the author was female, I would have guessed the book written by a man. Written from the POV of Joel in first person about his life with his wife and son, the emotion in this story riveted my eyes and heart to every page. I laughed SO hard at the "accident" in the dentist's parking lot because I've SO been there. This book seemed so real, it could have been about real people instead of fiction. A young, struggling marriage and the characters' journey tugged my heart strings. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the way Annette penned the snappy, realistic dialogue, and the internal monologue makes the characters easy to identify with. Certain parts (GET THE BOOK!!!) made me ball my eyes out, and the message deep in this story really, really touched me. I cried about that, too! I loved how the non-traditional Christians in this story were portrayed. It's how I picture what a church body is supposed to be. Really moving moments between the characters. I love howAbe called Joel out on his junk. LOVED THIS!!!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this deeply touching work of fiction to anyone loving family-oriented stories with emotive poignancy that will keep you thinking about the book long after you finish it.

BRAVO, ANNETTE!

Squirrel

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JANICE THOMPSON

2006-12-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

An Interview with

Janice Thompson

COURTESY OF GLASS ROADS PUBLICATIONS

A $25,000 night deposit mysteriously disappears from the Clark County Savings and Loan, and Annie Peterson has reason to be concerned. Her husband’s job at the bank makes him a potential suspect, but knowing him to be a Godly man, she can’t imagine he'd steal it. But then again, where did the money to pay for his twin daughters' weddings come from? Sure, Warren occasionally jokes about robbing the bank to pay for the ceremonies, but Annie knows him better than that, doesn’t she?

This is one story not to be missed!

Congratulations on leading the Heartsong Cozy Mystery Line. Tell us about how that came about.

In 2004, I proposed an idea for a wedding-themed romance to Barbour Publishing titled THE WEDDING CAPER. Sadly, it was rejected for their romance line. I laid the idea aside for a period of time. Then, in January of 2006, I heard that Barbour was putting together a new line of cozy mysteries. My story idea involving a mother of the bride solving a crime just seemed to fit. I quickly put together a new proposal and sent it off to Susan Downs, mystery editor.

I heard back from Susan pretty quickly that she was interested in the books, but was stunned to learn THE WEDDING CAPER would head the new line of mysteries. More stunned still, to find out the book would be released as a trade book! Most mysteries in the line are sold through the book club only.

I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have this very distinct privilege, and how honored. I'm so grateful to Susan (and Becky Germany, my fiction editor), and to all of the fine people at Barbour, who've done so much for me!

What did you like most about writing this genre?

For the first time ever, I got to try my hand at first-person writing, and I LOVED it! Couldn't get enough of it. The twists and turns in the mystery are a lot of fun, though a bit of a challenge. But I'm up for the challenge! I especially love writing something fun and quirky!

Perhaps the greatest thing of all has been the spiritual thread that runs through all of the stories. I prayed fervently as I wrote THE WEDDING CAPER - that the Lord would use my words to not only bring a smile to people's faces (and make them wonder "who-dunnit") but would also present a real and lasting impression of our heavenly Father, and His love for us.

Tell us a bit about the book.

THE WEDDING CAPER is a cozy mystery set in Clarksborough, Pennsylvania. The fun begins when a $25,000 night deposit mysteriously disappears from the Clark County Savings and Loan, Annie Peterson has reason to be concerned and to assume the role of amateur sleuth. Her husband's job at the bank makes him a potential suspect, but knowing him to be a Godly man, she can't imagine it. Then again, there is that matter of the weddings to factor in. Twin daughters Brandi and Candy have just received proposals and two weddings are pending. Sure, Warren occasionally jokes about robbing the bank to pay for the ceremonies, but Annie knows him better than that. . .doesn't she? Just about the time Annie thinks she can wriggle Warren off the suspect hook, he mysteriously shows up with enough cash to cover the cost of both weddings. Annie dives into the investigation and the suspects pile up. One by one they fall, leaving her with only one logical choice. Who will it be – a somber-faced loan officer, a security guard with a shady past, a drifter with local ties – or the man she loves?

What sparked the idea of combining the stress of a wedding with a cozy?

I know what it's like to be the mother of the bride. I've played that role multiple times now! In 2004, two of my daughters got married within four months of each other. Daughter #3 is now engaged, and set to be married in the spring. Daughter #4 has just announced that she's met the man of her dreams and already has 'that look' in her eye.

Talk about blissful chaos! I know about the ups and downs of wedding planning, and also understand the financial woes connected with putting together beautiful wedding ceremonies on a budget. So, what's a mother of the bride to do, when faced with such challenges? Easy! I just turned them into books, so that readers could join in the fun! I decided to capitalize on my wacky wedding-related experiences by putting them into this series of mysteries, which Barbour has titled "The Bridal Mayhem Mystery Series." As I mentioned before, THE WEDDING CAPER is the first book in the collection. And the 'sleuth,' Annie Peterson—Mother of the Brides is so much like me, it hurts!

Tell us about your pet who makes it in all your novels. What role do they play in The Wedding Caper?

My real-life canine cohorts, (red miniature dachshunds Sasha and Copper), make appearances in my mysteries, and help solve the crimes. Sasha is even featured on the cover of THE WEDDING CAPER. I actually wrote Susan Downs a letter early on about this - told her that Sasha insisted upon a clause in my contract stating that she would be on the cover of every book. Barbour didn't actually put it in the contract, but so far my little darling has made it onto the first two covers! Ironically, Sasha and Copper are a bit on the spoiled side. They've really let this publishing fame go to their heads, and are particularly difficult to deal with, now that THE WEDDING CAPER has released. There's just no living with some people... er... dogs. I hope my readers enjoy getting to know them, and fall in love with them, as I have.

To hear a podcast of Janice speaking about The Wedding Caper [Click Here.]

JANICE THOMPSON is a Christian novelist, who lives in the Houston area. She has authored eleven books, including a line of contemporary humorous wedding mysteries for Barbour Publishing. Janice considers herself somewhat overqualified when it comes to writing about weddings. Janice has coordinated weddings for friends and has incorporated many of her adventures into her stories. She's also tickled to be able to include her canine companion, Sasha, in each of her "tails."
The Wedding Caper -- Janice Thompson-- Barbour Publishing -- ISBN: 1597895245 -- $9.97

Emma Jean Reborn

2006-11-24T16:56:00.000-08:00

By Kathi Macias and Dr. Cupid R. Poe

ISBN: 1-4208-4816-x

Publisher: Authorhouse

www.kathimacias.com

Emma Jean Reborn is a heart felt story about a woman's journey of healing from a past of abuse which caused her to make unsound decisions in her adult years regarding people she let into her life. Emma Jean didn't learn how to set proper boundaries, and until Christian friends came into her life, Emma Jean had a skewed image of normal. Though I didn't quite buy that both sisters (first one died) were named Emma Jean, this book was deeply touching. Emma Jean is a character who will stand out in my mind.

I also loved the sensory description in this book. It wasn't too much or too little. The authors made me feel like I was in scene, even to the bubble bath bubbles under my chin. They mastered so much with so little. The book brought out a lot of emotion in me because of the nature of Emma Jean's past which formed her doormat personality. One character (Joe) in particular really irked me because of how he treated Emma--preying on her niavety. This tells me he was a well-written antagonist.

Living in an area where racial discrimination has a fluent history, this book should be stocked in every library around here. The authors touch on that topic with tact and truth. I loved the characters in the African-American church who took Emma in and loved her, I love how the authors executed that. I also liked the character of Sadie Garret and how she befriended Emma. Very poignant moments and touching.

This story was gritty as far as content but the authors maneuvered those scenes without disturbing imagery, yet the reader knew what was happening, especially the intimate times between Joe and Emma.

This is one of those books that makes me think for awhile after reading it, because I know there are people out there who've suffered some of the type of abuse Emma Jean did. I only hope for those people that, as Emma Jean did, they will let God in and heal them so their futures will be better than their past instead of history repeating itself over and over in their lives.

Overall touching read.

Squirrel

Yuletide Stalker

2006-11-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

by Irene Brand

Trouble in Paradise

To Linc Carey, Maddie Horton had always been a gangly kid with braces. So when a gorgeous woman walked off the plane, Linc was stunned at the changes in his late commanding officer's daughter. The Hawaiian holiday was his belated graduation present to Maddie, who'd been thrilled when her former crush invited her for a Christmas visit. Neither expected romance to blossom in such a short time. But Maddie's dream trip soon turned ugly when the people responsible for her fahter's murder set their sights on her. Can Linc protect Maddie from her yuletide stalker?

Pammer here: I started the book today and finished it today. I couldn't put it down. The characters are well developed and tug you into their lives. The suspense is riviting. And the romance....ah, the romance. I love it when he touches her arm for the first time. The reactions are so vivid, I felt like I was there. Good read.

SCOOP by Rene Gutteridge

2006-11-20T00:31:00.000-08:00

Scoop (The Occupational Hazards series, book 1) by Rene Gutteridge

From the back cover:

And now back to our regularly scheduled insanity.

Channel 7 news producer Hugo Talley dreams of working with first-class professionals. Instead he’s saddled with a weatherman who can’t admit when he’s wrong, an aging anchorwoman who refuses to release her clawlike grip on the newsdesk, a conscience-stricken reporter who’s reluctant to focus on sensationalism, and a new assistant–former homeschool student Hayden Hazard–who can’t just seem to leave her faith outside the newsroom.

When the Channel News 7 team inadvertently stumbles on a hot news story, Hugo is frantic to exploit this rare opportunity. But a series of crises–including a Botox disaster and the disappearance of a colleague–threatens to destroy his chance for ratings success and send him completely over the edge.

Meanwhile Hayden’s presence is distracting at least two coworkers. Softspoken reporter Ray Duffey isn’t sure whether he’s attracted or frightened by her outspoken faith, while ego-driven Sam Leege is certain her naïve spiritual convictions will fall victim to his persuasive attentions.

With their oddball antics and all-too-real foibles, this lovable cast of characters offers a hilarious look at the sometimes-unexpected effects of taking one’s faith boldly into the workplace.

Camy here:

From page one, I was completely engrossed in the story, the characters, and the plot. This was a very engaging read, with clean humor and yet very insightful emotional themes.

The characters are all very unique and distinct. I liked how the author drew out both the likeable and unlikable aspects of each character to create very 3-dimensional story people.

The setting in the world of news journalism and broadcasting is fascinating, and acts as another character in the story. Even though it was a totally new world for me, I was never confused by what was going on.

Some of the threads tied up a little to quickly and neatly at the end, but it was still a very satisfying ending to the story. I was almost surprised it was done.

What’s interesting about this story is that the heroine isn’t really the protagonist, in a technical sense, because she doesn’t change. However, she acts as the catalyst who changes everyone around her. The story is told from their viewpoints rather than Hayden’s.

I actually thought it was very clever writing to be able to show Hayden’s personality through the other characters’ eyes. I never needed to be in Hayden’s point of view because I knew exactly what she was like, what she was thinking, what her values and ideals were.

I’m looking forward to the other books in this series, starring the other Hazard family siblings in a variety of other interesting occupations.

Review of Scimitar's Edge, plus interview with Author Marvin Olasky

2006-11-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

AN INTERVIEW WITH MARVIN OLASKY
courtesy of Glass Road Publications

"Stepping away from his roles as professor, historian, and creator of "compassionate conservatism," Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD Magazine has penned an edge-of-your-seat novel that educates as well as it informs. "

"SCIMITAR'S EDGE is the story of four unique Americans on a journey that takes them to a world of great beauty and great danger. Olasky uses his vast knowledge of the culture to pen a tale about the War on Terror that is so realistic it might have been taken from today's headlines. "

--Kathleen at GRP--

A FEW QUESTIONS WITH MARVIN OLASKY
AUTHOR OF SCIMITAR'S EDGE

1. What's the book about?

MO: At its basic level it's about Americans who go to Turkey for a vacation -- I spent a month there two years ago -- and are kidnapped by Turkish Hezbollah; the question then is how to get away and whether to forget about the whole thing or attempt to fight back. In another sense Scimitar's Edge is about America and the war against terrorism: Now that it's almost five years since 9/11 many of us almost seem to be on vacation again, but the terrorists are not.

2. You're a journalist and professor by trade, with about 18 non-fiction books in your past. What led you to turn to fiction?

Largely fun. In one sense I was playing SIM Turkey: Drop four people into a harsh foreign environment, give them action and adventure, build a romance … I grew to like the characters and wanted to see what they would do. I also enjoyed the challenge: I've written lots of nonfiction books and know how to do that, but this was all new.

3. Is your research for fiction different from your nonfiction research?

The trunk is common - as I traveled through Turkey I took notes on geography, food, customs, and so forth - but the branches differ. My nonfiction research emphasizes accuracy concerning what has happened; for example, every quotation has to be exactly what a person said. In fiction, though, I'm inventing dialogue, yet everything that happens has to be true to the characters and the situation.

4. What's been the feedback from your fans since your switch to fiction?

Oh, are there fans? Actually, I've gotten excellent reactions from many of the folks who like my nonfiction. A few worry about sexual allusions - one of the characters is a serial adulterer and two of the others, as they fall in love, encounter sexual tension. Scimitar's Edge is also an action/adventure novel so there's some shooting, and one of the main characters is a terrorist who relishes lopping off heads. So anyone who wants a sugary book should look elsewhere.

5. You also include some descriptions of what's been called ”the forgotten holocaust” a century ago, and explain some Turkish history.

Turkey was the proving ground for the first sustained governmental attempt at genocide, as Turks killed over one million Armenians and sent many to concentration camps; Hitler admired that effort. But Turkey has often been a central player in world affairs, not a backwater. Nearly two millennia ago Turkey became a Christian stronghold: The seven churches John addresses in the book of Revelation, for example, were in what is now Western Turkey. Going back one millennium, what is now Turkey was the front line for a clash of Christian and Muslim cultures.

6. I know you wrote your doctoral dissertation about film and politics from the 1930s through the 1960s, a time when Westerns were one of the dominant genres, and I see certain Western-like elements in this book.

Westerns came in about seven different varieties, and one of them was called the “revenge Western,” where a bad man has killed a beloved person and the hero heads out to bring him to justice. In nuanced Westerns the hero at various points asks himself whether his end justifies his means and whether it's worth giving up a lot to carry out what he planned. An internal struggle of that sort occurs in this book as well.

7. Scimitar's Edge is an unusual novel that combines action against terrorists with quotations from Walker Percy. In fact, the book ends with an allusion to one of Percy's most enduring characters, Will Barrett. Were you consciously trying to walk a knife-edge between high-brow and low-brow culture?

Not consciously; that's just where I am myself. Since evangelicals are sometimes disparaged as dumb, some press to show we're not by tossing around Latin phrases or going to opera rather than popular movies -- not that there's anything wrong with opera, as long as there's a car chase within the first five minutes. To me it comes down to enjoying the pleasures God gives us, including those from both popular culture and literary culture.

8. Are you planning a sequel?

When I talk with students about careers we discuss the importance of both internal calling and external calling - do you feel God's pleasure as you do something, and do other people think you're good at it? I feel the internal call to write more novels; I'm trying to discern the external call from readers.

Author's bio:
Dr. Olasky is editor-in-chief of World Magazine, a senior fellow of the Acton Institute, and a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Susan have been married for 30 years and have four sons. He has written 17 non-fiction books and has also started (with several others) a Christian school; he has been a crisis pregnancy center chairman, a foster parent, a Little League assistant coach, a PTA president, and an informal advisor to George W. Bush. He is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Michigan.
###

REVIEW BY CHERYL

Marvin Olasky's SCIMITAR'S EDGE is a book that will haunt me, but that's a good thing. Complex characters and edge of the seat suspense moved this book along for me in just a couple of hours. Some may consider the images in which the author paints in this story graphic, but I thought they were pretty mild in comparison for what could actually go on behind the scenes of four people kidnapped by Hezbollah terrorists.

I would have liked to have gotten into Phoebe's head a bit more, and I also wonder if the book may have been more powerful with a more limited POV. It jumped around quite a bit, which didn't really bother me except a few areas where the author could have kept us in a particular POV a little longer before flipping to another character. This constant switching made me feel a bit detached from the characters, yet the book was riviting enough that it didn't matter. At times the story seemed too rushed, like the author was running out of word count and had to tell instead of show.

That said, the areas he did show...very powerful writing. I found myself today unable to stop thinking about this book and these characters. I'm hoping for a continuation. Though there was a bit of gore and death, I thought it appropriate for the plot and tactfully written, and the book had a satisfying ending. The characters seemed real and without spoiling the story, I have to say that one scene in particular made this book worth reading. I LOVED THAT PART. I don't want to spoil it for you, so I will just say two words. Fatima's rock. When you go out and get this book (and I hope you do), you will know what I'm talking about.

Each character was distinct and multi-faceted, and I didn't think the sexual tension was over the top, just realistic and true to character. The realism was refreshing actually from books which tend to tone down that sort of thing to the point the characters seem too perfect to be believable. I thought this was well-executed and showed the pull of sin in Malcolm and his consequence for his choices.

Being a die-hard romance novel fan, I loved the thread of Hal and Sally prancing through this story.

I also loved how the author executed (no pun intended) one of the character's passing. I read that part over and over because of the way Marvin sequenced that. Again, since I don't want to spoil it for you, I will just say that it begins with the paragraph "[certain character] saw a flicker in Sulleyman's eyes...and goes on into the next paragraph, which starts, "But Hal and Sally saw none of that. . ."

Talk about chills.

The book was raw, the characters real, the story gritty. I felt their external struggle more than their internal struggles. The sensory description was simple but effective in putting me there. The faith element woven mostly through Phoebe and the impact the things she did and said had on the lives of the other characters will make this book memorable for a long time to come. I hope this author will continue to venture out into fiction as I'll be eagerly awaiting his next work.

Squirrel

Wishing on Dandelions

2006-11-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

by Mary DeMuth

God says "I love you" in many ways, some of which are hard to hear.

Maranatha needs to hear God's voice. At seventeen, Natha admittedly has some trust issues. Though the abuse by the neighbor boys has stopped, Natha is anything but healed. Now her best friend has left for college, the trials of dating have begun, and God, ever since he spoke to her underneath the pecan tree years ago, has remained elusive. So when brash Georgeanne Peach blows in to take over the only place that's ever felt like home, leaving a trail of peach fabric swatches and cloying perfume, it's easy to understand how something like a little ol' tornado might not be a big deal.

Like every teenager, Natha tries to sort out the confusing layers of love of friends, of family, of suitors, and desperately of God. Natha struggles to find herself before the darkness of the past pulls her back into the shadows of a girl she used to be in this moving follow up to the critically praised Watching The Tree Limbs.

Pammer here: I thought I was opening a book to read, but no sooner was the first word read than I found myself in hot, dusty Burl, Texas. Mary is an exceptional storyteller. The characters are multi-dimensional and very real. The story is unique and intriguing and God's message of love is woven into the very fabric. You just can't put the book down until you've read it all. Beautfully written trials that this incredible young lady goes through keep you turning pages. And the very last pages left me with tears in my eyes. My mind returns to the character frequently.

If you read Watching the Tree Limbs, then this is required reading. If you didn't read Watching the Tree Limbs, then both of these should be on your MUST read list.

THE CUBICLE NEXT DOOR by Siri Mitchell

2006-11-13T01:24:00.000-08:00

The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell

From the Back Cover:

What if God has more planned for your life than you do?

Jackie Harrison is a civilian who loves her job at the U.S. Air Force Academy. That is, until she is forced to divide her office into cubicles and share the space with a new history instructor, Lt. Col. Joseph Gallagher. A charmer in a flight suit, Joe wants to explore both Colorado and a growing relationship with his new cubicle mate. The office was bad enough, but Jackie’s beside herself when Joe shows up in her home and church, even turning her grandmother’s weekly bridge game into poker night!

Jackie goes online to vent, but she eventually finds herself admitting her conflicted feelings about this office neighbor who drives her crazy and makes her heart flutter. But when her blog—The Cubicle Next Door—is featured on TV, everyone begins to read it, including Joe. Will he figure out the anonymous confessions and frustrations are written about him? And how will Jackie ever express her heart offline?

***

This tale of limited work space, hidden identity, and cyber confessions is for anyone who has ever longed to be themselves and to find a life beyond cubicle walls.

Camy here:

This is a light, fun tale that gives an inside peek into the Air Force Academy.

The heroine is funny and neurotic on the inside, while presenting a straight-man façade on the outside that makes for entertaining reading. The backstory about her mother and grandmother is interesting, and it will resonate with any reader who has lost one or both parents, or felt abandoned.

The hero is both breezy and sexy. At points, I thought he was a little too perfect, a little too persistent--but his character matched the heroine quite well.

I also didn't quite buy the whole blog thing, but it's a very cute and quirky story device, and an interesting way to help the storyline unfold.

Readers who love Steeple Hill and Heartsong Presents will enjoy this romantic chick-lit.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday....Interview with Rachel

2006-11-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Lost in Nashvegas

Last week, I stocked groceries in Freedom, Alabama. This week, I live in Nashville, Tennessee about to take the stage at the famous Bluebird Café.

Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? Only one problem. I’m terrified to sing in front of people.

But after twenty-five years of being ruled by fear, hiding from my dream, I confronted my limited reality and left home. Forget the hometown hunk who wants to make me queen of his doublewide. Forget Momma’s doubt-inspiring tirade. I can make it in Music City… Can’t I?

God put the longing to write songs in my heart. If He’s for me, who can be against me? Not even my own fear can overshadow His love. So, I gathered my old guitar, my notebook full of songs and packed up my ’69 Chevy pickup. Look out NashVegas, the next hit songwriter is coming to town.
With the help of my cousin, and a few new friends, especially handsome contractor, Lee Rivers, my dream finds the light of day. As I face my first night at the Bluebird Café, I realize…

I might just do what comes naturally. Look for the nearest exit, and run!

Hi Rachel, I’m glad to have you here at FabFour Book Picks. All though this is a review blog, I normally write something sarcastic and put here every Saturday. But today I’m going to feature you. Which I could go into a sarcastic bit about writing… or you, but I’ll refrain. :o)

HDT - I have not had the great pleasure of reading Lost in NashVegas yet. It’s sitting on my desk at home and I’m out of the state til the end of the month. What was your favorite part about writing this book?

RH - I loved being able to create Robin's journey. It was hard in the beginning, but I loved making her dream become reality. Loved writing about a character who overcomes and doesn't settle for seconds.

HDT - How does what is going on with you spiritually affect your writing?

RH - I try to stay in a good place spiritually and emotionally. God so gracious to me. I have noticed if I'm emotionally off, it effects my writing. Like feeling discouraged, or upset at someone or something makes me not want to write. I doubt myself. Yet, I find the way to overcome and solve that problem is spiritual. I hop on the keyboard and worship, or listen to some of my fav worship leaders. Or, just go to war in prayer.

HDT - You’re an amazing worship leader, did you ever dream of going to Nashville , yourself? Where you living vicariously through Robin?

RH - Unfortuately, I didn't do much to develop my musical ability. I was in college before I knew I could sing. But, I honestly believe it was God's way for me. I don't really sing at all unless it's for worship.

I did dream of being another Amy Grant for a short season, but God had other things in mind for me. I'm very happy with what I'm doing.

HDT - Do you have a favorite laugh out loud line from Nashvegas?

RH - I have several laugh out loud lines in NashVegas. While writing it, I laughed a lot, but can't think of any specifics right now. Maybe the scene at the Frothy Monkey. I laughed several while writing and rewriting it.

HDT -Thanks for stopping by Rachel, it’s been a pleasure having you here!

RH - Thanks for having me! It was an honor.

[Author bio]
Rachel Hauck is a multi-published author living in sunny and sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and ornery pets . She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism. Visit her blog and web site at www.rachelhauck.com.

Rekindled

2006-11-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

By Tamera Alexander

At a different time, in a different place, under different circumstances...Could two people fall in love once again?

Ten years ago Kathryn Jennings made a vow. For better or worse. And that promise still holds true, even though her marriage has not turned out as she expected. When her husband fails to return home one stormy winter night, she struggles to keep their ranch, but her efforts are blocked at every turn. After a shocking glimpse into her husband's past, Kathryn uncovers a hidden truth. What she wouldn't give to turn back time and be able to love her husband for the man that he was, not for the man she always wanted him to be.

Larson Jennings has spent his entire life running from a broken past, unable to trust, reluctant to try again. One fearful night, his life takes an unexpected twist, and soon he is forced to make a choice. Whatever he chooses, his decision may cost him his life.

Pammer here: I have only one word for this book. Beautiful.
The story is a wonderful, touching story, superbly written. It is full of hope. Sure there are plenty of failings and gut wrenching emotion, but the over all story gives one goosebumps. It deals with some painful issues, but shines a light and bring hope (there's that word again). And through it all, the message of God's unchanging grace, love and mercy is woven in.

I suppose it would be called Historical Women's Fiction, but it's a romance too. Even if it's not your normal genre, pick it up. You won't regret immersing yourself in this amazing story.

You probably won't want to miss the sequel called Revealed.

CALM, COOL AND ADJUSTED by Kristin Billerbeck

2006-11-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

Calm, Cool and Adjusted (Spa Girls book 3) by Kristin Billerbeck

From the back cover:

Silicon Valley chiropractor Poppy Clayton is as calm, cool and adjusted as they come . . . or is she? Known for her bad fashion sense, a love for all things natural and the inability to get a second date, Poppy is beginning to wonder if she might be misaligned herself. Especially since her best friends, Lilly and Morgan, seem to think so. After all, a “normal” woman doesn’t evaluate prospective dates on their liver function and their spiritual balance, does she?

Poppy’s route to self discover will be an unnatural one involving a plastic surgeon (of all people!), a condemned house in Santa Cruz and a wedding date from the dark side. It’s enough to send a girl and her gal pals running for the spa!

Camy here:

This novel does a great job finishing off the Spa Girls series. Poppy is my favorite character of the three, and this book really gets into her head and reveals more of who she is beyond the health-food obsession and bad clothes.

Poppy is STRANGE. But she’s also incredibly unique. More than her weirdness, she values individuality—which is something many young women struggle with—and is a strong heroine.

Poppy’s relationship with her father is one of those intangible push-pull bonds that many of my friends have with their own parents. I think this book will speak to women who have dysfunctional families and help them not to feel so alone. Poppy doesn’t have all the answers, but she does her best to trust God in everything.

At points in the story, I didn’t quite understand why Lilly and Morgan were so insistent on setting Poppy up. However, I thought the author portrayed the unintentional cruelty of married people to singles very well. I really felt for Poppy.

The book also deals with the subject of loneliness for singles very clearly. I could relate to Poppy’s emotions and struggles in this area, since I had felt that myself when I was single.

In true Billerbeck style, I didn’t know which guy Poppy was going to end up with until almost the end of the book, and there were still parts where I was kind of anticipating for the other shoe to drop, so it was an exciting and entertaining read.

The chemistry between Poppy and her suitors is powerful and sizzles off the page—more so than in Lilly’s story in She’s All That, and even more than in Morgan’s story in A Girl’s Best Friend. Yet there is nothing inappropriate about the language, the topics of conversation, or the action—it’s all very clean.

ALERT! SEMI-SPOILER
As someone who grew up in Hawaii, I could totally relate to Simon’s feelings about Hawaii at the end of the book.
Spoiler over

This is a fun book, appropriate for women from junior high school age and up. I think that 20- and 30-somethings will most relate to the plot and characters, but it’s a fast, engaging story no matter what age you are.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-11-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

“We’re having a slight problem getting our right engine started. We’ll be here just a few more minutes.”

Yeah, that’s what everyone on a plane wants to hear. That’s exactly what I heard earlier this week while sitting on a runway in Dallas. Groans floated up from all the passengers. They didn’t have any air going which made everyone all grumbley.

For whatever reason the pilot wasn’t starting his engine the normal way. He had a ground cart doing it. Whatever that is. (And no I don’t need someone to comment and tell me what it is, I just don’t care.)

They broke the ground cart… methinks this is a bad thing. “Sorry folks it will just be a few more minutes. They’re trying to find another ground cart.” Okay if these things are so important why don’t they have more of them?? By now everyone is beyond grumbley. Everyone is hot… so our lovely flight attendant says, “If everyone will close your window shades it will help with the heat some.” Okay, first off, it was 50 degrees in Dallas that day. I hardly think that’s what was making it hot on the freaking plane. “And you can pull out your emergency instructions in the seat pocket in front of you and fan yourself with it.” Yeah THAT makes it so much better.

Second ground cart FINALLY gets there—apparently they had to get it from the other side of the airport. Everyone starts to relax again, then we heard all this air being blasted on our right. They blew a house on that cart. Can you just hear the groans when the Captain tells us that? “Just be a few more minutes folks. The ground crew has an idea.” Yeah, like that’s what you want to hear. They have an IDEA.

Finally, after an hour of being on the runway we took off with no other incidents. Lucky for me, I had someone just as sarcastic as me in the seat next to me. This made for a funny time instead of miserable. Okay, so it didn’t hurt that dude was good looking and single. LOL

Interview with the authors of BAD IDEA

2006-11-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

BAD IDEA
THE BOOK
EVERY TEENAGER TOUCHED BY DIVORCE
SHOULD READ

1-5768-3969-9
October 2006
NavPress

Todd Hafer and Jedd Hafer
Bad Idea is the story of Griffin, a recent high school graduate whose Mom left Dad in favor of a mediocre novelist. Dad's now with The Cliche, a fiance 18 years his junior. Dad and Mom perceive Griffin and his little brother to be fine. Yet Griffin is on a downward spiral of depression - self-mutilating, abusing alcohol and prescription pain pills while managing to bring home excellent grades and attend youth group. His secret life, however, will be hard to hide on a road trip with Dad, best friend, and The Cliche.

Below is an interview conducted by Glass Roads Publications with the authors of Bad Idea, Todd Hafer and Jedd Hafer, who are brothers. Todd's an executive with Hallmark in Kansas City and Jedd's a former comedian turned youth counselor in Colorado Springs.

Q: What inspired you to write Bad Idea?
Todd: I wanted to tell a story that was very real, with no canned answers or easy solutions. I drew heavily from journals I kept during my teen years.
Jedd: We have known and have been kids who looked okay on the outside but had real problems lurking below the surface. We wanted to create a story that could speak to the issues of divorce, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide in authentic ways. We wanted a story that non-believers could stick with; a story for kids who might never read Christian fiction.

Q: Do you think there is a way for children to go through divorce and not be adversely affected?
Todd: No. The fallout from divorce is something that kids/teens will deal with for the rest of their lives. But that doesn't mean there isn't hope or that they can't find true happiness.
Jedd: Short answer - NO. Adults may be able to minimize the effects, but there is no way I see for kids to come out unscathed.

Q: What message (if any) do you want people to receive from reading Bad Idea?
Todd: I just wanted to tell a real, compelling story with characters that readers would find intriguing and, in some cases, relate to closely. I hope that readers come away from the story feeling that they are not alone if they are struggling or hurting. And I hope that, as Griffin finds flickers of light, readers believe this can happen for them as well. But these ideas have to be a natural outflowing of the story and its characters. Bad Idea is definitely not a sermon masquerading as a novel.
Jedd: The key messages ultimately come back to grace. Griffin just doesn't believe God can love him. He thinks he's too repulsive and doesn't think anybody could accept the real Griffin. We want kids who struggle with hidden issues to know they are not alone.

Q: Do you have any advice for step-parents, parents, or teens whose lives are affected by divorce?
Todd: The short answer is, "Love conquers all." Parents, step-parents, and kids will continue to make big mistakes, make bad choices, and say and do things that hurt those closest to them. But love and grace are the great equalizers. Parents don't need to fix every problem - the reality is that they probably can't. But often, just standing beside a kid, supporting a kid, hugging a kid, can make tragic circumstances bearable.
Jedd: Kids need empathy and real communication. They do not need platitudes and guilt gifts. They can tell when adults are being inauthentic. Kids are likely to blame themselves and then coping skills/survival skills kick in. Sadly, many kids (like Griffin) have some pretty unhealthy coping skills.

Interview courtesy of Glass Roads Publication

For more information on this book, and the authors, visit http://www.haferbros.com/

Squirrel

THE WEDDING CAPER by Janice Thompson

2006-10-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

The Wedding Caper (Bridal Mayhem Mysteries, book 1) by Janice Thompson

When a $25,000 night deposit mysteriously disappears from the Clark County Savings and Loan, Annie Peterson has reason to be concerned and to assume the role of amateur sleuth. Her husband's job at the bank makes him a potential suspect, but knowing him to be a godly man, she can't imagine it.

Then again, there is that matter of the weddings to factor in. Twin daughters Brandi and Candy have just received proposals and two weddings are pending.

Sure, Warren occasionally jokes about robbing the bank to pay for the ceremonies, but Annie knows him better than that . . . doesn't she?

Just about the time Annie thinks she can wriggle Warren off the suspect hook, he mysteriously shows up with enough cash to cover the cost of both weddings. Annie dives into the investigation and the suspects pile up.

One by one they fall, leaving her with only one logical choice. Who will it be – a somber-faced loan officer, a security guard with a shady past, a drifter with local ties – or the man she loves?

Camy here:

This is a cute cozy mystery with quirky characters. It has all the fun of a farce and the strong spiritual thread that Barbour is known and loved for.

As I read, I couldn’t help thinking that fans of Diann Hunt’s Hot Flashes and Cold Cream will love this book. It doesn’t deal with menopause, but Annie’s character is every bit as fun, crazy, motherly, and determined as Maggie from Hot Flashes. Annie shares the same stage in life as Maggie, some of the same issues, and all of the same sense of fun.

I have to admit that I didn’t quite relate to Annie—the same way I didn’t relate to Maggie—because I’m just not in that stage of life at this time, plus I don’t have children. However, also like Hot Flashes, it’s a well-written novel that will be sure to entertain readers who share in the issues that give Annie’s life more angst.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-10-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

Nachos. All I want for Christmas is nachos.

I’m not talking fancy nachos with tons of stuff on them. I’m talking cheap, liquid cheese over the top of the chips, with some jalapeños for good measure. How hard can it be to find these things?

At the conference, Robin and I were jonesing badly for them. Could we get them anywhere? Noooooo. Then for a week in Little Rock we tried to find them and couldn’t. What’s up with that? Robin by the way has since had nachos and she took great pleasure in calling me and telling me all about it.

Is there a shortage on liquid cheese? Did they come up with new and improved uses for this type of cheese? Oh, let me guess… everyone is so dang gourmet these days that no one wants the old cheap thing.

Now I’m sure you can still get them at high school football games but come on. We all know how I feel about teenagers. That SO isn’t happening.

You can probably get them at a movie theater but I wouldn’t know seeing as I haven’t been to a movie in years. In this day and age why pay that much for a movie when you can have the DVD delivered to your door so much cheaper.

All I want are some freaking nachos.

What’s something you’ve been wanting lately that you can’t find anymore?

a mile from sunday by jo kadlecek

2006-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

A Mile from Sunday by Jo Kadlecek
Publisher: Navpress
ISBN-60006-028-5
2006 release
From The Lightfoot Trilogy

From Back Cover:

SOMETIMES WOLVES PRAY IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
The perfect hair product is out there for girls with uncontrollably fruzzy curls. So is the perfect piece of chocolate. So is the perfect man. And so is a good, warm, fuzzy, inspirational lead story. Jonna Lightfoot McLaughlin, religion reporter for the Denver Dispatch, knows all this to be true. She just can't find proof. For any of it. Then one day a series of mysterious messages appears on her voicemail, and she is thrown into a story that may drastically affect her career, and, if she's not careful, her life.

Clues from untraceable sources collide with duplicitous ministers, ambiquous monks, and one exceptionally good-looking community center director. With the help of her supportive editor and her savvy, fellow chocoholic colleague, as well as the protection of her big brother, she might break the biggest story of the year-and find some of that inspiration after all.

Cheryl here:

For someone who prefers category romance over single title stories, I have to say this book went fast. The first sentence hooked me, and the rest of the book just seemed to fly by. I don't care for first person stories, but honestly, first person made this book even more special. I loved the character of Jonna.

For those of you looking for fresh Christian fiction that's both lighthearted and REAL....I highly recommend this book. The plot really interested me, and I found the secondary characters delightful. I absolutely loved the unique writing in this book

As another writer...I'm totally impressed at how Jo put me right in the story and made me feel like one of the characters. I'm definitely eagerly awaiting her next book to come out, and this one's going on the keeper shelf.

Squirrel

VIOLETTE BETWEEN by Alison Strobel

2006-10-23T01:52:00.000-07:00

Violette Between by Alison Strobel

Back cover:

Between here and the past, there lies a place…
…a place of longing for what has been rather than hoping for what could be.

A true artist, Violette is passionate and emotional. Climbing back into life after suffering a loss, she teeters on the precipice of a new relationship with Christian, a psychologist who not only understands her struggles but offers safety and his heart.

As Violette and Christian begin to feel something they both thought impossible, tragedy strikes again. Violette becomes trapped in a place of past memories–and she finds that she may not want to come back. What would it be like to choose a place between the past and the present?

Camy here:

This is a unique women’s fiction novel that put me in mind of Lisa Samson’s Tiger Lillie. It has the same free-flowing format of a story-within-a-story that gives deeper insight into each of the major characters.

Both of the major protagonists are widowed, so this will strike a strong chord in anyone who has lost a spouse—both recently or many years ago. This also explores the difficulties of learning to love again, of unfinished grief, of tenuous faith.

Violette and Christian (and Violette and Saul) are such different personalities that it was interesting to watch their interactions—their fights, misunderstandings, resolutions. I personally had a hard time relating to Violette because she’s completely opposite of my own personality, but other women who have that spontaneous, romantic streak will find much of themselves in her character and even her faith.

This is a wonderfully edgy novel in that the characters themselves are not strong Christians, although at points they believe themselves to be, while at other points they don’t care if they are or not. This blurred area of faith/not-faith is refreshing to see in a story.

I personally wouldn’t give this to a teenager to read because the mature issues of widowhood will probably not resonate with them, but any other older reader will find slices of Violette and Christian that they can relate to.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-10-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

How you know you’re broker than broke.

1.) When you jab a finger into the coin return of every payphone (do people even use those anymore??) you pass. Ahh, don’t forget doing the same with all the soda machines too.

2.) You walk into walls because your head is always down scanning the ground for loose change. (Or maybe you’re just a dingbat…I have a couple of those that read these posts regularly. LOL)

3.) When you can only buy peanut butter (full of protein!) or Jelly (fruitiness, rocks!) but not both. Aww, who needs stinking PB&J anyway??

4.) When people start using you as a charitable write off...

5.) If you’re a writer and don’t have a real job.

6.) When people start flipping quarters into your Starbucks cup while you sit at an outside table… me thinks you look pretty broke, hmm or maybe you just need a makeover.

7.) Instead of getting your own house, you become America’s Houseguest. (awww, such is my life. LOL)

What say you?

The Danger Within

2006-10-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

by Valerie Hansen

Part of the Faith at the Crossroads Series

TO: AL_CRANE@CSSENTINEL.ORG

FROM: COLLEEN_MONTGOMERY@CSSENTINEL.ORG

Boss,

My reporter's nose smells a story brewing at the Double V Ranch. Word is that rancher Michael Vance has already lost several cows to a mystery ailment. This isn't the first odd thing to happen there either--Michael's old foreman disappeared out of the blue, and his new one, Hector Delgato, is cagey. He bears watching. Meanwhile, Michael hired newcomer Layla Dixon as the housekeeper/vet while his injured housekeeper recovers, and the bohemian beauty is nothing like meat-and-potatoes Michael. I think romance might be in the air, but there is also something sinister starting up in Colorado Springs...

Pammer here: A truly delightful read. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and the characters. LOVED Layla. Wasn't too sure about Michael at first but when I saw him with that new born calf, my heart softened right up. Very well written and fits right into the series, seamlessly.

I'd buy the whole series and read them one after another.

DARK HOUR (Serpent Moon trilogy, book 1) by Ginger Garrett

2006-10-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

One of the darkest and bloodiest stories of all time comes not from a medieval battlefield but from inside one of the most opulent palaces ever built. The strageies come not from men eager to extend their influence but from women bent on exercising their wit and prowess in a kingdom not their own. Treason and murder are fair game. Marriage is manipulation, a means to an end. Children are the enemy. And the days of the House of David are numbered—unless one woman can find the strength to conquer them all.

Dark Hour is based on the story told in 2 Chronicles 21-23.

Read an excerpt here.

Camy here:

I don’t read many Biblical fiction stories, but there are a few which stand out and are truly entertaining, fascinating reads.

Dark Hour started off a bit gruesome and a little slow, but the storyline moves along swiftly after the first few chapters. I had read the passage in 2 Chronicles and knew the skeleton story, but the author weaves a colorful tapestry of events that kept me interested.

The dark queen Athaliah is rich, complex, vivid, magnificent even in her selfish ambition and occult beliefs. Jehoshebeth’s character arc is wonderfully satisfying as she changes from a spoiled princess to a strong, fierce handmaiden of Yahweh.

Many of the spiritual aspects—Athalia’s pagan rituals and experiences, Jehoshebeth’s prayers to God—have that mystical quality that brings to mind old fantasy books I read. It makes for both entertaining reading and also a strong reminder of God’s power. I think fantasy readers will like this novel—it’s a completely different culture and society, and it has those supernatural elements that make for unpredictable fiction.

Fans of Randy Ingermanson’s City of God series will enjoy this book immensely. It has the richness of ancient culture with the drama of human emotions, and a whisper of supernatural powers.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday/Sunday

2006-10-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Effective birth control...

A party for a four year old and ten of their “best friends”.

The kid in the shopping cart in the grocery store screaming bloody murder because mom won’t buy them the cereal with the highest sugar content.

The scary one sitting in the corner rocking back and forth... either they’re plotting you bodily harm or they’re future writers plotting someone else bodily harm.

A child who clamps onto your leg, twisting back and forth like you’re some kinda maypole all the while with one finger stuck up their nose as far as it will go… which of course when they finally let go of your leg they will use you as their tissue for said finger.

We won’t even go into all the bodily functions, with things I would rather not identify coming out of their little bodies.

(And, yes, IF I ever have kids I know y’all will laugh your butts off at me.)

THE GUY I’M NOT DATING by Trish Perry

2006-10-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry

Book description:

Kara Richardson has finally suffered one breakup too many. She's decided to go the no-dating route to romance, although she's not quite sure how that works.

She couldn't have picked a worse time to meet Gabe Paolino. Gorgeous men hardly faze Kara. A personal trainer, she works with hunks every day. But Gabe, the handsome young deli owner in town, proves way too available and way too challenging for Kara's vow of friendship. How will she adhere to her new lifestyle without scaring Gabe away?

Enter matchmaking friends, a strange elderly aunt, three demanding teens, and one hard-to-take vixen with eyes for Gabe. Add an overcrowded road trip and plenty of God's blessings, and Kara may discover that the guy she's not dating is the best boyfriend she's ever had.

Camy here:

This is a sweet, funny novel that does a great job blurring the line between romance and chick-lit.

It’s in third person past tense point of view, which will appeal to romance readers who dislike the typical first person point of view of other chick-lit books. But this is definitely a chick-lit story because it’s All About the Girl.

The author tackles the tough issue of dating and how it fits into the Christian single’s life with a bit of tongue-in-cheek and a lot of slapstick humor. Chick-lit readers will immediately be drawn into Kara’s struggles and dilemma.

I think that readers who love Steeple Hill Love Inspired romances and Heartsong Presents romances will adore this book. I thought that the tone of the narrative and the overall feel of the romance between Kara and Gabe was similar to what romance readers expect and enjoy, but with a splash of chick-lit flavor.

I would have no qualms about giving this book to even junior high school girls to read. The writing is clean and appropriate, and the romance will not only satisfy romance junkies, but it will also solidify a young girl’s conviction of purity.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-10-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

Them and You

Would you like fries with that? Did I order fries with that?

For an additional ten dollars, we can add on a super-duper gadgety thingie that you’ll never have any use for. I’m sorry, do I have fool stamped on my forehead?

Can I interest you in upgrading to our newest model? Okay. Did we not just have a long drawn out conversation where we decided this was the best model for me? Not two seconds ago, it was perfect for me and now you want me to UPGRADE? May I give you my first born, too??

You and Them

Can I have extra whip on that? Sigh, sucks air through teeth and rolls eyes.

Can I have the gravy on the side? “Um.” Twirls hair around finger and pops gum. “That’s not how we have it on the menu, so I’m not sure.”

Could you make those separate checks please? “Separate? But you’re all sitting at the same table, you aren’t separate.”

They offer what you don’t want and won’t give you what you do want. No fries, fool is not stamped on my forehead, no upgrade needed. Give me extra whip before I smack you, put the gravy on the side and separate the checks!

BY HER SIDE by Kathryn Springer

2006-10-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Steeple Hill --Love Inspired Line
ISBN: 13:978-0-373-8736-9
10: 0-373-8736-7

From back cover:

The Davis Landing Observer Page 5
The Gossip Guru
…is back with more news. Seems intrepid reporter Felicity Simmons, at rival newspaper The Davis Landing Dispatch, is being threatened by someone who is not happy with her articles. Your faithful source hears that police officer Chris Hamilton, the only family member not working for Hamilton Media, is protecting her. Independent Ms. Simmons will bristle at being guarded, but she doesn't know how stubborn Chris can be -- or how determined he is to be by her side until her stalker is caught….

Cheryl Here:

By Her Side is book two in Steeple Hill's Davis Landing miniseries and released in August of this year...yeah, yeah I'm just now getting around to reading it! LOL!

Here's the rest of the Davis Landing series:

Book one: Butterfly Summer by Arlene James (LI#356, release date 7/06)

Book three: The Family Man by IreneHannon(LI#364, release date 8/06)
Book four: The Hamilton Heir (LI#368, release date 10/06)
Book five: Prodigal Daughter by Patricia Davids (LI#372, release date 11/06)
Book six: Christmas Homecoming by Lenora Worth (LI#376, release date 12/06)

About By Her Side:

This author really amazed me at how well she executed the romantic progression of the hero and heroine. Though the story timeline wasn't that long, it seemed there was a natural progression of Chris Hamilton (hero) and Felicity Simmons (heroine).

For those of you out there who are writers this would be a great book to study as far as the relationship arc. For those of you who are readers, I think you'll enjoy the journey of these characters. Kathryn uses some really cool prose...and unusual metaphors and word pictures yet the story didn't read to heavy on description or adverbs. I found myself instantly rooting for the hero especially. Felicity worked her way into my heart by chapter two and I liked her internal struggle though I would have liked to have had a clearer glimpse of it sooner.

I think my favorite part of this story was just how naturally the hero and heroine fell in love...felt like I was reading about real people and nothing felt contrived in the story. It also had me itching to read the rest of them in how the author dropped subtle hints of the upcoming characters in the book...who are the siblings of the hero in this book.

I enjoyed the setting of this book, and felt like I was IN that newsroom. Overall great read that left me smiling, as well as wondering how Kathryn weaves a seemless romance with one of the most natural progressions I've ever read in a category romance.

Look for the book on eHarlequin since you may not be able to pick it up in bookstores.

Blessings!

Squirrel

Pirate's Prize

2006-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

by Lena Nelson Dooley

Is there any way to escape from a pirate ship?

Angelina de la Fuente Delgado, the pampered daughter of a wealthy merchant, is on her way home from a trip to Spain when her ship is attacked by pirates. The brigands captured her and her aunt and steal all the merchandise on the ship. After forcing most of the crew to walk the plank, they sink the vessel into the Atlantic.

Brian O'Doule, who is secretly in love with Angelina, is also kidnapped by the pirates. Driven by feelings of guilt for not preventing the disaster, he does everything in his power to protect the women and to find a way for them all to escape.

Will Angelina ever see her home and her beloved father again? Or will she be forced to marry the fierce pirate captain, Etienne Badeau?

Pammer here: Lena has done it again. A beautifully written intriguing tale of adventures on the high seas. Her descriptions are so wonderful you can actually smell the tangy air. Also captivating are the characters especially Angelina and Brian. I loved those two. They were so real and alive, you couldn't help cheering them on, even when they made mistakes. Aunt Elena reminds me of a favored aunt of mine.

For a sweet romance with a twist of adventure, I recommend this book. I would feel safe enough to give this to a teenager to read and a range of age groups would enjoy the tale.

I better stop before I give away a spoiler. But also, I found out at the ACFW conference, this book is in audio form too!

Well done, Lena.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BECKY MILLER by Sharon Hinck

2006-10-02T00:57:00.000-07:00

THE SECRET LIFE OF BECKY MILLER by Sharon Hinck

From the back cover:

Faster than a speeding minivan, able to leap piles of laundry in a single bound. It’s a bird, it’s a plane. It’s Supermom!

Move over, Walter Mitty. Here comes Becky Miller. A young mother with grandiose daydreams and a longing to do “Big Things for God” searches for direction amid the chaos of daily life and the disappointment of failed opportunities.

Becky’s rich fantasy life helps her cope with the pressure to be a Wonderful Wife and Marvelous Mom. But she keeps hearing the tape play:

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it: support your husband when he loses his job, nurture an eccentric circle of friends, raise perfect Christian children, live a life full of grand Purpose, all while standing on your head and whistling Dixie. Your fantasy will self-destruct in five seconds.”

Camy here:

This was a funny and fun read. The Walter Mitty-style fantasy segments were both exciting and very apropos for each chapter, adding a new dimension to how the protagonist Becky thinks and feels. It added so much to Becky’s character and to the storyline.

I really enjoyed this book even though I don’t have children. Becky’s kids aren’t perfect, nor are they monsters, and the author drew me in with both their antics and how Becky handles them. I not only saw the humor, but also Becky’s angst over being a good mother. It was both entertaining and also poignant, because it reflected how I often feel in areas of my life where I think I’m failing.

The action and events move quickly—this book definitely doesn’t drag. The pace is quick-footed and light. It was a very fast, page-turning read.

I love Becky’s interactions with her Bible study friends. I think I liked it mostly because it was real. They weren’t all “bestest buds” in a rather unreal, Barbie-doll way, but their friendship was deep and yet flawed. There’s both love and tension between Becky and each of them, and between each other. Not tension in a bad way, but tension in a way that makes me as the reader want to know more about what’s going on between them, in their lives. Why are they like this? What’s going to happen next? I loved all the minor characters as much as I liked Becky.

I don’t know if teenagers would like this book—the subject matter and the protagonists might be out of their scope of interest—but I think that 20- and 30-somethings would enjoy Becky’s adventures. Or rather, mis-adventures! Older women will also appreciate Becky’s humanness and humor.

This is a fabulous read. Not to be missed!

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday/Sunday

2006-10-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm in Little Rock. Robin has hijacked me and she is being such a bad influence on me!! I should be back next week with more sarcasm...I'm sure being with Robin for a week will give me great sarcasm to use...

HOT FLASHES AND COLD CREAM by Diann Hunt

2006-09-18T00:56:00.000-07:00

HOT FLASHES AND COLD CREAM by Diann Hunt

From the back cover:

An eccentric best friend, a leaky Chihuahua, a teenager in trouble, and a workaholic husband with a gorgeous new colleague. Those are the ingredients for Diann Hunt's wise and funny story about growing...well, older...with grace.

Midlife isn't a crisis for Maggie Hayden until the day a former classmate fails to recognize her--and her world starts to spin out of control. With an empty nest, a body that's heading south (generating heat waves all the way), and a marital spark that seems to be sputtering, she knows she has to do something. But what? Exercise? Romantic dinners? Herbal supplements? A job? She tries them all, with mixed success-but nothing seems to squelch that underlying worry that her best days are behind her.

Can Maggie come to terms with her new life and learn to trust what she cannot see? Can she reclaim her marriage and find a new sense of purpose? Can she discover a miracle cure for the aging process?

Well, two out of three ain't bad!

And the fun of this particular journey is just the whipped cream on the double-shot mocha.

Excerpt of chapter one on Amazon.com.

Camy here:

What a fun book! Maggie is wacky and loveable at the same time.

In this book, all the minor characters added color to the storyline. Even her incontinent Chihuahua had a role. The players spun and weaved in and out like an English country dance. While whacked out on hormones.

Since I’m not going through menopause yet, and don’t know anyone going through it, AND because I don’t have children right now, I didn’t quite relate to absolutely everything Maggie did and thought. However, I’ve been told by other friends going through that lovely stage of womanhood that Maggie’s moods and paranoia are COMPLETELY true, which scares me a bit. I might ask my husband to restrain me when I get to a certain age. Like in a straitjacket. Whew! Those hormones are brutal on the mind.

This was still a fun read, even though I’m not quite in the author’s reader demographic, which just goes to show that crazy characters—whether made that way by their changing bodies or naturally that way like me—er, people I know—are always entertaining fiction.

Okay, that sounds really wrong. I truly don’t mean anything bad by that. On the contrary, this screwball cast is nothing but good, clean fun.

I think that 20- and 30-somethings with moms going through this “certain stage” of life will actually find a lot to laugh about in this story. And any woman over 40 will commiserate and smile with Maggie’s antics.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-09-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

I have sneezed and coughed out all sarcasm. Tune in next week, same Fab channel, same Fab time for sarcasm. Hopefully by then I'll have kicked this nasty flu crap.

A HICKORY RIDGE CHRISTMAS BY DANA CORBIT

2006-09-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

A Hickory Ridge Christmas by Dana Corbit
Steeple Hill books
ISBN 13:978-0-373-87406-4
1-: 0-373-87406-5

November 2006 release

From back cover:

A SEASON FOR LOVE

A minister's daughter and unwed teen mother: five years ago Hannah Woods had been the talk of Hickory Ridge. Her little girl was the light of her life, though Hannah was unable to forgive the one who'd loved her--and then left.

Todd McBride had left town a boy and returned a man with a quest: to find the woman he still adored and ask for a second chance. But Hannah's secret---a child he'd never known about...threw his plans into a tailspin.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, it seemed the time for love and forgiveness was at hand...

Cheryl here:

This story will be one that I recommend to all my writer friends who wonder how they can approach delicate issues in fiction. My very first story (which bombed big time with rejections) was nearly this same plotline....only now I know how it's done right. Dana did a phenominal job of endearing me to Hannah, and I didn't think twice about her being a mother out of wedlock. Though the act happened prior to the beginning of this story, when the author has to refer to it since that's how the heroine's daughter was conceived, it is done tastefully and tactfully. I felt palpable tension the way this author executed this story. The reader knows before the hero does that he has fathered a child, but the fact that the child is several years old, doesn't lessen the heroine's likability. Dana does a great job of showing the inner turmoil and guilt of keeping secrets. My gut seriously clenched for Hannah as Todd came into the church and then showed up at her home....still not knowing he'd fathered a child with Hannah years before he left town.

I chewed my fingernails through the unveiling of that....masterful!

I felt in angst for both of them and the little girl. Definitely these characters seemed real. Everything in the plot seemed believable, and I wish more churches would respond to the mistakes of their youth in the manner the church in this story did. Really inspiring read.

I really felt "in" the story too. For any writers out there, this story would be an excellent study into how to delve into deep POV (point of view) while keeping a seemless sequence of scenes going. Emotion was believable and compelling. Very realistic read, yet a breath of a fresh-air-escape at the same time.

BRAVO Dana.

Those of you who enjoy this story will also enjoy Dana's other books in the Hickory Ridge series....which can probably be found at Amazon, etc.

I very much recommend this book....perfect for the season.

Squirrel

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-09-09T01:39:00.000-07:00

All I want for Christmas (er, my birthday.) is my two front teeth...

I’m told that my Amazon wish list is a tad skimpy. And considering my birthday is coming up I thought, hmm, I better update it so people have a clue what to get me, right?

Here’s the problem… I don’t want anything. I’m so easy to please. Starbucks, books, music and plane tickets. (Yeah, yeah, I’m not likely to get the plane ticket and Amazon doesn’t have plane tickets for people to buy me! What’s up with that?? That’s just wrong!)

But seriously, people want all kinds of things and I want nothing. How weird is that?

So, I decided to just surf through their site and see what I could find.

Clothes? Um, ever try to buy clothes for a tea pot? I’m a little tea pot, short and...uh, yeah, I refuse to finish that sentence.

Through a few more random clicks I ended up on a page with horns. Little Boy blue, come blow your horn!

Then I ended up at fishing poles... talk about a waste of time! Sitting on the dock of the bay, Watching the tide roll away, I'm just sitting on the dock of the bay, Wasting time.

So...suggestions? What shall I add to my wishlist? Or y’all could always chip in and buy me a plane ticket! :o)

MIXED UP WITH THE MOB by Ginny Aiken

2006-09-08T09:47:00.001-07:00

Publisher/Line: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
ISBN: 0373873905

Back Cover Blurb:
Death and a Damsel In Distress! Strange things were happening to Lauren DiStefano. Since her brother's funeral, a mysterious driver had tried to run her down, menacing mobsters threatened her and a handsome FBI agent saved her life. Something was seriously wrong, and Lauren feared for her life. As Lauren discovered her brother Ric had left behind a trail of treachery, lies and mob ties, Special Agent David Latham seemed determined to uncover the truth. Could she place her trust, her life--and her heart--in David's hands?

Cheryl here.

First off, I started reading this book with a mission in mind: To find the exploding pants scene. But three pages toward the end I realized I hadn't caught where it was, so this book really engrossed me. I knew about the exploding pants scene from the Steeple Hill message boards where a bunch of us had a discussion about it probably over a year ago when several of us. . .both unpubbed and pubbed. . .decided to have an exploding pants scene in our books. Not the same scene mind you, but some form of an exploding pants. What fun it will be reading them all when they come out!

I LOVE the dialogue in this book. Really snappy and welll. . .mobbish! LOL! I loved the heroine in this book especially. A damsel in distress who's trying to take care of a little boy who isn't hers. . .I really thought that added a special layer of emotion to this suspense story. Another thing I liked were the band of grannies always coming to the rescue. The little boy and his "awefuls" for breakfast. . .brilliant prose and oh so funny and true. I LOVED that line. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. . .but first, I must go back and skim this book yet again to find that dratted exploding pants scene!!!

Squirrel

Reluctant Burglar

2006-09-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Art stole her heart...Now can she return the favor?

If Desiree Jacobs knows anything, it's art. Her father, whose security company is internationally renowned, taught her everything he knew. Most of all, he taught her about honor. Integrity. Faith. So surely God will forgive her for despising the one man determined to destroy her father's good name?

Special Agent Tony Lucano knows Hiram Jacobs is an art thief. But what he can't figure out is Desiree. Is she an innocent victim...or a clever accomplice?

Then Hiram is murdered. and along with his company, he leaves Desiree a hidden container full of stolen paintings. But she can't admit her father was a thief! That would destroy their business, put people out of jobs, and embarrass international museums that have been displaying clever forgeries. No, she must find out why her honest father would turn criminal. And she must return the priceless art to the rightful owners without their knowledge. Even if it means facing down a ring of cutthroat art thieves...or accepting help from the man she most distrusts.

Pammer here: I have one question. Where have they been hiding this woman?! She's awesome. This book sticks a Dirty Harry gun to your head and pulls you along captive, the voice and story smooth and thrilling. Then you hang on for the ride.

I LOVED Desiree from page one. Jill hooked me with an opening that I couldn't resist. From then on, I was a goner. The tale is gripping and intense, but the characters immediately worm their way into your heart. Her writing is clean and creative. There is a bit of humor, such as one finds with everyday life. Her storytelling skill is topnotch.

My words cannot do this book justice, you just have to go read it. As for me? This book goes on my TBRA pile. (To Be Read Again) And folks, that is not a big pile.

The second book in the To Catch a Thief series will be coming out when? :)

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-09-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

Top Five Ways to Know You Spend too Much Time at the Local Coffee Shop

1.) If your drink is ready as you walk through the door.

2.) When someone is sitting in “your spot” and you can’t write until they leave so you can have your seat back.

3.) If there is a reserved sign on your regular parking spot.

4.) When friends and family know they can leave you messages there.

5.) If the employees can ask questions that are more intelligent on things pertaining to your personal life than your family can.

Violet Dawn

2006-08-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

by Brandilyn Collins
Book One of the Kanner Lake Series

Paige Williams slips into her hot tub in the blackness of the night--and finds herself face to face with death.

Alone, terrified, fleeing a dark past, Paige must make an unthinkable choice.

In Violet Dawn, hurtling events and richly drawn characters collide in a breathless story of murder, the need to belong, and faith's first glimmer. One woman's secrets unleash an entire town's pursuit, and the truth proves as elusive as the killer in their midst.

Pammer here: Another breathless edge-of-your-seat-need-more-fingernails-and-keep-the-lights-on read! On page one the roller coaster ride begins. With Brandilyn's superb writing skills she draws you in immediately, to care about this lonely woman named Paige. You read and flip the pages because you become part of the town and you can't wait to see what happens next, good or bad. Though the spiritual struggle isn't as in-your-face as most of her other books, it's there and it is universal. You may find yourself on the pages of Violet Dawn.

As Paige longs to belong, she hides her past. Sometimes to face the future with a fresh face, we must deal with our past.

And you'll become attached to all the zany characters populating the local Java Joint. You'll want to know more about them. The best part is that you can. Just go to http://kannerlake.blogspot.com to the Scenes and Beans blog. It's terrific fun to read and comment. Make sure you read the comments following the post, they're a riot! If you are interested in learning more about the Kanner Lake series....go to http://www.kannerlake.com

Run out and buy this book. Make sure your night light is stocked. And think twice before you crawl into that hot tub.

A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck

2006-08-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND (Spa Girls Collection #2) by Kristin Billerbeck

From the back cover:

THREE FRIENDS. ONE SPA. AND AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF OVERSHARING!

From the outside, Morgan Malliard has it all: diamonds at her disposal, a willowy figure, a doting daddy and all the elegance that money can buy. But money can’t buy happiness—or an identity to call her own—and Morgan is realizing her perfect life has no purpose other than spectacular grooming (which isn’t really a purpose at all . . . unless you’re a chimpanzee). Then a falling-out with her father drop-kicks Morgan into the real world, and she is suddenly forced to get an actual job, wear affordable shoes and cope with public transportation—not to mention deal with that mysterious hottie who may or may not be stalking her!

It’s time for a spa getaway with her best gals, Lilly and Poppy—because there’s just something about lying under a pile of sweet-smelling papaya plaster that can help a girl figure things out. Like the fact that life isn’t aobut living up to a perfect ideal, and that with God’s grace, the beauty of it may just be in the flaws after all . . .

Camy here:

I loved this book. I liked it better than SHE'S ALL THAT, book one of the Spa Girls Collection, because I related more to Morgan than I ever did to Lilly.

Lilly was neurotic in book one, and she's still neurotic in this one. I didn't quite buy her underlying fears behind the fiasco with meeting Mrs. Schwartz, even after discovering the reason why (don't worry, I'm not revealing any spoilers). She proved how strong she was in book one, so her motivations didn’t quite ring true for me, personally.

I'm totally gellin' with Morgan. She's a bit shallow but it's almost like a front. I can completely relate to her desire to please people. It's the engine in her Beamer. Everything she does, even succumbing to losers and being bullied around, is prodded by that desperation for everyone to like her. It's so much like who I am, maybe that's why I liked her so much.

I also related to her desperation for a husband to love her. It brought back the kind of angst I felt when I was single. Morgan works through her fears and lack of trust in God to a better place—not completely "with it," but more understanding of herself and her weaknesses, and God's strength.

I loved that the message behind her singleness wasn't to suck it up, or a pious sermon to make Jesus her only love, or even to just wait for her prince to come one day. Morgan is left to muddle it through herself until she dukes it out with God and comes to her own understanding of her Father's love.

The underlying characters of the people in Morgan's life deepen as the book moves forward, and there's nothing unbelievable in the extra layers revealed, but the story is richer as it progresses.

I literally couldn't put the book down once I picked it up. From chapter one, I was thrust into a new problem of Morgan's rather than anything leftover from book one in the Spa Girls Collection.

I think this would be appropriate for junior high girls, but many of the themes on singleness might not really appeal to them or fit where they are in their lives. However high school girls, collegiates, and 20- to 30-somethings will understand and relate to Morgan's troubles.

This was a great book. The author popped me into her convertible and took me for a ride through her story, and I never wanted to get off.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-08-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay you’re going to have to excuse my tardiness here. I have a good excuse…reason…excuse…reason, yeah that’s the ticket. I got a rejection letter today. Yes, ladies and gentleman a rejection letter. It actually wasn’t that bad of a rejection. At least it wasn’t a form rejection, yes? LOL

But here’s the kicker, they sent me my ms back to me. I didn’t put in a SASE for them to do that, so they ate that cost. Thought that was kinda cool.

HOWEVER, what do I do with this pile of paper? It’s obvious it’s been read so it’s not like I can send it to another house. I hate to just toss it in the dumpster…some homeless dude may come along and dig it out and put his name on it and send it to another house, and that folks, would really suck.

I could wallpaper my office (yeah, yeah, I don’t have an office. Humor me, please?) with it. Make it like a mural. Showcase my masterpiece for the world (Yes, the world comes into my office frequently!) to see my brilliance…uh less than brilliance?

Make 265 paper airplanes and fly them off my third floor balcony. Now I’m thinking this one is a cool idea…well except for the 8 lane busy street that isn’t too far from my balcony, methinks the police may have issues with this…and of course there’s the whole littering issue. Which brings us back to that whole bum finding all the planes, putting his name on it and submitting it himself thing. (refer to the third paragraph.)

Ooooh or my favorite idea yet! Bonfire, baby! Can you say s’mores, anyone?

TIDINGS OF JOY BY MARGARET DALEY-Steeple Hill Publishers

2006-08-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

www.MargaretDaley.com
www.SteepleHill.com

ISBN: 13:978-0-373-87399-9
ISBN: 10: 0-373-87399-9

Oct. 2006 release

From back cover:

A new home for the holodays?
He came to Sweetwater to repay a debt. Chance Taylor didn't expect to have feelings for his new landlady, Tanya Bolton. He could see newly widowed Tanya had worked hard to put the pieces of her world back together, caring for her wheelchair-bound daughter and taking a job at the local bank.

Chance's arrival interrupted Tanya's routine. . .and brought unexpected happiness to her life. But the secret obligation he struggled with meant Chance could lose Tanya--and his chance for a fresh start--forever.

Cheryl here:

This is the last book in the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series, and each book is a keeper. This story really touched me, as I've had someone very dear to me serve time in prison for something that wasn't only his fault, but he took the punishment of everyone for it. The character of Chance really reminded me of my loved one. I enjoyed his journey though the book.

Margaret dealt with several unique issues in this book: someone being incarcerated when he was innocent, wrongful death of loved ones, Bipolar disorder, a child with a disability, and bullying. I really wish this book would be required reading in junior high and high school because the way the characters dealt with this issue in the book taught me things that I wish I'd known in school, and that I know I'll tuck away for if my children struggle with this issue.

Can I just say that page 106 made me SOB outloud. SOOO touching. If ya wanna know. . .trust me. . .go get this book! Every page pulled at my heartstrings and I found myself either swiping tears because of lump-in-your-throat poignancy, or smiling through the entire page.

I am always floored at how this author manages to make me care deeply about her characters by two or three pages into the book. Usually in the first few paragraphs though.

The heroine, Tanya, reaches out to Chance in such a sweet way, as do her circle of friends. . .who have been heroines/heros in the previous Sweetwater books. If you like series where characters are revisited. . .I really think you'll love this one. I loved how the townspeople rallied around Chance to befriend and defend him when people questioned his innocence. Though his conviction was overturned before the book, having spent two years in prison made the judgemental people leery. He tried to keep to himself, but Tanya wouldn't let him be a hermit. I loved that about her. I loved how much time the hero and heroine spent together, and how he was so close, renting the apartment above her detached garage.

POSSIBLE SPOILER:

Another favorite scene from this book was him coming home to that Christmas tree she decorated for him. In fact, this book had several sweet moments where the characters gave one another gifts. I found myself wishing I could see Crystal's artwork. I loved how courageous this teenager was in the face of her disability, and the girls trying to bully her. Another favorite moment in the book was when her friends stood up for her. Everyone needs friends like the Sweetwater crowd. I LOVED how Crystal chose to be kind to the girl who bullied her. If you want to know how Crystal managed to repay meanness with kindness. . .you'll have to go get the book. LOL!

The winter setting made me crave hot cocoa and crackling fireplaces during the holiday season. This town and these characters make you want to visit there and meet them they seem so real. I loved how Chance reached out to Tanya's daughter Crystal, and all three of them worked out tough issues during this story, yet it wasn't so emotionally heavy it seemed sad. It was still light reading which provided a nice escape. The only downside is this being the last Sweetwater book. I could live with a few more books from Sweetwater, and a few more of these poingnantly crafted characters. I even loved the service dog, Charlie. He seemed real. Look for this book, red spine, green cover with a beautiful black lab in a Santa hat wherever books are sold. I believe you won't be sorry you spent the four bucks, and in fact you will probably want to try and get the entire Sweetwater series.

Very poignant moments, sweet and tender romance between hero and heroine, and touching story. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

Squirrel (Cheryl Wyatt)

A Seahorse in the Thames

2006-08-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

by Susan Meissner

Alexa Poole was to spend her week off from work quietly recuperating from minor surgery. But when carpenter Stephen Moran falls into her life--or rather off of her roof--the unexpected happens. His sweet, gentle disposition proves more than she can resist and now she's falling for him.

And then the news comes that Alexa's older sister, Rebecca, has vanished from the Faulkman Residential Center where she has lived for the past 17 years, since an auto accident left her mentally compromised. Alexa, fearing the worst, calls her twin sister in England, and Priscilla agrees to come home despite a strained seperation from her family--not only to find Rebecca but to deliver some startling news.

As Alexa begins the search for Rebecca, disturbing questions surface. Why did the car that Rebecca was riding in swerve off the road, killing her college friend, Leanne McNeil? And what about the mysterious check for $50,000 found in Rebecca's room and signed by her friend's father, Gavin McNeil?

And can Alexa, in love for the first time, embrace the news about Stephen's future with courage?

A Seahorse in the Thames is an emotional ride that begins and ends with the heart.

Pammer here: Susan has done it again. This is a masterfully created work of art. Her storytelling skills are so smooth, you are drawn into the story before you even know what hit you. Her characters are so rich and real that you root for them from the get go.

A Seahorse in the Thames is a story of hope and finding sparkles of wonderful gifts where you least expect them and often when you are not looking.

Wonderful and gripping, get this book.

GEORGIA ON HER MIND by Rachel Hauck

2006-08-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

GEORGIA ON HER MIND by Rachel Hauck

From the back cover:

HOW DO YOU EMCEE YOUR CLASS REUNION WHEN YOUR LIFE IS ON A TILT-A-WHIRL?

Until 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 6, Macy Moore was Miss Most Likely To Succeed, a corporate executive on the fast track, with a marriage-material boyfriend and a cool city condo. By noon she was as good as fired…and dumped. How in the world could she go home to Beauty, Georgia, now?

Thank goodness for the Single Saved Sisters. With loyal friends Lucy, Adriane and Tamara by her side, Macy retreated to the House of Joe for coffee, consolation and consultation. Could they help her put her life back on the right path?

Camy here:

This is such a fun book! It starts off on possibly the worst day of Macy's life, and the heroine's sassy humor kept me riveted to the page.

I really like how the author addresses the struggles of single women in the corporate sphere--not in a glamorous New York or Los Angeles job, but in a decent company in bustling Atlanta, Georgia.

Many Christian romances are about women in more rural towns with jobs in smaller businesses, and as a woman who worked in a corporate arena, I have a hard time relating to the kinds of lifestyle and career conflicts they have.

In this book, I completely understood the dilemmas and stresses Macy went through. Corporate backbiting, downsizing confusion, inept managers, and most importantly, the lure of the corporate paycheck. As a single woman without dependents, this is can become a serious temptation and can influence lifestyle changes that might not be for the better. I know, because I've struggled with it.

Macy's also in her early thirties, so her concerns aren't the same as a fresh-faced ingénue off to tackle Manhattan. While she still has the same struggles with her job and men as other singles, she has a more mature outlook and also other types of lifestyle issues that a younger woman wouldn't have to deal with--like older parents, established siblings and cousins, and the family expectations of an older woman that wouldn't necessarily be addressed in a younger one.

Macy's friends--the Single Saved Sisters--are cute, although their bantering is a little sweet for my taste. I loved how the author used their struggles and events in their lives to cause more problems--both internal and external--for Macy.

I didn't quite agree with everything Macy did, but I completely related to the kinds of problems she got into--or that she got herself into!

While I'm not from the South, I never felt alienated by the different culture--rather, it was very entertaining and enlightening. It wasn't as lavishly done as SAVANNAH FROM SAVANNAH by Denise Hildreth, but the Southern flair is rich and warm.

A light-hearted, engrossing read--once I picked it up, I just kept reading. I think that twenty- and thirty-somethings, whether single or married, will enjoy this book.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-08-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Is it a bad thing when your friends are always comparing you to their teenagers? Now I realize I hang out with a slightly...ahem...older crowd, but come on!

I know they’re not talking about my youthful appearance. Granted, I had to show ID until I was twenty-five just to get a jerky sample at Sam’s, but THAT is another story. I have wrinkles and a few gray hairs popping up… I’m almost twenty-eight!!! What’s up with the gray??? Sigh. Yet again, THAT is another story.

It like can’t be like because I like put the word like in like my speech like all the time because like I don’t like do that! Like oh my god!

We’re not talking just one friend, no not even just two, we’re talking three. Count them with me. One, two, three of my friends compare me with their teenager...I’m thinking this can’t be a good thing.

Now, personally I don’t pay attention to age which is why I have such a wide range of ages in my friends. Never really have. But...I choose to take this as a compliment, sure that’s the ticket!

EMILY EVER AFTER by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

2006-08-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

EMILY EVER AFTER by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

From the back cover:

A quirky and quick-witted girl moves to Manhattan and holds on for dear life.

Emily Hinton needs out. She comes from a small town in California where the church handbell choir concert passes for a decent way to spend a Saturday and she’s known all the boys since kindergarten. She dreams of sophisticated people, love, and Louis Vuitton. When she lands a job at the world-famous publishing house Morrow & Sons in New York, she knows that she is finally on her way. She packs her bags, says good-bye, and sets out for Manhattan, where she will fit in, even if it kills her.

In spite of her naïveté, she quickly becomes friends with the girls at work and begins to learn a thing or two about how things are done in Manhattan. She soon attracts the attention of the handsome Bennett and is swept into a whirlwind romance, but an overnight visit to his parents’ home at Thanksgiving and his seemingly idle flirtations with one of her colleagues give her second thoughts about what Bennett really wants. Her uncertainty about her feelings escalates when one of the hometown boys she left behind reappears in her life. Emily’s days at the office are also becoming complicated: an ambitious editor is breaking all the rules to publish a controversial book that demeans everything she believes in. Will she stand up for what she knows is right and risk losing it all?

Balancing her passion for the glamour of New York City with her determination to live by her morals turns out to be much more difficult than Emily ever imagined. Her roundabout quest for happiness will endear her to anyone who has ever dreamed of making it big, and faced more than a few pitfalls along the way.

Camy here:

This was a fun excursion to New York City from the eyes of a career woman who lived and worked there. The authors’ experiences in the city shone through in the little details of Emily’s life that popped up in every corner.

The spiritual thread is very real. You don’t have to be a city girl to remember the agonies and throes of dating, manipulative boyfriends, the lure of money and career.

The nice thing about this book is that the authors show Emily’s mistakes without any goody-goody side to her that make me want to gag. This is a flawed, normal heroine (imagine that!) who succumbs to some temptations and not to others, who knows what’s right and doesn’t always do it.

I also liked how her uncle Matthew shows how a person can truly serve God with complete abandon. He never comes across as too good to be true. He also shows the heart for the lost in the big city, for both the homeless and the rich and successful. It was a very nice counterpoint to Emily’s seeking and wandering.

I didn’t always understand the motivations behind some of Emily’s actions, and I also never quite related to her desire to leave her small California town for New York. I’m from a small Hawaii town and I moved to California, but I didn’t have the kind of tight friendship Emily had with Jenna, and my parents wanted me to experience the mainland while Emily’s parents are reluctant for her to go. Emily had a lot of strong ties to her hometown and I never really understood why she needed to go to New York so badly.

The authors’ voice (voices?) are funny and fresh. Sometimes it seemed to ramble a bit, but on a whole, the story moved along like a raft on a class 3 river—ups, downs, snags, but always moving onward.

The ending is cute and climactic. Emily’s strength makes her someone to root for.

Entertaining book. I don’t know if I’d give this book to a junior high school student because some of the singleness themes are rather mature, but I think it could be a good read for college and possibly high school students, and definitely 20- and 30-somethings.

Excerpt of chapter one at Amazon under “Editorial Reviews.”

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday/Sunday

2006-08-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

Okay I totally spaced that I was supposed to write today so this is coming in a little late, so late that it’s now Sunday morning. Sigh.

For several weeks now, I’ve been going to the track and walking one and a half to two miles. Trying for every day but not always making it, life tends to get in the way even with the best of intentions. I’ve been making it at least five days out of the week.

There is one guy who is always there and you can watch him mouth the words “left, right, left, right” as he rounds the track. Now tell me, does he not know how to walk without telling himself which foot to use next? If he doesn’t mouth it does he just stand still? What happens if he gets off rhythm and his right foot goes out as he says left? Does this turn his world on it’s axis?

I walk around that track pretty fast (1/2 mile track), no I don’t do an 8 minute mile but I don’t do too badly. There is this one woman who is there every day. She runs. It’s interesting... she passes me several times for each time I make a round. I can just imagine her thought process as she passes us walker-type-people. “Geez, am I passing her again? Someone needs to teach that chick how to travel. Running is where it’s at.” Seriously, I want to stick my foot out one day and chant at her “the tortoise and the hare, the tortoise and the hare!”

Then there are the people with ipods, cd players, fm radio armbands and cassette players (Yes, I said cassette players... I’m not even going to touch that one. LOL), I love watching these people to see which ones will sing along with their music... which ones will put a little cha-cha into their walk.

Of course I can’t leave out the fools… oops, not fools, brilliant people, yeah brilliant people who talk on their cells as they walk. Okay, okay I confess that’s me, I do this. But at least you can see my phone! Other people use the ear pieces and you don’t see the phone so you think there are these nutty people walking around the track talking to themselves.

I walked 12 miles this week... how about you?

Jade by Marilynn Griffith

2006-08-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

Each book out from Marilynn Griffith is better than the last. Jade is no exception. Jade was a perfect book to kick back and relax with. It went deep as well as making you laugh. The Shades of Styles series has four multicultural women in the fashion industry struggling to learn important life lessons.

Her characters are rich and well rounded—very down to earth and some one you know, in not seeing yourself in them. Marilynn will make you cry and laugh as well as make you dig deep into your own life.

Jade is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Go buy it... you won’t regret it.

Check out her website and her blog!

Prayer request

2006-08-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

This is Camy. This is a request for prayers for our co-bloggers Cheryl Wyatt and Pamela James.

Cheryl just had hip surgery on the 31st and is going through a painful recovery right now.

Pamela has intense spiritual warfare going on and some housing problems, too.

If you could just shoot a quick prayer to our Lord right now, that would be awesome! Thanks!

Camy and Heather

WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Kristin Billerbeck

2006-08-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Kristin Billerbeck (The Ashley Stockingdale series, book 1)

From the back cover:

Ever felt like the last item left on the clearance rack?

As a successful patent attorney, Ashley Stockingdale has all the makings of a perfect catch-the looks, the brains, even a convertible. But at 31, she's beginning to wonder if she's been passed over for good.

Deciding to adopt a new attitude, Ashley suddenly becomes the romantic interest of three men within a matter of days. While her heart enjoys turning the tables on the dating game, the rest of her previously predictable world is being turned upside down. Is it more than Ashley can handle? Or is it exactly what she wants?

Award-wining author Kristin Billerbeck combines comedy with spunk to create a memorable story in What a Girl Wants--an all-too-realistic picture of a single girl's search for being content with who she is...with or without a man.

Camy here:

What a Girl Wants is laugh-out-loud funny. Racy, edgy and romantic without a gratuitous sex scene every other chapter. The heroine Ashley is a real character, not a generic super-Christian woman with a sweet smile and a heart of gold who the hero instantly falls in love with (but not in lust) and wants to marry. No, Ashley is like any girl I'll meet at Valley Fair or Stanford Shopping Center.

As a post-modern Christian, I can entirely relate to Ashley. Her sassy, sarcastic attitude and neuroses are WAY too familiar. Her faith is central to her life, as indicated by her thoughts and decisions, but the way she talks about it is in language that is different from our parents' generation of Christians. The language can come across as flippant and slightly irreverent, but it's the way she makes God more real, more personal and more intimate in her life. For Ashley, God is her friend (albeit a pretty powerful and absolutely holy Friend) rather than Thou-Almighty-God-Maker-of-Heaven-and-Earth.

The book shows Ashley's spiritual journey from a more distant relationship with God to a fully submissive and joyful interaction with her Creator. It doesn't preach. It shows the actions of a woman of God who makes mistakes and needs constant guidance and direction from her Lord, which is how He wants us to be anyway. It is culturally hip and trendy, so that a world inundated by reality TV, web-access pocket PCs, and other forms of ultra-stimulation can relate and laugh and maybe even question the material things they value.

The book perfectly captures the essence of northern California--the attitudes, the environment, the ENGINEERS (I can say that since I married one). The social culture is brought to life and drawn with both love and tongue in cheek. The author brilliantly colors the ethnic melting pot that is the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a hopeless romantic, I'm sometimes left flat by many women's fiction novels, but this book has enough sparks to light the San Francisco Airport runway. I highly recommend this to any romance reader.

This is terrific entertainment, and a message suitable for those of us post-moderns who struggle with what the world says and what God wants. In Ashley, I see the other Christians of my generation who don't want to be influenced by the morals of the world we live in, but at the same time don't want to be total hermit-recluse-bananas in our own exclusive Christian circle. Ashley's discovery of how to be herself, be content, and be God's child is a worthwhile spiritual take-away.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-08-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Why is it when you’re finishing up a project all you can think of is your next one? You’re not even done with this one and you want to move on to the next one. Instead of relishing a job well done you want to start a new project to torture yourself over. Never enjoying just being in the moment of doneness.

All week I worked to finish up the last details on submitting my book and all I could think of is the new book I plan on writing. Ideas abounded. Had to stop myself from opening that file all week.

Finally sent it off yesterday morning. (Go ahead, I accept applause, I prefer you throw money though!) It’s currently working it’s way through our postal system to an editors desk.

I said I would give myself the weekend to enjoy a job well done. Opened up a chapter last night to crit for a CP (GREAT chapter btw) and a secondary character started talking to me. What the heck?? No! I’m taking the weekend. Chick was chatty! She wouldn’t shut up. Ugh. So I opened up a new document and let her talk. Learned a few things about her that I didn’t know. But man. I wanted my weekend. LOL

So tell me... do you enjoy the moment of a project being completed? Or do you always have the next thing on your mind?

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-07-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

I don’t get the whole dog show thing. I just can’t wrap my mind around it. I being the GREAT friend that I am went to a dog show this afternoon. Which is why I’m late in posting this, yeah that’s the ticket! Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with procrastination. (No comments from the peanut gallery.)

You walk around back where all the handlers are grooming their dogs and it’s insane. I’m sorry, when a dog has more grooming products than you do on your bathroom counter at home, that’s just wrong. Blow-drying, teasing, hair spraying… looks like any Saturday night at Sue Ellen’s house, before she goes out to the local honky-tonk.

Pet psychics. Do I even need to go into my normal sarcasm here? Surely, you can come up with your own. Okay, okay… your dog DOESN’T even have to be present to get an accurate reading. Hmmm… I’m thinking she’s not reading the DOG but the idiot owner that paid her big bucks. How big of bucks? She makes more in an hour than I do in seven. Hmmm change of profession maybe? “Your dog…um, well I’m sorry to inform you of this sir, but your dog hates it when you talk to him like a baby. That’s the real reason he chewed up all your slippers.”

Doggy massages. Okay… I can’t even afford to pay $40 for ME to get a massage, much less that same price for my dog! (Okay, so I don’t have a dog. Whatever. Work with me here.) Can’t you see it? “Woof, woof, yeah, that’s it, right there, pant, pant. Aw, no! Not behind the ear, not behind the ear! Geez, like I hadn’t worked my legs out enough, hit that magic spot and off my leg goes. And right in front of the cute French poodle, too! Woof. Woof.”

We won’t even go into the whole, dog slobber—floating dog hair—dog smell—Heather has major ick factor thing.

See? I’m such a good friend…

COW CRIMES AND THE MUSTANG MENACE by Sharon Dunn

2006-07-24T00:06:00.000-07:00

COW CRIMES AND THE MUSTANG MENACE by Sharon Dunn
The Ruby Taylor Mystery Series, book 3

From the back cover:

Investigating a series of bizarre ranch thefts, dealing with the expectations of a Betty Crocker mom, and entering a recipe in the Potato Festival cookoff, have Ruby Taylor in over her flaming red head. When an outsider turns up dead, it’ll take more than a steaming mocha espresso—and her unpredictable yet intriguing Wesley—to save Ruby from the danger.

Camy here:

Once again, Ruby Taylor saves the day with her unique brand of strength and sass, flavored with the bittersweet of her inner fears and insecurities. It all makes for a very likable, sympathetic character.

I thought that this book sparkled with more humor than the other two. Ruby’s sarcasm knows no bounds, and some scenes border on slapstick.

In contrast, this book also seemed to delve deeper into the intricacies of a relationship between a godly man and woman. Ruby faces her preconceived notions and the struggle to be authentic and vulnerable rather than hide behind her usual self-sufficiency.

The ending is satisfying without being cheesy. The book entirely lived up to my expectations of an entertaining, engrossing read.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-07-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

I have come to a conclusion today. One that most writers already know. This being my first one, I was aware of how everyone felt but now know the pain for myself. I’m speaking of the dreaded… dare I say the word? Syn.. No, don’t make me. Just the thought of it strikes fear into my very soul.

Most writers I know hate them. Except of course for Camy Tang who has a critiquing service just for saps like us who scream in agony when having to write one. And trust me, once I finish this, she WILL be getting it in her inbox. She’s a freak, she actually enjoys the things.

Editors, do they really read them? Sure some of them probably do, but you know some of them are like us and hate them. They probably throw them away as soon as they get them, laughing that they have tortured yet again another writer. They figure it is payback for having to put up with us creative types.

So I say it loud and I say it proud... I hate s-s- deep breath -s-syn- ugh... Let’s try this again. S-s-syn-op-op-sis.

What say you?

When the Heart Cries

2006-07-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

by Cindy Woodsmall

Book One, Sisters of the Quilt

When Hannah dares to love across the boundaries of tradition, will she lose everything?
Despite being raised in a traditional Old Order Amish family, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp desires to break with custom and marry outside the cloistered community. She's been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for three years, and before returning to college for his senior year, Paul asks Hannah to be his wife. Hannah accepts, aware that her choice will change her relationship with her family forever.
On the evening of their engagement, tragedy strikes, and in one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed. As she finds herself entangled in questions that the Old Ways of her people cannot answer, Hannah faces the possibility of losing her place in her family, in her community--and in the heart of the man she loves.

Pammer here: Wow! This book is awesome. Cindy does a wonderful job. Her sweet and gentle heart show in her writing. You couldn't help root for Hannah and Paul in all that happened. Some of the people you just want to shake. Your emotions are grabbed as soon as you begin the story. Cindy has a way with words and you find yourself "with" these real characters in their setting, feeling with them. I learned interesting facts about the Amish and Mennonites too, which I find fascinating.
My words simply can't do justice to this book. It goes on sale in September. Get it.

CONSIDER LILY by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

2006-07-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

Today, my (Camy's) lovely friend Georgiana is giving her review of CONSIDER LILY by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

Back cover:

Lily Traywick thinks she must have been adopted. It’s easier than believing she’s actually related to Joan and Roland Traywick, her power-couple parents, who own Traywick’s of San Francisco, the most chichi department store on the West Coast. While her parents party with Miuccia in Milan and Gabbana in Paris ,Lily hangs out at home in ratty jeans and an old T-shirt. She loves softball, guys, and Jesus, and she’s eager to make her own way in the world. Feeling that her life is on hold, she turns to her best friend, Reagan Axness. Reagan, a fashionista who has it all, offers just the solution: a major life makeover.

Lily is soon dressing in the latest must-have fashions and pursuing a writing career. She’s even dating the “perfect” guy. But does he love her for who she really is? And will he be able to resist the tempting seductress who has her eye on him? As Lily’s old friends question her new way of life, and public scandal, family drama, and technological disasters add to her confusion, she is forced to consider whether her quest to have it all will cause her to lose everything that matters.

Hot off their debut success, Emily Ever After, “good-girl” chick-lit trailblazers Dayton and Vanderbilt return with a witty, refreshingly real story of a young woman’s adventures in the high-powered world of San Francisco haute couture.

Georgiana:

Do you see the bags under my eyes? It’s because I couldn’t put this book down for something as mundane as sleep. If only I could tell you how many times I had to clap my hand over my mouth to muffle the laughter late at night.

I love the way the authors explore the theme of transformation and all that it entails. Following a character from tomboy to head-turner is a refreshing break from the stereotypical chick-lit character, and made Lily identifiable as “the girl next door,” despite her wealth. I was sucked into Lily’s world from the first page, rooting for her to get that first date, cheering for her to snag the surfer dude, and agonizing with her when said surfer dude wasn’t playing nice.

From Lily’s quirky grandmother to Lily’s nudist roommate, the flawed characters are believable. The fact that not everyone in Lily’s world is a Christian, including those closest to her, adds a layer of realism often missing in Christian fiction today. Even her Christian friends face real-life problems without easy solutions. I wasn’t crazy about the numerous references to drinking, but hey, that’s realistic too.

The writing is fun and snappy, and the use of present tense in this book is outstanding. Lily’s blog entries are especially enjoyable as she chronicles her new life, and I loved being privy to her thoughts, which so often matched my own.

If you like to laugh, get this book and move it to the top of your TBR pile. Before you start reading, close the shades and set out the TV dinners, because you’re not going to want any interruptions.

Heather's Sarcastic Post

2006-07-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

Wifi-junky—that would be me. Went to the coast like I talked about in my previous Saturday post with plans of going to a coffee shop and getting online. How hard could that be, right?

I knew from a previous trip there that the Starbucks there didn’t have a hotspot. (What’s up with that? I thought they all had them!) LOL But there’s this little coffee shop that’s a little ways from the Star. that has free wireless... The last trip down there I discovered there wasn’t a hotspot at my favorite coffee place, so I went driving around the town with my laptop on searching for a signal. And bingo! Right outside this other coffee shop—I picked up a great signal! So I sat in the parking lot and did the stuff I needed to do.

But this most recent trip I had it all planned. I’ve got this new job that requires me to be online for some portion of each day. So I thought I was brilliant when I determined I’ll just go to this little place for a couple hours each day. No problem, right?

Pull into the parking lot and think, “hmmm sure is empty.” In fact, there are NO cars in the lot, at all. Major Ruh-Ro moment. Apparently, the week before I got there, they had 8 inches of rain in a two-hour period. The whole place flooded. Closed. No coffee. No sandwiches. (I had high hopes of trying out some of their rockin’ sandwiches.) But most importantly, NO WIRELESS!!!

I was stuck checking email on my cell phone. Have you ever checked your email on your cell phone? It’s like 10 words then you have to go to the next page… and getting to the next page is like you’re on dial-up! *shudder* Which of course this does not help me with the fact that I had a job to do. So I did something really novel on my vacation...

I RELAXED!! Go figure! Well I should say, I relaxed after I hyperventilated at not having internet. Sigh. Once I got over that trauma, I enjoyed myself. I read a really good book (yes, I know I said I didn’t have any good books but I found one!! YAY! Thank God for Susie Warren!) and I read part of a really bad book. (See, told you I had bad books to read! So not naming the name. LOL)

I apparently washed and/or found clean clothes because I didn’t wear one piece of dirty laundry on the trip. Yay! Yeah okay, so I went shopping while I was there and bought a little something to wear to the beach...

Oh my and the food!!! We’re not even going there because well... y’all will just hate me! Man I so need to go on a diet now. Sigh.

So, tanned, relaxed and a wifi junky... that’s me! How was y’alls week?

Winner of The Redmption

2006-07-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Those posts were both good so I ended up drawing a name.

Jennifer, you are the winner of the book.

Send your info to me (snail mail) at Pamela@pamela-james.com and that will be winging it's way to you. (By the by, if ye wins the tickets, let me knows about it, will ye?)

Have a wonderful evening. Reviewing for me, will be back to it's normal schedule next week.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-07-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

Why is it when you’re going on a trip EVERYTHING you want to pack is dirty despite the fact that you’ve done laundry four times this week AND you haven’t gone anywhere? I’m going to the coast tomorrow. I’ve even changed my mind a couple times at what I would pack only to discover that was dirty too. I’m tempted to just go shopping and buy new clothes. :-p Then reality hits and I remember a.) I’m broke and b.) I need to lose weight before I buy any clothes. Sigh.

So is this a case of a watched pot never boils? Law of averages and all that junk?

For months, I’ve been behind on my reading of books. Had huge stacks of books I needed to read for this and that. Now that I’m going to the coast, I want to take a stack of really good books to read, because I plan on doing a lot of sleeping and reading. But guess what? Somehow, I don’t have that big stack anymore! I don’t remember reading all those books but they’re gone. So now I’m scrambling around trying to find a few good books to read. I thought about buying some but again a.) I’m broke and b.) Most of the stuff that’s out that I would want to read is either being sent to me by the author/publisher or I already read it. Sigh.

Been eating terrible for months now. Drinking soda too. (you can always tell when I’ve been drinking soda.) Finally, just this week I’ve gotten myself under control, quit sodas, and started eating better. But here’s the problem, to me there is just something about sitting on a front porch on the coast, hearing the waves, feeling the breeze and drinking a ice-cold Dr Pepper. Think of an alcoholic except substitute Dr. Pepper and that’s me. And we ALWAYS eat well when we’re on the coast… Sigh.

So, either I stay home (Ha! Yeah right!) or I go with dirty clothes, so-so books and break my eating better habit… I think I shall go! See you suckers next week… I’ll be the one with a tan! Sigh and the one that isn’t losing weight, has read boring books and had to wash clothes anyway.

The Redemption

2006-07-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE BOOK, READ BELOW.
by M. L. Tyndall

Book One in the series: Legacy of the King's Pirates

Lady Charlisse Bristol sets off on a voyage in search of a father she never knew, only to find herself shipwrecked on a deserted island. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick. will Charlisse free herself from the seductive lure of this pirate captain and find the father's love she so ardently craves?

While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, Edmund offers to help Charlisse on her quest--until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruelist pirate on the Caribbean. Can Edmund win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice?

Can the supernatural power of God rescue Charlisse and Edmund from the danger and treachery that await them as they ride upon the tumultous waves of the Caribbean?

Pammer here: This is an awesome book. I loved it. In fact I couldn't put it down. Every time I got a free minute, I stuck my nose back in the book. The Redemption indeed has it all: swashbuckling adventure, romance on the high seas, and a boatload of faith.

Q & A:

1.) Tell us a bit about the story.

My story begins with a horrific storm at sea in which Lady Charlisse Bristol becomes shipwrecked on an island. She has run away from an abusive uncle in London and sailed to the Caribbean in search of a father she has never known. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick.

Captain Merrick has only recently given his life to God and turned his back on a life of piracy to become a privateer. While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, he offers to help Charlisse on her quest-until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruellest pirate on the Caribbean. Edmund must find a way to win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice.

2.) What sparked the idea to write about pirates?

I've always had an obsession for pirates-those swashbuckling heroes who roamed the wild Caribbean seas in their tall ships. The Golden Age of Piracy was such an adventurous and romantic time in our history, and having grown up in that part of the world-south Florida-it grabbed my interest at an early age. What sparked the idea for the novel, however, was the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. After I saw it several times with my daughter, I had a desire to write about pirates that wouldn't go away. Why do the evil pirates get to have all the fun? Why not write about a Christian pirate?

3.) As you researched this subject, what most surprised you?

The biggest surprise for me was discovering that not all pirates were vicious thieves and murderers. Many, in fact, were commissioned by their countries during times of war to disturb merchant shipping lines and fleet movements, and in general to play havoc with their enemies. In fact, one of the most notorious pirate captains, Henry Morgan, commanded his own fleet of pirate ships, called the Brethren of the Coast, whose sole purpose was to raid Spanish ships and towns in the Caribbean. He was eventually knighted by King Charles II of England and became the governor of Jamaica. These facts aided my story a great deal as many of these pirates, who turned privateers, had strong religious convictions.

4.) How long did it take to write your first novel?

I began writing The Redemption in the Fall of 2003, but it was slow going at first. I was working full time as a software engineer, not to mention my responsibilities at home as wife and mother. I'm sure many of you can relate. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! Consequently, I did not complete the novel until early Spring 2005, yet I still didn't feel it was ready. I hadn't written in a while and needed some counsel, so I hired two editors to go through my manuscript, and I entered four contests for the feedback. I made the final cut in two of those contests and felt encouraged, but I must admit, I learned a great deal more from my editors. By the end of Spring 2005, I had polished the manuscript the best I could and went looking for an agent. God's timing is always perfect. I was laid off from my job of fifteen years the same month my agent took me on as a client and began submitting The Redemption. By September of that same year, I had a contract in hand from Barbour for the entire three book series!

5.) How long must we wait for the sequel?

Not long! The second book in the series, The Reliance, will be released in January 2007, and the third book, The Restitution, will be out in stores, June, 2007. As you can tell, I've been very busy!

NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF THE REDEMPTION:

Just make your best pirates face and snap a picture with your digital camera, or cameraphone and send it to me at Pamela@pamela-james.com.

I will pick the best 'pirate's' expression and they will win a free copy of The Redemption. One lucky winner will receive extra treasure-a pair of movie tickets to go see Dead Man's Chest.

IT SEEMS SOME OF YOU ARE A LITTLE SHY, SO HERE ARE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. If you just don't want to send a picture or you just can't, then post below a pirate-y saying. Make it good.

Please put Contest in the subject. You have until next Wednesday, July 12, 2006. I will pick a winner then.

There is a link to read the first chapter. http://www.mltyndall.com

Good luck, mateys!

Everything's Coming Up Josey

2006-07-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

by Susan May Warren

"I need you," the tall, good-looking missionary had said. . .but he'd been speaking to Josey's entire church at the time. Had she taken him too literally? Because she was no longer in Gull Lake, Minnesota. She was a missionary. In Russia. For a year.

True, Josey had wanted to skip town when her sister married her ex and her secret crush/best friend got engaged. But Russia? Yet after a few weeks the idea grew on her. She could speak enough words to buy fruit at the Moscow market, and the missionary role was feeling. . .right (although her bagel-thieving roommate tested her daily). Even the frosty Russian weather was no big deal for this Minnesota girl--it was getting her love life to thaw that was the real challenge!

Pammer here:

I loved, loved, loved this book. It was hilarious, but touching at the same time. I laughed outloud at the messes Josey could land herself in, but at the same time....strangely humbled, because she often leapt before praying, and thinking, just like me. She's so real, so forthright and confident that she is right (ahem, also like me) it's really kewl to see the way that God deals with her so gently and yet so. . .right on the head. But Josey also has a heart and she learns to align that heart with God's will.

Oh, and Chase? Whew! What a hunk.

Get. This. Book.

Extra note of apology:

It seems that more than one of us here is a day behind. I apologize for being late with this review. Yesterday I KNEW it was Wednesday, but didn't KNOW. . .

Arrrrrr, me hearties. . .

I beg your pardon.

Don't know why ye be askin' me pardon, but ye have it.

I was having a perfectly civil coversation and you just interupted.

They be wantin' to hear what I 'ave to say.

That's not the point. You didn't wait your turn.

scuffle ensues. . .muted muffles and snickers

Ladies and gents, I jes wanted a minute of yer time. Be sure an' come back tomorrow, and bring a likeness of yer mug, yer best pirate face. Now ye must be awonderin' why. Come back and see. Har!

RECONSTRUCTING NATALIE by Laura Jensen Walker

2006-07-03T01:04:00.000-07:00

RECONSTRUCTING NATALIE by Laura Jensen Walker

From the back cover:

"You think you're self-conscious about YOUR lack of cleavage?!"

You wouldn't think the words "breast cancer" and "hilarity" belonged in the same book, much less the same sentence, but chick lit author and breast cancer survivor Laura Jensen Walker knows how to address painful topics with a wink and a smile.

Reconstructing Natalie is the story of a woman whose breast cancer is the catalyst for some serious changes—not the least of which is her cup size! Holding tight to her old friends while reaching out to new ones, Natalie must redefine herself and her faith on new terms.

Excerpt of chapter one on Amazon.

Camy here:

It is not a good idea to read this book while suffering allergies, because hooting and snorting in laughter through a runny nose is quite difficult. Then crying tears only adds to the fluids leaking out of my face. But I can honestly say it was entirely worth it.

This is a powerful book. I totally understand why this was chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year. The humor lifts it above the pain and suffering of cancer patients to the hope of survival, the joy of living, and the victory of a new life.

This book has given me insight into breast cancer patients that I’ve never experienced in just a non-fiction book. I was deep in Natalie’s head, fighting with her to not be overwhelmed by depression and bitterness. Her smart mouth and quirky outlook on life is sharp and brilliant, while her moments of sadness are poignant and strong. The small moments of human drama spoke volumes about the kinds of things she faced.

Natalie’s friends and family are supportive without being cheesy or goody-goody. It’s not just about Natalie and her cancer—it’s also about how it affects the people around her, both the ones close to her and her acquaintances.

At times, Natalie’s banter with her girlfriends get a little corny, but their unflagging encouragement shows how much Natalie needs them in order to get through her ordeal. As a reader, I’m given a glimpse into both stalwart friends and also unsupportive friends, and the effect on a struggling patient.

The subplots involving Natalie’s fellow support group friends are vibrant and touching. They truly complete Natalie’s story, by adding social nuances and different threads of emotions. The storylines are all tied up at the end, but rather than seeming cheesy or over-the-top, it’s immensely satisfying because as a reader, I’ve suffered with each of these women through the course of the book, and darn it, they deserve their happy endings!

The most powerful scene is the gallery show, and the artwork pieces on display. It runs the gamut of feelings in both a patient and the people around her, from pain to victory.

The energetic humor makes this novel so rich and bright. It focuses on the gift of life, the joy of God’s Spirit, His shining love. It doesn’t paint a rose-colored world—pain and betrayal is there in all its ugliness—but it shows people rising above with the strength of Christ, the brilliance of His love.

I don’t know if a teen would catch all the emotional nuances, but it’s an eye-opening look into a cancer patient. Young and older women alike, from all walks of life, will be truly blessed by this book. Great job, Laura!

Heather's Sarcastic Sat...uh, Sunday

2006-07-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, apparently, today is Sunday. Um, kinda forgot yesterday’s post didn’t I? Been a little sidetracked this week. I’m getting really close to finishing up the needed word count of my book. (So I can submit it! YAY!) Got a new job… it fell into my lap. Really it did. Wasn’t expecting it. So somewhere in all of that, I forgot what day it was. In fact I didn’t even go to church today... apparently, It’s Sunday.

You know... you stick your head all the way into the story you’re working on and days pass you by without notice. It’s the weirdest thing. I know people that forget to pay their bills on time because they are so involved with writing their books. (Ha I know other people that forget to pay their bills… but that’s just because they are ditzy they don’t have the excuse we writers do. LOL!)

Others I know forget to feed their children. I don’t know about you… but I’m thinking the kid in the back ground kicking, screaming and crying “Mooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, I’m huuuuuungry!!!!!!” Should be that writer’s first clue. LOL!

Then of course, when they finally notice the emaciated kid is hungry they get up all grumbly, to get them something to eat, muttering the whole way “I don’t know why you kids can’t learn to feed yourselves!” Only to find that the bread is molded, the milk is curdled and there isn’t any other food in the house…because they forgot AGAIN to go grocery shopping.

They walk outside (after they had to struggle their kids into the nearest thing to clean clothes she could find them… because she hasn’t done the laundry in a month.) and crunch across the lawn to the minivan. Wait. What? Crunch across the lawn? Oh, that’s right. Ted her husband keeps telling her, “Betty Jean, You HAVE to water the lawn every day. This heat this summer just kills it otherwise.” Sigh. Yet another thing she forgot while she was writing elaborate ways to kill off her villain.

I could go on but I think you get the idea… Oh! Wait. One more. Ted comes home and asks Betty Jean, “Honey? Where is Becky Jo?” Betty Jean’s eyes grow round, her hand finds its way to her opened mouth and her eyes fly to the clock. “I was supposed to pick her up three hours ago from Susie Q’s!” Her husband rolls his eyes. “I know, I know, Ted! But listen, you won’t believe what my Hero did today!" .....

So be honest... what have you forgotten while your mind is wrapped up in your story??

DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL by Shirlee McCoy

2006-06-26T00:42:00.000-07:00

DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL by Shirlee McCoy

From the back cover:

"EVEN OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY, BAD THINGS HAPPEN."

Raven Stevenson was in Lakeview barely twenty-four hours when she heard those ominous words. She'd come to the small Virginia town to reconcile with her brother and forget the haunting memories of her past. She didn't expect to find friends, community - or a thirty-five-year-old mystery of tragic love.

Nor did she expect to meet Shane Montgomery, whose love for his ailing aunt Abby breaks through Raven's carefully built defenses. When Abby unwittingly shares some of the secrets behind that long-buried mystery, she and Raven are targeted by someone who wants those secrets silenced - and who's willing to kill both of them to do it.

Camy here:

This is good, solid romantic suspense--half romance, half suspense to add the tingle of mystery and mayhem.

Raven comes across as a very real woman, not too sweet or too perfect. Her sad past is poignant, and her spiritual journey is earnest and flows naturally--not cheesy or preachy.

Shane is a nice gamma male, more vocal and less He-Man than Jake from STILL WATERS, which is the first book set in Lakeview.

There is a lot of good romantic tension between Raven and Shane, and terrific dialogue. Their relationship develops at just the right pace, without rushing into familiarity and friendship too soon.

The other characters shine almost as much as the main protagonists. Any reader with a grandparent whose mind is fading will relate to Raven and Shane as they do their best for Abby. Jake and Tiffany from STILL WATERS make small appearances, and Tori, who stars in EVEN IN THE DARKNESS (book 3), welcomes Raven to Lakeview. Tori's grandfather is a crackup and a wily old fox.

The pace slowed a bit in the middle, and I had a few personal objections to the ending (I won't disclose them here), but on a whole this was excellent storytelling. The emotions are vivid, the spiritual struggles are difficult and honest. There isn't anything to object to in the suspense. I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to any romance reader, from age 10 to 100.

Die Before Nightfall excerpt

We interrupt this Sarcastic Post...

2006-06-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

I realize I normally have a sarcastic post here on Saturdays, but my very good friend Claudia Mair Burney has agreed to a no-holds-barred interview. How could I pass that up? And seeing as this is my post, I can do what I want. LOL (return next week for my normal wit and sarcasm! LOL!)

Claudia has a wonderful book that comes out in July that all of you must go out and buy. I enjoyed every second of reading it. Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man.

HDT: Claudia, I have to ask-Bell has some really tough things in her past. How much of Bell’s character in Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man is autobiographical?

CMB: Awwwwww. See! You’re going deep already! The truth is I put a frightening amount of auto in that book. Her flashbacks were very much my own, though the details aren’t the same. They took weeks to write because it was so painful. People keep saying how much the ending surprised them. It’s awful, but how could she not feel what she did with all she’d been through. Still, it was hard to write. I cried all the way through it, and so did my editor. Not for Bell, either.

HDT: What was the hardest part about writing Murder? Why?

CMB: I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I wanted to write the book I wished I could read. I didn’t have a blueprint or a guide for that book, so in some ways I was flying blind. I got my first so-so review today. The reviewer didn’t appreciate the big, juicy romance in the middle of the mystery, but I liked it. Again, it was the book I wished I could read, and I can’t imagine a book of mine without somebody falling in love. The romance made Murder a genre hybrid though. It’s not all mystery, and it’s not all romance, and it’s not all chick lit, either. The heart breaking stuff was hard, too. But I already said that.

HDT: Your characterization in Murder is particularly good. Where did you learn this aspect of writing? What process do you use for discovering your characters?

CMB: Ha! I’m a nutjob. If the people seemed real it’s because they were real to me, in a very unhealthy way! I lived with those people, loved with them, hurt with them. That’s not technique. That’s letting them move into your head (and heart), with all their luggage and stuff. I’m like the method actor who stays in character the whole production time. I’m pretty impossible to live with when I write. Poor Ken! Poor kids!

HDT: Another of the strengths in Murder is the dialogue. Very fresh. Unpredictable. It pops. It just feels right. How did you learn the art of good dialogue?

CMB: Thanks for such kind words, but yikes! I’m terribly untrained. I don’t think it’s something you can learn. Well, maybe you can. I think good dialogue means you listen on a lot of levels. I cheated. Bell, Jazz, Rocky, Carly--they talk like the people around me talk. They sound like my friends and some of my family. And here’s another thing. I let them say what they wanted to say. They surprised me a lot with what came out of their mouths. Out of everything I’ve written, they were most unruly.

HDT: Now, I’ve heard the whole awesome story about your road to publication, but for the readers out there, tell us a little about the journey to publication for you.

CMB: Oh man. I made a mess out of my life. I’d been with the abusive narcissist. I’d married the raging drug addict. I lost my “voice” and got a beat down from bipolar depression with startling regularity. I never thought I’d write for the Lord. Then one day I saw a copy of Today’s Christian Woman in a hospital waiting room. My heart nearly exploded with longing. I stole the magazine. Lord, have mercy! I begged Jesus to let me write for Him and promised I would tell people who were a mess like me that He loved them. I didn’t hear any audible voices, and the magazine didn’t burst into flames, but I did start a blog very shortly after that was definitely no holds barred. Honestly, I showed my behind on that blog, but people responded to the honesty. Some found beauty there. A lot found Jesus. It got the attention of a very fine novelist, who told her very fine publisher about me.

Very fine publisher wrote a surprise email, and asked if I’d be willing to write a novel for their publishing house. Oh yea-ah! I started Murder a few days later. I think I got him a proposal within two weeks, and he called me the next day, bless his heart. I wrote the book, and two days after I turned it in he quit the company! Talk about somebody primal screaming. He went on to become a star literary agent. He took me as a client, and had my book positioned to get offers within three months. He just brokered my second deal with NavPress. All this from a desperate prayer, and a blog. From blog to first book deal less than one year. From book deal one to book deal two and three all within one year of signing with him. I am under contract for seven books, and Murder hasn’t even hit the shelves. Jesus amazes me with his grace, and I am the chief of sinners. Truly.

HDT: Wow! I can say from experience that I found beauty at your blog. Why are you writing fiction for the Christian market?

CMB: I think it’s because I love Jesus. Remember, I never thought I was worthy to write for the Christian market, but my heart was here because it’s where Jesus is. I’ve read some AWFUL Christian books, just because I knew I’d find Jesus in the pages somewhere. I wanted to write about Him freely. I didn’t know there were all those rules when I started. Ha! And don’t think I don’t wonder if they won’t get a good whiff of me and throw me out. Someone told me my blog was a little stank--seasoned with stank, is what they said. I cracked up. But life is so stank sometimes.

I should say that Jesus is in ABA books, too. My frame of reference was Jesus books = CBA. Now, I’d go wherever Jesus leads. Writing the blog, and Murder broke open my heart and mind. I don’t want to put any limits on God. He can lead me to the world. He could lead me to stop writing altogether and open up a house to get prostitutes off the street. I hope I always write, but there are other adventures in Jesus. Writing is not everything, and I really thought it would be. That it isn’t genuinely surprised me.

HDT: What is the spiritual arc in Murder? How does the spiritual arc within your stories develop?

CMB: The what??? You don’t think I’m smart, do you? I have no idea. Bell loves Jesus but she’s a mess. Jazz is a mess. Most of the people in the book are a mess! Well, not Rocky. Rocky is great! If there’s a spiritual arc at all it’s just about continuing to follow Jesus no matter what kind of jam you get in, because what else would you do? My characters don’t want a life without God. That propels them and their stories. I didn’t think too much about it. Maybe you can tell me what the spiritual arcs are. For real!

HDT: Ha! I never once considered that you weren’t smart. I know you too well for that! You know I’m all about the journey, tell me a little about this journey you are on currently?

CMB: Wow. Great question. I think my journey right now is all about being authentic. One of my favorite scriptures is in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” In The Message it says, “You are blessed when you’re content to be just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourself proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” I just love that, Heather. It took me all my life, and many painful situations, to begin to be myself, and that is a shame before God. So, right now, it’s all about being a God broad with everything. It’s about finding all the beauty and treasure God put inside me, and not being afraid to say, “God put beauty and treasures inside me, and I’m about getting them out!”

HDT: When you are writing, how does what is happening to you spiritually affect your writing?

CMB: I have to be the most transparent person ever. I can’t make myself opaque to save my life. It all goes in there. Auto is in everything I write. What happens to me, spiritually and other wise is going to make its way in the book somehow. On the other hand, writing changes me spiritually. I am more spiritual because I write. This is awful, but it’s true, sometimes writing is the only sacrament to tap me into God’s presence. Sometimes I find Him on the page in ways I don’t find Him in my own devotional life. I think He meets me in stories because He knows I live in them. I am very much in my head, on the regular. But Jesus is merciful. Sometimes I found more healing blogging than I ever did sitting in a church. But go to church y’all. I did the no-church thing, and church is better—that is when it’s healthy. If it’s not healthy and loving, why bother?

HDT: Who is the most influential person on your writing?

CMB: There are so many. The mystics let me know I can do Jesus big—bigger than I can imagine at any time. The artists like Ron Hansen show me I can do it beautifully, though I fall terribly short. Marilynn Griffith and Lisa Samson show me that I can do it with an attitude. Bethany Torode show me I can do it and be sexy, and still love Jesus. You, Heather, show me I can do it and be loved, despite my flaws.

Oh. You almost made me cry thinking of that!

HDT: Oh. You did make me tear up with that! Murder kind-of pushes the edge for most CBA books, how do you feel about that?

CMB: I love that. I love that they trusted me at NavPress. I said things that I thought, “They’ll never let me get away with that.” I think Jesus has a great sense of humor. I think Jesus likes my book.

HDT: I love your book! And I think Jesus does as well! What do you want the take away from Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man to be?

CMB: That you can really jack yourself up, and still find grace and love at the end of your journey. I also hope people are a little kinder to themselves because of it. I hope they make an effort to step away from hurt and let some people and love into their lives.

HDT: What do we have to look forward to in the future from you?

CMB: I just finished Bell’s second book, Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz. The romance between she and Jazz heats up, despite a terrible tragedy. It’s smokin’ y’all. That one comes out in February, I think. After that, one more Bell Brown Book, out in October, Saints, Suspicions, and a Ticking Clock, and then… drumroll please….
The Exorsistah. It’s the story of a reluctant teen exorcist, coming out in NavPress’s student imprint TH1NK. I call her my Jesus freak Buffy in diva boots. She is going to kick butt! Don’t miss her.

HDT: Y’all she isn’t lying when she says Death, Deceit and Some Smooth Jazz is smokin’! I’ve had the privilege of reading some of it. It’s great! And now, because I suck at interviews… Claudia, I'm giving you free reign to say anything you like.

CMB: I’m tempted to say something really naughty, and then laugh like a loon, just because you said I could say whatever I want, but instead I’m going to tell you that this was a great interview, you don’t suck at all, and it’s a pleasure to know you and to have your support. You know I love you, Pumpkin.

HDT: The pleasure is all mine Claudia. I love you too. Claudia, thank you so much for coming to do this, it's been an honor.

CMB: Thanks so much. Watch out world, Heather Diane Tipton’s book is in the world. I’ve read it, and you’re gonna love it.

HDT: Okay, I have to say I’m greatly humbled by that Claudia. I have no idea how to respond to that except to say thank you.

There you go folks. Claudia Mair Burney. The newest name in Christian fiction. Watch her carefully she’s going places! To keep up with her check out her blog. Her blog is one of my favorite blogs to read! The post below this one has the back cover blurb and a bit of a review from me. Please leave some comments here, Claudia and I would love to hear from you.

Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man By Claudia Mair Burney

2006-06-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

Back cover blurb: Life as a forensic psychologist isn't quite as cool as prime-time television would have us believe, and most of us just don't have closets full of red-carpet gowns and bling. Instead of painting the town red in a drop-dead gorgeous dress, this boring therapist finds herself at the scene of a crime.

Amanda Bell Brown just may know who the killer is. She needs to spill her guts, but not on the lead detective's alligator shoes. A complicated murder investigation unearths not just a killer but a closet full of skeletons Amanda thought long gone. Murder, mayhem, and a fine man are wrecking havoc on her fortieth birthday, but will she survive to see forty-one?

Heather here…I know I’ve said this before on here but it needs to be repeated, I don’t do reviews. I’m not any good at it. But I loved Claudia’s book. It’s awesome. Her voice is something very fresh to the CBA. Claudia pushes the edge of CBA boundaries and does it masterfully. It’s like one day she sat down and said let’s make a book that no one has ever thought of before and just started throwing things together. Throw in some mystery, a dash of chic lit, heavy on the romance and sexy hero. Bake in a hot oven… and what came out is an incredibly good book. This book isn’t out for a couple weeks… but when it hits the shelves, run don’t walk and buy it!

BLISSFULLY YOURS BY DIANN WALKER

2006-06-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

BLISSFULLY YOURS BY DIANN WALKER
ISBN: 0-373-87373-5
PUBLISHER: Steeple Hill-Love Inspired Cafe
June 2006 release

From back cover:

It was an offer I couldn't refuse: take some time off from teaching and help out at the opening of my friend's brother Mitch's fabulous Bliss Village ski resort. After all, thanks to my mother, I'd already dated most of the so-called eligible men in Tumbleweed, Arizona. What was left to hold me here?

Um, cowardice? I haven't taken many risks outside of my familiar environment. Okay, try none. Still, if risk comes in the shape of tall, blonde and handsome Mitch Windsor, how can I say no?

Cheryl here:

Okay, this book made me have to eat some humble pie. Reason being, I'm always spouting about how I can't stand first person books. After about ten pages, they usually get on my nerves. BUT NOT THIS ONE! In fact, I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize this was a Steeple Hill Cafe book until about chapter two. I became so engrossed in the character of Gwen, that I guess I just didn't notice the story was in first person. This story made me laugh about every third page, because the humor was unexpected and perfectly executed. I was also laughing because I could relate to the whole ski disaster thing. For years my husband has been trying to get me to go, and I'm like, "Nuh. Uh. Just drop me off at the mall with the checkbook on the way to the ski lift, and I'm good to go. Having been a nurse, I'd taken care of too many people with broken bones. One winter it seemed like every time I asked a patient, "So how'd you break your leg?" "Hit a tree skiing," they'd say. Or, "I understand you had a skiing accident. Did you hit a tree or what?" "No. I hit anther skier." SO that made me chicken out, especially when I took care of a ski instructor with two broken legs. Not sure how that one happened and since my husband was at Breckenridge that very day, I didn't want to know. LOL!

Anyway, back to the book...I really enjoyed the setting in this book, and the writing is just fabulous. It felt like I was reading a letter from a friend or something. A really funny letter, and by the end of the book I felt like Gwen and Mitch were my friends. The dialogue was really hip, and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Gwen's internal monologue. It added SO much to the story, and had me cracking up. Chapters 18 and 19 were really intense and emotionally poignant and I was really proud of Gwen in her courage during all that. If ya wanna know....get the book! Grin.

I love how the author took this character right out of her comfort zone on many occasions. Really enjoyed Gwen's journey, and the writing in this book. Really fun read.

Cheryl

Winner Announced

2006-06-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!

Bet you thought I fell off the face of the earth didn't you? Well, I did, sort of. The internet world anyway. Got some phone issues, but I am using dial up now until the high speed is back up to par. :D

I drew the name of the winner for Carol Cox's Ticket to Tomorrow. And the winner is......

Jamie Driggers!

Yay Jamie!

You can contact me at Pamela@pamela-james.com

Heather's Sarcastic Post

2006-06-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

The voices in my head are holding my sarcasm hostage until I finish this book… check back next week when I’ll have a interview with new author Claudia Mair Burney.

WIN Ticket to Tomorrow

2006-06-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

by Carol Cox

Annie Trenton's life will change forever at the 1893 World's Fair.
Annie steps off the train at Chicago's Terminal Station--and straight into political intrigue.
She travels to the great fair in Chicago in hopes of exhibiting her late husband Will's horseless carriage and, in so doing, somehow discovering a way to heal the breach between herself and her estranged in-laws.
After a visit with Annie, the coolly receptive Trentons recognize the potential of their son's invention and are determined to rob Annie's rights to it. When Annie seeks the help and advice of newfound friend Nick Rutherford, his concern and attraction to her begin to grow. In attempting to win her heart, Nick finds himself trying to protect her, as well.
But when Annie and Silas Crockett--Annie's traveling companion and scatterbrained partner of her late husband--disembark in Chicago, a stranger collides with Silas. . .and more than a satchel is unintenionally excahnged. The innocent mix-up draws Annie and Silas into an international conspiracy to gain Cuba's independence. Will their accidental involvement cost them both their lives? Or can Nick keep Annie safe and persuade her to surrender her heart to him?

Pammer here: You must read this. I eagerly await the second book in the series. Carol Cox is amazing. She has created lively and very real characters that I loved immediately. The story quickly involved me and kept me intrigued, and turning pages. The plot is superb, complex, but not so as to loose the reader. The romance, suspense, humor, and Christian threads are woven and balanced.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and have you hoping against hope that Annie gets her hero. :D

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, then post a comment below and I will draw names Friday evening. If you do not want to be included in the drawing, please state that in your comment.

Good reading!

BAD HEIRESS DAY by Allie Pleiter

2006-06-12T02:28:00.000-07:00

BAD HEIRESS DAY by Allie Pleiter

From the back cover:

What would you do with $1 million?

That's a question Darcy Nightengale never thought she'd need to answer. But a sudden inheritance of just over $1 million begs a more immediate response. And when Darcy learns of her father's last request that she "give it all away," she discovers just how quickly big money makes big problems.

Her husband believes that charity begins at home. His home. And her children are sure it's only a matter of time before the presents start rolling in. Right? Darcy wants to do the right thing--as soon as she can figure out what it is. Can the path of righteousness be paved with gold? Darcy's surprising answer turns her world on end.

Camy here:

This was a well-written novel, and I think the powerful theme of this story would appeal to a majority of readers quite well. I don't have children and I haven't yet lost a parent, so I personally didn't quite relate as well to the heroine.

The novel starts with the death of the heroine’s father. Readers who have lost a parent will deeply relate to her feelings and actions as the book opens.

I like how the author touches on some of the very human—but not often discussed—aspects of grief, like the anger and bitterness.

The main theme is how hard it is for caregivers—physically, emotionally, spiritually. There’s a great line that sums it up: If you pour everything into it, there’s nothing left over.

The novel will speak deeply to those from all walks of life who serve as caregivers to parents and children, whether at home or in hospice.

The problems that come between Darcy and her husband are real and deep. No fluffy, frivolous conflicts. As a reader, I felt Darcy’s pain and Jack’s worry.

My biggest problem is that this is not a chick-lit, or a mom-lit—not really hip-lit at all. I feel a little cheated. This is a wonderful women’s fiction novel with a terrific premise, but I feel the packaging is wrong. It looks like mom-lit, but I think it’s more of a lighter-hearted women’s fiction novel.

At times, the pace is a bit slow, but since I was expecting this to be a chick-lit, I think the slow pacing is based on my expectations and not the novel’s layout. It might not be as slow-moving as some other women’s fiction novels I’ve read—it seems to be in-between those and a faster-paced chick-lit.

Darcy has a very typical best-friends relationship with Kate, but the novel goes deeper into that to show how Kate supported her through the long illness of Darcy’s father. It touches on the roles of the friends and family around a caregiver both during the illness and after her patient’s death.

Darcy’s slow journey to faith is wonderfully real and not cheesy or hokey at all. It’s done with a skilled, light hand, without any preachiness or Christianese. It was a joy to watch her gradually come to rely more and more on God.

There’s a light, happily-ever-after ending in the tradition of inspirational romance. However, this book is Darcy’s journey rather than a love story.

I’m not quite certain if teens or younger women would relate as well to Darcy’s character, because she’s a little older with children of her own. However, most mothers and older women will definitely root for Darcy in the trials and tribulations of her stage of life.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-06-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, despite popular opinion, where I live is not great. I get comments all the time…

“You live in a hotel, it has a pool!” Um, no it doesn’t.

“Room service, baby!” Uh, yeah, not here.

“Don’t talk to me about cleaning, you have free maid service!”

When they leave your room DIRTIER and SMELLIER than when they arrived… this would be a BAD sign.

When you have to tell them HOW to clean something, here again this would be a BAD sign. (Once, I even had to tell one how to turn on the vacuum… we won’t mention the big button that had ON in big letters on it… oops just did.)

Now, I may not be the worlds greatest at cleaning but when what they do grosses me out…this would be a BAD sign. (And I even started cleaning houses when I was nine for pay.)

When they don’t know what bleach and/or comet is… yet again a BAD sign.

Now before we all get bent out of shape about me bashing maids… I’m not, I even have some friends that do this for a living… and if they worked here I would have a spotless room.

I’m sure others are saying, “Yeah, but you at least have a maid.” I would prefer not to have one than to have one that doesn’t clean.

And yet again there are others…I know who you are… that actually does have someone come in and clean your house… and they actually do nice work. LOL

Here’s where I usually pose a question trying to drag you kicking and screaming into a convo with our blog…. Well I’m not going to ask a question. Just post a comment already!

Dear Baby Girl

2006-06-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

by Jane Orcutt

Fifteen-year-old Merrilee wants only the best for the child she cannot keep. As she struggles with giving her baby up for adoption, she records her anguished decision with letters to her baby girl. This tender story of shattered dreams offers the hope of redemption and new beginnings.

Dear Baby Girl,
In all my fifteen years of growing up, I never once thought about what it'd be like for a new mama to leave the hospital with her baby in another pair of arms.

Sometimes life isn't quite what we've expected...sometimes it's better.

Pammer here: This is a book I looked at and thought there was no way I would like it. It's a young adult. But I was in the market for novels with a Christian worldview for my niece to read. I would like to admit I was wrong. I was captured from page one. With only 176 pages, it is a quick read (if you read like me) and I devoured it while I was at work today. A word of warning, have tissues handy. The story is very touching and yet very real, and it also plainly show not only the irony of God, but the fact that although we may think we know just what it is He wants from us...we don't even have a clue. And although we may practice unconditional love and grace that fits into our own definitions....they don't come close to what God shows us, perfect love and grace with a healthy dose of mercy.

Great read. I'd suggest it to anyone working with pregnant teens as well as young adults who love a good story (or even older younger adults, lol).

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-06-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Top five signs you are as blind as a bat…

1. When the doctor looks at your current glasses and is shocked that you can actually see with those things.

2. When you go in to get your new glasses made and the woman looks at your script and says, “Oh, we’re a blind puppy.”

3. When you start loosing friends because they think you’re ignoring them when they wave at you from across the room... you just didn’t see the wave let alone them.

4. When you finally get new glasses and discover your husband has green eyes not the brown that you’ve always loved.

5. You actually do wave at a friend this time… except it was a fire hydrant.

I only claim the top two... the rest belong to people I know.

So are you as blind as a bat or one of those freaks that can see perfectly?

A MATCH MADE IN BLISS by Diann Walker

2006-06-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

A MATCH MADE IN BLISS by Diann Walker
Publisher: Steeple Hill (Love Inspired Line)
ISBN 0-373-87357-3
Released Mar 2006

From back cover:

RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME
Suddenly single and unemployed, corporate attorney Lauren Romey needed a rest, a job and a new squeeze. her friends took charge of the "rest" part. They booked her a trip to a Bliss Village bed-and-breakfast. And they thought they were going to take care of the "new squeeze" part as well, by setting her up with the innkeepers' son.

RUNNING TOWARD LOVE?
But when Lauren wound up at the wrong bed-and-breakfast, seh found herself the fifth contestant in "Win Daddy's Heart," the unlikely brainshilc of widowed owner Garret Cantrell's teenage daughters. Throw in her ex-fiance, four quirky contestants and some very untimely TV coverage--and it's open season for chaos....or love, where she least expected it.

First I must say that I LOVE stories with a bed-and-breakfast setting. I LOVED the plot line of this book. I fell in love with all of these characters...not just the hero (swoon!) and heroine, but Garrett's daughters, and even the dogs, which also made me chuckle. Why do men like big dogs and women like small ones? Well most women...give me a big black Lab anyday...but the fact that this dog was crosseyed was hilarious. And how she dressed it. Just go get the book and see what I mean. Having three daughters of my own, I was laughing out loud at portions of this very believable story. I can so totally see my daughters doing something like this. Good thing my husband hasn't jilted me. LOL! If he ever did, I hope to have friends like Lauren to send me to a B&B. This story went from emotionally compelling to light-hearted funny at the perfect places. Really FUN read. I am fascinated by how Diann's writing enabled me to picture in moving color the scenes of the book. Sometimes in books, I have to really work to picture the setting and the characters and their actions. I could picture every scene I read as if it were a movie.

Then Garret's spiritual struggle revealed on page 80, wow. I know so many people who have felt these sorts of thoughts about God. People who wrestle with why He allows bad things to happen. Garrett was gut-raw honest, and I think this book could really touch people who feel disappointed by God.

The semi scene was INTENSE with a suspense, and then on Pg 224..there is a line that made me howl with laughter. THen I laughed about for days after reading this book, and it has to do with the heroine and a meatball, and that's all I'm going to say about that. (no spoilers. LOL!) Overall great read. BRAVO DIANN!!!

For a chance to win a free, autographed, copy of A Match Made in Bliss, leave a comment this week telling me the wierdest food that you've ever choked on. I will draw a name out of the bunch next Friday.

Cheryl Wyatt

Journeys

2006-05-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

by Tamela Hancock Murray

Lady Dorothea Witherspoon is desperate. After her mother died, her heartbroken father squandered the family fortune on gambling, leaving Dorothea destitute. As a last resort, she visits a distant cousin to ask for ten thousand pounds so she can avoid debtor's prison.
Lord Stratford Brunswich is taken by Lady Witherspoon's beauty and nature, but it's Baron von Lunenburg who presents himself as Dorothea's knight in shining armor when he offers to pay her debt in full. Only Dorothea doesn't know that his proposal comes at a great price.
Stratford knows of the treacherous game Lunenburg is playing, but how can he expose Luneneburg and rescue Dorothea, the woman he has grown to love, before it is too late.

Pamela here: I will admit to being a huge fan of Tamela's work. In this book, she really shines. As soon as I met Dorothea, standing in her cousin's foyer, I immediately became engrossed in the tale. I read the bulk of this book in one sitting. I didn't want to stop. I fell in love with Stratford, he was so romantic and who cannot love such a devout Christian. Tamlea knows how to do settings too. I felt like I was there, but was not aware of an overbearing amount of description. There is a bit of suspense with the tension carefully built, you will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat rooting for the couple in love. A beautiful love story with a happily ever after ending. Get this book, you won't regret it. Bravo, Tamela!

THEODORA’S DIARY by Penny Culliford

2006-05-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

THEODORA’S DIARY by Penny Culliford

From the back cover:

Saturday 8th May. Emergency!

It is 11:30 p.m. and I am suffering from an incredibly intense chocolate craving that will not leave me in spite of prayer, distraction activities and half a loaf of bread and butter. Got out of bed and searched the flat. No luck. Not even a bourbon biscuit. Not even a cream egg left from Easter. All the shops are closed so no nipping out to replenish supplies. Nothing else for it. I’m reduced to the chocoholic’s equivalent of meths—cooking chocolate.

It’s been one of those days for Theodora. Her mother has become the Greek equivalent of Delia Smith, her boyfriend would rather watch 22 men kick a ball around a field than go shopping with her, and chintzy Charity Hubble wants to pray for her. And of course, the crowning insult is her utter lack of chocolate. Join in her daily life with all of its challenges and joys, tears and laughter.

Camy here:

This is truly a five-star winner. Witty writing without being overly sarcastic, clever characterization that keeps each person rich and intriguing in the reader's mind.

Theodora is refreshingly realistic. She is not smart, beautiful or even particularly spiritual at the start of the book, but she is likable and her adventures are fun to follow. She is a colorful personality, and the people surrounding her are equally interesting--her Greek-obsessed mother, football-crazed plumber boyfriend, the Aussie Reverend "Digger" Graves, and maternal Pollyanna Mrs. Hubble. Each of them makes the plot vibrant and fast-paced. They are all consistent, and any emotional and spiritual changes are both believable and satisfying.

The faith element is handled with tongue-in-cheek, but also with a skilled painter's brush. The Christian stereotypes are all present, and somehow they are both endearing and laughable. This comical backdrop, however, only enhances the brilliance of characters like Miss Chamberlain, who radiate Christ.

The pun-ny writing is laugh-out-loud (or groan-out-loud) funny, reflecting dry British humor. I loved the way the prose rambled along, interspersed with moments of cheekiness that almost took me by surprise. I loved the lack of jaded sophistication, the absence of the kind of biting sarcasm that seems to always be putting someone down.

I can't recommend this book enough. I have to mention, however, that there are several references that are purely British in nature, and may not seem that funny to an American reader. My husband had no idea what a "bloke" was, while I found reference to a "Bible for Blokes" uproarious.

Fun reading. I can't help thinking that fans of Betty Neels would enjoy this book.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-05-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Technology it’s a wonderful thing. If I don’t have my fingers on a keyboard most likely there is a cell phone in my hand. Yes, I admit, maybe I am a little pathetic, always checking my email, getting text messages or phone calls. I can’t remember what it was like before I got the laptop and cell. Frankly, it’s a tad scary to think about. LOL

I will admit though, there are times when I find technology annoying. You’re in a movie theater and someone’s cell rings… its not a normal ring, oh no, it’s the latest hit on the radio that goes off. I don’t know about you but when I’m somewhere like that I will hit the button to silence the ring… and oh I don’t know, NOT ANSWER IT! But no, they answer it. I get to hear all about how Sue Ellen’s husband is a jerk and is cheating on her. So when I get out of the movies and someone asks me about it I say something about I just didn’t get the part where Sue Ellen’s husband messed around on her, what was that in there for? Here is where I get strange looks and I’m asked if I was even in the same movie theater.

The worst by far though is in church. Last Sunday there were at least six cell phones I heard go off. My church is big enough, there could have been rings on the other side and I would have never heard them. And I don’t know about you but just because the ringer is a worship song, DOES NOT make it right.

What I really love is the people that are so embarrassed by their phone going off, they won’t answer it. As if the ringing from their purse isn’t a dead give away. Like if they don’t answer it we would never know it was theirs.

How about going to the grocery store… and not knowing the price of something, because hello they don’t put price tags on everything anymore, so you have to find one of those scanner things, that nine times out of ten don’t work. So you take it with you when you check out. As she rings up everything else, you watch the read out like a hawk to see what it costs, of course by the time you see the price she’s already hit total and you are too embarrassed to tell her you don’t want it for that price.

So sound off, what’s your most annoying thing about technology?

Dark Star by Creston Mapes

2006-05-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

Dark Star by Creston Mapes
Our lovely fabfour member, Pammer, is on vacation (bum went without me!) this week, so it comes to me to post a review today. Only I don’t write reviews. But I read this book recently and loved it and wanted to feature it. Fab Friend Dineen Miller did a review of it... lucky me...

Dineen Miller:
Bad boy and rock star Everett Lester has become an unwitting tool of the enemy. His fame and fortune are vast, but they mean nothing to a man struggling to make sense of a life grounded in pain. Only the soft voice of one young woman can break though Everett's dark despair and show him the light of God and the love of Jesus. Yet the dark forces of evil will do anything to keep Everett in its grasp.

Dark Star is an amazing and suspenseful story of one man's journey from darkness to light and the messengers put in his life to help him along the way. The salvation message is clear and simple--not a sermon, just the truth.

I loved the way the book is written in two simultaneous parts—as a memoir recounting Everett’s life as a rock star and in current time chronicling his ongoing struggle.

Creston Mapes does a great job putting his characters to the test and showing evil in a very realistic manner. This book is an intense read with a fantastic sequel. Be sure to check out Full Tilt once you’re done rocking through Dark Star.

Heather: Creston brings a very fresh voice to the CBA market. As well as subject matter that is usually shied away from and handles it in a way that isn’t offensive. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel Full Tilt.

Check out Dineen’s blog here.

Creston has a contest on his website every month.

SAHM I AM by Meredith Efken

2006-05-22T01:28:00.000-07:00

SAHM I AM by Meredith Efken

From the back cover:

For the members of a stay-at-home-moms' e-mail loop, lunch with friends is a sandwich in front of the computer. But where else could they discuss things like...

Success: Her workaholic husband is driving Dulcie Huckleberry around the bend. It's hard to love someone in sickness and in health when he's never home!

Art: Let the children express themselves, opines artistic Zelia Muzuwa, and then her son's head gets stuck inside a kitty scratching post . . .

Health: Surely aches and pains are normal in an active little boy, yet those of soccer-mom Jocelyn Millard's son don't seem to be going away.

Motherhood: Teen-mom-turned-farmer's-wife Brenna Lindberg can deal with the mud and the chickens, but what about her husband's desire for a child of his own?

Indiscretions: However youthful, they can come back to haunt you, learns pastor's wife Phyllis Lorimer.

Amends: These could stand to be made between officious list moderator Rosalyn Ebberly and her pampered sister, Veronica. Perhaps the other SAHM I AMers can teach these two something about sisterhood.

Camy here:

This has got to be one of the funniest books I've read this year. That says a lot because I don't even HAVE children, and I tend to dislike books about moms since I can't really relate. But this book about stay-at-home mothers struck a deep chord with me.

The book isn't just about stay-at-home moms, although the heroines are SAHMs. The funnier, sassier theme is hypocrisy within the church. These Christian mothers connect via the internet, but their deeper characters come through despite the "impersonal" medium of emails. The things that happen to these SAHMs aren't as hilarious as the kinds of people they interact with on their email loop and the way they relate to each other.

The Christian stereotypes are all there, three-dimensional and easily recognizable. Those of us deeply involved in ministry and serving in our churches will recognize the different types of "Mary"s and "Martha"s and "Jezebel"s, but sometimes with an unexpected twist. The vibrant characterization made me laugh at my own preconceived notions but also think about my perceptions of my local family in Christ.

I spend a lot of time on email with my friends and family, so the email format was both familiar and a clever fictional tool. There is a wealth of rich, hilarious subtexting going on--things NOT said versus the things actually written in the email. There's also an incredible amount of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm that had me rolling.

The humor reminded me of Penny Culliford's British best-seller "Theodora's Diary." "SAHM I Am" has the same type of dry, clever wit that I love, moreso than the more common, obvious humor in slapstick.

The book is like many other Chick-Lits in that it's more character-driven (strong spiritual threads) than plot-driven by a single thread of action. However, there are five clear subplots interwoven together, taking the place of one main one, with Dulcie's plot taking precedence over the others. It wasn't difficult for me to follow them.

The heroines are relatively young (twenties to thirties) so young mothers will definitely relate. I also think this will appeal to singles, because the humor is not centered around motherhood as much as it's a commentary on Christians in the church.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-05-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Work or a lame attempt to stay at home and be lazy?

What is it about others (you know the ones I speak of, those people t-t-that...that don’t write) who seem to think writers don’t have a real job?

“What do you do for a living?” With a hopeful expression, as if y’all can share war stories from around the water cooler.

“I’m a writer.” With a little pride and trepidation.

“Ooooooh.” Raised eyebrows and a curled lip, with an all-knowing look that says, ‘oh in other words you don’t have a job.’ Snort. Lazy.

“...” Uncomfortable pause.

“Ahem, um, anything I might have read?” With a little hope that the convo can be saved or they can catch you in all your lazy glory.

Now here the conversation could go two directions depending if you are a published author or not… but since I’m not we’ll go with just a writer’s response. (For the published author convo, we’ll have to ask the soon to be pubbed CAMY TANG!!!)

“Um, a few devotionals, couple articles online.” Refraining to mention it was nonpaying gigs, but Hey! You got a publishing credit for it! Screaming inside your head, ‘I am a writer! And a good one! It is too a real job!’

“So, um, you write novels too?” Slight bored expression. Eyes shifting from side to side trying to find the nearest exit.

“Yes.” Big cheesy grin. “Christian fiction.” Another cheesy grin.

“C-c-christian fiction? Oh, how...interesting. I didn’t know they had that.” Scratching head. “So, like made up stories of the bible?”

Cough-idiot-cough. “No, real life. Romance, suspense, sci-fi, we have it all. Just with an added element of the Christian walk.”

“...” Glazed over eyes.

Houston, we have a problem...

SOONER OR LATER by Vickie McDonough

2006-05-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

SOONER OR LATER by VICKIE MCDONOUGH
Publisher: Barbour's Heartsong Presents HP # 671
ISBN # 1-=59310-850-8
COPYRIGHT 2005

www.vickiemcdonough.com

Taken from back cover:
Rebekah's dreams have become a nightmare.

For years, her mother told her, "Sooner or later, some handsome man is going to sweep you off your feet and make you his wife." But that was before her mother and brother died and before her stepfather agreed to marry her to a repulsive neighbor in exchange for liquor and a side of beef.

Mason Danfield has no interest in a wife. He's focused on his motherless niece and nephew. But when Rebekah flees her home in the middle of the night, Mason must intervene or see her suffer, maybe even die, on the prairie.

Will God lead Rebekah to the love she yearns for sooner, rather than later? Will Rebekah and Mason allow God's direction to fulfill their dreams?

Cheryl Here:
You know, it took me until the end of the book to realize there is a pretty significant tornado on the cover! LOL! Really cool. Check it out...in the background. See it? I live in Tornado alley, and on the New Madrid Fault so this story was of particular interest to me. The opening hook jerks you in and the plot shoves you through the book at break neck speed. Really connected with the heroine, like in the first few paragraphs. Vickie's dialogue was unique and snappy and I just loved it. Really strong verbs and active writing. Page 62 will squeeze emotion from your eyes and throat. The conflict was really strong in this story, both between Mason and Rebekah, and between Mason and God, and I love how Vicke worked it all out in the end. I could picture the gestures of the characters, and the landscape as if I were standing right there with them. This would be a wonderful book to study if you are an aspiring writer and want to see a great example of an author who did a fabulous job of tugging, then keeping the reader deep in the story. The children are charming, and really add to the suspense and heart of this romance, especially when the twister comes spiraling around. This story will spin in, pick you up, and whirl you away into oblivion without warning. Excellent read!!!

Cheryl Wyatt

Pink

2006-05-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

by Marilynn Griffith

Raya Joseph wants to break free from the beige world around her and celebrate the color of the city. With a sassy pink style and a radical change of hair, she's off to conquer the design world. But it doesn't take long for Raya to meet her match--in style and flair. Flex Dunham, a personal trainer and one of Raya's clients, has got it going on.
As much as Raya would like to pursue a relationship with Flex, she has other matters on her mind--and on her heart. then a blast from the past comes back to haunt her, and Raya can't help but wonder if she made the right decision in keeping her past a secret. Flex seems to be hiding something too. But what?
Woven with humor, heartache, and hip friendships, Raya's new life has a lot of colorful threads. But will the end result be a beautiful design? Or will it fall apart at the seams? Join Raya andher friends Lily Chau, Jean Guerra, and Chenille Rizzo as they untangle the threads in the Shades of Style series.

Pammer here:
Maryilyn is a wonderful storyteller. She touches on issues that face today's women and shares Christians truths without shoving them down your throat. In that way I feel her stories are timeless.
You'll need a few things to read Pink. First you'll need a quiet place because you won't want to be interupted, but also people tend to look at you funny when you hoot with laughter while gazing in a book. :0)
You'll need tissues because you'll cry. The characters are so well rounded and real that you'll feel their pain.
You'll need a fan because her hero is hot. He'll make you melt into a puddle. I'm happy to say he is also real and makes mistakes like the rest of us, but he's just so lovable.

A definate must read!

Expect the Sunrise by Susan May Warren

2006-05-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I don’t do reviews on our blog but Camy has this really great problem, called a deadline. LOL So she can’t post today. So, I thought I would post a review to help my friend out.

And what better book than Expect the Sunrise by Susan May Warren.

Summary
Book three in the compelling Team Hope series by Susan May Warren, the name to watch in romantic suspense. Alaskan bush pilot Andee MacLeod has spent her life searching for the one thing that can stop her running--a family. Now Andee has one last flight to make before she heads down to the Lower 48 for the winter. But she has no idea one of her passengers is a terrorist. And another passenger is FBI agent Stirling “Mac” McRae. Mac and Andee are about to discover what it means to put their hope in eternity and God's plans, even in the darkest moments.

Back Cover Copy
Is it an accident . . . or an ambush?
When their plane crashes high in the Alaskan forest, seven survivors face the challenge of a lifetime—freezing nights, mountain dangers, and injuries. And when suspicions arise about one survivor, they realize their greatest threat is each other.
Mountain rescuer Andee MacLeod and FBI agent Stirling “Mac” McRae must work together if they hope to survive. But will their secrets keep them apart? They’ll have to learn to trust each other if they want to expect the sunrise.

Heather here…
Susan is on my auto-buy list and has been since I picked up her first Romantic suspense title Happily Ever After. In my opinion, Susan is the best in her genre and Expect the Sunrise lived up to all my expectations.

I was hooked from the get-go! A yummy Scottish FBI hero, a mountain rescuer heroine, a terrorist, seven survivors of a plane crash trapped in the Alaska wilds, and past regrets all add up to learning to rely on God and even better a great read for us!

The spiritual element in this book was excellent, in my opinion because it spoke to right where I am in my life at the moment. Learning to trust and rely on God.

So go out and buy this book! Because… well because I said so! LOL!

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday

2006-05-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

RUE and KISS scream in my head at times. Resist the Urge to Explain and Keep It Simple Stupid. Okay, you know, some sarcastic writer or editor made up those terms, right? Look at them. Can’t you just hear it with a sarcastic tone? Or is it just because I’m so sarcastic I’m jaded? LOL

I like to think an editor came up with these terms. Can’t you just see it? Picture with me, if you will, a really bad manuscript held in the hand of an over-worked editor. It’s the 20th she’s looked at that day. That isn’t counting the 50 or so query letters she had to slog through also. Bad query letters at that. So she’s reading this manuscript... and wishing she drank because if she did she would be swinging back a bottle right about now… and she just groans again over the tortures read. Thank God, she has a fireplace in her office because as she reads one more overdone description she flings that puppy into the fire and screams KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!!

And even better… can you imagine... what if they started putting that in their rejection letters without telling writers what it meant? Editors from all over, having lunch together and laughing their heads off when they talk of these terms. “Should we tell the poor souls what it means?” “Are you kidding me?? Let’s keep them in suspense, after all, we have to read that drivel!”

Ah, but lucky us, some poor, sympathetic editor decided to tell one pathetic writer what it meant. And the rest is history. That editor by the way, disappeared, never seen or heard from again...

HIS UPTOWN GIRL By Gail Sattler

2006-05-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

HIS UPTOWN GIRL By Gail Sattler, from her Men of Praise series.
Publisher: Steeple Hill, Love Inspired line.
ISBN: 0-373-87319-0
Copyright 2005

From the back cover:
With long blond hair and painted red nails, beautiful Georgette Ecklington didn't look like a mechanic. But the latest hire at Bob's and Bart's Auto Repair could recognize a faulty coil in no time and fix it just as fast. Only problem was that Bob Delanio was attracted to his new employee. Luckily, he knew business and pleasure didn't mix. Besides, after meeting her weathy and controlling father, Bob realized he and Georgette came from opposite worlds. It was up to Georgette to she her handsome boss that a downtown man should take a risk on an uptown girl.

Cheryl:

One word to describe this book would be, "FUN!" I liked the set up, and how much time the hero and heroine spent together. Their relationship was a natural progression. I was anxious to find out who the heroine had lost and I love the twists. I didn't see most of them coming, and I'm usually great at figuring that sort of thing out. I LOVE the cover of this book, don't you? This plot idea sort of reminded me of the song, Uptown Girl, even had a mechanic in it, but the story was different than the song. But for some reason that song kept playing in my mind during the story. LOL! I can't remember who sang that. Can you guys? I can picture him. He was married to a model who he had children with. My mind is saying Billy Joel. Maybe that's it. Anyone know? Anyway, I loved that the heroine is a mechanic, as my father tought me mechanics growing up, and other than not being a rich heiress, this heroine reminded me of me. I'm vertically challenged like her and know more about car engines than cooking. Sigh. Our cars run well, but dinner sucks. LOL! Anyway, this was a really, really fun story, and I think the secondaries are getting their own stories too. YAY! I love revisiting characters. This church reminds me of our church, and the worship part, I'll bet is dear to Gail's heart because I've heard this author play....and she can jam! I love how the heroine stood up to her father and snooty Tyler. Fun read! It came out in July of 2005 so yo might have a hard time finding a copy. Try going to Gail's website, www.gailsattler.com. She might have more, or email me and I might consider giving up my copy. Amazon may have them too. On second thought, maybe I should keep my copy....the hero teaches the heroine how to cook several dishes, and I might try the recipes. Gail had my mouth watering!

Cheryl Wyatt

Fireworks

2006-05-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth White

Susannah is out to prove that pyrotechnics genius Quinn Baldwin is responsible for a million dollar fireworks catastrophe during a Mardi Gras ball.

With her faithful black lab Monty, she moves to the charming city of Mobile, Alabama to uncover the truth. But this world-traveled military brat with a string of letters behind her name finds herself wholly unprepared to navigate the cultural quagmires of the Deep South.

Captivated by the warmth and joy of her new circle of friends, Susannah stuggles to keep from falling for a suspect who refuses to be anything but a man of integrity, compassion, and lethal southern charm. Fireworks offers a glimpse into the heart of the South and a cynical young women's first encounter with Christ-like love.

Pammer here:

I loved this book. It was funny, witty, charming, and also tugged at your heartstrings. It starts off with action that made me laugh. And then cringe. I immediately loved the characters. I so identified with Susannah. I fell hard for Quinn. I'm a southern gal and this book brought back so many fond memories. why I could just hear all them drawls. Sigh! I immediately connected with Susannah although we are not alike at all. The secondary characters were so real I felt like I'd been sitting on the porch with them sipping sweet tea. I loved Quinn and the pages just kept turning so I could find out what happened next. What's more it was all laid out in a way that I could totally follow.

Oh, and all Flybabies, you have to read this book. I won't tell you why, but you will love it.

Definately worth the read.

LAMBERT'S CODE by Rachel Hauck

2006-05-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

LAMBERT'S CODE by Rachel Hauck

ETHAN AND JULIE'S DREAM ENDS...

After three years of medical treatment, Julie Lambert faces the irrefutable truth: She will never have children. Devastated, lost, and alone, she buries her pain by making several life decisions that threaten her relationship with her husband, Ethan.

Ethan Lambert can't imagine a life without Julie. Yet, his marriage is failing and he doesn't know how to save it. Urged by his grandpa, Ethan launches a journey to understand the Lambert Family Code--submit one to another.

Can Ethan and Julie overcome the loss of their dream and rediscover their love for each other? Will they learn to live by Lambert's Code?

Camy here:

I really like the fact that this book deals with a married couple. Their issues of communication and submission are applicable not just for married but also dating couples, because I was reminded of the kinds of fights my husband and I had before the wedding.

The stress of Julie's infertility brings out the worst in both characters, which is sometimes comical and sometimes heart-breaking. It was hard for me personally to completely relate to their desire for children, because I don't feel as strongly about bearing my own kids versus adoption. However, their conflict is something I think most women will be able to connect with.

I can't say I completely identified with Julie. I think her personality is just too different from my own. As a consequence, there were times I wanted to bop both her and Ethan over the head. But I also think that's an indication of how well the story drew me in, since I became invested enough to want to change the characters' choices!

Ethan's family are all Christians, and it's neat to see their intense spiritual support since I am the only Christian in my family. There are no long monologues of preaching. There's a lot of sage advice from grandpa and practical application of the spiritual truths he teaches.

As a writer, I'm blown away by the elegance of the craft. I would recommend this book to any aspiring romance writer as an example of excellent overall story structure, compelling scene construction, and smooth pacing and flow. Dialogue has multiple layers, and it's never just meaningless arguments or chatter--each line has a point and a colored emotion beneath the surface.

I don't know if single women would appreciate this book as much, but any woman in a relationship (even teens) will find something meaningful in this story. A good, quick, light read.

Heather's Sarcastic Saturday...or not?

2006-05-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Bear with me folks, I’m having a really hard time being sarcastic or snarky at the moment. I’m in way too good of a mood. I’m on the coast. Gulf of Mexico. And it’s perfect. I sat out in a lounge chair for 4 ½ hours this evening. The breeze and salt air making for a perfect relaxing evening.

I’m on vacation. Technically it’s a writing vacation… ask me if I’ve written a word? Nope. Nada. Zero. Nothing. Zilch. In my defense… I did critique a chapter for a crit buddy. Speaking of this crit buddy… I don’t have internet access while I’m here on vacation unless I go to the coffee shop (which is how I will be posting this) but I check my email with my cell phone. From the time I left this afternoon (I’m writing this Friday late evening) til now this crit buddy has put 5 chapters in my inbox. What’s up with that?

Home all week, bored out of my ever-loving mind and my inbox stays empty. I go on vacation and it’s full. I repeat, what’s up with that?? Makes ya wonder how many chapters I will have by the time I get home Monday afternoon, doesn’t it?

So is this the whole a watched pot never boils theory coming into play? I wait. And I wait. And I wait, all week for chapters and I don’t get them. Go away and hope to not get any… I of course get tons.

Should we take bets? How many do you think I’ll have by the time I get home?

Note: I thought I could be slick and post this for Heather with non the wiser, but she pointed out that it says posted by Pammer, so I'll fess up. She wasn't able to post this so she sent it to me to post for her.

AN ACQUIRED TASTE by Susan K. Downs

2006-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

AN ACQUIRED TASTE by Susan K. Downs
From Fresh-Brewed Love Anthology
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN #: 1-59310-603-3

Having a husband who's a musician, and being a coffee lover, and hanger-outer of bookstores and coffeehouses (Bring on the caramel latte!!!) I really, really loved this book. This hero and heroine seemed polar opposites, and I loved, absolutely LOVED their journey. This is one of the best Novella's I've read to date, if not my favorite. And you know it's wierd, because I can't really pinpoint what exactly it was about this book that kept my attention so much. I lost sleep and went without dinner to finish it...seriously...for me to give up food and sleep for ANYTHING...it HAS to be good. Times I laughed aloud, and other times I found my face hurt because I smiled through the entire thing. I was endeared to the heroine immediately, and felt her angst that she'd carried since childhood. There were times in this book where I literally had to remind myself she wasn't real so I could stop clutching the shirt near my chest and hurting for her. The hero was her perfect match, and his motivations and goals were so clear. The way he cared about this heroine, and put her above what his father thought of him was notable, though pleasing his father had been a life long goal I think. Okay if I say more I'll spoil it for you. A DEFINITE MUST READ!!!!!!

Cheryl

Leather and Lace

2006-05-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

By Diann Mills

It's a perfect time to ride out of here. They won't be back for hours, maybe not 'til tomorrow with this storm coming. A good rain will hide my tracks. . .make it harder to trail me. She could do it alone. She could stop the wishing and dreaming to change her sordid life. I will not become like them. Somewhere in this wide country was a place called home--and she'd find it.
Casey O'Hare forsakes the years she spent in an outlaw gang for a chance to start her life anew. But no one leaves Davis Jenkins and lives. Pursued by the gang, Casey is trapped by a mysterious stranger who takes her as a pawn to get to Jenkins. A strikingly handsome lawyer, could this Morgan Andrews be an angel sent to deliver her--or the devil setting her up for the kill?

This book is fabulous. I don't know which genre to place it in. Historical, western, women's fiction, romance, suspense. It has a little of them all. The tale is riveting, the characters engaging. The story will keep you turning pages when you should be in bed (ahem!) I adored Casey from the moment I met her. You just gotta admire that kind of spunk. Morgan took a little longer because I wasn't sure I trusted him entirely until he up and did a totally romantic thing and saved her life a time or two. The secondary characters were also lovable. Especially Sarah Ranier.
I did think the conflict between Morgan and Casey carried on until I was impatient with them. I think it could have been cleared up a wee bit sooner. But the action sure picked up near the end. I needed tissues. Some parts will yank on your heart. You will also laugh outloud.
I would recommend this book to anyone whol loves a poignant tale of forgiveness and renewal through the blood of Jesus Christ.

SHE’S ALL THAT by Kristin Billerbeck

2006-05-01T22:18:00.000-07:00

SHE’S ALL THAT by Kristin Billerbeck

From the back cover:

Contemplating life, love and the pursuit of the perfect pedicure.

Best friends since Johnny Depp wore scissors for hands, "The Spa Girls" live very separate lives, but stay in touch with regular--and sometimes emergency--visits to California's Spa Del Mar. There's diamond heiress Morgan Malliard, who's self-sacrificing to a fault; alternative healer Dr. Poppy Clayton, who can't meet a man without asking about his colon; and finally, up-and-coming fashion designer Lilly Jacobs, who thinks her bad hair is the root of all her troubles.

The first novel in the Spa Girls Collection focuses on Lilly, whose coveted promotion is given to a less-talented co-worker, and who then finds her boyfriend with another girl . . . all on the same day! Lilly needs a spa weekend and then some.

But it's going to take more than a facial and a massage to fix her problems: She's given herself just six months to succeed in her dream career. She's got abandonment issues from her childhood. And a nagging grandmother, an unpredictable roommate, a vixen boss and mixed signals from three very different men certainly aren't helping matters.

What does God have in store for Lilly and her friends? Lay back, kick up your feet and escape with the gals in this great new chick-lit series by acclaimed author Kristin Billerbeck.

Camy here:

This was so much fun to read. The story was quirky and fast-paced. I also liked the glamour-non-glamour aspect of fashion, which focused on the characters rather than the industry/career like in other secular chick-lit books.

I love how Lilly is so realistic, as are her friends (both Christian and non-Christian). The spiritual struggles are very seamlessly woven into the characters and the plot. It never turned into a preachy beating over the head except at one point, but the high emotions of the moment completely explained the character’s sudden spiritual tone, and it was very believable for me.

There were some points at which I didn’t quite follow the characters’ emotions during the dialogue. Often during her interactions with Nate, I think. The dialogue moves back and forth and then suddenly she’s mad as a cat. Then a couple lines later she’s depressed. It seemed a quick transition for me, maybe because the dialogue moved so fast. It made it hard for me to feel her emotional swings, and I just had a hard time getting the emotions in the scene.

There were a LOT of characters in the book. Maybe it was just that so many of them were introduced at once—Lilly’s ex-boyfriend, his new girlfriend, Sara, the guy who took Lilly’s promotion, Morgan, her father, Poppy, Kim, Nate, Max, Nana. All within the first quarter of the book. It was hard to figure out who was a major figure and who was not.

The storylines involving Lilly’s friends and her (almost) lovers are clear and easy to follow, but they seemed to resolve in a rather hasty, choppy way. I also didn’t quite buy some of the minor characters’ reasons for their actions.

The story itself was interesting and captivating. The last half of the book is non-stop action, and I couldn’t put it down.

I think that even teenaged girls would like this story—there’s nothing really age-specific that they wouldn’t get, and nothing objectionable for parents to worry about. This is a light-hearted tale that both singles and marrieds would enjoy.

Heather's Sarcastic Post

2006-04-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

Organic brownies…

Okay, why does that just sound wrong to me? I’m all for healthy food. I happen to love organic meats, dairy, veggies (I prefer it actually)… but brownies??? What’s up with that?

If I’m going to eat brownies… I want it to be the real thing. Loads of real chocolate. Tons of calories. And it darn well better be fattening! If I wanted healthy I wouldn’t be eating a brownie! Come on folks, that’s just wrong, on so many levels!

What brought this on you ask? Well, my lovely blog mate, Pammer (who is like a sister to me), made organic brownies today. And apparently this is a normal occurrence in her household. They are whole wheat…. Okay anyone else, besides me, see how much of a crime it is to have wheat in your brownies?? Then she puts in evaporated cane juice… uh, yeah, ever hear of good old plain sugar?? LOL

That’s just as bad as someone that goes into a coffee shop (name withheld of the actual coffee shop but we all know which one I’m talking about) and orders a Grande Nonfat Nonwhip Cafe Mocha with skim milk… oh and make it decaffeinated too. WHAT’S THE POINT???????????????????

Sound off people, tell me which side of the fence you’re on… or if you’re straddling it in fear of me blogging about you next week. LOL!

(update on last weeks post. I took the laptop to a friend's son-in-law. Who fixed it for free. And saved the majority of my files for me. Yay! The ones that were lost.. well that was my fault, I didn't tell him where to find them. because, well, I forgot about them.)

WOVEN HEARTS Barbour Anthology

2006-04-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

BOOK: "Woven Hearts" Novella
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN:1-58660-510-0
Authors: Susan Downs, Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Kathleen Paul
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Historical-Novella collection of four interwoven stories.

Set in Massachesetts, mid-1800's, four stories about a group of men with the last name of Steadman, and the women who weave their ways into these men's hearts.
====================================
Ribbon of Gold by Cathy Marie Hake:

Carter inherits a weaving mill and discovers the women are working under cruel conditions. He looks to Isabel Shaw, one of the weavers, for information and gets more than he bargained for as he falls in love with her.

This story is a "keep you up all night" kind. I fell in love with Cathy's characters from page one. The depth of emotion kept me rooting for these two to get together. Well-crafted scenes, delightful dialogue and careful attention to historical detail made me feel as if I lived in the weaving room with those women. Excellent read. Sweet story.
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Run of the Mill by Susan Downs

Maxwell Steadman has a tiny problem with tradition: He doesn't think women should be placed in positions of authority over men. So why is he so strongly considering Kathleen McKenna to fill the overseer's post for his shipping company? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she's smart, hardworking, honest, and kind. Kathleen soon realizes he thinks she's also qualified to fill the vacancy of "wife" in his life.

This story has strong conflict, especially Maxwell and his traditional views. Susan does a wonderful job showing his struggles without making him out to be a chouvinistic creep. He is a likeable character. Kathleen weaved her way into my heart as one of the most memorable heroines I've ever had the privilage of meeting in a story. This story will tug at your heartstrings and pull tight.
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A Second Glance by Kathleen Paul

Ginger Finnegan, nearly blind and raised in an orphanage, doesn't think there's a man out there who would want her for a wife, but her heart won't seem to listen to reason when Lucas Steadman, a new, young doctor comes to town and gives her not only the gift of sight through special glasses, but his stubborn heart as well.

I had a hard time warming up to Lucas at first, but the rest of the story was so good, I kept reading. I'm glad I did because the rest was worth grinding my teeth over not being able to sympathize with the rude and aloof doctor. Kathleen masterfully redeems him and makes her heroine's dreams come true. This story is packed with emotional "umph" and there were some pretty tense moments when I didn't think everything would be all right. Good read.
======================

The Caretaker by Kelly Eileen Hake

Widow Amy Ross runs an orhpanage and has a heart as big as Massachesetts. As if she doesn't have enough trouble with her late husband's mother threatening to close the orphanage, rendering homeless the children she's grown to love, her new neighbor seem to be working against her as well. When he sees her true heart, Tyler Samuels fights for the orphanage. . .and Amy's heart and hand in marriage. There should be more *real* people in the world like this hero and heroine.

I kept reading the bio of this author, saying to myself, "no way is she this young, no way." Watch this one. Though she's young in years, she knows her craft and how to weave a wonderful, story with engaging characters and a hole-proof plot that will leave you inspired and longing to read more.

I highly recommend this book. Well worth your money. It's not a new release, but you may still be able to pick up a copy at Amazon, or whereever books are sold. Sometimes managers can order copies. This book is worth the effort.

Squirrel/Cheryl Wyatt