The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

Hi There,

The Messenger is about a Hannah, who is a Friend. That is a Quaker, in a world filled with Rebels and Colonial spies the Quakers do not take sides. They do their best to remain neutral. But it is oh so much easier to be neutral when you don't have a loved one involved in a war, or when your home has been taken over to be used by the military. To make matters way worse, Hannah's twin brother has basically denounced his Quaker faith and joined the military. Now he is a prisoner which puts Hannah in complete conflict and turmoil about what is really right, and what is wrong. 

Jeremiah hates the British. They are the cause of a great many of his woes, and his pain, disabilities, and he would love to cause them as much heart-ache as possible. He is planning a prison break, but it isn't as easy as he would like it to be. Unless.... unless he can get Hannah to be an undercover "agent". This way she can visit her brother in prison, but at huge risks to her lifestyle if her parents find out. He wants to strike a blow for the Confederates, but can Hannah really pull this off and not become something she shouldn't be? 

The last two books  I read by Siri Michelle was impressive. Great attention to detail is worked in her books, and this one was just as detailed as the last ones. My reviews of them are here:

http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/search?q=Siri+Mitchell

I found this book to start off quickly enough in the first pages, and then sort of slow down for a while. It built back up several chapters in. I think those slower chapters were really needed to get across enough information to build the rest of the story. The book swaps back and forth between Hannah's first person story and Jeremiah's first person story. In this way you get almost two books in one because you have a full perspective from two different main characters which blends more together in the plot line as things progress. 

I liked it quite well, and as in her other books big questions are asked, and God is not left out. 

Carol 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Messenger Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2012) by Siri Mitchell
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a speaker and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith
...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers believe they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. Can she sit by and do nothing while he suffers?

Jeremiah Jones has an enormous task before him. Responsibility for a spy ring is now his, and he desperately needs access to the men in prison, whom they are seeking to free. A possible solution is to garner a pass for Hannah. But while she is fine to the eye, she holds only disdain for him--and agreeing would mean disobeying those she loves and abandoning a bedrock of her faith.

With skill and sensitivity, Mitchell tells a story of two unlikely heroes seeking God's voice, finding the courage to act, and discovering the powerful embrace of love.

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764207962 

Scandalon - A Memoir by Susan Elaine Jenkins

Today's memoir is about a lady named Susan who moved from California, to CHINA!
To get away from a scandal, she just took off, and started a whole new life in China of all places.

I haven't finished reading it, but I can tell you I love the parts in italics in the book, the places where God is talking to Susan and showing her how much He loves her. It is just a really fascinating to read how God was (is) working in this woman's life.

Carol

Book Description:
Running from scandal - in her family, church and community life - Susan moves from California to China. At first, the adventure of experiencing an exotic culture brings the escape she craves. Gradually, as the layers of mystery and reserve fall away, she gets to know her new Chinese friends on deeper levels. At the same time the self-protective layers around her own heart peel back painfully, exposing her inner brokenness.

In this vivid and transparent memoir, Susan takes us on a fascinating journey into the streets and homes of modern China. The travel memoir is interspersed with Susan's personal story of emotional and spiritual sabotage, shame and shattered dreams. It all comes together as she opens her heart anew to God's love - the most scandalous love of all.

About the Author:
Susan Elaine Jenkins has lived in China for fourteen years, teaching the performing arts in international schools. She was previously a teacher in private schools in California.

Author Photo:

Interview with Susan:

1. Tell us about some of the joys of your life?
Teaching music and drama to international students is fun and keeps me in a perpetual state of learning. I also get to lead worship from time to time in churches here in China. Maybe someday I can tell about that.

2. Much of Scandalon came from your journal writing through the years?
Yes; when I was experiencing the scandals I tell about in Scandalon, I kept journals that were for my eyes only. The idea of sharing these stories was inconceivable. Then a friend from the UK convinced me to begin a blog. As time went by, I got to know my readers. Little by little, I began to open up the pages of my journals to them, interspersed with a few of the details of daily life in Asia. To my surprise, my online friends began commenting and sending me private letters filled with their own pain. I wanted to let them know that there really is healing and light ahead, that the promise from God really is authentic: He is a God who heals.

3. What do you like best about living in China?
My career here has taken me into the hearts and lives of many unforgettable students. And, though I'm a seasoned foreign expatriate, the daily adventures of living in Asia continue to surprise me. China is progressing rapidly, which reminds me that I'm a developing person living in a developing society. I love studying and speaking Mandarin. I love my students and my school.

When I arrived in 1997, much of what I experienced was a village lifestyle; everything is completely different now. I think it is accurate to say that a hunger for material possessions is now driving the personal behavior of many Chinese. When I think about trying to understand China, though, I think of peeling an onion. There are layers upon layers of complexities to this culture and I am always aware of the fact that I really don't know much about it – even after fourteen years of living here.

4. Is there one place in China you haven't yet visited, but still want to go?
I have not yet visited the panda bears in Chengdu. I can't believe I've put that off! I hear that if one gives a "donation" of a 1,000 rmb, it is possible to pose with a bear. That would be a great Facebook profile picture, don't you think? (laughing)

5. With all your work as a teacher and an author, do you have time to read? If so, what books?
Lately, I've been devouring all the Peter Hessler books about China. My favorite novel of all time is "Pillars of the Earth". For Christian reading, I turn to John Eldredge's books time and time again, especially "Waking the Dead". Phillip Yancey's books stir me and cause me to think and see the world differently. I think Annie Dillard is a brilliant, fresh writer. And for a combination of godly wisdom and wonderful hints for the kitchen, nothing beats Dennis Ellingson's "God's Wild Herbs" and "God's Healing Herbs."

6. Where can we find you on the Web?
On my website at http://www.susanelainejenkins.com/ . I love to hear from readers!

Ordering Info:

288 pages

Price: $13.99

Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.

The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 8 - 12 here .

http://amzn.com/B005HRT4L2

---

Read Excerpt:

here

http://cladach.com/Scandalon-Excerpt.pdf

Review Quotes:

"In this exciting book, Susan brings her story of hope and courage to others who experience difficult life circumstances and people." ~ Curt Grayson, author of Healing the Hurts that Sabotage the Soul

"Thanks for the courage to share the story. And especially thanks for weaving your experiences in China into the story. It made what could have been a tabloid shocker into an account of grace." ~ Rev. Bill Doggett

"An enthralling story that touches the very depth of the heart.... May God use Ms. Jenkins' personal journey of character, heart and soul to reach and restore, revive and rescue, renew and revitalize - its readers into the next phase of their life's journey." ~ Dr. Anita McLaughlin, Independent Voices

---

Author Video:

Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith

Hello All,

Today is a review on Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith. This is the first time I have a read a book like this. This is a nice rework, and well, "fluff" out of Sarai. We more often know her as Sarah, after God renamed her and her husband Abraham. In this book readers will follow Sarai as she mourns her bareness and strives to keep her husband Abram while she is childless in the midst of other fertile women. In Sarai, we find the woman who will be Sarah coping with the day to day issues of Lot and her other kin, as well as her struggles of being with out a child when she had promised to give Abram one. Through a long journey they will see how God keeps his promises if we will keep up our part.

I found this book to be creatively written, as well as written with plenty of sensitivity and lots of correct settings with as many day to day life details that are as historically correct as possible. That made it quite enjoyable. You already know how the plot will end since you are reading a "fleshed" out story from the Bible. However, I think that for many this will simply make the heroes of our faith alive and real to a great many more people.

Carol

About the Book:

He promised her his heart. She promised him a son. But how long must they wait?

Sarai, the last child of her aged father, is beautiful, spoiled, and used to getting her own way. Even as a young girl, she is aware of the way men look at her, including her half brother Abram. When Abram finally requests Sarai’s hand, she asks one thing–that he promise never to take another wife as long as she lives. Even her father thinks the demand is restrictive and agrees to the union only if Sarai makes a promise in return–to give Abram a son and heir. Certain she can easily do that, Sarai agrees.

But as the years stretch on and Sarai’s womb remains empty, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain–lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. To what lengths will Sarai go in her quest to bear a son? And how long will Abram’s patience last?

The Wives of the Patriarchs is a three-book biblical fiction series set in ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and ancient Canaan. Each story is a fictional rendering of the biblical account, focusing on one or more of Israel’s four matriarchs.

Enter a world where love isn’t always what it seems, and sincere longings can lead to devastating choices. Meet Sarai, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, all amidst a backdrop of deceit and control and a struggle to make a united family. Sometimes we must be careful what we wish for, as many of these matriarchs discovered much too well.

About the Author:
http://www.jilleileensmith.com/
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all part of the the Wives of King David series. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Heart’s Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

Hello Folks,

Here we are with my second book I have every read by Laurie Alice Eakes, Heart's Safe Passage. Here is my review of the first one I read of hers. This fascinating book is about Phoebe Lee. She is an aspiring midwife, who's own sister-in-law doesn't even totally trust her to be a midwife and yet she will not make this ocean voyage with out her! Since she isn't really wanting to go, Belinda just has her kidnapped and embarks on a journey to get her husband freed from prison. Phoebe is just a hostage trying to cope in some ways, and in others, she is a willing helper.

Phoebe's worst issues are dealing with her past with her deceased husband, her pregnant former sister-in-law, and her growing attraction to the Captain Rafe. To complicate matters Captain Rafe has a child on board, his child! Things are quickly growing more complicated and issues are in need of being solved before they destroy more lives.

Laurie Alice Eakes has written another wonderful book! I am finishing this one up because I have been behind, but I was thrilled to find the same depth of characters, attention to detail, and well written story as in the last book I read by her.

Carol

Product Description

It's 1813 and all Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. When Belinda, her pregnant sister-in-law, presses Phoebe to accompany her onto a British privateer in order to cross the Atlantic and save her husband from an English prison, Phoebe tries to refuse, then finds herself kidnapped.Captain Rafe Docherty is a man in search of revenge. His ship is no place for women, but he needs Belinda in order to obtain information about the man who destroyed his family and his life. Between Belinda's whining and Phoebe's hostility, Rafe can't help but wonder if he made the right choice.

When it becomes apparent there is an enemy among them on the ship, the stakes are raised. Will they reach the English shore in time? Can love and forgiveness overcome vengeance?



Author Bio

Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, A Necessary Deception, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.

Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A People Tall And Smooth by Judith Galblum Pex

I am still reading these very moving stories! While I get more of them read so I can update properly there is lots of wonderful information below. This book is FREE for Kindle for a while, so grab a copy while you can!

Carol

---

Ordering Info:

220 pages Illustrated: Color Photos

Price: $13.99

Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.

The Amazon Kindle version is free March 1st - 5th here:

http://amzn.com/B0076RB9P0

---

Read Excerpt:

http://cladach.com/A-People-Excerpt.pdf

Review Quotes:

"Stories of resilience, determination and the choice for freedom - at all costs." ~ Joan Hecht, author of The Journey of the Lost Boys

"These stories will challenge the church to be salt and light." ~ Corey Odden, Voice of the Martyrs

"These stories will gladden - and tear - your heart." ~ Stuart Briscoe, author and broadcaster

---

Author Video:

Book Description:

Here are the very real stories of how and why five men and women escaped the genocide in south Sudan and Darfur, made their way through Egypt and smuggled into Israel, the one country their Islamic government prohibited them entering. In desperation they fled across the border anyway, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

In their hearts and minds they carried the prophecy of Isaiah: "At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty [to Mount Zion] from a people tall and smooth-skinned" (Isaiah 18:7). These people believe they are a fulfillment of that prophecy.

When hundreds of the tall, dark Africans began appearing in the popular beach town of Eilat, at the southernmost tip of Israel, curiosities were piqued. Where did they come from? Why would Christians, from a war-torn Islamic-governed country risk everything to come to Israel, of all places? When a group of refugees entered The Shelter Hostel run by John and Judy Pex, these courageous peoples' stories, both tragic and miraculous, began to unfold.

Gabriel, Muna Maria, Yien, Rose, all persecuted Christians from south Sudan, and Muna from Darfur tell their heart-wrenching but inspiring stories. They are stories that the world - and the church - need to hear.

---

About the Author:

Judith Galblum Pex was born in Washington, D.C., but has lived with her husband, John, in Eilat, Israel, since 1976. Twenty-six years ago John and Judith began The Shelter Hostel, a guest house for travelers from all over the world and a drop-in center for anyone searching for physical, emotional, or spiritual support. John, from Holland, is the pastor of the Eilat Congregation, a multi-cultural, non-denominational fellowship.

Judith and John are the parents of four grown children, two of whom are married. All the children live in Israel. In her free time Judith likes to read, hike and camp in the mountains around Eilat, and to snorkel in the Red Sea.

Interview with Judith

Feb. 2012:

1. What did you hope to achieve by writing a book about the Sudanese who escaped into Israel?

I wanted to raise awareness of the situation of the South Sudanese in Israel. I wanted people to understand the suffering they've been through and to see them as individuals; not as "just refugees."

2. Can you give us any updates to the situation of the Sudanese in Israel? Are any of the five people from A People Tall and Smooth living in Sudan again?

The situation of the Sudanese in Israel is very precarious now. The Israeli government is only hardening their stand against them. The news from just a couple of weeks ago is that there is an expulsion order against them that they all have to go back to South Sudan by April 1st.

As far as the five people whose stories are in the book: Gabriel is studying international relations at a leading college in Israel and his fellow students have written a petition asking that he and the other two Sudanese students be allowed to stay and finish their studies. Muna's son, Tom, is doing national service here as he had planned. Yien is married to Jasmin from Switzerland and they have a son, Joshua, and are living in Addis Ababa where he is going to Bible school. Rose and Muna Maria are have moved to other locations.

3. What impact have these stories had on you and people you know?

It was a privilege for me to get to know the five Sudanese people whom I interviewed in a much deeper, personal way. If not for the book, I never would have spent so much time with them. The book also challenged me to reflect on and understand my - and my family's - relationship with the Sudanese refugees. I've been encouraged by people's reactions to the book. I think feedback is always important for a writer. An Israeli friend of mine from Eilat told me that after reading the book, she doesn't look at the Africans she sees on the street in the same way as she did before she read it. She knows that each one has a story behind them. Similarly, some of my parents' Jewish friends were really touched by the stories.

I'm glad the book was useful for some of the refugees whose stories were told. When Gabriel was applying for University here in Israel, I wrote a condensed version of his testimony so that people would know who he is and where he came from.

4. When you were a child, what were your favorite books?

When I was little I liked all the books by Dr. Suess, beginning with The Cat in the Hat. When I was a bit older, I liked The Misty of Chincoteague series, the Nancy Drew series,Charlotte's Web, and The Yearling. We went to the library every week and exchanged books. I remember Anne of Green Gables, Oliver Twist, and books by Jules Verne. I was always reading. We were a reading family. My sister has written about a half dozen nonfiction books; and I've appreciated her advice on my journey as a writer.

5. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life?

My family is definitely at the top of my list. My wonderful marriage of 37 years to John, our four amazing children, together with our son- and daughter-in-law; and the six grandchildren we have, including our two Sudanese foster boys. After my family, I'm thankful for the Shelter Hostel being open for 27 years, and what it's means to the thousands of people who pass through each year. I'm thankful for the Eilat congregation which John and I began about 30 years ago. And I'm also proud that I was able to write two books - so far!

6. Where can we find you on the Web?

At my website: http://www.judithpex.com you can learn more about me and my books, and see pictures of the Sudanese people in Eilat. You may find updates on my Facebook page: "Judith Pex - author".

7. Do you have a Middle Eastern recipe to share with us?

In A People Tall and Smooth I mention the dish called Ful. It's known to be Egyptian but Middle Eastern food crosses borders!

Ful Medames - Egyptian Fava Beans

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs of dried fava beans or broad beans

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Soak beans in water overnight. Drain, then cover with fresh water in large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until beans are tender. Drain; place in medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Mash together. Serve hot with a fried egg and pita bread.

Judy Pex in Sudanese dress

Ruby Dawn by Raquel Byrnes

Oh Readers,

This book is mainly about Ruby, and Tom. Ruby and Tom have a past, they were in the same facility together. A great deal happened there over a period of several years. Now suddenly Tom is back in Ruby's world, but Ruby isn't the same as she use to be. She has wondered away from God. She is a very good doctor now but so very very much from her past isn't healed or dealt with yet.

Tom coming back into Ruby's world at the same time that her job, her clinic for street kids and their families, and the new wing of the hospital are all collapsing on her. Some folks aren't so sure if Tom isn't causing Ruby more problems, he certainly is complicating things with Ben. Lilah is Ruby's friend, but also her employee and her son is in trouble and some days it just seems that the whole world is out to crush Ruby and that God left long ago.

This book was really good! Ruby Dawn has action, romance, gangs, criminals, law officials, hospitals and people in real life crisis's drawing closer to God and His plan for their lives. If I get another change to read another book by Raquel Byrnes I will and see if her other books are as good as this one.

Carol

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Ruby Dawn White Rose Publishing (January 27, 2012) by Raquel Byrnes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Raquel married her college sweetheart seventeen years ago and you can still find them spending time together chatting over a cup of coffee like when they were first dating.

Her husband is her biggest fan and most ardent supporter. He encourages her to take time for writing as often as he can. He regularly gives her gift cards to her favorite coffee house so that she can go there to write and relax.

He has been known to whip up his famous chicken quesadillas complete with guacamole and brownies for dessert.

Raquel has written books for more than a decade. She loves to do research and has taken private detective courses, gun classes, and underground tours to get every detail right for her novels. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-of-your-seat pace. Stories filled with faith, love, and adventure.

In 2009 she signed with agent, Terry Burns, at Hartline Literary. Terry worked to get her Shades of Hope series sold and in 2010, White Rose Publishing purchased the three-book series.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A painful past. A love returns A desperate plan.

Former street kid, Ruby now reaches out to runaways through her medical clinic in the worst part of the city, but her escalating battle with a gang leader puts that in jeopardy.

Cavalier, a risk-taker, charming… Ruby’s first love is now on the right side of the law and the center of a dangerous DEA sting involving her clinic.  Tom’s disappearance ten years ago broke her heart and rattled her faith. As their romance relights, memories of what it costs to love him flood her with fear.

Ruby’s battle with the gang ignites a firestorm of danger, and a pattern of lies from within her own camp emerges. With Tom’s life in the balance and her world cast in shadows, can Ruby trust God as she once did…or has she strayed too far, for too long to ever return?

Watch the book video:


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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1611161142 

A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh

Hi Readers,

A Sweethaven Summer is a lovely read! I think that Courtney Walsh did a lovely job on her first novel. A Sweethaven Summer also has a room for other books that could follow in this series. That would be nice.
This story starts with Suzanne, a teen-ager who is pregnant and scared. She is loosing her friends and her yearly trips to Sweethaven because of her baby. Suzanne and her 3 girlfriends have crafted a scrapbook together during their summers in Sweethaven.  Now after all these years of broken friendship, Suzanne had letters ready to go out to her three estranged best friends. Suzanne has more than one secret, and those secrets are about to come tumbling forth as her daughter, Cambell, searches for the answers she has to have in her life. To get those answers, Cambell has to go to Sweethaven and her Mother's friends have to come as well. Each of them has chunks of the scrapbook from their youth and in those pages answers and healing can be found.

A really good book that makes you want to know all the rest of the story. Just enough mystery and romance, plenty of pain and healing and the ways that God moves in that are often mysterious.

Carol 

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

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



ABOUT THE BOOK

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

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0824945190