CFBA Blog Tour: The Survivor by DiAnn Mills

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Survivor Zondervan (March 5, 2013) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into a viper's pit of danger. Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss's new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold-case?

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

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock scheduled to release March 2013.

About the book:

Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on local homicides.

When she finds a threatening note warning her that she’s about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief … until her brother is caught in the middle of a murder investigation—the victim is his ex-wife. As her brother is tried and convicted in the media, and bloggers and commentators like her have a field day, Cathy wonders if she should have taken the threat more seriously.

Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators, working to solve their brother’s ex-wife’s murder. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne’er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear and lack of confidence to learn the art of investigation. But will it be too late to save their brother from a murder conviction, or his five-year-old son who’s the killer’s next target?

***

Click here to read a fun interview I did with Terri last year.  :o)

Excellent Conclusion to the Intervention Series - Downfall by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

All of Terri Blackstock's books are great from start to finish...doesn't matter which one I pick up.  I know that every single time I read one, I'm going be riveted by the story and glued to every page.

Downfall was no exception.  While I'm extremely disappointed that this was the last book in the Intervention series, I can honestly say that it was a great conclusion because truly, the Covington family's nerves are probably frayed to threads after all the ordeals they've been through!

The suspense was believable, too, especially the overall flow of events.  Emily's part in the story blended well as she tried in her own way to solve the mystery.  Lance's instincts proved true about his classmates from his new school, which also contributed to the suspense.  And to top it all off, Kent was assigned to the case of figuring out who this weirdo was that was responsible for terrorizing everyone.  Poor Barbara...it was all she could do to keep up!!  She got a little hysterical a time or two, but honestly, who wouldn't?

I have so appreciated Terri's confidence in writing a series completely devoted to drug addiction, and how those addictions have a ripple effect on others.  And to have it combined with her trademark Up All Night Suspense?  What else could a reader want?  :o)

5 Stars

Southern?  Sort of.  It's set in the South, but there are no true Southern references
Sass?  No

Summary of Downfall:

Emily Covington has turned her life around after a drug addiction, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily has committed herself to a year-long treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, even her mother walks on eggshells around her, fearing she'll relapse. After her behavior during her drug years, Emily realizes she has a lot to prove.

When police discover a homemade bomb under Emily's car, and she then learns the wife of one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she knows things are deadly serious. But who wants Emily dead? And why? A conversation she had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double murder all conspire for one explosive ride ... and Emily is the only one who can identify the killer and save the life of the next potential victim. As she frantically works to solve this ever more complicated puzzle, Emily finds herself playing right into the killer's hands.



**Many thanks to Shelby with Shelton Interactive for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock/4 Stars

About the book:

Carny Sullivan grew up in the zany world of a traveling carnival. Quaint and peaceful Serenity, Texas, has given her a home, a life, and a child. Logan Brisco is the smoothest, slickest, handsomest man Serenity, Texas has ever seen. But Carny Sullivan knows a con artist when she sees one---and she's seen plenty, starting with her father.

As far as Carny Sullivan can tell, she's the only one in town who has his number. Because from his Italian shoes to his movie-actor smile, Logan has the rest of the town snowed. Carny is determined to reveal Brisco's selfish intentions before his promise to the townspeople for a cut in a giant amusement park sucks Serenity dry. Yet, as much as she hates his winning ways, there is a man behind that suave smile, a man who may win her heart against her will.

Shadow in Serenity is a modern-day Music Man, penned by a Christy Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author.

My thoughts:

I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago.  I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning.  However, this was not one of her stronger novels.

While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story.  Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist.  Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident.  Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.

On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular.  His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story.  Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money. 

I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience.  Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story.  But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her.  It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end.  My rating is 4 Stars.

Southern?  Yes, only by mentioning the state of Louisiana.  There were no actual Southern references.
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Wagered Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher/2.5 Stars

About the book:

When Bethany Silverton left the genteel life of Miss Henderson’s School for Young Ladies back in Philadelphia for the raw frontier town of Sweetwater, Montana, she had no idea how much she would enjoy the freedom and danger of this wild country.

A conservative preacher’s daughter, Bethany can’t resist the challenge of charming the most attractive cowboy in town into attending her father’s new church. She never dreamed that the cowboy would charm the lady.

But Hawk Chandler isn’t the only man vying for Bethany’s affections. Ruthlessly ambitious Vince Richards thinks Bethany is perfect for him: attractive, gracious, just the woman to help him become governor. And he is determined to get what he wants at any cost.

Drawn to one man, an obsession of another, Bethany’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil. She wagered her heart on love. Now she has gotten more than she bargained for—and the stakes are about to become life and death.

My thoughts:

It pains me to say this, but I'm sincerely tired of reading rewritten stories. I wasn't aware that Wagered Heart happened to be one until I reached the author's note at the very end. Had I known that prior to starting the book, I think my expectations might have been a bit different. Instead, all I could think as I read chapter after chapter was that this was not Robin's best work. She has written some seriously good historical fiction over the years (the Coming to America series being some of her best), and I was anxious to read something new and original by her that would be equally as enjoyable.

I'm sorry to say that this book was not it, mostly because the love story was a little over the top.  Bethany was "in love" with Hawk almost from the word go, and reading about it over and over again just got on my nerves.  Also, the middle of the book got a little too crazy for my taste with too many emotional changes happening in rapid succession--marriages, deaths, moving, etc. 

It just wasn't the book for me...I don't think I can put it any plainer than that.  Robin has rewritten several of her general market romances over the years with some being very good and others, like this one, falling a bit short.  In the future, I may need to stick with her contemporary novels only because I've yet to read one of those that I didn't like. 

2.5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

Book Review: Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis/3 Stars

About the book:

Raised in a tribe of street urchins, Maddie Grande was taught to be a thief and beggar on the streets of New Orleans. But Maddie doesn’t know her real name or where she came from.

Raised by Dexter Grande, Maddie and her twin “brothers” have recently left New Orleans and moved to the bayou. The twins are rarely there, but Maddie has come to love the swamp. She has learned to fish and trap and sell pelts at the local mercantile.

Maddie longs to change her life but knows that her brothers will never give up their lawless ways. When they kidnap the daughter of a wealthy carpetbagger, the twins force Maddie to hide the precocious eight-year-old while they return to New Orleans to wait for notice of a reward.

Pinkerton agent Tom Abbott is assigned to the kidnapping case in which Maddie has become an accomplice. In a journey that takes them to Baton Rouge, a mutual attraction becomes evident, but Tom and Maddie cannot trust each other.

Will Maddie ever discover who she is? Will her real family ever find her? Will Maddie and Tom listen to their hearts? Or will they choose honor over love?

My thoughts:

Heart of Lies was a book that I've been anxious to read for a long time.  I was thoroughly captivated with the book before it, Heart of Stone, and hoped and prayed that the continuation of this series would be as good as the start.  Well, let's just say my expectations may have been set a wee bit too high.

First of all, I loved the setting of this book:  historic New Orleans.  I felt a part of this city throughout the story, with all of it's alleyways, hidey-holes, and street corners.  Because Maddie was raised smack-dab in the middle of it, it was easy to see all of it's features from her point of view.  But once she grew up, she moved away from the hustle and bustle to the bayou, and I equally loved that setting as much as the busy city.  I could smell the water, see the moss on the trees, and hear the creaking of her little cabin in the middle of nowhere.  Trust me...all of this was masterfully done.

Secondly, I loved little Penelope!  That little girl was a pistol with her sassy nature at only 8 years old, but she was smart as a whip, too.  I thought the relationship that developed between her and Maddie was very well-written, and it was sad, but understandable, to see it come to an end.

But in spite of those things, I had a couple of concerns.  One thing was the tempo.  The first few chapters seemed very slow and wordy, and I had a slight case of doubt as to whether I would keep reading.  Also, there were several chapters devoted to "chasing," mostly Tom trying to catch either Maddie or Penelope or both.  The other issue was the romance.  I knew it was would culminate at some point, but when it did, it seemed way too abrupt.  It was better toward the end, but I couldn't seem to get the other scene out of my head.

The tempo and the romance issues were minor compared to the spiritual content, or rather, the lack of it.  When I read a book marketed by a Christian publisher, I expect that there will be a Christian theme to the story.  There was barely any in this entire book, and that was truly disappointing.  Instead, the characters seemed more concerned about just being a "good person."  If that's the case, why bother marketing this book as Christian fiction?  Why not just sell it as general market?  Now, just so I'm clear, I don't expect every single Christian book to have a conversion scene, or a church scene, or something else similar.  BUT, I do expect there to be characters that either grow somehow in their faith, return to their faith, or become a new Christian altogether.  None of that was in this story, and that's why I felt the need to point it out.

While I gave Heart of Stone a well-deserved 4 stars, I'm giving 3 stars to Heart of Lies.  If I was a fan of general market fiction and/or romance, the rating might be a little higher.  But since I only read Christian fiction, I have to take the lack of Christian content into consideration.  I do plan to read the final book in the series, Heart of Glass, once it is released next year.

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  Yes, a small amount

**Many thanks to Zondervan for providing a copy for review through Amazon Vine.

**Click here to read my review of Heart of Stone.

Book Review: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson/4.5 Stars

About the book:

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 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.

My thoughts:

To my knowledge, this was my first time reading a YA historical novel at a point in time other than my young adult years, and what a blast it was!  The majority of the books I read are historical, and written for an adult audience.  So, to have the opportunity to read a YA historical was like a dive into unknown territory...but I can't wait to go back!

Lord Hamlin was a very dreamy noble, who had an unneeded attraction to the healer's apprentice, Rose.  His future had already been arranged--inherit the dukedom, and marry Lady Salomea whom he has never met.  But while he struggled to accept that he and Rose cannot be together, he wasn't crazy about his brother, Lord Rupert, forming an attraction to her, either.

But in the midst of all this emotional drama, there was also the problem called Moncore.  He was an evil conjurer that Lord Hamlin had been tracking for 7 years with no success.  Until Moncore is caught, Lady Salomea must continue to remain in hiding because Moncore will surely put a curse on her if he can find her.

And if all that wasn't enough to keep me turning the pages, there was also the secrecy that slowly unfolded as I got closer and closer to the end.  I tell ya, I could barely contain myself!  Even though I'm familiar with the tale of Sleeping Beauty, my heart was still beating furiously as I waited for true love's first kiss to take place....and oh, what a kiss it was! 

Ahhh....this book will most assuredly have me reading more historical YA books in the future!  It had that lovely, fairytale-like quality that I would've loved reading as a teenager, but it still put me in a dreamy state as an adult.  I can hardly wait to read Ms. Dickerson's next book, The Merchant's Daughter, that comes out later this year!

4.5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  A little...Rose could be a bit feisty at times.

**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.

**And there's more!  The book trailer for The Healer's Apprentice...

CFBA Blog Tour and Book Review: Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingVicious CycleZondervan (February 22, 2011)byTerri Blackstock


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

Besides entertaining her readers, Terri tackles issues that she hopes will change lives. Her recent book, Predator, was inspired by her experiences on Facebook and Twitter, and her concern that people posted too much personal information about themselves. The book deals with an online predator who uses social networks as his playground. She hopes the book will change readers’ online habits.

Her New York Times best-seller, Intervention, was inspired by her own personal struggles with a daughter on drugs. In the book, a mother hires an interventionist for her drug-addicted daughter. But on the way to treatment, the interventionist is murdered, and the daughter disappears. Barbara, the mother, sets out to search for her daughter. Terri modeled Barbara after herself, and poured many of her own emotions and experiences into that character. As a result, many families experiencing drug addiction have written to thank her for telling their story and giving them hope. Vicious Cycle, Book Two of the Intervention Series, releases February 22, 2011. She’s currently working on Book Three.

Other recent books include a stand-alone novel called Double Minds, as well as Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light (from her acclaimed Restoration Series). She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 Series and Cape Refuge Series. Terri makes her home in Mississippi, where she and her husband Ken are enjoying their empty nest after raising three children.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. 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.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When fifteen-year-old Lance Covington finds an abandoned baby in the backseat of a car, he knows she's the newborn daughter of a meth addict he's been trying to help. But when police arrest him for kidnapping, Lance is thrust into a criminal world of baby trafficking and drug abuse.

His mother, Barbara, looks for help from Kent Harlan---the man whom she secretly, reluctantly loves and who once helped rescue her daughter from a mess of her own. Kent flies to her aid and begins the impossible work of getting Lance out of trouble, protecting a baby who has no home, and finding help for a teenage mother hiding behind her lies.

In this latest novel of suspense and family loyalty, bestselling author Terri Blackstock offers a harrowing look at drug addiction, human trafficking, and the devastating choices that can change lives forever.

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

Watch the Book Video:




My thoughts:

Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors.  I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages.  She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.

Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction.  Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well.  In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital.  Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.

Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school.  Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying.  He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day.  Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus.  When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home.  He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.

Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!!  Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture.  This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention.  I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series.  Highly Recommended!!

5 Stars

Southern?  Yes, set in Missouri
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review through CFBA.

Book Review: Intervention by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

About the book:

Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction: staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment and her interventionist is found dead at the airport, Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily's life, Barbara maintains her daughters innocence, but does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs. But as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope hes wrong about Emily.

Fear rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily's obsession with drugs lead her to commit murderer is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

In this gripping stand-alone novel of intrigue and suspense, bestselling fiction author Terri Blackstock delivers the up-all-night drama that readers around the world have come to expect from her.

My thoughts:

This was one of those books that just slapped me in the face with it's stark reality.  Sure, I watch the tv show Intervention.  I know there are people in this world that struggle with addiction.  Until this book, though, it never really sunk in how painful and difficult it really must be for people that struggle to get help for their family members.

In typical Terri Blackstock style, this was not just a novel that dealt with a major issue.  She had to get her bad guy in their somewhere!  In this story, though, she didn't hold out until the end of the book to reveal this crazy madman who was out to get revenge.  I liked that I was able to get a better understanding of his character before he really went off the deep end.

I also thought her portrayal of Barbara, Emily's mom, was very realistic.  I'm not a mother yet, but I know if I had a child that was in harm's way, I would be beating down the door to the police station every single day for them to get busy finding my child.  Her struggle to do whatever she could was constantly at war with Detective Kent Harlan who just wanted her to stay out of the way. 

And Lance!!!  Barbara's young son almost stole the show!  His inquistive personality was a lot of fun to read, as well as his desire to be the "man of the family" at 14 years old. 

What more is there to say?  I can't help but give 5 huge stars for this powerful novel.  It was such a fast read, and worth every second to learn the things that I did. This book challenged my thinking about what goes on in neighborhoods I don't drive through, and in families that keep their struggles hidden.  Highly recommended!

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  No

Book Review: Take One by Karen Kingsbury

About the book:

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of Hollywood with a dream bigger than both of them. Now they have done the impossible: raised enough money to produce a feature film with a message that could change the world.

But as Chase and Keith begin shooting, their well-laid plans begin to unravel. With millions of dollars on the line, they make a desperate attempt to keep the film from falling apart—even as a temperamental actress, a botched production schedule, and their own insecurities leave little room for the creative and spiritual passion that once motivated them. Was God really behind this movie after all? A chance meeting and friendship with John Baxter could bring the encouragement they need to stay on mission and produce a movie that will actually change people’s lives.

My thoughts:

I have been a fan of Karen Kingsbury since the start of her writing career. Her early novels are some of the best that Christian fiction has to offer. More so, her novels featuring the Baxter family pretty much have their own shelf at the bookstore. :o) This new series, Above the Line, still features the Baxter family, but they are no longer in the forefront as they have been in Karen's three sets of series preceeding this one.

What impressed me most about this book was that it dealt with real-life issues: jealousy, peer pressure, alcohol, temptation, etc. I have to say this was a nice change from some of her recent books where everything seems so tidy and everyone has a happy ending. The person that seemed to struggle the most in this book was Andi, the daughter of one of the movie producers. She's grown up the child of missionary parents, and feels that she's always been held to a different standard. She knows what she's been taught from God's Word, but she's reached the time in her life that she wants to experience things for herself, and not shy away from them simply because that's what she's always been told. I really applaud Kingsbury for creating a character that struggled with day-to-day life, and not another one who had a Scripture-verse answer for everything that went wrong. Mind you, those type of characters are not bad, but when you've been around them for the last 14 books of the Baxter saga, anything different is a welcome change.

With all that said, I'm looking forward to the rest of this series. I'm particularly anxious to see what happens between Bailey and Cody and Tim...methinks that little love triangle will be around for awhile. My rating for Take One is 4 Stars.

Book Review: A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston

About the book:

In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an 'Englisher' (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home for Christmas to reconcile with her family, especially her stern father, who is the religious leader for her former Amish church district.

So Anne Mae writes a letter to Kathryn Beiler, her brother's wife, to enlist her help. Kathryn asks her husband, David, if she should arrange Anna Mae's visit. David cautions her that a visit would cause too much stress in the family and instead suggests they visit Anna Mae and her husband in the spring. However, Kathryn arranges the visit anyway, believing in her heart that it's God's will for the family to heal. When Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster for Christmas, she doesn't receive the welcome she expects and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in her family -- and her faith in God.

A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one's family, and the determination to follow God's will regardless of the outcome, A Plain and Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next...right to the very last page.

My thoughts:

A Plain and Simple Christmas was my first experience with author Amy Clipston. Her writing style was exactly what this title implies--plain and simple--but don't let that discourage you from reading this book. She has created very likable characters (with the exception of Henry, the dad), and the plot draws the reader in very quickly.

Even though I knew there would be a happy, tidy ending, that did not stop me from reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting. When I reached the mid-way point, the drama increased, and I started to really wonder whether or not Anna Mae and her Englisch husband would be received well by her family and friends. Thanks to some scheming and planning by her sister-in-law, her first few moments back in Bird-in-Hand were memorable. But it wasn't until their next day's visit that things started to get hairy. Personally, I've been through some of those family moments where the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Amy relayed that same tension through the pages, and I have to admit, I was a bit worried for Anna Mae dealing with all this stress...all while pregnant with a baby whose arrival is not far away!

Prior to reading this book, I had not read either of Amy's other Amish novels which share the same characters as A Plain and Simple Christmas. I never once felt that it was difficult to relate to the characters, nor did I feel that I didn't have enough of their backstory. This book very easily stood on it's own, and it's a great addition to all of the other Christmas novellas available this season. My rating is 4 stars.

**Thanks to Zondervan through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Predator by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

About the book:

Bestselling author Terri Blackstock presents another stand-alone novel, Predator.

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.

My thoughts:

I tell ya, Terri Blackstock's books just keep getting better and better! This one had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. What made it so good was that it was a story relevant to the current hi-tech society that we live in. It made me rethink everything that I post online, and thankfully, I know better than to post the intimate details of my life such as where I'm going every day, when I will or won't be home, etc. Some people really just don't know better, and this book tackles that very issue. It may literally scare you witless.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to parents and older teens. Some parents don't pay attention to what their children are looking at online, what networks they belong to, or who their friends are. That, in and of itself, is plain scary, but what's scarier is that you never know who's watching and what someone's intent may be. There's a section of the story where Terri just puts it in black and white through the voice of one of her characters:

"Examine your social networks and take down everything you've posted that you wouldn't want a murderous predator to see. Don't post where you are, ever. Don't post where you live, or your school, or your town, or your church. Don't post pictures that identify places, like colleges or schools or particular teams you might be on. Never post your work schedule or your activities or your travel plans. And don't flood the site with pictures of yourself. You have no idea how much information a predator can get from those pictures."

I loved this book because I got a great story plus some really relevant information. This has to be one of THE BEST books that Terri has ever written, and I applaud her for writing about a subject that is very prevalent in today's society. The characters in the story are real, the circumstances harrowing, and the roadblocks they face agonizing. Predator gets a huge 5 star rating from me!

**Thanks to Zondervan through CFBA for providing a copy for review.

FIRST Wild Card Tour: Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Deborah Vogts

and the book:

Seeds of Summer

Zondervan (May 21, 2010)

***Special thanks to Londa Alderink of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $10.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (May 21, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031029276X
ISBN-13: 978-0310292760

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Five Months Later

Metal scraped against metal, waking Natalie from a restless sleep. Again, the screech came from outside. With a reluctant groan, she forced herself from her cotton sheets and fumbled in the dark to find her boots.

What was out there? And why wasn't Jessie barking?

She slipped her bare feet into leather ropers, then hurried from the bedroom down the stairs, hoping she wouldn't rouse her younger siblings. An instant foreboding caused her to grab the shotgun her dad always kept behind the back door. Natalie loaded it with a couple of shells before heading to the porch -- just in case. As her eyes adjusted to the outside darkness, she distinguished the faint outline of a truck backed up to the barn entrance. She crept through the barnyard.

“Who's there?” Her voice wavered as she clutched the wooden forearm of the aged Winchester, prepared to fire a warning shot at the moon if necessary.

A small beam of light darted inside the old limestone barn, then disappeared.

“Tom, is that you?” Natalie eased her finger closer to the trigger.

Silence. Then the hollow clamor of feed buckets knocked to the ground as though someone had tripped over them.

Natalie held her breath. Her heart thumped wildly against her chest as she thought about the recent thefts in the county. If only her dad were here.

But he's not, and you're in charge. Slow, mechanical breaths helped her to see this might be nothing more than their hired hand returning from a night at the bar. She knew little about Tom Walker, but the idea that he'd been out with friends on a Friday night was more probable than not.

A tall figure edged from the shadows. Natalie recognized the pale shock of curls highlighted by the luminous night.

“Hey there, don't shoot.” The ranch employee rested his hands on his head. “I was only putting some stuff away in the barn.”

“Working kind of late, aren't you?”

“Just got back from a rodeo.” Tom's voice grew louder as he approached. “Sorry if I frightened you.”

Natalie lowered the shotgun, then gazed up at the sky, relief lodged in her throat. “You could've turned on the barn lights. At least then I wouldn't have thought someone was sneaking around out here.”

“Didn't want to wake the house.”

In the faint moonlight, she caught the glint of an uneasy smile on the man's face. “How'd you do?”

“Tough night for steer wrestling.”

Natalie knew all about rodeo and tough nights. “There'll be others.”

He dropped his arms, and she noticed Jessie at his side. No wonder the faithful border collie hadn't barked. Suddenly aware of how she must look, she combed her fingers through her wayward locks. Dressed in baggy shorts, a torn T-shirt, and a pair of pink boots, she held little resemblance to her former title as Miss Rodeo Kansas, or of a rancher either.

And that's what she was now -- a twenty-two-year-old ranch owner in the Flint Hills of Charris County, Kansas. She shook her head, confounded by the turn of events her life had taken in the past week. “Well, I'm sorry for interrupting your work. I'll let you get back to your business.” Hoping he wouldn't sense her despair, she turned toward the house. As she did, an engine revved in the near distance. Tracing the noise, she saw a truck tear from behind the barn, its headlights aimed for the lane.

Staggering backward, she almost dropped her father's shotgun but somehow managed to bring the wooden stock to her shoulder. “Hey, you there,” she called out. “Stop or I'll shoot.”

The truck vaulted onto the dirt road and spun gravel as it sped away. Speechless, Natalie lowered the gun and whirled toward the hired hand, expecting him to go after the culprits sneaking around her father's barn.

Then she acknowledged the panic in the man's eyes.

“What were you and your buddies doing in there?” Her brows crinkled, and she instantly thought the worst. Dark barn, suspicious behavior. Had they been doing drugs, or were they stealing?

“It's not what you think.” The hostility in the air pricked her skin as the man stepped closer. He stood a half-foot taller than her own five-foot-eight.

Natalie gripped the shotgun, her palms damp with sweat. Did she have the guts to shoot a man? She aimed the barrel at his chest. “Is this how you're going to honor my father? By stealing from him? He's not been dead a week.”

“The boys and I --we were just having some fun --talking was all.” His gentle voice caressed her.

Natalie recognized the seduction of his lie --the flicker of deceit in his eyes. “In the dark?”

“No law against talking in the dark.” He reached in her direction, much too close for her comfort.

She shoved his lanky body back with the metal barrel and thought of all the work they needed to accomplish the next day unloading and sorting cattle. Could she and the kids get along without his help if she fired him? Could she trust him to tell the truth?

His lips pulled into a pout. “Come on, Miss Adams. I've been with your dad for nearly six months. He trusted me. We weren't doing nothing wrong ... honest.”

Natalie searched the man's eyes for a hint of sincerity. “Swear on your mama's grave?” Even as the words came from her mouth, she knew she was a fool to trust him.

“Better -- I'll swear on your daddy's.”

Natalie's throat swelled as hot tears threatened to fall. Her good judgment now clouded with grief, she eased the barrel toward the ground and shook her head in embarrassment. “I guess the stress is getting to me. Sorry for being so jumpy.”

Tom nodded in understanding. “No need to apologize. A person can't be too careful these days -- especially a young woman like yourself. It's good I'm around for protection.”

Natalie disregarded his remark, finding no comfort in it. Her gut twisted at the vulnerable position her father's death had placed her in as Tom drifted back to the darkness of the barn. With a weary sigh, she studied the moon above. Like a shooting star, her life had changed in an instant and no matter how much she wished it, not even the crickets or the moaning bullfrogs could set it right again.

Returning to the house, she peeked in on her twelve-year-old brother, asleep in his upstairs bedroom. His tranquil face reflected no worries, no hint of strain from their recent ordeal.

Oh, that her rest could be as peaceful.

When Natalie opened the door to her sister's bedroom, she failed to make out a form under the covers. A flick of the light revealed Chelsey's bed hadn't been slept in. She glanced about the room, and then noticed the splay of curtains caught in a warm breeze from the open dormer window. Natalie darted back to Dillon's room.

“Where's Chelsey?” She jiggled her brother's leg and watched the young boy rouse from a deep sleep.

Dillon rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. “What?”

“Chelsey's not in her room. Do you have any idea where she might be? Out with friends? A party somewhere?”

Her brother shook his head, then yawned. “I heard her talking on the phone to Lucas earlier. Maybe she's with him.”

Natalie's mouth grew taut. Nothing good ever happened past midnight, and it was now close to two. She hoped the reckless teenagers weren't in a ditch somewhere.

A loud thump from Chelsey's room caused those thoughts to evaporate.

Natalie rounded the hallway to find her fifteen-year-old sister crumpled on the bedroom floor.

Chelsey raised her head, her eyes glazed. “Hey, sis.” Her words came out slurred as she tried to stand. “Did ya miss me?”

CFBA Blog Tour and Book Review: Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Deceit

Zondervan (June 18, 2010)

by

Brandilyn Collins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Skip Tracer Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed his second wife--and Joanne's best friend--seven years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.

The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down. Using her skip tracing skills, she sets out to locate Melissa Harkoff, now twenty-two, who lived in the Jackson home at the time of Linda Jackson's disappearance.

As Joanne drives home on a rainy winter night, a hooded figure darts in front of her car. In her headlight beams she glimpses the half-concealed face of a man, a rivulet of blood jagging down his cheek. She squeals to a stop but clips him with her right fender. Shaking, she gets out of her car in the pouring rain. The man will not let her see his face. Before he limps off into the night he warns her not to talk to police.

As Joanne tries to find Melissa, someone seems to be after her. Who was the man she hit on the road. Is Baxter Jackson out to silence her? Or is some other skip she's traced in the past now out for revenge?

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

My thoughts:

Oh.....my.....gosh. This book was so unbelievably good that it could be said that I had no life outside of reading for the past 2 days! Of course, Brandilyn never disappoints with anything she writes, but this book was just all kinds of awesome!

I should've thought things through just a little bit more when I started on this one. Silly me decided it would be a great idea to start reading the book at night right before going to bed. And it wasn't long before the Hooded Man that's mentioned in the book's description decides to show up....at night, in a thunderstorm, on a winding road, and with a whole load of creepiness. I kid you not--in no time flat, my heart was just pounding in my chest! It got even more intense when Joanne finally makes it home after her run-in with the Hooded Man, and she thinks there might be someone in her house. Oh, and then the electricity goes out...and she thinks she's all alone. Yep, that's when I decided this book would be better read during the daytime. :o)

I'm not someone that reads a lot of suspense, mainly because I usually spoil the ending for myself by try too hard to figure out the "who-done-it." Well, if all books were crafted as great as this one was, maybe I should pick 'em up a little more often! Brandilyn's trademark Seatbelt Suspense is masterfully done is this novel, and it is not to be missed. Deceit was one of the BEST books I've read so far in 2010! 5 HUGE stars!

**Thanks to Zondervan through CFBA for providing a copy for review.

**Click here to purchase a copy of Deceit.

Book Review: A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the book:

The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series delivers exactly what readers have been waiting for—smart, confident women who are not afraid to defy convention, live their own dreams and share their lives if the right man comes along.
 
In A Matter of Character, book three in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, it’s 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs. 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.

My thoughts:

A Matter of Character is the third and final installment in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, and out of the three books, this one was the one I liked the most. Even though Gwen from book one and Cleo from book two were portrayed as strong, confident women and fun to read about, Daphne's character in this book was the most interesting for me. I liked that she was independent, and that she managed to earn a living for herself as a novelist, even though she really didn't need to worry with any sort of a job since she was already wealthy.

Another enjoyable part of the book was the journal written by Joshua's grandfather. At first, I wondered how in the world this would connect to the rest of the story, and whether or not Joshua would ever know the things written there. Fortunately, this part of the storyline is tied up neatly by the end, and done very well.

I do have one criticism, though. Actually, a couple of criticisms....sorry. :o(

Obviously, this book is a historical romance, so it's not like I didn't expect something to happen between Daphne and Joshua. But when Daphne first acknowledges her feelings for Joshua, it's nothing short of infatuation, in my opinion. Maybe that was the author's intent, but it wasn't at all similar of her other novels when her characters begin to recognize their affections.

The other thing I noticed was the lack of Daphne's writings. If I remember correctly, there were only two small passages that were inserted into the storyline...nothing more. Considering that Daphne's occupation is a major part of the story, both with her novels and her newspaper column, I expected to see more of that included in the story in the form of her articles and snippets from her novels. It would've just added a whole other dimension to the story.

I would recommend this series for those who like a light story with a sweet storyline, and a nice dose of romance. Robin Lee Hatcher was one of the first authors I ever read when I started to read Christian fiction, and her earlier novels to this day are still some of my favorites. Personally, while A Matter of Character was a good conclusion to this series, I sincerely hope that the author's future novels have a little more depth than this series did.

3 Stars

**Many thanks to Zondervan through BookTourSpot for providing a copy of this book for me to review.

**Click here to visit Robin's website, here to purchase this book from Amazon, and here to purchase it from BooksChristian.com.