Dating, Dining, and Desperation

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Dating, Dining, and Desperation B&H Books (March 1, 2014) by Melody Carlson

MY THOUGHTS:
As I've said before, I love the way Melody Carlson writes and I've enjoyed each of her books to date. Dating, Dining, and Desperation is no exception!

What a fun concept for a series -- a single woman stands to inherit a gorgeous old Victorian home and a lot of money IF she weds within a year. Apparently her maiden aunt wasn't satisfied with the single life and thought her niece shouldn't be, either!

At first I thought this would be a great premise for ONE book, not a series. But I really enjoy the way Carlson is dividing the one year time limit into four quarters. The trials and tribulations of deciding if she even wants to marry, combined with the 'help' of friends who think she must, is fodder for a lot of laughs and interesting situations.

I recommend reading these books in order -- Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel first, then this one. And in an end note, Carlson informs us that the next in the series, Hearth, Home, and Holidays, will be an ebook -- which means it will be available much sooner! Yeah!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Daphne Ballinger has learned to accept her deceased, eccentric aunt’s strange request that she marry in order to inherit her estate, along with taking over her aunt’s hometown paper’s advice column. But knowing and accepting that God’s will be done becomes harder when a new neighbor, a divorced socialite, learns of Daphne’s predicament and takes on the task of finding her the perfect man, even if it includes speed dating. When God does open Daphne’s heart, it is instead to take in a young girl left parentless and in the care of her dying grandmother. It may be a temporary arrangement until the girl’s uncle returns from the Marines, but God uses Daphne to speak His heavenly love and protection into the life of the child -- whom Daphne soon discovers has a very handsome and single uncle.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dating, Dining, and Desperation, go HERE.

The Ether: Vero Rising

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Ether: Vero Rising Zonderkidz (February 4, 2014) by Laurice E. Molinari

MY THOUGHTS:
I gave this book to my 14 year old son to read. He really enjoys books like the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, Divergent, and The Maze.

He enjoyed the part of the book he read -- about 1/4th of it -- but got distracted and didn't get back to the rest. I asked if he would recommend the book to others, and he was adamant that he would. I asked if he planned to finish reading it, and apparently he is not, but in perfect character as a 14 year old boy he was unable to explain why.

I will pass the book along to another one of my young readers who pretty much attacks every book he gets his hands on and I'll update when he's finished.

The story sounds interesting (read the synopsis, below), and the author has an amazing background in story telling. I imagine this book will be well received by many tween readers!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laurice Elehwany Molinari, a veteran film and TV writer in Hollywood for over two decades, has penned over thirty scripts for various studios and networks. Her very first feature script, written while a fellow at the American Film Institute, became Columbia Picture’s critically acclaimed children’s classic, My Girl. She went on to pen The Brady Bunch Movie and The Amazing Panda Adventure. Laurice lives with her husband and two children in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, where her lifelong love for our heavenly guardians inspired her to write a book about them in the ETHER series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Fiercest of Warriors? Vero Leland always suspected he was different from others his own age, ever since his childhood attempts to fly. But he never could have predicted the truth---or how much his life was about to change. Soon after his twelfth birthday, Vero learns he is a guardian angel and is abruptly transported to the Ether, the spiritual realm that surrounds the earth. Yet before he can be counted among these fierce warriors, Vero must learn to master his growing powers, competing with other angels-in- training and battling demonic creatures known as maltures as well as mythical creatures such as the leviathan. Until his instruction is complete, Vero needs to alternate between the Ether and his regular life. If he survives training and accepts his destiny---a destiny he did not choose---he must leave everything behind, including his family and the life he loves. Meanwhile, an evil is growing---the maltures are rising, and Vero appears to be their target.

Enjoy the book trailer:

If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Ether: Vero Rising, go HERE.

A Sky Without Stars

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Sky Without Stars Abingdon Press (February 18, 2014) by Linda S. Clare MY THOUGHTS:
 A Sky Without Stars is a story of fresh starts -- which often aren't as easy as hoped. It is set in the 1950's (which was easy to forget) in Phoenix, Arizona. The story revolves around Frankie Running Bear, a widowed mom of Indian heritage, trying to make it in a world that was pretty hostile.

I really enjoyed this book, the next in the Quilts of Love series. It is well written and the story has a lot of twists and turns between several interesting characters. I particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of the story. That is one of my favorite aspects of this series -- I learn a lot of information about various periods in history woven through an enjoyable story!

I would have liked more information at the end of the book -- it seemed like it ended a bit suddenly. This would be a good one for a sequel!





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda S. Clare is an award-winning author and coauthor of several books and has also published many essays, stories, and poems in publications, including The Christian Reader, The Denver Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her most recent book is A Sky without Stars, the newest release in Abingdon’s Quilts of Love line. Born in Arizona, Linda and her husband now make their home in Eugene, Oregon, where Linda has taught college-level creative writing classes, and writes, edits, and mentors other writers. She also is a frequent writing conference presenter, a church retreat leader, and mom to four grown children and five wayward cats.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she also thinks he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt—nor her new life—comes easily to Frankie. Nick Vandergriff, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient—for her son’s quilt and life itself?


If you would like to read the first chapter of A Sky Without Stars, go HERE.

You're Going to Be Okay

You're Going to Be Okay
by
Holley Gerth


MY THOUGHTS:
This is the second Holley Gerth book I've read, and I'm a believer! I'll read every book she writes -- it is like a conversation with your best friend. Holley tells stories of thing that have happened to her, her friends, and her clients (she is a life coach) that resonate with all of us as women. She bares insecurities, fear, guilt, and shame in ways that demonstrate God's love for each of us in spite of what we've done. In fact, she proves God's love for us BECAUSE of who we are and what we've been through.

She reminds us that each of us is irreplaceable -- there will only be one me, one you, in the entire history of the world and we have this one shot at doing what God intends us to do. No one else has the exact same combination of experiences, education, heritage, or desires. Therefore no one else can do what you're uniquely qualified to do.

Holley's books are a breath of fresh air in a stale world.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
If your life isn't perfect...
If you've ever been disappointed...
If you feel stressed or tired...
This is for you.

You really are going to be okay. And it truly is possible to live with joy, resilience, and strength no matter what life brings. Yes, there will be hurt and hard times. But God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive -- no matter what happens.

With her trademark positive encouragement and probing questions for self-reflection, bestselling author Holley Gerth encourages you to spend less of your life stressing or regretting and more of your life truly living.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Holley Gerth is a bestselling writer, certified life coach, and speaker. She loves connecting with the hearts of women through her popular blog and books like You're Already Amazing, you're made for a God-sized Dream, and Opening the Door to Your God-Sized Dream. She's also cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with DaySpring. Holley lives with her husband, Mark, in the South. Hang out with her at www.holleygerth.com