Thursday, January 27, 2011

Fatal Judgement by Irene Hannon (Book 1 Guardians of Justice)

Oh I am glad I got to "meet" this author with this book!

Fatal Judgement is really good! It will keep you reading and wishing you were not having interruptions. If you like any of the crime and drama shows, you will really love this book, I do! This book is full of action, suspense, drama, romance, intrigue, and it is just plain good.

Marshal Jake Taylor had barley come home from Iraq before he is assigned to protect a female judge. The judge's sister has just been murdered, and she needs major protection. Jake's life complicates a hundred fold when he finds out the judge who needs protection is Liz Micheals, non other than the widow of his best friend.
Jake isn't at all thrilled to be the guardian for Liz because his friend had led him to believe that Liz was a great deal of the problems in his friend's marriage. To top it off, his friend died abruptly and Jake hasn't been totally sure what role Liz has played in that. Jake isn't totally sure it wasn't suicide and that it wasn't really Liz at the root cause of his best friend's death.

The more that Jake gets to know Liz, the more he is having to rethink his former assessment of her! Turns out Liz is involved with her church, and has friends, and she seems really kind and not at all what Jake expected. Soon Jake finds himself checking on her when he is off duty, and being really concerned and involved in her life and trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle that he know knows are missing in this picture.

Meanwhile, the killer has figured out that he has killed the wrong woman! His target was Liz and he has missed. That means Liz's life is in danger, and Jake is her main protecter. As the romance deepens, so does the danger that Liz is in! Liz is just trying to hold it all together with her sister's death and the twist you will read about that made it even harder for Liz.

Jake is a wonderful character, full of passion, duty, love and very intelligent. Liz is mysterious, very intelligent,
and her love for God is showing from the start. Jake's does too, but it comes a bit slower while he works to regain his faith and trust. It is a great combination for really suburb book and I would really like to read another one by Irene Hannon. The deeper theme I found in this book comes from the Bible, judge not that you might not be judged. Things are not always as they seem and it is more than worth it to take the time to get to know people and ask God to show you about them.

Carol

The Book: 

In Fatal Judgment, U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger. Full of suspense and romance, Fatal Judgment is a thrilling story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

About the Author:
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOK reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.

Fatal Judgment is the first novel in the new romantic suspense series “Guardians of Justice” by acclaimed author Irene Hannon, who has been recognized with accolades including RITA and Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice awards. Author Dee Henderson has praised Hannon’s latest book, saying, “Fatal Judgment is Irene Hannon’s storytelling at its best. I enjoyed every minute.”

“Fatal Judgment is Irene Hannon’s storytelling at its best.
I enjoyed every minute.”
– Dee Henderson

Her web site is: www.irenehannon.com
Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thank you so much Donna at Revell for my copy of this book! 
Did you get your copy yet? 

Monday, January 24, 2011

Dragons of the Valley by Donita Paul

Yippy!

I simply never get enough of reading books by Donita Paul!
Today's review is Dragons of the Valley, is the next book after The Vanishing Sculptor which is also called known as Dragons Of Chiril. Here is the book cover, which has a great look if you ask me!






Here we are again at last, with Princess Tipper. Finding themselves under a big attack from the north, Tipper and her artist friend, Bealomondore, and Wizard Fenworth  find themselves front and center in protecting the three statues. The Trio of Elements are the statues that pretty much hold the whole world together. Princess Tippers's Father created these statues and they are pretty important, so she must escape and keep one of them safe. Ah, so much for the not-so-peaceful life of a Princess! The other statues are to be relocated by two other main characters because they have to be kept together or really horrible things will occur. 


Bealomondore would far prefer to stay behind his artists brush and paint, but with such a great war looming and upon them, he is called upon to learn to fight. Now he must balance within himself the laying aside of his art and brushes and the burnishing the weapons of war, to find that he can be both artist and warrior as well. 


And who are they gearing up to fight the most? Grawl. Grawl the mixed breed assassin who is about to be up against Wizard Fenworth. (I know less about this character because I am a bit behind in buying some of Donita's other books, but I love that mice and lizards tend to "shed" from his clothing when it is shaken! That is just fun!)
Grawl would be most happy to rid the world of Wizard Fenworth, and the dragons who oppose him, and why not bring about massive distraction in the process? This is, after all, what those under the influence of evil do.


While Tipper has to decide if she is going to grow up in her faith in Wulder (God) and follow his direction to help her keep the statues safe form harm, Bealomondore has given his life to Wulder and now his true metal will be tested. 


Lady Peg is delightful as always. A wonderful character! I find her easy to understand, even if she is supposedly scattered I always feel she is much more together than she lets on. I would be amiss if I didn't mention that she brings a good deal of humor, and sometimes underlying messages. 


The little light creatures, the kimen, I hope they are in the next book too. I know they might not have been meant to be, but they rather reminded me of guardian angels. Each of the main characters had a kimen to help them in the mission they were called to. I thought that was pretty neat. I also kind of find the three statues reminding me of the Trinity, but again perhaps that is just how I think. 


The appendix is a really big help in this book! A big thank you to Donita Paul for including it! I don't know if my mind was just "dusty" this time or if I got lost a bit there. LOL! I over came it rather quickly, and throughly enjoyed the book! 


Carol 







Publisher's Description

War threatens the peaceful land of Chiril… can one painter-turned-reluctant-swordsman really help?

With an invasion of her country imminent, Tipper Schope is drawn into a mission to keep three important statues from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Her friend, the artist Bealomondore, helps her execute the plan, and along the way he learns to brandish a sword rather than a paintbrush.

As odd disappearances and a rash of volatile behavior sweep Chiril, no one is safe. A terrible danger has made his vicious presence known: The Grawl, a hunter unlike any creature encountered before.

To restore their country, Tipper, Bealomondore, and their party must hide the statues in the Valley of the Dragons and find a way to defeat the invading army. When it falls to the artistic Bealomondore to wield his sword as powerfully and naturally as a paintbrush, will he answer Wulder’s call for a champion? 

Author Bio

Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and nine novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles. The winner of multiple awards, she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging writers.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. :) 


Book link - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400073405
Author’s web site - http://www.donitakpaul.com/
Author’s blog - http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/

Participants’ links
Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson

Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

Ah,  Lock and Load, this is a great ride!!!!

I am privileged to read another book in this series, Discarded Heroes! This book is Digitalis, and is book number two in the series. Many series drop action in a second or third book because it is very hard to not have places where the over all movement of a series doesn't have a bit of lag. This book did not do this.
Digitalis crammed even more action, suspense and adventure into it than Nightshade did, and Nightshade was good to start with!

Picking up where Nightshade left off, we again visit with the special team that we came to love and admire so quickly. Digitalis focuses on team member "Cowboy", Colton Neeley. He is a suffering, a great deal of pain that is currently a pain many of our military men and women are dealing with- flashbacks. Flashbacks can be so real that it can be almost impossible to know it was a thing in the past, and not the present. Having put his child and parents at risk Colton joined Nightshade to figure out what to do with himself, and to keep others safe from his actions.

Despite his decision to not be romantically involved, Colton finds himself drawn to a woman named Piper. Piper works in the Hastings department store and soon Colton is drawn into finding out more about her. Piper is also quite drawn to Colton, but there is a big problem. Piper has secrets, big ones, ones that can be quite deadly in fact. And Colton, well he has flashbacks and a secret team he is working with.

In the way things tend to twist in life, the Nightshade team soon finds themselves on a mission to find Piper's father, Yishak Rosenblum. To find this man, and now it is more personal for Colton because it is Piper's father, the Nightshade team finds themselves in the Holy Land, in Israel, racing to stop an uncovered plot that will lead to massive destruction.

Now Colton is put to the test. He has to overcome his flashbacks, sort out if he this relationship with Piper can survive the lies and secrets she hid from him, and pull it all together in time, or fail his team, himself, and possibly loose his very life. Will he let God continue to heal him and glue the broken parts of their lives back together again as only God can while keeping his faith firmly in place, or will some of the team perish?

I was pleased with Dead Reckoning, the first book by Ronie Kendig that I got to read.
Nightshade hit so close to home, so deeply that I can still close my eyes and feel what I felt reading it.
Digitalis has not disappointed me at all. I am pleased to see the issue that I have watched friends suffer dealt with in a beautiful head-on fashion that also shows God there in the middle of it all.

I look forward to reading more of Ronie's wonderful books!

Carol


This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Digitalis
 
Barbour Publishing, Inc.(January 1, 2011)
 
by
 
Ronie Kendig
  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

This is the second book in the series.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.

Ronie's website is here: http://www.roniekendig.com/

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1602607834

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Angel Harp by Michael Phillips

Hi Everyone,

This book was running way late, so the full review will have to post later. I can only say so far that Michael Phillips has written some others books I have liked, so this one looks very interesting.

Carol




This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Angel Harp
FaithWords (January 26, 2011)
by
Michael Phillips



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.









ABOUT THE BOOK
Widowed at 34, amateur harpist Marie "Angel" Buchan realizes at 40 that her life and dreams are slowly slipping away. A summer in Scotland turns out to offer far more than she ever imagined! Not only does the music of her harp capture the fancy of the small coastal village she visits, she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving the local curate and the local duke.

The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her decision: with whom will she cast the lot of her future?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Angel Harp, go HERE

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/044656771X 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Someone To Blame by C.S. Lakin

YEAH! 

It is time for another review! Today I am posting part of my review of Someone To Blame. I was quite happy when I realized that I was actually getting to review not one, but two books by C.S. Lakin this month. I was instantly draw to the name of this book. People are forever blaming someone for their problems. I have watched this with people for a while now. When something bad happens people tend to find a scape goat. Anyone that can be blamed for their problems or actions, or things just going plain wrong. Sometimes God gets the blame, sometimes Satan gets it, and much more often, other people are the ones blamed.

(I am back for an update here!) 

Working to leave their past far behind them, Irene, Matt and their daughter Casey move as far away as they can to try to heal. This family has lost about half their members. Their two sons are dead and such great pain and grief is so hard to deal with. Nothing is the same, but yet life must go on. Worse yet there is a shifty stranger hanging around. The Moores moved to find healing and peace, but each passing day and new dangers are bringing accusations, blame and issues not dealt with will not stay shoved down much longer!

Before too long the Moore family finds themselves in the middle of crimes that need to be solved, which only adds to the mystery of this book. After all, this book didn't open up with how the two Moore boys died, only that as we read, we learn they are dead...and those left alive are suffering.

This is a wonderful story of forgiveness, and how God can move in lives. Not everything is as it seems.
I am so glad I got to read this book!

Carol  







This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Someone To Blame
Zondervan (September 21, 2010)
by
C. S. Lakin




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
C. S. Lakin is a novelist and professional copyeditor and writing coach. She is currently working on her eleventh novel, a contemporary family saga drawn from the biblical story of Jacob. Someone to Blame(Zondervan), an intense relational drama and winner of the 2009 First Novel contest, released in October 2010, and she is also the author of the allegorical adult fantasy series The Gates of Heaven, featuring The Wolf of Tebron and the upcoming release The Map Across Time (March 2011). She is currently completing her tenth novel and developing a dog memoir of epic proportion.



ABOUT THE BOOK
In the wake of heartrending family tragedies, Matt and Irene Moore move with their fourteen-year-old daughter, Casey, to a small town. Their goal is to get far away from the daily reminders that leave each of them raw and guilt-ridden. Their hope is to find redemption, repair, and renewal. Instead, the threads that hold them together unravel even more.

Breakers, a small community perched on the rocky coast of the Pacific Northwest, is draped with cold isolation that seems to mirror the hearts. As they settle into their new life, old grief settles with them. Matt is always on edge and easily angered, Irene is sad and pensive, and Casey is confused and defiant. They've once more set the stage for calamity. Into this mix comes Billy Thurber, a young drifter with his own conflicts, whose life unexpectedly entangles with the Moores'.

His arrival in Breakers parallels a rash of hateful and senseless crimes, and soon the whole town -- eager for someone to blame -- goes after Thurber with murderous intent. Out of this dangerous chaos, however, the Moores find unexpected grace and healing in a most unlikely way.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Someone To Blame, go HERE.

ALSO:
C.S. Lakin hails from a family of writers; not just would-be writers, but people who actually lived off what they made from writing. Being an editor and having written ten books so far, it is clear that C.S. Lakin has the blessed ability to follow in that same direction. Having written sci-fi stories, fantasy material, and young adults as well as contemporary fiction, C.S. Lakin has the talent to branch into more than one fiction genre. Someone to Blame won the Zondervan First Novel contest at Mount Hermon in April 2009 and is not the only award this author has won.


The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310327393

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake



Good Morning Dear Readers! 

I really wasn't sure what I thought of this book in the first few opening pages. I didn't mind the well written accents of the opening characters at all though. Maggie (Magpie) Rose is from Arkansas in 1893. Maggie lives with her Uncle Bo and takes care of a passel of chores, a heap of men in her family. She barters and trades and is rather happy and settled in her life. However, her Uncle Bo is praying about when she meets and marries the right man, and Maggie doesn't want to hear of it! Her Uncle is forever praying for God to send a man to her to marry her and give her a wonderful life for his much loved niece. Maggie just wishes he would get over it and let her be. 

One of Maggie's gifts is that she is is virtually a doctor. She is very gifted with getting people well, not just making soap and using wonderful recipes that were handed down to her, or bartering for all sorts of things. So when Todd and his sick Mother find come to her for help, Uncle Bo sees the man he prayed in come to wed his darling niece and Maggie just isn't so sure.

Todd wasn't one whit happy that the Doctor was a woman, but as he watches Maggie take care of his mother, he sees another plan. Pretty soon Maggie and Todd have a pretty good mutual attraction happening. After all, it ain't just every day that the Good Lord drops a spouse off at your door...'specially if you ask Maggie's Uncle Bo! Todd quickly snatches Maggie up into an agreement so his Mother will have a full time nurse and a fast wedding follows and Maggie, her new husband Todd, and her Mother-In-Law head off to Gooding, Texas. 

Thus starts a major clash. Two more opposite people have not often gotten married! Todd's Mother, Mrs. Crewel, a very apt name I have to add,  are soon all wondering what have we done.  Mrs. Crewel is mean, in fact, she is cruel! To top that off, the three of them are living in a one room house. (Not as uncommon then, but not easy no matter when or where!)  Todd realizes that he has to do some major work to save his new marriage if he wants it and that he has to do something to keep his Mother from being mean to his wife, and they have to have a meeting of the minds on some common goals and dream for their relationship to move forward. 

I am NOT telling you the end of the story... that wouldn't be fair. I can say that this was my first book by Cathy Marie Hake and I enjoyed it.  I tend to like it when the author works so hard on the accents of the characters, as well as the humor that was included! I liked the ending well enough. 

So check out Serendipity! 
Carol 




This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Serendipity
Bethany House (August 1, 2010)
by
Cathy Marie Hake

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Known for surfing across the kitchen on a dropped dill pickle slice, waterskiing on sea anemone spit, and using Right Guard® as hair spray; she considers herself living proof that God does, indeed, possess a healthy sense of humor.

Cathy loves classical music, romantic getaways with her husband, and Diet Pepsi Free®. "I need chocolate to survive, love my friends, and enjoy a deep personal relationship with the Lord. Although an extrovert, I'm very conservative on a personal level."

In her writing, Cathy attempts to capture a unique glimpse of life and how a man and woman can overcome obstacles when motivated by love. In her inspirational pieces she enjoys the freedom of showing how Christ can enrich a loving couple's relationship.

Cathy Marie Hake is a registered nurse who worked for many years in an oncology unit before shifting her focus to perinatal care. The author of over twenty novels, she lives with her husband and two children in Anaheim, California.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who's been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm...or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off.

Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn't wanted to marry...until that handsome Texan shows up.

Her heart skips a beat, and when he proposes, a hasty marriage follows. What ensues, however, is a clash of culture and a battle of wills--and it's clear they both mistook instant attraction and infatuation for love. As their marriage loses its sparkle and fills with disillusionment, Todd and Maggie must determine what is worth fighting for. He dreams of a farm. Maggie wants to fulfill the family tradition with her rose perfumes.

Todd's mother, however, has entirely different plans for her son that do not include Maggie. In light of their hasty marriage and mistaken dreams, is there any hope of recapturing their love and building a future together?

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764203215 

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Girl In The Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Ah, Dear Readers,

Now this is my kind of book! I can't help myself, The Girl In The Gatehouse had me intrigued by page two!
This book opens with Mariah Aubrey being sent away from her family home due to some sort of horrible scandal. We aren't sure what the scandal is yet, but it was bad enough to send her away with only one faithful servant as her companion. Upon arriving at the last refuge afforded to her, she is not allowed to live in the main house, but is sent to dwell in the gatehouse!

O.k... let's go ahead and add in here, what a gatehouse is! I knew before reading this book, but not everyone might. A gatehouse house that is attached to the gates that lock the main gates to an estate. They were normally used only for a lone gatekeeper, typically a male in this era. For a woman to live in a gatehouse would be quite unusual to start with! A few gatehouses were quite large, but for most estates a large one was not necessary.

So here is Mariah, living in a gatehouse, and her Aunt who lives in the manor is very ill, and dying. To top that off, Mariah realize she is living next to the parish poor house. And now she is rescued a horse, and the man that was riding that horse, Captain Bryant.

Before anyone knows it, Captain Bryant is the new renter of the manor! Mariah has secrets her Aunt wants her to find answers to, and meanwhile Mariah is struggling to support herself by secretly writing novels! (Oh I love that part a lot!)

While this is my first book by Julie Klassen, I would really love to read some of her other books to see how they compare. Lots of wonderful dynamics are in play in this book! It is a romance, and a mystery, and it is exciting, and peaceful all at the same time. A beautiful "classic" type writing style is sure to please any one who reads this book! The characters are vivid and full of mystery and history which draw the reader into the book quickly and easily, and did not disappoint!

Carol



This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
The Girl in the Gatehouse
 
Bethany House (January 1, 2011)
 
by
 
Julie Klassen
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Julie says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.

I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.

My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.



ABOUT THE BOOK
Miss Mariah Aubrey, banished after a scandal, hides herself away in a long-abandoned gatehouse on the far edge of a distant relative's estate. There, she supports herself and her loyal servant the only way she knows how--by writing novels in secret.

Captain Matthew Bryant, returning to England successful and wealthy after the Napoleonic wars, leases an impressive estate from a cash-poor nobleman, determined to show the society beauty who once rejected him what a colossal mistake she made.

When he discovers an old gatehouse on the property, he is immediately intrigued by its striking young inhabitant and sets out to uncover her identity, and her past. But the more he learns about her, the more he realizes he must distance himself. Falling in love with an outcast would ruin his well-laid plans. The old gatehouse holds secrets of its own. Can Mariah and Captain Bryant uncover them before the cunning heir to the estate buries them forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Girl in the Gatehouse, go HERE

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764207083 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Wolf Of Tebron by C.S. Lakin

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a wonderful book to open 2011 with! The Wolf of Tebron is most interesting and I look forward to the next books in the series.

As a wounded, beat up wizard flees the darkness closing in around him, so opens this book. Soon we meet a man., Joran. He is having nightmares about his wife, Charris, who is the love of his life. He keeps dreaming that he can't get to her. Becoming very worried he checks it out, only to find out she has vanished! Loosing her simply will not do, so he goes on a major quest to find her. Finding her is not going to be easy at all!
As Joran searches for his love, he meets with a huge wolf, Ruyah. This giant beautiful wolf is able to talk to Joran and help him in his search for his wife. ( I have a fondness for talking animals in books, so this was fun!)

Joran finds he will have to traverse the world and more in his extensive search. This is not easy for Joran is only a human man, and as such has his own flaws and issues to cope with. He is a wonderful husband, and I appreciate that! Joran will do what it takes, with faithful Ruyah at his side, in order to return Charris to his side.

For those who care to see, and I do, redemption and love, hope and faith are easily seen in this book. While compared in many places to C.S. Lewis's work, I find it different, and wonderful as well! I am eagerly awaiting the next books in The Heaven's Gate series!

Carol

Synopsis & Book Info:
A young blacksmith must undertake a perilous journey to the four ends of the world to rescue his wife, who is held captive by the Moon. Along the way, he befriends a powerful wolf who encourages, protects, and ultimately sacrifices his life to save his human friend. A stirring allegory of Gods love in classic fairy tale tradition. 


Author Bio:
Susanne C. S. Lakin comes from a family of successful writers. She grew up collating television scripts for her mother, a screenwriter, story editor, and producer for television. As an adult, Susanne assisted in developing series for television, and while raising two daughters and running a bed and breakfast inn in northern California, wrote her first three novels and a cookbook. In 2009, Susanne s contemporary novel, Someone to Blame won the Zondervan First Novel contest at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. The novel will be published by Zondervan in August of 2010. She and her husband, Lee Miller, continue to live in California, where she currently works as a freelance copy editor and writing mentor.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. 
Link to the book Series: http://www.gatesofheavenseries.net/
Book link - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0899578888
Author’s web site - http://www.cslakin.com/
Author’s blog - http://cslakin.blogspot.com/

*Participants’ links -
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler