A Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner

Hello All,

First let me say that in the midst of a hard week in my life, this book has been a blessing to just "slip into" and read. I would love to congratulate Mrs. Forkner on a wonderful first book! 

The intense pull of Lucy working to find out who she is, where here roots came from is written so that it propels the reader forward with more and more anticipation of solving the mystery of Lucy's Mother and Grandmother's past. If we don't know our past history with our families, how can we contend with the future?

Would her Mother Ruby have told her all about her Grandmother's life had she lived? So very *very* many questions have Lucy wondering about her Grandmother who has raised her. Kitty, has given her so few clues during her childhood, and fewer yet to those of her her Mother's childhood and how she herself came into this world. Lucy misses her Mother Ruby all the time, she feels incomplete because she has nagging unanswered questions.

And then, when she least expects it, here comes a beautiful blooming romance! I was raised sheltered like Lucy, though not from my family and background, but I was home-schooled for 5 years. Since Lucy was home-schooled, and then went to college like I did, I really relate to her character. We all have answers we are seeking, even if they aren't about our families. Following Lucy in her search to know Ruby more, and as she learns about Kitty and her background, well it is a wonderful journey that I throughly enjoyed reading! 

Carol :) 

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Ruby Among Us
(WaterBrook Press May 20, 2008)
by
Tina Ann Forkner


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. Originally from Oklahoma, she graduated with honors in English from CSU Sacramento before ultimately settling in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming where she now resides with her husband and their three children. Tina serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors and enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors with her family, and works as a full-time writer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes, the key that unlocks your future lies in someone else’s past...

In Ruby Among Us, Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art─but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is eager to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.

What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

“What an incredible story. As both mothers and daughters, Ruby Among Us struck a special cord in each of the four of us. Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we’re there; from the first line, we were captivated and drawn into an intricate weaving of the precious and fragile relationships that define us.”
~Point of Grace~

“Reading is a passion of mine, and when I find myself identifying with the characters, anxious to get to the next page to find answers to my questions, I know I’m into a good book! The daughter-mother-grandmother theme in Ruby Among Us pulled me in. Wonderful story-telling.”
~Jordin Sparks~, 2007 winner of American Idol

“Highly recommended. If you’re a mother or daughter, you’re going to love Ruby Among Us. Forkner does an extraordinary job…. I look forward to more from this author.”
~Ane Mulligan~, Novel Journey

“Don’t miss this one! Tina Ann Forkner is a strong new voice in fiction and Ruby Among Us is an amazing story of trials, regrets, and, ultimately, redemption. Lucy and her family history in the historic wine country of Sonoma bring to life the Scriptures about the Vine and His branches.”
~Kristin Billerbeck~, author of The Trophy Wives Club

If you would like to read the first chapter go HERE

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400073588

Broken Angel By Sigmund Brouwer

Hi Everyone! 

This book was fascinating to me. I enjoy reading it very much, but the ending isn't sitting so well with me. Mind you now, it isn't a bad ending, it has left wonderful room for a sequel! ;) I am sure a sequel would be as good as this book is and maybe not so open ended! It was quite a good read. I loved the way Mr. Brouwer portrayed how America could be in time. I did see somethings coming, just not the ending. I would love to see this story progress past this book. 

ENJOY! 

Carol :) 

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Broken Angel
(WaterBrook Press (May 20, 2008)
by
Sigmund Brouwer


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sigmund Brouwer is the author of eighteen best-selling novels for children and adults. His newest book is Fuse of Armageddon and his novel The Last Disciple was featured in Time magazine and on ABC’s Good Morning America. A champion of literacy, he teaches writing workshops for students in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. Sigmund is married to Christian recording artist Cindy Morgan, and they and their two daughters divide their time between homes in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and Nashville, Tennessee.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Her birth was shrouded in mystery and tragedy.
Her destiny is beyond comprehension.
Her pursuers long to see her broken.
She fights to soar.

A father's love for his daughter…a decision that would change both their lives forever. But who is she really─and why must she now run for her life?

Caitlin's body has made her an outcast, a freak, and the target of vicious bounty hunters. As she begins a perilous journey, she is forced to seek answers for her father's betrayal in the only things she can carry with her─a letter he passes her before forcing her to run, and their shared memories together.

Being hunted forces Caitlyn to partner with two equally lonely companions, one longing to escape the horror of factory life in Appalachia and the others, an unexpected fugitive. Together the three will fight to reach a mysterious group that might be friend or foe, where Caitlyn hopes to uncover the secrets of her past...and the destiny she must fulfill.

In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, a nation carved from the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn and her companions are the prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit the relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn’s existence–and understand her father’s betrayal.

Prepare yourself to experience a chilling America of the very near future, as you discover the unforgettable secret of the Broken Angel.

In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous culture only one or two steps removed from our own.

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

Embrace Me By Lisa Samson

Greetings Dear Readers! 

Riveting is a good word for this book! From page 1 the author has my attention, and my fascination. I have spent my life in a world that not everyone else sees. It isn't always like the lives of some of the characters in this book, such as Valentine, but then again, in some cases it hasn't been too far away from the church called "Elysian Heights". This book is real. It is down in the "trenches" in the real life world. It shows pain, and forgiveness, physical and emotional scars, and how do people reckon with them? As the child of a Minister myself, I have seen a great many things from more than one side. Who do you really serve? Where is God when you really need him? Do know how much Father loves you??? Can you reach the point where God can wrap His arms around you and embrace you? 

Yes indeed, a recommended read for anyone who has been seriously hurt in this life, and more so those who are "the walking wounded" from hurts from "Christians" and churches. It has some really nice twist and turns that will keep even the most skeptical reader reading happily. 

Carol :) 

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingEmbrace Me(Thomas Nelson March 4, 2008)byLisa Samson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Samson is a Christy Award-winning author of 19 books, including the Women of the Faith Novel of the Year, Quaker Summer. Lisa has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." In Embrace Me, the latest novel by acclaimed author Lisa Samson, readers are privy to the realization that regardless of outward appearances…hideous, attractive, or even ordinary…persons are all looking for the same things: love, forgiveness, and redemption. This story explores a world that is neither comfortable nor safe, a world that people like Valentine know all too well. Masterfully crafted by Samson and populated by her most compelling cast of characters yet. It is a tale of forgiveness that extends into all spheres of life: forgiving others, forgiving oneself, forgiving the past.

She lives in Lexinton, Kentucky, with her husband and three kids.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Biting and gentle, hard-edged and hopeful...a beautiful fable of love and power, hiding and seeking, woundedness and redemption.

When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattooed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster...and improbably close to grace.

Valentine, due to her own drastic self-disfigurement, ahs very few friends in this world and, it appears as if she may be destined to spend the rest of her life practically alone. But life gives her one good friend, Lella, whose own handicap puts her in the same freakish category as Valentine. As part of Roland's Wayfaring Marvel and Oddities Show, a traveling band of misfits, they seem to have found their niches in an often curiously cruel world.

Residing in a world where masks are mandatory, Valentine has a hard time removing hers, because of her disfigured face but more so because of her damaged soul. It is much easier for her to listen endlessly to different versions of a favorite song, Embraceable You, and escape reality. Yet, life has more in store for her when she meets Augustine, replete with the tattoos, dreadlocks, and his own secrets. With his arrival, Valentine's soul takes a turn.

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595542108

Mindflights: A Unique WebSite!

Featured webzine, MindFlights http://mindflights.com/index.html

Hi Everyone! 

What a neat refreshing webzine! I was thrilled to prowl about on this site! 

It has interchangeable skins so you can have your own look while you are reading. Multiple books are listed, and most of them have many chapters, if not the whole book available for your reading enjoyment! I found several things that caught my interest, and I bookmarked it so I can return and read more later. ;) If you decide you like a book, you can order it so you don't have to read it online. I am going to be sharing this site with my fellow Science Fiction friends for sure! 

Carol :) 

Participants’ Links:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Kameron M. Franklin
Beth Goddard
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Michael Heald
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Mirtika or Mir’s Here
Rachelle Sperling
Stuart Stockton
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Linda Wichman
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Healing Promises by Amy Wallace

Greetings Readers! 

This book was good, but rough! Oh ouch, such a deep walk through this book where one of the main characters, Clint, has cancer. And, he isn't just fighting for his life battling cancer, and praying, but he is an FBI agent. In this case that means he is trying to catch and stop a serial killer. Not just any serial killer, but one who is killing children.  Whew! Many plot lines in this book will keep the reader moving back and forth from one story line to another to see how they all "tie" in to each other.  As a teenager I was home-schooled, so my kudos go to Amy Wallace! I don't know if it is my life experiences with being a child who was home-schooled that make me see how much differently it effected Amy's clarity in writing all her characters who are children, or not. But I do deeply appreciate the way she wrote the children into her book.

As for the cancer aspect, I have several family members who have battled cancer. It is not unknown to me, and Amy Wallace did a fine job showing what the battle can be like for someone. It would not hurt anyone deal with cancer, or who has a family dealing with cancer to read this book! 

Carol :) 

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Healing Promises

(Multnomah Publishers - April 15, 2008)

by

Amy Wallace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams, a homeschool mom, and a self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books, including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Facing a new threat.

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.

Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.

As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1601420102

The Warriors By Mark Andrew Olsen

Greetings Readers!

 

The words that come to me to describe this book are "Real Life"! I realize that so many people do not see in the Spirit, but for those of us who do, life is *never* the same as everyone else's. Life here on Earth is never dull, it is never boring, it is instead an on going war until Jesus comes back end the battle. Those of us who see Angels, and Demons live lives that are not really the same as other people's. We often just sit and pray. Many who do not see do not understand. In this book those who see are called Watchers or Warriors. They have a huge mission to fulfill, and just as you or I, they don't always know exactly where God is leading them, only that He is leading.

As Christians we live in a physical world that is totally controlled by a Spirit world. Some people believe this, and others do not. Do I see, yes, I do. Do I know others who see? Yes, I do. Do I know ever so many who do not see, yes indeed! The fresh open honest writing of this book leads me to believe that if Mark Andrew Olsen doesn't see, he knows many people who do. You (Yes, you my readers!) are in a life and death battle that you need to learn more about to survive in this world. Thus, this book is highly recommended reading. It isn't just a really good story, but it is a peak into the real lives of people who live like this daily. A fast paced action packed read, this book has many merits! I urge you to check it out! 

Carol :) 

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Warriors
(Bethany House April 1, 2008)
by
Mark Andrew Olsen


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. His last novel was the supernatural thriller The Watchers.

The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a Professional Writing graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A failed recon mission deep in the tunnels of Afghanistan has provoked a demonic onslaught that had been brewing for centuries. The mission's sole survivor is reformed black ops assassin Dylan Hatfield, and he once again teams up with Abby Sherman, now at the helm of the Watchers, an ancient spiritual force. Uncovering and preventing a secret wave of death whispered across cyberspace and threatening to be unleash against civilization will require another level of spiritual power and expertise--the Warriors.

Journeying across the Alps of Europe through the multilayered history of warfare in the unseen world, Dylan and Abby uncover an age-old stone engraving that rouses the church's Warriors to action, placing them dead center in one of the fiercest spiritual battles of their time!

And once again they are reminded: This is all part of a vast and perpetual war, a war beyond all human conflicts, one that has engulfed heaven and earth since before the dawn of history....

Abby Sherman is headed back to Israel, where a Watcher, the Sentinel of Jerusalem, lies dying. In her last breaths the old woman tells Abby of an ancient document prophesying humanity's full-scale entry into the ongoing conflict between armies of heaven and fallen angels.

Dylan Hatfield has decided to answer a summons from his old boss and join a secret operation, its mission to reconnoiter the Afghani tunnel complex from which Osama bin Laden escaped in 2001. What he discovers sears his very soul and likely will end his life.

Abby learns of the peril facing Dylan, and she sends out a call for intercession on his behalf. Her frantic email message sets in motion a series of harrowing events, propelling the two on a new mission and quest--one where the stakes are the lives of millions!

The Warriors is packed with high-octane action, featuring exotic international locales, with characters in a clash against spiritual "principalities and powers" with eternal consequences, The Warriors is a story that will enthrall, enlighten, and engage its readers.

If that piques your interest, you can read the first chapter HERE

"Olsen, one of the better writers in this subgenre, delivers powerful, action-packed plots that delve into mystical paranormal worlds."
~Library Journal, Feb. 2008

"Olsen delivers an entertaining thriller likely to be enjoyed especially by fans of the spiritual warfare genre."
~PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076420274X

The Big Picture By Jenny B. Jones

Greetings Readers! 

The big picture, something larger than we are currently seeing! How many times are we concentrating on the little things, and missing the bigger picture? More often than we wish to say I think! This is the story of a teenage girl, Katie Parker. Her life has not been what she wants it to be. It is, like most of our lives, fraught with complications, issues, decisions that aren't clear, emotions that are hard to filter, and yet....life goes on. 

While I realize this book is in the teenage market, it is a wonderful book for adults as well. It is not trapped into an age range for anyone who remembers what it was like to be a teenager. Even as adults we still often face "teenaged' problems that have carried over into our "adult" lives. The Big Picture is well written with plenty of things to entertain anyone who reads it. I loved the characters, they were all people that I, and many others I am sure, can relate to in our own lives. I was particularly fond of Tate, and I am so glad that Jenny B. Jones worked that plot in the story line out like she did! It was what we the readers were pulling for! ;) I also really enjoyed reading a book that was written like I think at times. I don't know that everyone does this, but so often in my life I am thinking one thing while I make sure the "right and proper" things come out of my mouth. My brain in screaming prayers, while my mind works to deal with whatever situation is at hand. 

A well paced interesting read, I barely put this book down. Congratulations Jenny B. Jones on a wonderful book! 

Carol :) 

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Big Picture
(NavPress Publishing Group April 15, 2008)
by
Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)

Jenny resides in Arkansas, where, as a teacher, she hangs out with teens on a regular basis.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Sometimes there’s a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.

School is winding down for the summer but Katie Parker is having a bad day. After leaving the drive-in, where her imploding love life was the main attraction, Katie arrives home to a big surprise on the Scott's front porch.

Her mother, Bobbie Ann Parker, a former convict and recovering addict, wants to take Katie away from her family, friends, and church. Now Katie's life will be changed by a series of dramatic choices as she struggles to understand what family and home really means.

Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving behind a family who loves her, a town drive-in to save, and a boyfriend who suddenly can’t take his eyes off his ex. When the life her mother promised begins to sink faster than one of Maxine’s stuffed bras, Katie knows she needs to rely on God to keep it together.

But where is he in all this? Can Katie survive a chaotic life with her mother—and one without the Scotts? And if God is there, will he come through before it’s too late?

A Katie Parker Production series offers teen girls real-world fiction balanced by hope and humor. The The Big Picture helps us realize that the difficult chapters in our journey are only part of God's big story for our lives.

You can read the first chapter HERE

"A heroine to love. Jones just gets better with every book, and The Big Picture is her best one yet."
~BARBARA WARREN, author of The Gathering Storm

"Such inspiration in a package of fun and faith!"
~EVA MARIE EVERSON, author of the Potluck Club series

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1600062083