I. Loved. This. Book! ~ A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh ~ Review

I loved this book.

           

I loved the plot, the characters, the writing, the setting. In short…oh yeah, I already said that, but I’ll say it again. I loved this book.

           

There is a pure freshness about the story and the characters that fill the pages. It’s my favorite kind of novel to read. Filled with characters that struggle and yet push on, characters that fill my heart and a plot that grips with maybe a twist or two.

            

With four point of view characters, you’d think things might get a little squirrely, but it never once did. The story flows with incredible dexterity, these women twining around my heart and their struggles tugging at my emotions. Campbell searching for her father. Jane trying to forgive herself. Lila struggling to find who she is.

           

I could go on and on with all this book packs into 316 short pages. The story is perfect is so many ways. Dialogue, setting description, character depth, just a bit of romance to palpitate the pulse, a tinge of mystery and enough tension and love for these characters that kept me returning to the book over and over again.

           

I wasn’t ready for the story to end. But I’m so eager for the second novel in Sweethaven and find out what happens with Campbell and Luke. Lila and Tom. Adele and Meghan. You get my point. It’s a story I won’t be forgetting about anytime soon.

            

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.

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More about the novel and author...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Sweethaven Summer Guidepost Books (February 7, 2012) by Courtney Walsh


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Courtney Walsh is a published author, scrapbooker, theater director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, will be followed by two additional novels in the series. She’s also written two papercrafting books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. Courtney has been a contributing editor for Memory Makers Magazine and Children’s Ministry Magazine and is a frequent contributor to Group Publishing curriculum. She works as the PR Manager for Webster’s Pages from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her husband and three kids, who range in age from 4 to 10. Courtney drinks entirely too much coffee.






ABOUT THE BOOK

Suzanne's daughter, Campbell, journeys there in search of answers to her questions about her mother's history.Suzanne's three friends-Lila, Jane, and Meghan-were torn apart by long-buried secrets and heartbreak. Though they haven't spoken in years, each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together in Sweethaven. Suzanne's letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers. As the scrapbook reveals secrets one by one, old wounds are mended, lives are changed,
and friendships are restored-just as Suzanne intended.


If you would like to read the first chapter of A Sweethaven Summer, go HERE.

Characters that Live on the Page ~ Far From Here by Nicole Baart ~Review

Captivating writing, solid story plot and characters that live on the page, are just a few things this novel hides between its pages.

            The writing voice lives little to be desired. Strong and poignant, its literary quality does not lend that the reader’s attention goes anywhere, but stays exactly where it should: with the book.

            A heart-wrenching story of a woman who has lost her husband in a tragic accident and must move on with her life, but a hidden secret just might tear apart every good memory about their relationship. It’s an age-old plot, but told in such a fresh way.

            I can see where some readers might become frustrated with Dani’s attitude, but to me, she was incredibly lovable and while I’ve never lost a spousal connection, I understood her pain through the high quality of the writing.

            I do have a warning about this novel. Strong language, which did offend me and will most likely offend other Christian readers, should not pick this novel up assuming it to be geared for the Christian market as I did. It is not. It’s a great story, but one must contend with offensive language. And I’ll be honest, this lowered my opinion of the novel…and disappointed me.

            The ending is incredibly strong for the tragic bent of the novel. But it closes the book with such hope, a hard thing to do. But well done.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

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More about the novel....

How long do you hold on to hope? 

Danica Greene has always hated flying, so it was almost laughable that the boy of her dreams was a pilot. She married him anyway and together, she and Etsell settled into a life where love really did seem to conquer all. Danica is firmly rooted on the ground in Blackhawk, the small town in northern Iowa where they grew up, and the wide slashes of sky that stretch endlessly across the prairie seem more than enough for Etsell.  But when the opportunity to spend three weeks in Alaska helping a pilot friend presents itself, Etsell accepts and their idyllic world is turned upside down. It’s his dream, he reveals, and Danica knows that she can’t stand in the way. 

Ell is on his last flight before heading home when his plane mysteriously vanishes shortly after takeoff, leaving Danica in a free fall. Etsell is gone, but what exactly does gone mean? Is she a widow? An abandoned wife? Or will Etsell find his way home to her? Danica is forced to search for the truth in her marriage and treks to Alaska to grapple with the unanswerable questions about her husband’s mysterious disappearance. 

But when she learns that Ell wasn’t flying alone and that a woman is missing, too, the bits and pieces of the careful life that she had constructed for them in Iowa take to the wind. A story of love and loss, and ultimately starting over, Far From Here explores the dynamics of intimacy and the potentially devastating consequences of the little white lies we tell the ones we love.

Giveaway! Joy Restored by Jude Urbanski

Welcome to Writing for Christ Jude Urbanski, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

Other people like to buy tee shirts as soverniers from places visited, but I like to bring back interesting rocks I find. I then write the place and date on these rocks. Some I keep on my desk. Others I place in clay pots on my patio. They are ever reminders of where I’ve been.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

 I am very eclectic here. In fiction, I like historical, all the way from medieval times to the Westward Movement in the United States. I enjoy women’s fiction featuring love stories. I’m quite fond of nonfiction in the inspirational genre. I write in similar fashion it seems, inspirational nonfiction and women’s fiction with inspirational love stories. Go figure!

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

 I’m come to view writing as an art much like painting, sculpturing, or composing music. There is no exact right or wrong way to do it. Do it your way. It is your art. Some will like it, some will not.

5 things you love?

God. My family. My country. Nature. People.

What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

Well, I consider myself still a beginner, but I like seeing results for my hard efforts. It feels good. My electronic novel, Joy Restored, by Desert Breeze Publishing is a dream come true. I want to be a wordsmith woman-‘writing, growing and living for God.’

Places for readers to learn more about you?

Casey, I’m found in the usual requisite places, like a good author should be! Find me at:

 http://www.judeurbanski.com/

judeurbanski.blogspot.com

mailto:urbanski4u@aol.com

Natch, I’m on FB, Twitter, and LinkedIn

And oh, at Amazon Author Central and

At my publisher’s site: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com

Thank you for being with us today!

Thanks to you, Casey, for having me and for all you do.

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Jude's latest book!

Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is open to all since the novel is an ebook and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.


Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on March 9th.

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

Up and Coming Fiction! Sandwich with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips!

She moved to Sandwich, Illinois, in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle. 

Sandwich represents hope for twenty-year-old Maddie Buckner and Kyle, the eleven-year-old brother Maddie wants to spring out of foster care. Then she loses her new job after less than an hour on the clock. It’s all Reuben-the-Jerk’s fault, and she’s determined to make him right the wrong. 

He does so, reluctantly, by giving her a job at his restaurant, The Sandwich Shop. Then crazy things start happening at the restaurant, and Kyle’s foster parents apply to adopt him. To stop it all, Maddie must learn the art of humbling herself and accepting the help God has arranged, risking her heart to Reuben in the process.

And she’d rather eat a million corned-beef on rye sandwiches than do that. 

Sandwich with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips

Abingdon Press / September 2012 / ISBN: 9781426745928 / Price: $14.99

Abingdon Press ~ Krista Phillips

I can't let this post go without a comment. Krista is one of the contributors on my group blog, The Writer's Alley. She is our FIRST SALE for our blog and as a friend of Krista's, I COULDN'T be happier. Send a big woooooo!!! for this talented new author who is DEBUTING! : D

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart ~ Review

Louisville, Kentucky, 19^th century, the newspaper business and a woman reporter in a city that wasn’t too keen on her canvassing the streets.

            This story has a lot of unique going for it, which is what drew me to it in the first place. Louisville has a rich southern history and a healthy dose is shared with the reader in “Words Spoken True”. Adraine is a strong character who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to chase after it and for that I enjoyed her character. She wasn’t easily bowled over by the expectations of her day, but with that courage, brought a dose of heartache.

           

I thought the first third of the book moved too slowly for my reading taste. I felt it lost some of the forward motion of the story amongst the description and words, but as the plot picked up pace so did my interest. A slight twist was thrown my direction and took my attention a bit deeper.

          

  While this novel wasn’t completely within my interests- much as I wanted it to be, I can certainly appreciate the depth of research and plot of the story. I’m glad I gave it a shot; I would say it was worth it.

          

  This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

           

**Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**

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More about the novel...

Adriane Darcy was practically raised in her father's newspaper offices. She can't imagine life without the clatter of the press and the push to be first to write the news that matters. Their Tribune is the leading paper in Louisville in 1855. Then Blake Garrett, a brash young editor from the North with a controversial new style of reporting, takes over failing competitor the Herald, and the battle for readers gets fierce.

When Adriane and Blake meet at a benefit tea, their surprising mutual attraction is hard to ignore. Still, Blake is the enemy, and Adriane is engaged to the son of a powerful businessman who holds the keys to the Tribune's future. Blake will stop at almost nothing to get the story—and the girl. Can he do both before it's too late?

Set against the volatile backdrop of political and civil unrest in 1850s Louisville, this exciting story of love and loyalty will hold readers in its grip until the very last page. Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart once again delivers an enthralling and enduring tale for her loyal and ever-expanding fan base.

Friday's Note:

The winner of Firethorn by Ronie Kendig is...

Wendy!! (wsmarple...)

Be watching for my email, Wendy, you have one week to reply! You're in for a great read. :-))

Happy weekend, everyone!

Captivating! ~ Into the Free by Julie Cantrell ~ Review

“Into the Free” had a very visceral pull on me as a reader. I was reeled into this story of a girl growing into a woman, a girl living in conditions I couldn’t imagine withstanding, and yet she gave me a dose of courage and beauty I didn’t realize I needed.

            It takes amazing talent to tell a story with strife and a desperate search for wholeness, in a way that doesn’t make it seem as though the book has no plot or direction. The writing voice yanked me into the pages of the story and watching Millie make her choices gripped my heart.

            There is such beauty in this book. Obviously the story won’t be for everyone, but it really encompasses so much of what I look for in the novels I love. A desperate yearning, a tension filled search for her right place, a longing from the hand of God to touch her.

            I loved the faith message so much in this novel. It’s not overt, not even something you would necessarily pick up, because it’s lived. It fills the pages and encompasses the end…I absolutely loved how the book ended.

            A literary novel, but it’s not written in a stuck-up or stodgy manner- it’s a novel that wrapped around my heart and left me just the right amount of changed.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.

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More about the novel and author...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Into the Free David C. Cook (February 1, 2012) by Julie Cantrell


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A speech-language pathologist and literacy advocate, Julie Cantrell was the editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and currently teaches English as a second language to elementary students. She has been a freelance writer for ten years and has published two children’s books. Julie and her family live in Mississippi where they operate Valley House Farm.


Julie served as contributing editor to MOMSense magazine and wrote content for Mothers of Preschoolers, Intl. for nearly a decade. Additionally, she has contributed to more than a dozen books. Into Th Free is her first book.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.


In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.


For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key which unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family’s longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.


Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?


Watch the book video:





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

Giveaway! An Amish Family Reunion by Mary Ellis

Third time visit and giveaway from Mary Ellis ☺

If you could go anywhere on vacation where would it be?

I would love to go to Ireland and travel the countryside on back roads. I would stay in charming inns and guest houses, no chain hotels, to capture the essence of the country. Since I don’t particularly like Irish food, I would love to vacation and not gain weight!

Do you have any pets?

Bad timing, Casey…my favorite dog of my life just died a few weeks ago. Miss Daisy was a Springer Spaniel who loved to flip on her back to get her belly rubbed, from absolutely anyone. A robber would have to stop to rub her belly in between carrying out the electronics. I also have a cat that I love, but cats just aren’t the same as dogs.

Ahh, I’m sorry! It’s always hard to lose a pet. :(

Your favorite book that you have written?

It would be my latest, An Amish Family Reunion, because I reconnected with the characters from my first series, and added a brand new romance.

What is your favorite pastime?

My favorite pastime is swimming, but since I have no pool and live far from the beach, I don’t get to indulge anywhere near enough.

Favorite book?

My favorite book is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I’m still waiting to own a first edition of that masterpiece!

Favorite movie?

I suppose my most recent favorite movie is The Help but I also like Thelma and Louise (really dating myself here!) and Fried Green Tomatoes. I can watch those two over and over and never tire of them!

What people have inspired you in your writing journey?

Too many to count! My agent, who kept her faith in me even though it took over two years to sell my first book and my husband, who always encouraged me not to give up.

What character in a novel you have read has stood out and seemed to stand the test of time?

Oh, goodness, for me that would be Scarlett O’Hara. I read Gone with the Wind as a teenager and again as an adult. That character never loses steam no matter how many years go by.

If you could meet one person from history who would it be and why?

Other than the Lord, I would love to meet Louisa May Alcott. I’d enjoy chatting about how publishing has changed in the last hundred years….and all the ways it hasn’t.

Okay, last one and a fun one for our readers today: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing, what would it be? Why?

 I would take Johnny Depp. Why? Because I have a hunch he’d be great catching fish and roasting it over a campfire for my lunch. And I never miss lunch!

Too fun, thanks for joining us for a third time!! It is a privilege. ☺  

Thank you, Casey!!!!

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Mary's latest book!

Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on March 2nd.

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott ~ Review

“Sweeter than Birdsong” weaves emotions, our nation’s greatest tragedy and characters that long to stand up for what’s right.

           

I think I felt the most connection with Kate. Though I have never been one to struggle with being shy or afraid to speak publically, I can understand that debilitating fear that can take over you. Her gentle growth through the story was absolutely perfect and I had to cheer when she stood up for something she believed in and was passionate about.

           

The fact that the novel is based on real characters and things that actually happened, made Ben seem larger than life on the page. Be sure and read the historical footnote at the end of the novel. It gives such an appreciation for all they did in their lifetime.

           

The pre Civil War era is one of my favorites. Helping slaves escape to freedom, fighting for what’s right, valiance and despair. Hope and romance. There is little bit of everything wrapped up in this novel.

            

If I were to compare the first and second novels in the series, then I still prefer the first of the two. At times the plot seemed a bit languid, but when you step back and look at the story I could only appreciate the tapestry and layers spread the entire book.

            

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my advance copy to review for Litfuse.

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More about the novel and contest info!

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter.


In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.


Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.


A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

**Contest Info**

To celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
• Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
• Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced at Sweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, season 1 of DowntownAbbey, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.)


So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

When Can I Get Book Two?? When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason ~ Review

Romantic Suspense has to have at least two qualities for me to become truly invested in the story: suspense that keeps me on the edge of my seat and romance that doesn’t cheapen the suspense.

            I was completely satisfied and more in “When the Smoke Clears”. It has an excellent level of high-drama suspense, but when the fear drops out just a little bit, the romance is there to pick up the slack. And don’t expect those moments of “down time” to really last, because just when I would start getting comfortable BAM! something would come out of nowhere to rock the storyworld all over again.

            Never once during the six hours I spent reading this book, did I figure out the villain. Oh I had my guesses here and there, but it sure took me by surprise when I found out at the end. I would have liked a little more hint and play that this character could have been the villain, but I still think it was laid out well.

            The characters are strong and likeable, the action clear-cut and oh so fast paced. The novel utilizes great dialogue and setting and more than once I felt a chill creep up my spine.

            AND to top it all off, the main plot of the story is still left hanging, to be cleared up in book two...or three, only the author knows. But I do know, with the kind of ending I was given, I’m going to be on pins and needles to get book two!

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

            **Available February 2012 from Revell, a division of Baker publishers**

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More about the novel...

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

Friday's Note:

The winner of Ann Shorey's Where Wildflower's Bloom is...

LyndeeH!

I'll be emailing you in just a few minutes!! : D