Shattered

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Shattered Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2013) by Dani Pettrey

MY THOUGHTS:
I fell in love with the McKenna famly, and Dani Pettrey's writing, in her first book, Submerged. Shattered is the second book in her Alaskan Courage series and it is just as fabulous as the first book.

After a competitive extreme skiing/snowboarding athlete gets murdered, it seems the case is easy to wrap up. but the alleged murderers sister, Piper, believes her brother when he insists he's innocent. What follows is an international adventure that crosses through dangerous biker territory, the world of witness protection, and tragic corporate secrets. 

With as many twists and turns as a slalom event, Pettrey has done an amazing job of building suspense and romance at the same time! I can't wait for the next book in her series (and I hope there are two more based on what could be foreshadowing in this one!).


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In real life, Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Just in case you’re curious…The real Dani does love traveling. She’s been to some amazing places (Greece, Hawaii, the Keys) and there are many more she hopes to visit in the future.

And while she’s not quite up to sky-diving, cave diving or heli-skiing (too high, too enclosed, too cold!) she and her family love hiking, canoeing, wave jumping and a ton of other outdoor adventures a little further down on the risk scale.

Dani is the acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which includes her bestselling debut novel Submerged and latest release Shattered. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Piper McKenna couldn't be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed--but despite the evidence, Reef swears he's innocent. And Piper believes him.

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. Piper is frustrated with his need for facts over faith, but he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth may mean risking Landon's career.

With Piper waging her own search, the two head deep into Canada's rugged backcountry--and unexpected complications. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Shattered, go HERE.

Redeeming Grace

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Redeeming Grace Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas;
1st edition (February 28, 2013) by Ward Tanneberg

MY THOUGHTS:
 Better hold on to your chair, this is a very suspenseful book! I had a difficult time putting it down. It is a large book, but it's a fast, wonderful read.

Grace Grafton has created her own version of witness protection, and after seven years she is beginning to feel more secure. Of course, that's when she gets discovered, and no one she loves in her new life is safe. Since the men she's running from have committed at least two murders, and are now running mates for the highest two offices in the country, they'll stop at nothing to make sure she won't talk.

I definitely recommend this one!





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ward Tanneberg is a pastor/writer/novelist who has given more than 50 years to evangelism, youth, college and pastoral ministry, including two Pacific Northwest churches and 23 years as the senior pastor at Valley Christian Center in Dublin, CA. In 2008, he was named President/Executive Director of The CASA Network. Ward speaks extensively at 50+ retreats and ministry leadership events in the USA and elsewhere. When at home he meets weekly with a group of business and professional leaders. He and Dixie have 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and a great grandson.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Seven years ago, Grace Grafton died in a boating accident while partying on the Georgia, South Carolina coast. Was her death the result of alcohol and drugs or something more sinister? Nobody knows: her body was never recovered. Now years later, a woman reads in disbelief the note addressed to her: Hello Grace, did you think we wouldn't find you?

Those nine chilling words end Grafton's self-imposed sanctuary of witness protection. Now she and everyone she loves are in grave danger. Long believed dead, she has a secret that can change the world. She knows the man running for president is guilty of a double murder! But who will believe her?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Redeeming Grace, go HERE.

Writer's Retreat Day 6

So, can I count the words I write in these posts as part of may daily word count?!?! Since I'm the one doing the counting, I might as well.

I didn't get many words on paper yesterday, but I really had fun researching the cities my characters will pass along the way on their trip from Capernaum to Jerusalem. This effort required some real detective skills. It turns out that almost every map I reviewed, whether in a book or on the internet, showed different major roads and had a different mix of cities listed. Many of the maps seemed to show the names of cities as they were called in different centuries on the same map! For instance, one of the cities the characters will stop in over night was called Agrippina on some maps and didn't show up at all on others. In my research I couldn't find this name for a city anywhere -- it seems that an earlier city, Kaukab el-Hawa was renamed Agrippina after a queen many centuries after my desired time. But Kaukab el-Hawa is the name given by the Muslims. After more research I discovered that it was called Kohav by the Israelites, short for Kohav Hayardin which means "Star of the Jordan". It was apparently near the sight where Gideon chased the Midianites! This is probably too much information for those of you who don't get into history or research, but it was almost like a treasure hunt.

For many of the towns I was able to find pictures of ruins and descriptions of the towns from both OT and NT times. I may not use a lot of this research, but it will give me an opportunity to describe some of the sites our travelers saw on their long walks.

Due to some extraneous issues, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed last night and decided to quit early. At 8:00 I watched a quilting video, then I decided to go to bed. My brain was way too full of things, so I ended up getting up a couple of times to read or do more research before I finally called it a night at 11:00.

I slept in until 7 this morning and caught the tail end (last 45 minutes) of the sunrise. No clouds today, so while it was pretty it was less eventful than some of the other sunrises. It made me realize that, while God shines every day, sometimes he can do his most magnificent work when there are clouds in our lives.

Today is the last full day we have and the last working day. I plan to write this morning and spend the afternoon looking at the year and planning out the writing (and quilting/teaching) I want to do from here forward.

Praying you have a wonderful day!