Can't Stop Now

Look at this!!!!

I spent my 15 minutes cleaning yesterday, and realized that the mess had just gotten bigger. There was no way I could stop, so I ended up spending about an hour getting things put away, thrown away, and even given away. I came into my office this morning and smiled.

Yesterday I donated three items through Freecycle.org, a great yahoo group that links up people with excess stuff with those who need that stuff! No money changes hands, and everybody is happy -- including landfills that don't get new stuff. Check it out -- I've given away a ton of stuff  and gotten some really great things.

I also put a bunch of books that I had on my desk but only used occasionally back on bookshelves (where they'll get a little less dusty), freeing up a ton of space. And I filled up a paper grocery sack with recyclable old paper.

But I have to say, all that empty space worries me. I know myself, and when I'm rushing round I tend to stack things on any empty space that is available. I thought about getting something large and pretty to put on the far end of the desk that doesn't get used much, but I don't want to add something that is just clutter.  It made me think of the scripture from Luke 11:

²⁴ “When an evil^[h] spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ ²⁵ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. ²⁶ Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.” (NLT)

I'm not saying that my propensity to pile stuff is a demon, but I do know that an empty, horizontal space in my home is an invitation for even more piles that it had originally! So I decided to move the books I DO use regularly down to the end, making that space useable AND full. I need to train myself to enjoy the peace of an empty space.

But now I feel like 'I've done it' and I'm having trouble committing to my 15 minutes today. After all, it's SO much better, right? But look hard. there is one pile on the left side of my desk that is just waiting to grow/reproduce. And back by the wall is a letter holder that is overflowing. Gotta deal with those. And I haven't even started on the floor or drawers.

I have to fight that 'good enough' feeling and really get it all done, or I'll be right back where I started -- probably by the end of the day!at

Thanks for the kind words of support and the admissions that you, too, deal (or maybe DON'T deal) with clutter. It helps to know I'm not alone. So, anyone have any cleaning stories or pictures to share?

I Need to be Commited

Ok, I know some of you would agree that I should be committed to an asylum of some sort (hey, if they have sewing machines it might not be all bad -- a little peace and quiet, and lots of imaginary friends to talk to). However, this time I'm talking about being committed to make a change.

I have to come clean. Really clean -- and organized! And I need to be held publicly accountable. My office is a pit.

I admit it, I have a problem. I'm a 'piler'. I get really important stuff that needs to be taken care of, and I pile it on my desk so I can 'handle' it.




But I don't. I move the piles around, make new piles, and sometimes tower things up into a tall pile. Once in a while I go through a pile and am happy to reduce it's height by throwing away all the things that have expired or are no longer relevant.




We have turned our dining room, which we would never use, into a wonderful office where I can write and design quilts.




But mostly I've created piles.














I even have piles UNDER the desk. Some of this stuff has been here since we moved in almost 4 years ago. Inside the drawers are just as bad.



I use 1 - 2 things in each drawer on occasion, and all have become junk drawers in their own right. 
Yes, that is my secret stash of chocolate stuffed in this one!

I need your help. I need to go public with this (although anyone who  has entered our house knows my dirty little secret - this is the lovely view you get when you first walk in). I need to be held accountable for cleaning.

I'm going to use two of my favorite 'people' for help -- Fly Lady (www.flylady.net) and Nony (http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/). I want to spend 15 minutes a day decluttering and  organizing using Nony's rules: 1) If I needed this item, where would I look for it (and put it there), and 2) If I needed this item would it even occur to me that I have it already? At the end of the week, I want to show you how great my desk looks, and I want to show it again at the end of September to see how well I did at maintaining it.

When I'm done with my desk, I have about 217 other projects to work on, but hey, if I get one done per month I'll be doing SO much better than I am today!

Anyone want to join in?

Rules of Murder

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rules of Murder Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2013) by Julianna Deering

MY THOUGHTS:
I've not been able to finish this book yet, but here are reviews from a couple of other readers:

http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/2013/08/rules-of-murder.html
http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/2013/08/rules-of-murder_14.html

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).



ABOUT THE BOOK

Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.

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

Women's Bible Study - This Means Love

This Means Love -- Bible Study for Women Who Want to Make a Difference

Group Publishing has created a wonderful new study that takes things one step further. Instead of just reading the Word, it incorporates loving actions to apply what is being studied.

This Means Love is a six session study which can be done weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. The study  allows groups of women to participate in practical, needed service projects as they meet. Included are twelve different, well prepared plans of action that can be done during a regular meeting or at a special time between meetings. They provide tangible, inexpensive, and easy ways to serve the elderly, children, the homeless, workers in the church, and the community in general.

Each project idea includes a comprehensive list of supplies, planning tips, discussion questions, clear instructions for the project, ways to 'take it up a notch' by providing even more service, implementation tips, and ways to close the session.

The Bible study sessions are not long, but they are thoroughly entrenched in Scripture and have wonderful discussion questions that could go deep if the group wants.

In addition, Group Publishing has included a great graphics CD which includes publicity items, note cards to include with the service projects, and aids for the different sessions of the study.

This is a perfect study for women who want to find ways to serve, as a first study for a new group of Christians, or even for a group of teens.

Thank you to Group Publishing and B&B Media Group for providing a copy of the study for this review. They in no way influenced my perspective on this study.

More About The Promise Box

The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

Such a wonderful book!

What is The Promise Box about?

The Promise Box is a story about a young woman who was adopted into an Amish family. Conceived by rape she always feels as if her life was a mistake. It's a story of finding love and finding freedom when she realizes God had a plan for her life and His promises are always true.

What key takeaway or message do you expect the reader to understand when they have finished your book?

God's promises are always true

Motive or purpose in writing your book:

I love everything Amish and I try to deal with “messier” and deeper issues within the Amish culture...but in a gentle a lovely way through heartwarming characters.

Describe how your personal background was involved in the writing of this book, if applicable.

Related to the theme, my life was unexpected and my mom got pregnant at a Halloween party. For years I felt like “a mistake” yet God showed me he had a plan for me. We also adopted a baby girl two years ago, and I know the joy of that experience! Yet I also know she'll have many questions as she grows. (We are currently in the process of adopting two more kids, too!)

Also, for fifteen years I lived in Northwestern Montana—about one hour from where this book took place. Even though I grew up in the mountains of California there was something wondrous about the Rockies. Not a day passed when I didn't appreciate the scenic mountains and the beauty of the place.

Also, three years ago I met Amish families from the community and they allowed me to interview them and experience their lives. Many moved from typical Amish communities to rural Montana.

I hope this book will open a new world to Amish readers.

Millie's Treasure

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Millie's Treasure Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2013) by Kathleen Y'Barbo

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a fun, fresh approach to a series. It's the first I've read where the books follow the life of the antagonist instead of the good guys. Millie's Treasure is actually the second book in the series, but you definitely don't have to read the first book, Flora's Wish, to enjoy this book.

Millie is a woman who is much more interested in science and literature than society balls, much to the chagrin of her father. Her position as the only remaining female in the family after the others die from yellow fever leads her to believe her father blames her for not dying with or instead of the others. Her interests are a source of embarrassment to him and have hampered the interest of men in society. She has agreed to marry a man of wealth to help her father's finances and to get away from him.

This is a fascinating book with lots of cutting edge inventions (for the 1880's), action, and drama. I highly recommend it for those interested in historic novels.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

RITA and Carol award nominee Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than forty novels, novellas, and young adult books. In all, more than one million copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad, and her books have been translated into Dutch, German, and Spanish, to name a few.

Kathleen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She holds a BBA from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School and a certification in Paralegal Studies, and is a former member of the Texas Bar Association’s Paralegal Division.

A tenth-generation Texan, Kathleen Y’Barbo has four children of her own as well as seven bonus kids she gladly inherited when she married her own hero in combat boots. Kathleen is proud to be a military wife, even if it did mean giving up her Texas drivers license.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From bestselling author Kathleen Y'Barbo comes Millie's Treasure, the second book in The Secret Lives of Will Tucker series, a new set of novels involving romance, adventure, and hidden identity.

Memphis 1890--Bookish heiress Millie Jean Cope is as clever as she is beautiful. Unfortunately, though adept at solving puzzles and cryptograms, she doesn't realize her new fiancé isn't who he claims to be, but instead is a charming scoundrel. The infamous Will Tucker is presenting himself as a British gentleman, Sir William Trueck, though in reality he is a crafty criminal looking for a hidden map to a secret treasure.

Pinkerton agent Kyle Russell has been on Tucker's trail for years. At last Kyle believes he has Tucker cornered, but he is uncertain whether the lovely woman on the con man's arm is an unsuspecting victim or willing accomplice. Finding reasons to spend time with Millie is easy. Keeping himself from falling in love with her is another issue entirely. A fun and entertaining story of how God can shine the light of truth on the most cryptic circumstances.

If you would like to read the first chapter of >Millie's Treasure, go HERE.

Harvest of Gold

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Harvest of Gold River North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2013) by Tessa Afshar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The scribe Sarah married Darius, and at times she feels as if she has married the Persian aristocracy, too. There is another point she did not count on in her marriage-Sarah has grown to love her husband. Sarah has wealth, property, honor, and power, but her husband's love still seems unattainable.

Although his mother was an Israelite, Darius remains skeptical that his Jewish wife is the right choice for him, particularly when she conspires with her cousin Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ordered to assist in the effort, the couple begins a journey to the homeland of his mother's people. Will the road filled with danger, conflict, and surprising memories, help Darius to see the hand of God at work in his life-and even in his marriage?

A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success, will lead to an unlikely bounty.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Gold, go HERE.

In Golden Splendor

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing In Golden Splendor • B&H Books (July 15, 2013) by Michael Reynolds

MY THOUGHTS:
For the first time in a very long time I found that I didn't care much for this book. I was excited about a historical novel that covered the California gold rush and the great fire in San Francisco, and I hoped to learn a lot more about life during that era. Unfortunately these topics seemed to be background for several other story lines, only one of which I enjoyed.

Perhaps if I had read the first book in this series I might have been able to follow this better. There were definitely things that a reader needs to know when reading this book, and I presume they were covered in book one. From my perspective, there were just too many story lines trying to all resolve themselves at the same time and it felt unrealistic and forced.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Irish immigrant Seamus Hanley is a lost soul, haunted by his past as a U.S. Army deserter and living alone in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in 1849. But after witnessing a deadly stage coach crash, he finds purpose in the scattered wreckage -- a letter with a picture of a beautiful and captivating woman named Ashlyn living in San Francisco at the height of the Gold Rush. Moved by her written plea for help, he abandons all and sets out on an epic journey across the wild and picturesque American frontier. While being pursued by those who want to hang him, Seamus encounters fascinating characters including a young Pauite Indian who makes the ultimate sacrifice in helping Seamus to cross the snowy Yosemite Valley. Battered but changed for the better, Seamus reaches San Francisco on Christmas Eve as the city burns in the tragic fire of 1849. But there is little time for rest, as an even greater, more harrowing adventure involving Ashlyn is about to begin.


If you would like to read the first chapter of In Golden Splendor, go HERE

Grounded

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Grounded Worthy Publishing (May 7, 2013) by Neta and Dave Jackson

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a fun look at the backstage side of a Christian singer's life. Of course it's fiction, but Neta and Dave Jackson have brought the world of music to life. They also deal with secrets -- those things we each have hidden from the public as we work through our lives. 

Grace is a Christian singer who brings a much needed message about purity to her listeners, but through the book she discovers a more powerful, and maybe more needed message that can change lives. But what will people think when they know the truth?

Grounded is a wonderful book about prayer, forgiveness, and discovering the meaning of true love.

 ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

As a husband/wife writing team, we are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together we are the authors or coauthors of over 120 books. (You can see our Publication Record by clicking HERE.) In addition to writing several books about Christian community, we have been privileged to coauthor numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

But over the years the we have especially enjoyed writing for children and young people! This includes our award-winning TRAILBLAZER series, historical fiction about great Christian heroes and heroines for young people ages 8-12, and the four-volume HERO TALES: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Great Christians, and the companion book, Heroes in Black History.

Somewhere along the way, our own children grew up! Son Julian is Director of Experience Design for the Alder Planetarium in Chicago where he “provides the experience of exploring space” for visitors. He has two sons, Liam Isaac and Elijah David. Daughter Rachel graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and after working in the field of rape-crisis prevention went on to earn a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. She is now a counselor at “Uni High School” in Champaign, Illinois. She is the loving mother of Havah Noelle (our first grandchild!) and Noah Zion, our youngest grandchild. The Jackson family also includes a Cambodian foster daughter, Samen Sang, who has four children.

We live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years we were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. We are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

ABOUT THE BOOK

...But Hope May Be Just Across the Street

Grace Meredith is a beloved contemporary Christian recording artist whose career--and personal life--hits unexpected turbulence. She feels grounded--in more ways than one. Grace s fiancé, bothered by her outspoken stance on purity and her near-constant travel, has broken off their relationship. Exhausted and unable to continue her current concert schedule, Grace returns home to Chicago, where she is soon stranded in a major snowstorm. Facing new questions about her future and her faith, Grace finds herself connecting for the first time with the residents of her neighborhood. What she discovers in these unexpected relationships could change everything.

Welcome to the Neighborhood The first in the Windy City Neighbors series, Grounded is an uplifting, contemporary story about ordinary people wrestling with the spiritual and practical issues of real life. The series employs the innovative storytelling technique of parallel novels, each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters lives become intertwined and affect one another. Grounded welcomes you to Beecham Street--a typical, isolated American neighborhood that might just be a place of hope.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Grounded, go Here.

The Widow of Gettysburg

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Widow of Gettysburg River North; New Edition edition (April 12, 2013) by Jocelyn Green

MY THOUGHTS:
I LOVED this book! The impact of battles on folks living in the area had never occurred to me, and Jocelyn Green did an amazing job of researching diaries and other historical documents to ensure she stayed true to the horrors of war. The information at the back of the book about her research was as interesting as the book!

The characters in this book were multi-dimensional and fascinating to know. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the relationships in the story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.





ABOUT THE BOOK

When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart.

While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.

In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it? Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath.

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

Pieces of the Heart

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Pieces of the Heart Abingdon Press (June 1, 2013) by Bonnie S. Calhoun

MY THOUGHTS:
 This book is much deeper than the write up on the back (and below) would suggest. It is a wonderful story of love and perseverance, but the golden threads holding the book together are the serious issues of prejudice (in many forms), withheld forgiveness, and disbelief in prayer.

Bonnie Calhoun weaves a tale of the horrifying truths of WWII and pre-judgement of people based on their color, gender, beliefs, sins, and countenance. I would never have imagined a book could creatively wind these real-life issues together, but as it happens in real life, Bonnie has made it all seem (unfortunately) natural.  She takes the reader behind the externals of the characters to reveal hurts and motivations beyond simple understanding.

Under it all is the peace that faithfulness in undying love and prayer can bring to the life of another. I love the historical tradition of the pinecone quilt, a prayer covering over the life of the next generation.

This book is definitely a thought-provoking read worth every minute. It is hard to put down -- I received it one afternoon and immediately got hooked. It was finished before bedtime!

You can purchase the book HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year,” President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network, and Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference(GPCWC).

For the last six years she has taught workshops in Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and creating Social Media promotions at both CCWC, and GPCWC, and in 2011 at the Montrose, Pa Christian Writers Conference. She also taught a Facebook workshop at the 2012 ACFW conference.

Bonnie and her husband live in a log cabin in upstate area of New York with a dog and cat who think she’s wait-staff.

Her sites are: https://www.facebook.com/bonniescalhounsnarkandsuspense
https://www.facebook.com/bscalhoun

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cordelia Grace watched Bernard Howard, the love of her young life, go off to fight for our country in WWII. And she has spent the last three years creating the Pine Cone quilt that will grace their marriage bed when he comes home. Each row of triangles signifies a layer in her life, sets of memories, hopes, dreams, and prayers for her future, enough spoken words to cover them forever. Her image of their “happy-ever-after” grows proportionally as the quilt expands.

But is the man that returns from the war, the same man that she remembered? Are the dark shades of color that she had to use for the outside edges of the beloved quilt prophetic of her life to come? Can love and faith overcome all?

If you would like to read teh first chapter of Pieces of the Heart, go HERE.

Thank you to Abingdon Press for providing a copy of this book for review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Cafe Chocolat Retreat

Cafe Chocolat -- Where Women Delight in God's Grace
Women's Ministry Retreat Director's Kit
Group Publishing


I had the honor of reviewing one of Group's newest Women's Retreat programs. Group does a fabulous job of pulling together all the materials necessary for a women's group leadership team to plan and deliver a great retreat without having to pay a speaker or organizer.

Cafe Chocolat uses chocolate as a metaphor for God's grace. The kit comes with:
Director Guide
Training and Promo DVD
Graphics and other goodies on a CD
Worship Leader Guide
6 Session Leader Guides
Music CD
There are also samples of the materials for each participant (purchased separately):
Journal
God's Grace Bracelet
Cafe Chocolat Tote bag.

If interested, a Bible study follow up and a chocolate themed devotional can be purchased.

My Thoughts
The retreat seeks to link women's typical love of chocolate and it's wonderful attributes with the amazing grace of God.

This is an effective retreat for women in all stages of their walks with Christ, and it is probably geared most toward women who want a relaxing retreat, not an in-depth study. As with most of Group's retreats, it is heavy on relationship building within the participants. The games are lighthearted and familiar. As one who really doesn't like 'get acquainted' games, those described for this retreat are not too 'cheesy', so even stick-in-the-muds like me won't be uncomfortable!

The games aren't much different from those in Group's Cozy Cabin retreat, so it might seem repetitive if your women's group has done that retreat in the past.

As with all Group retreats, there is a missions project included. This particular one could be quite expensive, requiring 25 yards of fleece for a group of 30. The project requires a couple of people to do quite a bit of cutting before the event.

this type of retreat might be difficult for those who are trying to lose weight or those who are allergic to chocolate. It would be important to have a plan to deal with these situations so no one feels left out. I don't remember reading any suggestions.

This would be a fun retreat for a group that doesn't want to go too deeply into spiritual issues at their retreat, those who really want a chance for women to get away from the stresses of the world and relax. It is definitely Biblically sound, and provides a well planned package for a successful retreat.

Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel B&H Publishing Group (April 30, 2013) by Melody Carlson

MY THOUGHTS:
 Although this book has a familiar story line (a person inherits a huge home from a wealthy relative and has to deal with repurcussions), Melody Carlson has done a great job of adding twists to the story that make it fresh and fun.

The characters in this book are fabulous. Each has enough quirk to make them memorable and enough realism to make them believable. The position our heroine is placed in by a well meaning aunt (with enough quirks and secrets of her own), adds suspense and turmoil to the book.

I really appreciated the ending of this book. I don't want to give it away, but let's just say it leads well into a sequel that I'm anxiously awaiting.

As with every other book of Carlson's I've read, this one's a great read that will take you away from the worries of your day.







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

With high hopes, Dorothy Ballinger lands her dream job at The New York Times. But it's not long until writing about weddings becomes a painful reminder of her own failed romance, and her love of the city slowly sours as well. Is it time to give up the Big Apple for her small hometown of Appleton?

When her eccentric Aunt Dot passes away and leaves a sizeable estate to Dorothy, going back home is an easy choice. What isn’t easy is coming to terms with the downright odd clauses written into the will.

Dorothy only stands to inherit the estate if she agrees to her aunt's very specific posthumous terms -- personal and professional. And if she fails to comply, the sprawling old Victorian house shall be bequeathed to . . . Aunt Dot’s cats.

And if Dorothy thinks that’s odd, wait until she finds out an array of secrets about Aunt Dot's life, and how imperfect circumstances can sometimes lead to God's perfect timing.

If you would liketo read the first chapter of Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel, go HERE.

Fear Has a Name

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Fear Has a Name David C. Cook (June 1, 2013) by Creston Mapes

MY THOUGHTS
 Creston Mapes is a master of terror -- and this book is another winner. The main character is stalked in a horrifying believable way, and it results in dynamic chapters that kept me turning the pages long into the night.

I particularly appreciated the struggle between doing what might be safe and striving to live a 'normal' life. Where is that line that must be drawn to avoid giving in to the terror of criminal minds?

Faith is a strong mediator in such a case, and Mapes does a wonderful job of dealing with the struggle between giving in to fear/seeking retribution and relying on a God who is firmly in control of all situations. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as "The Shop."

Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.


ABOUT THE BOOK

From popular suspense author Creston Mapes comes another faith-building thriller, a tale that follows journalist Jack Crittendon as he fights to protect his family from a stalker's terrifying schemes, investigates a pastor's mysterious disappearance, and struggles to keep his faith amidst unthinkable fear.

With his family's safety on the line, Crittendon realizes there are secrets behind "Christian" walls--secrets with painful, deadly implications. He must find the faith to trust a God who allows inconceivable trials, and the courage to guard his family, with danger exploding at every turn.

Through it all--the sharp, character-driven writing for which Mapes is known--takes fans and new readers on an edge-of-your-seat journey that explores the harsh, far-reaching consequences of bullying and the Christian response to fear.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fear Has a Name, go HERE.

An Open Heart

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing An Open Heart David C. Cook (June 1, 2013) by Harry Kraus

MY THOUGHTS:
 Harry Kraus was a doctor first by trade, and a writer second. He has had great success in both areas, and his fiction works attest to that! If you like medical mysteries, missions, and just a hint of the supernatural, this is a perfect book for you. 

The main character, Dr. Jace Rawlings, is an open-heart surgeon who has suffered from a traumatic head injury. He can't remember the night he got injured, and unfortunately it appears that he was involved in a scandal that could spell disaster to his marriage. He runs to Africa to start a medical mission and hopefully find peace about the death of his twin sister years earlier, but finds himself embroiled in political and mystical workings that he can't understand.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read because I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it and all of Harry Kraus's other books.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Harry:

I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife's urging: "Now doesn't seem the right time for this dream."

My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I'd written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn't until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the "rules" without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I'd have made faster progress if I'd have gone to the fiction teachers sooner.

I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you'll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Their Messages—From Beyond the Grave—Might Destroy Him ...

They hover between life and death, their hearts stopped on the surgery table. And the messages Dr. Jace Rawlings’ open-heart surgery patients bring back from beyond the grave cannot be ignored. For they predict the deaths of people around him, and point a finger of suspicion straight at him.

It thrusts Jace into a firestorm of controversy and danger. A maeltsrom blown by the darker winds of political intrigue and spiritual warfare. And the forces working against him will do anything to stop him from uncovering a truth they will kill to hide. He’d come to Kenya to establish a heart-surgery program for the poor. But what he will find in that place where he grew up will put everything at risk–his marriage, his career . . . his life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of An Open Heart, go HERE.

A Heartbeat Away

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Heartbeat Away Abingdon Press (May 1, 2013) by S. Dionne Moore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

S. Dionne Moore started writing in 2006. Her first book, Murder on the Ol’ Bunions, was contracted for publication by Barbour Publishing in 2008. In 2009 she moved on to writing historical romances as an outlet for her passion for history. In 2010 her second cozy mystery, Polly Dent Loses Grip, was a 2010 Carol Award finalist and she was also named a Barbour Publishing 2010 Favorite New Author. In 2011 her first historical romance, Promise of Tomorrow, was nominated a 2011 Carol Award finalist.

Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, Moore moved to Greencastle, PA in 1993, then to Mercersburg in 2009. Moore enjoys life in the historically rich Cumberland Valley where traffic jams are a thing of the past and there are only two stoplights in the whole town.

For more information, visit her Website at www.sdionnemoore.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @sdionnemoore
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sdionnemoore
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/sdionnemoore

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.

Her mother's mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt's message to its greatest test—but can betrayal be forgiven?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heartbeat Away, go HERE.

Watch the video:
AHeartbeatAway - Medium from S. Dionne Moore on Vimeo.

Jennifer - A Love Story

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2013) by Dee Henderson

MY THOUGHTS:
I'm so glad Dee Henderson is writing again! I loved her O'Malley series -- the first Christian fiction books I ever really read. 

I really enjoyed this book -- we haven't heard much about Jennifer up to this point and it's great to see her life and her love story! The depth of characters and the way the story is created are masterful, as usual with Dee's writing.

This is a short book, abot 1/3rd the size of the others in the O'Malley series. A very quick read.

I'd love to read a story of how the O'Malley's started their family -- hint hint!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's a summer of change for Jennifer O'Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She's sorting out how to introduce him to her family--she's the youngest of seven--and thinking about marriage.

She's falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn't expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.