Saturday, September 29, 2012

Unconditional By Eva Marie Everson Review and Giveaway!

Samantha Crawford, an acclaimed storybook artist, seemingly had it all until losing the love she cherished most. Now fighting despair, she is obsessed with tracking down the murderer of her husband. With no leads and no hope, Sam prepares to take her life until providence intervenes and she is reunited with her childhood friend, Joe Bradford.Dying of kidney disease, Joe spends his last days serving fatherless children in an under resourced community. Observing Papa Joe’s tireless love for “his kids,” Sam begins to find new purpose until she comes face to face with her heart’s desire. The innocence and hope of a child competes with the lure of revenge in an effort to show Sam how, even in life’s darkest of circumstances, Love is above all.
Eva Marie Everson was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. A seminary graduate and former nurse-turned-Christian novelist, her previous books include The Potluck Club, Things Left Unspoken, and Chasing Sunsets.
This is the first book that I have read by Eva, but you can bet it will not be the last.
This is an emotionally gripping book. I really enjoyed it.
I love books like this one that pull you in and make you think that you are right there with the characters. This book has a message of Love. It tells us of an UNCONDITIONAL love. That there is truly enough love to go around. All you have to do is share the love. This is a 5 star book with a wonderful. Powerful message.
I highly recommend reading this book before you see the movie.

Are you an organ donor? For more information on becoming an organ donor go to www.organdonor.gov  You can save someones life!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Trouble with Cowboys By Denise Hunter

Only one pair of boots—and the cowboy wearing them—can get Annie out of the mess she’s in.
Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.
Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.
Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.
The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.
When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs.

Denise Hunter is the nationally published author of bestsellers Sweetwater Gap and Surrender Bay. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn't writing she's busy raising three heroes-in-the making with her husband.

Link to buy The Trouble with Cowboys
Denise has a way with words she makes me wish that I was on a ranch some where relaxing. This is another one of her fun reads. I have every book that she has wrote to date and let me tell you she is a one of a kind writer.
How would you like to get away, wind in your hair, riding a horse while the perfect cowboy swept you off your feet? Well you can do just that in Denise's newest book The Trouble with Cowboys. I fell in Love with Dylan and I hated to see this book end.  I read a book a day, but after reading this one I just could not get my mind off of Dylan and Annie, to read another book for a few days!  LET GO AND LET GOD, is what Denise is telling you in this book!
 Very sad to see the Big Sky Romance series end. This is  a wonderful 5 star read.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher Thomas Nelson

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The 13th Day of Christmas By Jason Wright Giveaway

Marva Ferguson has a very personal Christmas tradition that happens every December 26. As an aging widow, the tradition means more to her now than it ever has. Her newest neighbor, nine-year-old Charlee, loves Christmas too. But her family has fallen on hard times and things get worse when Charlee becomes critically ill. Then, on December 12, Charlee makes a wonderful discovery. A mysterious note is delivered that promises twelve days of gifts and stories that will reveal the truth behind the beloved Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. As the days go by, the gifts hint at a possible lost lyric. Was there once a 13th day of Christmas? And if so, could its magic change or save a life? If Marva knows something about the letters from the Elves, she s not telling. However, you don t live as long as Marva Ferguson and not have a secret or two including a whole lot of faith in your apron pocket. Filled with laughter, tenderness, and hope, The 13th Day of Christmas invites us to see how an old Christmas favorite can turn into a true Christmas miracle.
 
Jason Wright is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author.

He is the author of The James Miracle (2004); Christmas Jars (2005); The Wednesday Letters (2007); Recovering Charles (2008), Christmas Jars Reunion (2009); Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle (2009); The Cross Gardener (2010); The Seventeen Second Miracle (2010); The Wedding Letters (2011); and The 13th Day of Christmas (2012).

Articles by Jason have appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines across the United States including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. He has been seen on FoxNews, CNN, CSPAN and on many local and national radio shows.

Jason is also a popular speaker who speaks to over 100,000 annually on topics ranging from the value of service, the joy of failure, the lost art of letter writing and many other topics.

He lives with his wife, Kodi, and their four children in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Let me start by saying I have enjoyed every one of Jason Wright's books. But this one has touched my heart so much. I don't know  maybe it is because I have lost my whole family to the ugly word "Cancer" that this book how so much meaning to me. 
  I laughed I cried and I really enjoyed this book. Once again  one of Jason's books is going to touch the whole world.  This book sure will make a difference in peoples lives.
If you have never read one of Jason's books why not start today.
This is a 5 star book that will surely touch you deep inside.

I was given a copy of this book by the author!
Tell me something you do at Christmas time for someone in need to be entered to win a copy!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Christmas Creed By Ted Hindmarsh Giveaway!

Dr. Alexander Pennington III always follows the Pennington Creed, which includes only giving if you'll get something back and never eating poor man's food like cracked wheat. When he gets snowed in for Christmas with a sick widow and her children, every aspect of the Creed is in danger of being lost. This sweet story will help you realize that Christmas is about more than looks it's about the heart.

Let me tell you this is a MUST read. It is sure to warm your heart. This is a book that you will pull off the shelf every year and enjoy with your whole family.
If I had to give one word to tell you all about this book it would be MIRACLES.
If you love a heart gripping, happy, warm story you will LOVE The Christmas Creed!
I will be reading this book every year!
I was given this book as a gift!
Tell me who you miss the most at Christmas to be entered to win a copy of this very touching book! I miss my mom so much!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Journaling with God By Carol Round

1. Can you tell us one thing what you learned while writing Journaling with Jesus?

While writing Journaling with Jesus, I learned to listen even closer to the Holy Spirit, trusting His leading to help me finish the book. I had actually started the book in 2008 but life got in the way. People kept asking me,"Carol, when are you going to finish the book?" When I sat down to finish the book, I read what I had written, including the outline. As I began to pick up where I had left off, that still, small voice led me in a different direction.
2..How does your faith play into your writing?

Since November 2005, I have been writing a weekly faith-based column--approximately 515 words per week--that runs in 12 secular newspapers. I have learned to pray before I write. I invite the Holy Spirit in, trusting God to give me the words and to reach the people He wants me to reach, in the ways He knows best. I don't write until I pray. And while I may have an idea before  I sit down to write, God sometimes directs me to write something else.
3. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The number one thing I hope that readers will take away from Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God is that He wants a personal relationship with each of us. To develop any relationship, it requires quality time. Through giving Him the first fruits of your day by reading scripture and writing in a prayer journal, you will begin to have a more intimate relationship with Him. When this happens, a change begins to take place within you. Material things become less important. You will begin to desire more of Him in your life. As you spend time with Him, seeking His guidance and will for your life, you begin to trust Him more. Keeping a prayer journal has helped me to heal from past hurts, figure out who I am in Christ, and helped me to grow spiritually. I have learned that when you surrender your life to Him, the real adventure begins.
 

4. What is your favorite Bible verse?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
                               Proverbs 3:5-6
5.If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for?

This is easy! If I were granted one wish, I would wish to meet Jesus face-to-face. I know I will someday but I can only imagine for now what it will be like.
6.What is your favoeite book? Other than the Bible

Jesus Calling, a daily devotional by Sarah Young. If you have not used this devotional, I highly recommend it. The devotional is written as if Jesus is speaking directly to the reader.
7. Do you have a website or blog where readers can get your books?

My blog is http://www.carolaround.com/ and my book website is http://www.journalingwithjesus.com/. I just recently released a companion workbook called "The 40-Day Challenge." All of my books--I have four--can also be purchased through amazon.com

      Leave a comment for Carol and let her know
"Are you as close to God as you would like to be?" <*\\\\><

Friday, September 21, 2012

Cross Roads By William Paul Young

CROSS ROADS By Wm. Paul Young

Anthony Spencer is egotistical, proud of being a self-made business success at the peak of his game, even though the cost of winning was painfully high. A cerebral hemorrhage leaves Tony comatose in a hospital ICU. He 'awakens' to find himself in a surreal world, a 'living' landscape that mirrors dimensions of his earthly life, from the beautiful to the corrupt. It is here that he has vivid interactions with others he assumes are projections of his own subconscious, but whose directions he follows nonetheless with the possibility that they might lead to authenticity and perhaps, redemption. The adventure draws Tony into deep relational entanglements where he is able to 'see' through the literal eyes and experiences of others, but is "blind" to the consequences of hiding his personal agenda and loss that emerge to war against the processes of healing and trust. Will this unexpected coalescing of events cause Tony to examine his life and realize he built a house of cards on the poisoned grounds of a broken heart? Will he also have the courage to make a critical choice that can undo a major injustice he set in motion before falling into a coma?

ISBN: 9781455516049
Pub date: 11/13/12

You all do NOT want to miss this book. If you Liked THE SHACK then you will LOVE Cross Roads!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Christmas Pony By Melody Carlson

Eight-year-old Lucy Turnbull knew better than to wish for a pony that Christmas in 1937. Her mother had assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony was the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they needed at their boarding house were the paying kind. But when an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, Lucy starts to believe her Christmas wishes might just come true after all.

The queen of the Christmas novel, Melody Carlson pens another magical tale of expectation and excitement as one little girl dreams big and the impossible becomes possible.

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog

To say I was sad is the truth about this book. It was so good I hated to see it end. It was a very fast easy read! Every year I pick up Melody's Christmas books and read them. This is a book that warms you inside. You will know that prayers work after this  read. Little Lucy prays for three things, her mothers smile to come back, a new daddy and a Christmas pony. A little faith is all it takes!  You will want to grab a cup of hot chocolate and a quilt and settle in with this fun winter read.
A copy of this book was given to me as a gift!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

His Love Endures Forever By Beth Wiseman

Danielle Kent is anything but Amish. But as destiny would have it, she has fallen in love with an Amish man.
Now she’s 18, pregnant, and hopeful that the child’s Amish father—Matthew Lapp—will do the right thing and marry her. She knows Matthew plans to leave his Colorado settlement for a life in the Englisch world. But that plan never included a baby.
When Matthew walks away from her and their unborn child, she has nowhere to turn. Her unlikely friendship with Levi offers some comfort—yet they have so little in common. This wasn’t the plan she had for her life, and she has never felt so alone. She doesn’t want to be pregnant. Doesn’t want to be Amish. Doesn’t want to trust God.
And yet.
God has plans beyond what her mind can imagine . . . loving plans to show a lost young woman that His love never fails but endures forever.
Beth Wiseman's previous releases have held spots on the CBA and the ECPA bestseller lists. In 2010, she received the INSPY Award for Amish Fiction. In 2011, she received the American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Award and was the Inspirational Readers Choice winner for her book Plain Paradise. Her novel Seek Me with All Your Heart was the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. In addition, Wiseman has been a Retailers Choice Finalist, a Booksellers Best Finalist and a National Readers Choice Finalist. Today, she and her husband are empty nest parents of two grown sons, enjoying the country lifestyle and living happily with and assorted menagerie of domestic and farm animals including dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs, chickens, goats, and a miniature donkey in a small community in South Central Texas.

This is Beth Wiseman's third book in the Land of Canaan series. I was pulled in from the very first page. I absolutely could not put this book down. I fell in love with sweet Danielle and Levi.  I was so happy for them and the new family that they made together.  Levi helps Danielle to change her life for the better.  I really loved to see how Danielle comes to know the Lord in this book.  It was such a blessing to read when Danielle starts praying.  It was truly a very heart-warming story; something we all desperately need in this dark world. You will love to read this story about an Amish boy who leaves his Amish life and family and does what is right!  You are really going to love the ending!

Beth has another book coming out in April of 2013 called The House that Love Built and I just can't wait for it! She is a great author!


Thomas Nelson gave me a copy of this book for Review

Monday, September 17, 2012

Found By Shelly Shepard Gray

A murder is solved and a quiet Amish community must deal with the repercussions. Amid the surprising revelations, can a newfound love survive?
As the search for Perry Borntrager's killer continues, Jacob Schrock feels like his world is about to crumble. Right before Perry went missing, he and Jacob got into a fistfight. Jacob never told anyone what happened that terrible night. He's good at keeping secrets—including his love for Deborah, Perry's sister. But when Deborah takes a job at his family's store and their friendship blossoms, Jacob senses everything is about to be revealed.  
Deborah has been searching for a slice of happiness ever since her brother's body was discovered. When the police start questioning Jacob, Deborah can't believe that the one person she's finally allowed in could be the one responsible for her brother's death. Will she believe what everyone seems to think is the truth . . . or listen to her heart, and hope there is still one more person who is keeping secrets in Crittenden County?

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.
Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.


I LOVE Shelly's books and I was very happy to find out who killed Perry! This was a GREAT ending to The Secrets of Crittenden County series. This is a must read for all of you Amish book lovers. I was so happy that Perry's sister found love in the end! You will NEVER guess who Deborah ends up with! If you have read book one and two in the series then you must read book three to find out who the killer was. I really enjoyed this book!

This book was given to me as a gift!

Leave me a comment telling me why you like Amish books to be entered to win a copy of Found!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Time Keeper By Mitch Albom

From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours.
The man who became Father Time.
In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.
He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.
 

Mitch Albom is an author, playwright, and screenwriter who has written seven books, including the international bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time. His first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, as were For One More Day, his second novel, and Have a Little Faith, his most recent work of nonfiction. All four books were made into acclaimed TV films. Albom also works as a columnist and a broadcaster and has founded seven charities in Detroit and Haiti, where he operates an orphanage/mission. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
 
Let me start by saying I HATE to give a review like this, but I want my blog readers to know the truth about how I feel about the books that I read.
To say I was very disappointed with Mitch's new book would be an understatement. It took me less then two hours to read it and I still found it a small waste of  my TIME. I did find that I liked the characters and I was rooting for them! Mitch has some of the best books out there,  I LOVED Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. But this parable was just not my cup of tea. Maybe his next book will be a home run!
 
I was given a copy of this book as a gift.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Raider's Vendetta By Karen Arnpriester Interview and Giveaway!

 
A Riveting Christian Thriller
Have your beliefs been challenged so dramatically that it could mean life or death? Charley’s were. She found herself pitted against a vicious man, a man who hated God with an absolute fury. She represented the heartache, abandonment, shame and pain that Raider endured in the name of religion. Charley was the perfect target for his vendetta against God.
Have you been left alone in a nightmare, calling out for help, but no one came? Raider was. The people and circumstances throughout his life taught Raider that if there was a God, He was indifferent and cruel, no better than his own earthly father.
If you experienced the miraculous, would you fall to your knees and trust your Creator or would your human emotions and entitlement for justice determine your responses?  Charley’s pride and anger placed her in peril. Heaven provided protection and provision through miracles, but Heaven could not protect Charley from herself.
If you witnessed the miraculous, would you believe? Raider wouldn't. His anger had destroyed all possibility of hope.
Could you forgive the unforgivable? Would you put your tormentor’s life before your own, even if they intended to take yours?  Charley could.  Her faith allowed her to eventually see her enemy through God’s eyes.
Charley and Raider, opposite ends of the spiritual spectrum, collided and discovered truths that changed them forever. This story examines tough questions that many Christians must ultimately resolve, the questions that keep many of God’s children estranged from Him.
Raider’s Vendetta is a journey that will touch your soul. A story that will inspire you to evaluate your relationship with God and the people in your life. This is a powerful message of forgiveness and salvation. The author, Karen Arnpriester, prays that this book will open hearts and minds to the limitless God who is our Father. 
Book Trailer:

Purchase Sites:
Author Website: https://www.raidersvendetta.com
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217898
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Raiders-Vendetta-ebook/dp/B00927CRAI/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347431927&sr=1-2&keywords=raider%27s+vendetta
Amazon Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Raiders-Vendetta-Mrs-Karen-Arnpriester/dp/1466274743/ref=la_B004S394AW_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347431544&sr=
 
 
 
Bio:
Karen Slimick Arnpriester is a creative, passionate and adventuresome woman. She raised two children, married into two more kids, adores her seven grandchildren and is now a foster/adopt mom of two young ladies. She has been a self-taught graphic designer for twenty five years and started her own business twenty years ago. Her faith in God is strong and she believes that we are Christ’s hands, feet, arms and wallet. This translates into her involvement in youth ministries, local women’s shelter, street ministry, the elderly, as well as many other outreaches over the years. Her home has been available to single moms and their children, allowing them to get a fresh start.
 
This author wants to take her reader to a place where they can evaluate their beliefs and who God is in their life. When asked why she limits herself to Christian fiction, she simply explains that it is where her heart is. If she commits her precious time to writing, it needs to be of value and have God’s ultimate purpose in mind, bringing his children home to him. Karen welcomes God’s influence in her writing and prays that she fulfills His destiny for her life.
 
Contact:
Email: karnpriester@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karen.slimickarnpriester
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenArnprieste
Website: http://karenskoncepts.com
Blog: http://karenskoncepts.com/mythoughts/
 
  LEAVE A COMMENT FOR KAREN, IF YOU WANT TO BE ENTERED TO WIN A COPY !

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Interview and Book Giveaway with Timothy Klein


What sparked your decision to start writing?
About two years ago, I was skimming the romance novel that my wife was reading and observed, "I can write better junk than this."  She told me to go ahead and do it. So I did.  I found that it was remarkably therapeutic.  I started in Sept of 2010 and soon realized that the story was going to be at least three volumes long.  I was also told that Volume I had to be under the tree on Christmas Eve.  It just barely made it. 

This wasn't completely out of character for me. My mother and grandmother were both English teachers, and so are both sisters.  I had written several short stories while in high school and was "published" in a ScFi "fanzine" back in the '70s.  (I think it had around 400 Trekie subscribers.) I also started on some non-fiction several years ago.  I had been too busy to really think about writing until my wife dared me.

My office, where I wrote the book, is actually in an aircraft hangar. Hence, airplanes were going to play a major role in the story line. However, most aviation literature is ALL about airplanes. I wanted to come up with a story that both pilots and non-pilots would enjoy.  

As a side note, we did a book signing at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, the largest air show in the US.  Numerous guys bought the book as a gift for their wives.  I'm curious as to how that worked out for them.  Let's see, he spent a week goofing off with his buddies at an air show, while she was at home with the kids and all he brought her was a book from some author she'd never heard of.  Yeah, that will work. 

How does faith play into yur writing?
Faith?  It doesn't, I just figured adding some religion would help sell more books (just kidding!)  

Frankly, I didn't intend to write a "Christian" book and many would not consider The Saga of the Ellen Jane to fit that genre. But as the story developed, I found that I couldn't keep faith out of it.  My goal is to encourage believers and get the non-believers to ask questions.  Who knows, maybe the story could be used as a conversation starter?  Or maybe I'll be burned as a heretic? 

Be warned! The "Christian" characters in my stories do not behave perfectly.  Then again, with one major exception, everyone in the Bible is behaving badly. 

I wanted a realistic story, with real characters, not the "sugar lumps covered in honey" gooey sweetness that some Christian novels are known for.  Quite frankly, it turns off a lot of non-believers. The biggest challenge was to avoid sounding "preachy".  Several readers, (non-believers, I believe), have commented that the dialog fits the characters.  By having a missionary and a preacher in the story, I could introduce conversations that "normal" characters couldn't get away with. 

I have seven guidelines for writing:


1.    Don't write anything that would upset God the Father. (That's a good rule for anything you're doing.)
2.    Write about what you find interesting and enjoyable.  For me that's airplanes, adventure, war, babes, firearms, Nazis etc.  Notice that I didn't say "write what you know"; you'll learn what you need to know along the way.  (I knew very little about Brazil before starting this book.)
3.      It has to be plausible. On a "believability" scale of 1 to 100, with James Bond at 007; I want my stories to rank at least a 70.
4.     Have a positive message. The world has enough stories about vampires, cheap sex and vampires having cheap sex.
5.      Define your audience and then keep them happy! For me, the "audience" consists of one woman, my wife.
6.    Don't follow a boilerplate! I could write a computer program to crank out romances using the standard formulas. You know: girl meets a boy she hates but has to marry because her dad owes his dad money and he drags her off and they kiss once and then she's kidnapped but realizes that she loves him and he rescues her while wearing just a kilt and they discover she's pregnant.  (That sentence didn't deserve any commas.)
7.      There are no rules. Well, there are rules but most people agree that they're now meaningless.  If you doubt that, go read The Sound and the Fury or some of David Foster Wallace.  I agree that you need correct spelling, verb tense and grammar but everything else is negotiable. Well, everything except semicolons; my editors don't like semicolons; but I do; they make me take them out; I guess I have a fetish.
Why did you choose this genre?

I didn't really chose this genre; it just happened. I knew it had to have romance (that's what my wife wanted) and I wanted enough action/adventure for the guys. The theology just started sneaking out. 

What is your favorite Bible verse?

I tell my kids that it's Phil. 4.4-9 which is a great set of verses for anyone. Especially for those of us that used to be world class worriers; however, I tell my wife that it's Proverbs 5.19.  If more men followed this proverb, the world would be a better place.


What are you writing now?
I am supposed to be re-editing Volume II of the Saga. I gave my wife the unedited draft last Christmas. We want to publish it by Thanksgiving and need to get a polished copy to our editors; however, the CEO of Stearman Press has informed me that Volume III must be under the tree by Christmas of this year. 

Unfortunately, I've gotten re-interested in the sci-fi series that I started years ago and have been playing with that when she isn't looking.


 If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world where would you go?
When we got married, I promised my wife a trip to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary and now our 19th is fast approaching; however, I'd rather go to Brazil and see the locale where the story takes place and do more research. She'd probably accept that in lieu of Hawaii as long as there's a warm beach and the kids stay home. Which, at the rate we're going, they'll soon be old enough to do!

I am a dog lover, tell us about your pets if any....

This might be a touchy subject and I hope you're not too disappointed but we're cat people.  This has more to do with necessary than a love of animals. We live next to acres of open space, which means we are in a constant war with mice.  We tried all the other traps and found that the "live" traps work best. 

Let me expand. At one point we had two rabbits and two cats. The rabbits were lots of work, had very expensive upkeep, rather smelly and actually not very cuddly.  They could scratch you worse than the cats. In fact, they chased the cats; very embarrassing.  One rabbit got sick and died. 

So I made a deal with our youngest daughter. If she'd give her rabbit to our neighbors, who already had five rabbits and, for reasons beyond my comprehension, wanted another, she could get a kitten.  She was as sick of the rabbits as her parents were.  So we went to a friend's farm to get a kitten and came back with the kitten, the kitten's sister and a horse.  Luckily, we soon discovered that the kitten was a he and so was her brother.  (You'd think a farm woman would know the difference.)  We now have four cats and a lease on a horse (but thankfully, no rabbits and very few mice).  

What is your favorite comfort food?

(Note to Mary: guys don't do comfort food, or at least they don't admit to it.) 

My first job was as a pizza chef and I've been a connoisseur of fine pizza ever since. I've had pizza from Alaska to Texas to California to Milan, Italy to Tel Aviv, Israel.  One of my favorite combos is ham, pineapple and sauerkraut.  It shows up numerous times in the book and don't knock it until you've tried it.  It has kind of a sweet and sour thing going.  But when it comes time to order, ground beef/mushroom/extra sauce, is my all time favorite.  I even have two pizza stones and a peel for when I can't get to a pizzeria. 

What movie has inspired you the most?

I’m not a big movie guy.  Even though our prenuptial agreement requires that I take her to two movies a year, she hasn't enforced that provision since we've subscribed to Netflix.  I guess if I have to answer, I should go with something safe like Chariots of Fire which was a great movie. To be honest, the movie that might have influenced me the most was Necessary Roughness.  (Yeah, I know, all the guys list that one.) Seriously, it probably falls into the category of "unintended consequences"; it was the movie my wife and I saw on our first date.  

Can you explain your choice of cover art? 

Well, there's an airplane in the book, so we put an airplane on the cover. 
      
I wasn't asking about the airplane ...


Oh, the legs. We did an extensive marketing survey and found that, apparently, the cover of a romance novel must have at least one of the following:


    1.  A guy in a kilt, sans shirt, preferably holding a sword.
    2. A woman whose dress doesn't fit very well.
    3. A pair of woman's legs.

We went with the woman's legs since the heroine in the book is known for wearing a red skirt.

For the aviation buffs, is the Ellen Jane a real airplane?

Sort of.  At the beginning of WWII, the U.S. Army Air Corps needed an inexpensive bombardier/navigator trainer.  Beech Aircraft modified their Model 18 transport by adding the clear nose, bomb racks and a turret.  They built over 1500 of them, designated the AT-11 Kansan.  Ninety percent of all U.S. bombardiers trained in them, as did hundreds of thousands of machine gunners and navigators.  


The AT-11 served in numerous air forces around the world, including the Brazilian.  Supposedly, the Chinese flew them as bombers in actual combat. 

The characters in my story came up with the idea a few years earlier but never got credit for it (until now).



You can get autographed copies from our website: http://www.thesagaoftheellenjane.com/




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Little Amish Matchmaker By Linda Byler

Simeon can’t stop thinking about the pretty Amish teacher at the local one-room school. But he’s ignored the sparks between them because he’s so shy. So Simeon’s little brother, Isaac, is taking matters into his own hands. He’s determined to give his brother the best Christmas present ever—a date with his favorite teacher. Bestselling Amish author, Linda Byler, brings the holiday season to life in her first Christmas novella.

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda Byler loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. She is well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper. Linda and her husband, their children and grandchildren live in central Pennsylvania.

I just LOVE this time of year all of the wonderful Christmas  books coming out.
I got a copy of The Little Amish Matchmaker as a gift, I had read one of Linda's books in the past and did not care for it.So as I opened up the book to start reading I did not expect to much. WoW was I so surprised by this book, it is a very fun, easy, fast read.  It is a book you can read in one sitting. I really enjoyed it.  I love the cover!

Share with me your favorite  family Christmas tradition, for a chance to win a copy of this book!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Through Rushing Water By Catherine Richmond GIVEAWAY!

Sophia has her life all planned out—but her plan didn’t include being jilted or ending up in Dakota Territory.
Sophia Makinoff is certain 1876 is the year that she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol city. But when he proposes to her roommate instead, Sophia is stunned. Hoping to flee her heartache and humiliation, she signs up with the Board of Foreign Missions on a whim.
With dreams of a romantic posting to the Far East, Sophia is dismayed to find she’s being sent to the Ponca Indian Agency in the bleak Dakota Territory. She can’t even run away effectively and begins to wonder how on earth she’ll be able to guide others as a missionary. But teaching the Ponca children provides her with a joy she has never known—and never expected—and ignites in her a passion for the people she’s sent to serve.
It’s a passion shared by the Agency carpenter, Willoughby Dunn, a man whose integrity and selflessness are unmatched. The Poncas are barely surviving. When US policy decrees that they be uprooted from their land and marched hundreds of miles away in the middle of winter, Sophia and Will wade into rushing waters to fight for their friends, their love, and their destiny.

Cathy,was busy raising a family, working as an occupational therapist, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate, when a song sparked a story within her. The journey to publication has been long, but full of blessings. She couldn't have done it without ACFW, RWA, and FHL, the inspirational chapter of RWA - and lots of chocolate!
This is a gem for all of you historical fiction readers. A super, left at the altar, romantic, read. Will was a great character and a great hero. I really enoyed the end of the book a lot. This was the first book of Catherine's that I read and I really enjoyed it.
I was given a copy of this book by Cathy

Monday, September 10, 2012

Twang By Julie Cannon Giveaway!

Twenty-three-year-old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is destined to be a country music star.  When her passion, determination and homemade demo tape were rejected by every music label in Nashville, she refused to give up.  In just three years, a combination of guts and raw talent have propelled her on a journey of fame beyond her best dream.   
Now Jennifer has all she ever wanted, only to discover that there is a dark side to the glitz and number one hits.  She will have to decide whether to sing her pain to a loving audience or find the courage to face the music in the private studio of her heart.
Julie L. Cannon's roots go deep in the South's red clay. She is the author of the award-winning Homegrown Series, published by Simon & Schuster and described as "Jan Karon crossed with Fannie Flagg." Her novel, The Romance Readers' Book Club, Penguin, was named a Target Breakout Book. I'll Be Home for Christmas, Summerside Press, made Nielsen's Bestseller list, and was also named a CBA Bestseller. Her novel Twang will be released in Aug.'12 from Abingdon Press. Julie's novels explore the transcendent, the supernatural, and the irrational - where God redeems the seemingly unredeemable. Julie lives in Watkinsville, Georgia. Visit her website at julielcannon.com for more info.
P.S. Beware - there is another author by the name of Julie Cannon, which causes a great deal of confusion because the two authors have vastly different subject matters and readerships.
It took me forever to get this book. As soon as I got it I could not wait to open it up and start reading. You see I have family in the music industry so it is a story that is very close to my heart. Julie Cannon, really has done her homework, she has a ton a knowledge of the Nasville music industry.
This is a tug at your heartstings book. I loved the characters Julie makes them come to life, you feel for them, and all of the hurt they go though.
This is the first book I have read by Julie Cannon, but I must say it will not be my last. Julie lets you see the magical in the ordinary. 5 star read for sure. This is a book that inspires you to get out your favorite CD and kick back and enjoy reading it.
I was given a copy of Twang by Julie Cannon.
Thank you so much Julie, I am waiting on your next book!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Veil Of Pearls By MaryLu Tynndall Giveaway!

Be swept away to Charleston of 1811, a city bustling with immigrants like Adalia, who is a runaway slave so light-skinned that no one guesses her past. Terrified her secret will be discovered, she settles into a quiet life making herbal remedies for a local doctor. But when Morgan, the handsome son of a prominent family, sweeps her into his glamorous world—a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin them both—suspicions and petty jealousies are aroused. What will Morgan do when he discovers that the woman he has fallen in love with is a runaway slave?
 
Acclaimed author, M.L. (MaryLu) Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida's Coast. After obtaining a degree in Math and working as software engineer for 15 years, she decided to test the waters as a writer. With now more than ten books published, she makes no excuses for the deeply spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures. As a follower of Christ, her stories often reflect her own journey and walk with God. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. A Christy award nominee, MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, and four cats on the California coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea.
 
MaryLu Tyndall has wrote a wonderful work of historical fiction. I do not normaly read this type of book. But I wanted to give it a try and I am very glad that I did. MayLu wrote a book with with a message about accepting yourself for who God has made you. You will love the characters in this wonderful book as well. Adalia and Morgan are characters you will miss when you have read the last page.
 
MaryLu Tyndall gave me a copy of this book.
Thank you so much MaryLu

Saturday, September 8, 2012

A Plain & Simple Heart By Virginia Smith and Lori Copeland Review and Giveaway

 A Plain and Simple Heart, an exciting new Amish-meets-Wild West adventure from bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith, weaves an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.
1884--Several years earlier, young Rebecca Switzer lost her heart to Jesse Montgomery, a rugged but dissolute cowboy on a dusty cattle trail near the Amish settlement of Apple Grove. Now she is grown up, and when she hears one day that he has been spotted nearby, her desire is plain and simple: She must see him.
Sheriff Colin Maddox is counting the days until he can leave law enforcement and follow his dream of starting a church. When a lovely woman, new to town and looking travel weary and a bit lost, gets caught up in the middle of a temperance riot, she is arrested along with the leaders. He can hardly believe she is what she claims--a Plain and simple woman. Nor can he believe how quickly he loses his heart to her. Can Colin convince her to forget Jesse and give him a chance?


Virginia Smith is the author of more than a dozen inspirational novels and more than fifty articles and short stories. An avid reader with ecclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense.
 
 
 
MY REVIEW
The Second book in The Amish of Apple Grove Series  A Plain an Simple Heart was better than the first and I really enjoyed the first. This one picks up with the younger Switzer daughter and her quest to find her true love, and she goes on a super fun adventure.  Did Someone say something about a young Amish girl in jail? Again not your average Amish book but oh so good.  You will be not be disappointed when you pick up these wonderful books. Don't miss book 1 The Hearts Frontier.
 
I was given a copy of this book by Ginny Smith.
Thank you very much Ginny, I am ready for book 3 A Cowboy at Heart 
 
HAVE YOU EVER READ AN  AMISH MEETS WILD WEST BOOK BEFORE?