CFBA: A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher

Song Stuck on the Brain: Itsy Bitsy Spider... Singing to my newest nephew has all the baby songs taking turns running through my head. He's worth it though. SUCH a cutie.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:


A Matter Of Character


Zondervan (May 25, 2010)


by


Robin Lee Hatcher

MY TAKE:

A fantastic finale to another great series. I love Robin's writing. It's fun, creative and heartwarming. I really enjoy her foray into this era and setting. Her characters are real and easy to identify with. Daphne especially, is a character I enjoyed. Her spunk and determination in facing a world not used to a woman's presence, is inspiring and fun.

If you've enjoyed Robin's writing before, then you'll be just as excited with her latest work. If Robin is an author you haven't read yet, then what are you waiting for? Go pick up the Sisters of Bethlehm Springs series and get busy reading. You won't be disapointed.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

It's 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. But Daphne has a secret.

A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories ... except Daphne.

When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.

Robin is conducting a contest for the new book. Join in the fun HERE.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of A Matter Of Character, go HERE.






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon

CFBA: Broken by Travis Thrasher

Song Stuck on the Brain: I Will Remember You by Amy Grant

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:


BrokenFaithWords (May 25, 2010)


by


Travis Thrasher


MY TAKE:

Horror, or supernatural suspense is not particularly a genre I enjoy. I will say that Travis is a very talented writer and for those who are fans of this genre, you will probably be very impressed. It was easy to find myself spooked or jumpy while reading.

The story was a genuine look at the broken part in all of us and the lengths we go to in order to hide that brokeness and sin. Our search for freedom and salvation and where we find it - every part of that journey is there for the reader to identify with.

Although I might not choose to pick up every new book in this genre, I will say that I enjoyed Travis' story and writing style. I leave it to you as a reader to decide how much you enjoy the story. I'd love to hear your comments on it, so let me know what you think.




ABOUT THE BOOK:

Laila had it all--love, family, wealth, and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago.

When she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self-defense, sending herself into a spiral of guilt and emptiness. Six months later, she is trying to move on, but she's haunted by the past. She hasn't told anyone about the man she killed, and she's still estranged from her family.

When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, Laila has no choice but to run. But the stranger stays close behind, and Laila begins having visions of the man she killed. Little does she know she's being hounded by something not of this world, something that knows her deepest, darkest secret.

Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007.


Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has to novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.

Stop by and visit Travis at his Blog where you can sign up to follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

Effigy Release Blog Party- win PRIZES

YAY! The release of Effigy by Theresa Danley has finally arrived and you're invited to join in the celebration and fun.

May 25, 2010 between 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Join author, Theresa Danley, in celebrating the release of EFFIGY!

www.theresadanley.com

Follow the blog link to join the party! Post a comment for your chance to win a door prize, including a free download of the book!!!

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to win, visit Amazon and purchase your Kindle download now.

Be sure you visit Theresa's site and read all about her and her new release. She's a real up and coming writer you don't want to miss out on.

If you missed a previous post, here's a short little peak at what you'll miss if you don't check it out.

A serial killer is on the loose, depositing his victims’ hearts amid the Toltec ruins of central Mexico. Meanwhile, a priceless Mesoamerican artifact is stolen from the University of Utah, sweeping archaeologists Anthony Peet and Lori Dewson on a desperate recovery mission south of the border. Accompanied by a reluctant colleague, an enthusiastic young journalist and a Yaqui woman in mourning, the team must decipher clues hidden within the Aztec sunstone, mystical Toltec Pyramids and astronomical calendar rounds to find the priceless effigy of Quetzalcoatl. They suddenly find themselves in a race against the coming solar eclipse, all the while dodging a corrupt Mexican police force still on the hunt for the sadistic murderer – a killer who’s chosen one of them for his next human sacrifice.

CFBA: Frenzy by Robert Liparulo

Song Stuck on the Brain: Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake. Just watched the Chuck season finale. Love that show. Can't beat a cute geek. :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:



FrenzyThomas Nelson (May 18, 2010)



by



Robert Liparulo


MY TAKE:

Neither my 15 yr old nephew or I can decide if Frenzy being the final book in the Dreamhouse Kings series is good or bad. We've both waited with baited breath for each book to release, only to scream in frustration and wait on pins and needles for the NEXT book. (By the way, getting the books early made me a VERY popular aunt...)

Frenzy closes a fantastic series with as big a bang as it started. They're the kind of book you sit down and devour, not read. Frenzy answers some questions long left unanswered and leaves the door open for infinite opportunities for future adventure. Robert did a fantastic job of wrapping up the series without truly shutting the door on the Kings.

I suppose in the end, ending the series is relief from anxiously chewed fingernails. On the other hand both my nephew and I are going to seriously miss that third floor.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Their destiny is to fix history. Their dream is to get home.

When you live in a house that's really a gateway between past and present, you have to be ready for anything. It's a painful fact the Kings have faced since moving to Pinedale eight days ago. Desperately trying to rescue their mother from an unknown time and place, brothers Xander and David have lunged headlong into the chaos of history's greatest--and most volatile--events. But their goal has continually escaped their grasp.

And worse: Finding Mom is only a small part of what they must do, thanks to the barbaric Taksidian. His ruthless quest to sieze their house and its power from them has put not only the family, but all of mankind, in grave danger.

Somehow, the key to it all hinges on Uncle Jesse's words to the boys: "Fixing time is what our family was made to do." But how can they fix a world that has been turned updisde down--much less ever find their way home?

At long last, the secrets of the house and the King family are revealed in the stunning conclusion to this epic series.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of Frenzy, go HERE.



Sign up for the Frenzy Newsletter HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first novel, Comes a Horseman, released to critical acclaim. Each of his subsequent thrillers—Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock—secured his place as one of today’s most popular and daring thriller writers.

He is known for investing deep research and chillingly accurate predictions of near-future scenarios into his stories. In fact, his thorough, journalistic approach to research has resulted in his becoming an expert on the various topics he explores in his fiction, and he has appeared on such media outlets as CNN and ABC Radio.

Liparulo’s visual style of writing has caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman. were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted in 2008 with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers, released in January 2009, and number four, Timescape, in July 2009, and number five, Whirlwind in December 2009. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series, Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

With the next two Dreamhouse books “in the can,” he is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects supernatural elements into his brand of gun-blazing storytelling. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on his acclaimed short story, which appeared in James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans

CFBA: Predator by Terri Blackstock

Song Stuck on the Brain: Andy Griffith Theme Music. I've been whistling in my head for waaaay too long now.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:



PredatorZondervan (May 25, 2010)



by



Terri Blackstock


MY TAKE:

Come on, what can I say but, WELL Done! Terri is admittedly one of my favorite authors. I've not read a book of hers yet that hasn't hooked me from the very first page. This book didn't disappoint. She confronted a very current issue head on and made it real. (I'm going to follow my nieces and nephew's online sites like a hawk from now on.) She also made me shiver, hold my breath and gasp out loud. When you live the experience with the characters, you know you have a hit on your hands.

I hate giving away a plot. You have to experience it for yourself.

Bravo Terri!



ABOUT THE BOOK:

The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome?

Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line.

Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now.

Enter the Terri Blackstock iPad CONTEST: http://www.terriblackstock.com/contests/.


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


Watch the book trailer video!






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.

In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.

In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.

Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

CFBA: Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave

Song Stuck on the Brain: Be Though My Vision

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Deadly DisclosureNew Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (February 15, 2010)by

Julie Cave


MY TAKE:

Deadly Disclosures hit the suspense genre nail straight on the head. Dinah is a real person, damaged, a little distrusting, stuck and floundering for a purpose. God shows her she has a purpose and that's what makes the story so interesting. We may not be alchoholics or even suicidal, but we can all identify with her emotional struggle and desire to find a purpose. The suspense drives the story, but the emotional and spiritual journey carry a subtelty through the tale that makes the story all the stronger. Christian storys don't always mean having a Christian main character. Sometimes it's about showing how Christianity and real life affect people that haven't found their way yet. It's about new beginings and learning something about a world outside your own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Suspense-filled mystery which answers an ominous question: How far will some go to silence an influential Christian voice?

Thomas Whitfield, proud Secretary of the Smithsonian and its extensive scientific influence, has disappeared from his office with foul play suspected. Dinah Harris, an FBI agent struggling with alcohol and depression, is seeking answers amidst the fallout of her own personal issues.

Whitfield's body is eventually found, and other people connected to him begin dying as well, ultimately exposing a broader conspiracy connected to Whitfield's recent conversion to Christ and promotion of a biblical worldview in an academic world of financial gain hostile to this concept.

Will Dinah be able to experience the redemptive power of Christ before it's too late? Or will the ominous danger stalking her investigation claim another victim?

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

Watch the Video Book Trailer:





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie first heard a creation science speaker at her church when she was just 15, igniting her interest in creation science and sparking an enthusiasm for defending the Bible’s account of creation. She has obtained a degree in health science, and is currently completing a degree in law. Julie is married with one daughter and lives on the east coast of Australia.

CSFF: By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Song Stuck on the Brain: Bring Him Home from Les Mis by Colm Wilkinson

My absolute favorite musical. This song is so amazing.

This month the CSFF is touring:

By Darkness Hid

by

Jill Williamson

MY TAKE:

Jill Williamson has a smash hit on her hands. I love this book, and I'd better not have to wait for the sequel very long. :)

Achan and Vrell are the kind of people you wish you knew in real life. In some ways even the people you wish you could be. They inspire you to be stronger, better, even more daring. The secondary cast aren't far behind. You feel their frustration, the injustice they face, even the desire for hope and a better life. There are characters you despise and others you cheer for every page of the way. Being able to completely immerse yourself in a story, is one of the best ways to rate a novel. So Jill gets a five star rating from me.

A great story and characters earn her high marks, but the intricacy she puts into the background and descriptions earns her bonus points. You feel that she's not only done the research, but that there's a good chance she's actually used or lived it in some way.

For example her knowledge of natural healing and herbology is fantastic. I've worked in the health food and medicinal herbs market for over 15 years. Jill KNOWS what she's talking about. It wasn't a smattering of little common facts here and there, she put effort into making it real. Her facts were thorough. And she did it all in a way that blended seamlessly into the story. No dry facts or scenes that ran on pointlessly. That's just one example. I think she must be a great swordsman as well. :)

As a writer I tend to notice small things like that and kick myself for missing that kind of detail in my own work. Not only the use of detail, but using it in an appropriate way. Jill isn't just a great writer and storyteller - she's an inspiration to the rest of us still trying to make our way on a writer's journey.

Kudo's Jill, you deserve it.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Half of Er’Rets is locked beneath an impenetrable shroud. On the side that still sees the sun, two young people struggle to understand the mind-communication abilities thrust upon them. It’s called bloodvoicing. Some say it’s a gift. One of the newly “gifted” wish it had never come.

Achan has been a slave all his life. He is consigned to the kitchens of a lord and forced to swallow a foul potion every day. When an enigmatic knight offers to train Achan for the Kingsguard, he readily accepts. But his new skills with the sword do not prepare him for the battle raging between the voices in his head.

Vrell Sparrow is not who she seems. She masquerades as a boy to avoid capture by the powerful forces that seek to exploit her. But Vrell feels called to help a young squire who recently discovered his bloodvoicing gift, even if doing so requires her to work with those who could destroy her.

While Achan learns to use his new ability, Vrell struggles to shut hers down. All the voices strive to learn Achan and Vrell’s true identities—and a different kind of voice is calling them both.

Read Chapter One HERE.

Watch the Book Trailer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill was raised in rural Alaska. Alone with her thoughts and the moose, daydreaming was a favorite pastime. As was reading.

She always loved reading. She started out with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, the Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. She loves just about every genre out there, but her all time favorites are fantasy and suspense.

Jill met Brad in college and they married after graduation. Her dreams of becoming a fashion designer dragged the couple to New York City for one year. After that, Brad’s dreams of directing movies dragged them to Los Angeles. They both worked really hard for people who weren’t very nice.

A few years of torture passed.

Brad started volunteering with teens at their Burbank church. They had their first son, Luke, moved to a house, Jill got out of the fashion industry (woo hoo!), and Brad became an ordained minister and full time youth pastor (double woo hoo!). God is good. All the time.

Jill started writing a book. It seemed like a good idea at the time. She didn’t have a clue what she was getting into. All she knew for certain was that it was really fun. With two babies at home, it was a neat way to pass the time.

Writing was something Jill never really did before then. Daydreaming and plotting, however, were familiar old friends. So now Jill writes…everywhere. At home, in the car, at church (only notes, I promises!), in line at the grocery store, at the park, while walking, in the shower… (TMI?) and she loves it. She finds creating characters and taking them on a journey an amazing experience. She never knew what it could be like until she met Spencer, Nauja, Martyr, and Achan. Writing was a whole lot of fun. Plus, she couldn’t get in trouble for forgetting to add a rosette onto a K-mart costsheet and costing the company a loss of $5,000. (True story…) And, she can’t get yelled at when the line of evening gowns she shipped via Fed Ex doesn’t reach the showroom in New York in time for Market to open. (Was it really her fault the plane got snowed in?)

No. Jill has no bitter memories of the fashion industry at all. (Can we say The Devil Wears Prada, anyone?)

But yes. Writing is something she loves. Writing is something she could do forever, if God allows it. (Please, God? Pretty please?)

May He do with Jill what He wishes.

See what other tour members are saying:

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

CFBA:Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

Song Stuck on the Brain: Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Crossing OceansTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 1, 2010)

byGina Holmes

MY TAKE:

Okay, get a box of Kleenex and be prepared to have your heart wrung every which way. Not everyone loves a dramatic story, but this one has a satisfying ending, despite the tone of the book. I hate giving anything away in a story, so I won't mention anything more, other than to say that Gina's story has a life of it's own. Her characters have life and you can't help but fall into the story with them.


ABOUT THE BOOK :

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.



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



Watch the Video Book Trailer:






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.

CFBA: A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills

Song Stuck on the Brain: I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelley

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:




A Woman Called Sage
Zondervan (April 1, 2010)







by




DiAnn Mills







MY TAKE:



Sage is one determined lady. The west was made by strong women of every type; maybe even more than it was made by strong men. I love her character, she was inspiring to me. The fact that her surrounding story hooked me so quickly, just made her journey so much better to enjoy. And those opening pages? Wow, from romance to devestation in 3 pages flat.
Who could stop reading after that?




ABOUT THE BOOK:

They took away everything she loved...now, she’s out for revenge.

Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution.

Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it’s found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.

In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Woman Called Sage, go HERE.



Watch the Video Book Trailer:







ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

CFBA: Love Will Keep Us Together

Song Stuck on the Brain: Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tennille. Go figure...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:




Love Will Keep Us Together
FaithWords (April 30, 2010)




by


Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt





MY TAKE:

The final book in the Miracle Girls series was definitely a hit with me. I think I connected with Riley in ways I didn't expect to. It made me remember my own senior year in high school. I was faced with many of the same issues. Everyone knew where they were going but me. I thought I did until my senior year and then I hit a wall of indecision. Nothing sounded right anymore.

Riley's situation certainly wasn't unique, many of us face the same things in our lives whether it was in high school or now. What makes her special is that she reminds us that despite our weaknesses and indecision, we still survive. Friends, family and most importantly, God; are the things that shape our lives. Riley and her friends brought up so many memories, both good and bad. It was a fun story with real heart and soul behind it.

I really don't have a bad thing to say. I did feel that at the end of the novel, there was one little section I would have chosen to say differently. I believe that God never changes. Despite how our world changes, the basics of life- sin, faith, hope, indecision and poor choices - the word of God still holds the answers we seek. Choosing a college or a career can still be addressed by the word of God. The answer to the question "Where should I go to college, or what should be my career choice?" can be found by asking, "How do I seek God's will and How do I learn to hear His answer?" That is where the answere comes from. Learn how to listen and the answers will come. That lesson is plain in all of God's word and those directions are applicable to all situations. The Bible is not outdated or inable to keep up with our modern lives.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Riley McGee has the whole world open before her. She could get into any college, major in any subject, become whoever she wants to be...But the truth is, Riley has no earthly idea what to do. She's paralyzed by indecision, afraid of the changes she faces, and as graduation day inches closer, it feels more and more like a threat.


Meanwhile, her autistic brother, Michael, is struggling to fit in at Marina Vista and stay on top of his classes. Riley tries to keep an eye out for him, but when Ms. Moore suggests pulling Michael out of school, Riley has to fight for her brother--and against her favorite teacher. And things take another turn when her ex-boyfriend, Tom, arrives, hoping to give their relationship one more try. On top of that, an ambitious new pastor makes her question everything she thought she knew about faith.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Will Keep Us Together, go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.

MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.

Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls series

CFBA: Extreme Devotional Series by Kathi Macias

Song Stuck on the Brain: Irene by TobyMac

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:


The Extreme Devotional series

No Greater Love

More Than ConquerorsNew Hope Publishers (April 5, 2010)


by




Kathi Macias



MY TAKE:

I so wish I could give you a review of these books, but I just received them on Saturday. Unfortunately, even for a speedy reader like me, that's not enough time to read two books. :) I think this is the first time ever, I've received a book too late to post a review. I will tell you that the series looks incredibly interesting and I look forward to checking them out. I will try to post a review soon.




ABOUT THE BOOKS:

...(set in South Africa in 1989, during the violence and turmoil just prior to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and the overthrow of Apartheid.

Forbidden romance, an unlikely martyr and an even more unlikely hero. Orphaned four years earlier when their parents, active in the African National Congress ANC movement against apartheid, were murdered16-year-old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother Masozi now live and work on an Afrikaner familys farm. When Chioma and Andrew, the farm owners son, find themselves attracted to one another, tragedy revisits their lives. Chioma escapes to join an ANC rebel band in her effort to survive and gain revenge for her family and culture. When cultures clash in life-or-death struggles, Chioma must choose between violence and revengeor forgiveness and selfless love. Loosely based on historical events and set near Pretoria, South Africa, in the violent upheaval prior to ANC leader Nelson Mandelas release from prison in 1990 and his ascendance to the presidency of South Africa, this story of forbidden romance produces an unlikely martyr who is replaced by one even more unlikely.



If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of No Greater Love, go HERE.



Watch the video trailer:

...(set in Tijuana, Mexico, and also in San Juan Chamula, Mexico, which is deep in the heart of Mayan country)

True love ignites their passionate pursuit of His call With violent crime on the rise and the political climate changing throughout certain parts of Mexico, the opportunity for open Christian witness, particularly in some areas of Chiapas State, is rapidly decreasing. Hector Rodriguez pastors a small church in the tourist-popular border town of Tijuana. He also routinely carries Bibles deeper into the hostile areas of Mexico, where he ministers despite increasing difficulty and persecution. Hectors mother accompanied him on one of those trips and felt God called her to stay in the little village of San Juan Chamula, where she uses the Scriptures to teach reading to the families who are open to it. In retaliation for Hectors bringing the Bibles into areas hostile to Christians and in an effort to dissuade him from continuing to expand his ministry there, Hectors mother is murdered. Hector must decide if he will continue his work despite his worries about protecting his wife and children.



If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of More Than Conquerors, go HERE.



Watch the book video:







ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathi Macias is an award-winning author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books. She has also ghostwritten and collaborated on books for a number of well-known individuals. She is a staff member for The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and a member of The Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network, Christian Authors Network, American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers Fellowship International, Advanced Writers/Speakers Association, for who she serves as membership chair, and orange County Christian Writers Fellowship. She is the 2008 winner of AWSA’s Golden Scroll Award.



A Former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Macias is a credentialed minister and served as an associate pastor at a large church in Southern California, where she did biblical counseling, trained small group leaders, and oversaw support/recovery ministries. She is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and has appeared on several radio and TV programs.