CFBA: Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna

Song Stuck on the Brain: Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley.

You can't read this book and NOT have it run in your head for days. :) Good thing it's a song I enjoy.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:




Love Me TenderSummerside Press (September 1, 2010)



by


Janice Hanna


MY TAKE:

What a fun step back in time. It's almost astounding how innocent Hollywood seemed in the 50's compared to now. Wouldn't it be nice to have more Bobby Conrad and Johnny Hartman's around now - famous or not.

Debbie's determination to save her father and Sweet Sal's, and find true love with a movie star is both quaintly naive and admirable at the same time. Something that probably wouldn't have even been believable in any other setting or time period, but in Love Me Tender, it works and it works really well. The romance is sweet. The characters' faith and trust in Jesus to lead them to the right one to love is a great example of what we should still expect today. There's nothing wrong with naivety, innocence, and sweet romance. I wish we found more of it in the 21st century.

Janice made me long for a time period I wasn't even alive to experience and she did it by pulling in great classic songs and movies (Like Elvis and Roman Holiday, an all time favorite), fashion, and history. (Imagine! Someday gas could cost 50 cents a gallon! Oh, if Debbie's father could see us today!)

Love Me Tender is a fun, lighthearted romp through a decade precariously balanced on that edge of no return. It has a strong message of faith and purpose soundly wrapped in classic rock and chocolate malts. Enjoy!



ABOUT THE BOOK:

As "Love Me Tender" plays in the background, Debbie Carmichael determines to salvage her family's restaurant, Sweet Sal's Soda Shoppe, when her father's health fails. Teen heartthrob Bobby Conrad agrees to perform at a fundraiser concert. But just two weeks before the highly publicized event, Bobby backs out of the benefit. Enter Johnny Hartman, a young, unknown singer to take Conrad's place. Debbie soon realizes the twists and turns leading up to the concert are divinely orchestrated. And it isn't dreamy Bobby Conrad who has stolen her heart - but the tender love of Johnny Hartman.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Me Tender, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna, She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, childrens books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!

New Release: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson releases today! If you follow my blog, you'll remember that I posted in April about this fabulous book's coming release. Now the waiting is over and I'm so excited for Melanie.

"When destiny sleeps, it can only be awakened by true love’s kiss.

In this historical romance loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, a woodcutter's daughter becomes the town's healer's apprentice. Rose's job is to care for the sick and injured in Hagenheim Castle. But she gets sick at the sight of blood and is more suited to making up stories than sewing up wounds. She is determined to overcome her weakness and prove herself a competent healer, or she faces marrying a disgusting old merchant her mother has picked out for her.

Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of the region, is injured and Rose must overcome her squeamishness to save him. He is everything that is noble and good, but loving him is forbidden. He is already betrothed to a mysterious woman in hiding.

With two noble-born brothers vying for her affections, Rose learns that the people of Hagenheim are not always who they seem. "

If you're interested in knowing more about The Healer's Apprentice and it's author Melanie Dickerson, visit these fantastic blogs to read Melanie's interviews.

A Sequence of Continuous Delights

Heidi Main, Writer

A Christian Writer's World - You can enter to win a contest as well on this blog.

Novel Teen

Read the first chapter on Zondervan's site.

Be sure to visit Melanie Dickerson's own site as well where she's hosting her own contest. If you see The Healer's Apprentice on a book store shelf, take a picture and post it on facebook. Send the link to Melanie and she will put you in a drawing for a t-shirt with the cover of The Healer's Apprentice on the front.

CFBA: Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

Song Stuck on the Brain: Lover, Lover by Jerrod Neimann

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:


Pearl In The SandMoody Publishers (September 1, 2010)


by

Tessa Afshar




MY TAKE:

I would never have understood how much there was to Rahab's story before reading Pearl in the Sand. I'd read the Bible stories, but somehow the significance of Rahab never went beyond the woman who saved the spies. Wow, is there so much more to the story. To see just how closely Tessa stayed to the Biblical accounts, I went back and re-read the accounts in Joshua, Ruth and Matthew. She did an amazing job. Yes, Rahab's story is short, but by bringing in all of the Hebrew traditions and the meaning behind those traditions and laws, the real story became so much clearer. Rahab, like Ruth and Esther, had an important role that can so easily be lost in the massive amounts of historical and spiritual teachings that are contained in the Bible.

What I enjoyed the most about this book though, was how Rahab and Salmone came to life for me. The historical accuracy was important, but seeing into their hearts and understanding the struggle they each faced over her past as a whore was both heart rending and powerful. More than that, seeing Rahab finally realize her worth in God's eyes brought me to tears. It's a question we all face, no matter our past.

Pearl in the Sand is gripping emotionally, allowing you to see the clash between sin and salvation, and love and war. It carries you through the first blush of love and attraction through the rocky road that follows and into the happiness that comes when a couple can finally let go of themselves and give their whole heart to God and each other. An amazing read.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. At the age of fifteen Rahab is forced into prostitution by her beloved father. In her years as a courtesan, she learns to mistrust men and hate herself. Into the emotional turmoil of her world walks Salmone, a respected leader of Judah. Through the tribulations of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true

source of one another’s worth in God and find healing from fear and rejection.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pearl In The Sand, go HERE



Watch the book video:





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tessa Afshar was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She survived English boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her mid-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 twelve years in full and part-time Christian work and currently serves as the leader of Women’s and Prayer ministries at a church in Connecticut.

New Author KC Sprayberry - Rediscovered Trust

Congratulations must go out to yet another writing pal who has hit the presses for the first time. KC Sprayberry's first novella, Rediscovered Trust, is being published by Vanilla Heart as part of their 2010 anthology Passionate Hearts.

"It's a romance, one of soul mates pulled apart by circumstance and coming back together. Interwoven through this story is a tale of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct in addition to law enforcement corruption." - KC Sprayberry

Wow, way to go, Kathi! The really exciting part is, we don't have to wait months to get our hands on a copy. Apparently Vanilla Heart is a very speedy publisher. The e-book is releasing on Labor Day and the print version will be available just a month after that. Whoo- Hoo! I know this has sent Kathi into a little bit of a tail spin - so much to do in so little time. However, if you know Kathi, you know not to worry too much. She's quite capable of juggling it all and looking cool as a cucumber in the process. In fact, hop on over to her blog OUT OF CONTROL CHARACTERS to hear her tell her own story and find out how you can get an autographed bookmark.

To get your hands on a copy of Passionate Hearts and read Rediscovered Trust, visit the Vanilla Heart site and order your copy.

CFBA: The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

Song Stuck on the Brain: Rain on Me by Erwin

Not to toot my own horn, it just happens that my own song is what I'm singing in my brain. You can hear a clip on the song player in the side bar. It's the last track on the player.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:



The Vigilante's BrideBethany House (August 1, 2010)


by
Yvonne Harris




MY TAKE:

Yvonne has a great first novel here. The interaction between Emily and Luke is fun, fast paced and full of energy. I love that Luke "thinks" he's finally got Emily in hand and all figured out. He has so much to learn.

The interaction with the Crow Natives was interesting too. I appreciated her realistic look at their culture and their situation at that time in history. That they weren't all savage, white-man haters that were out for blood.

The story was well written and full of little surprises that had me cheering Luke and Emily through the whole story.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Montana Territory, 1884...Is Her Kidnapper the Only Man Who Can Keep Her Safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy. Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Vigilante's Bride, go HERE



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Harris earned a BS in Education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic. Unofficially retired from teaching, she teaches writing at Burlington County College in southern New Jersey, where she resides. She is a winner and three-time finalist for the Golden Heart, once for The Vigilante's Bride, which is her debut novel.