Sunday, June 29, 2008

Death Of A Six-Foot Teddy Bear By Sharon Dunn

Hi All! 

Here is my independent review of this book! This book is fun! From the themed hotels in the area, to mystery and mayhem, this book is packed with things going on. God isn't left out in the least, but I have to say that many mysteries and animals abound. Cats and squirrels, that is a mix worth pondering now isn't it? Things get really "haired" when the person inside a 6 foot Teddy Bear suit winds up dead and the main characters are under suspicion of being the perpetrators of the murder! Where did the stolen jewelry go, or is it still there? Who committed the crime, or is it crimes? Can the detectives sort this out? And most of all, is the one who died in the bear suit Kinda's new crush, and if he isn't, then can she trust her heart to him?

You will have to read this whirlwind book to find out! 
Carol :) 


Death of a Six-foot Teddy Bear

Book two in the Bargain Hunters mysteries  

Ginger and the ladies of the Bargain Hunters Network head down to Calamity, Nevada to outlet shop and help Earl get his invention off the ground at the Inventors’ Expo. When a man in a teddy bear costume (it was a publicity stunt) is found dead, suspicion falls on ex-wives, an angry son and Ginger and Earl.

“If you enjoy whimsy, humor, and fun characters with your mystery, Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear is for you!  But beware!  Under the laughs are buried strong spiritual truths.  A delightful, thoughtful read.” — Gayle Roper, award-winning author of Fatal Deduction

“The bargain hunter gals are at it again! Dunn’s riotous romp seamlessly tucks in truth and light and leaves us in stitches. A must-read for those who think living by faith is boring.” — Lois Richer, author of Healing Tide



Sharon Dunn is the author of Death of a Garage Sale Newbie and theRuby Taylor mystery novels, including Sassy Cinderella, which was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers. She earned a bachelor's in television prouction and a master's in history. Sharon lives with her husband and three children. 







www.sharondunnbooks.com

The Amazon link is here:
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Six-Foot-Bargain-Hunters-Mysteries/dp/1590526902/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214783223&sr=8-1


Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Vanished by Kathryn Mackel

Hello All! 

Ah....where to start? I really appreciate being able to read a copy of this very different style of book! Thank you! :D 

This is a gripping book, with some very mysterious events occurring! A bomb has gone off and an entire town is cut off from the known world. They are alone, except for God. Where there is God, there is also evil, so a great deal of choices must be made. Lives are at stake, physics of the world as we know it are in question, lives are lost, panic comes and goes in waves, and everyone is trapped in this really weird mist. The explosions have ruined a brand new underground magnetic train system, but the experimental data Jon and Chloe were trying to collect, did it cause this problem, or was it caused by the bomb that went off above ground, or was it because both things happened simataniously, or is this an outside force all of its own?

I like puns, even bad ones at time. I am going to use this next sentence because it is true, and also in honor of Jon's character. Yes, God is there even in the "mist" of it all. This book ended with me wanting to know where the rest of the story has gotten off to, but I still enjoyed this book. That is unusual for me, I despise "To Be Continued" shows on TV, and I do not like cliff hangers. I do not mind sequels, but Vanished left me with more questions that I had when I started reading! LOL! It reminds me of an old movie called Brigadoon, but with out the ending of the story reveled to us yet.  I hope someone will let me know as soon as the rest of this story is ready to read! While this book has enough suspense in and of itself, I really want to know more!

Carol :) 

Vanished has not disappeared from your ability to read it and, and can be found at the following link:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1599792117 .


Featured author: Kathryn Mackel 
Web site – http://www.kathrynmackel.com/
Blog – http://godanddogwalking.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 23, 2008

Sir Kendrick And The Castle Of Bel Lione by Chuck Black

Hello All! 

I am glad I picked this book to read! Chuck Black reminds me a bit of C.S. Lewis, but with a beautiful Medieval/Renaissance style! Those who know me know that I love this genera in books, movies, and yes, my own clothes to an extent! What a beautiful parallel Mr. Black has created for his readers! The story never lost the reader, and it never lacked in adventure. It was very accurate to the time period. I could tell that this author cares about details and how he puts them together in his work.

Sir Kendrick And The Castle of Bel Lione is sure to thrill many young people, and it is not unkind to "adults" either! A strong thread of Spiritual Warfare, and a super strong emphases on redemption and forgiveness. I was really impressed with the many study questions in the back of the book. That made this book well suited for youth groups and Bible studies. I also appreciated, with a bit of my own humor, that the evil villain in this book has an Egyptian name!

I think I could sum a good deal of the message in this book up with one very important Scripture. The wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life. (Romans 6:23) A recommend read for all young people for sure! Oh, and I can't leave out the Blood Wolves. Those just must be read about!  

Carol :) 


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione

(Multnomah Books - June 17, 2008)

by

Chuck Black


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories, Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. Chuck added three more titles to the series, Kingdom’s Call, Kingdom’s Quest, and Kingdom’s Reign which were released in May of 2007.

Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and currently works as an engineer for a firm designing plastic consumer products. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife Andrea have six children and live in North Dakota.

It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of a truly majestic King and His Son.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A dangerous new order threatens the mission of the Knights of Arrethtrae. Only loyalty to the King can bring victory!

As the Knights of the Prince await His triumphant return, they are steadfast in their mission to take His story into the kingdom and recruit as many as are willing. But when a new and dangerous threat is revealed, their mission is jeopardized.

Sir Kendrick and his young charge, the impetuous Sir Duncan, are sent on a mission to discover the identity and origin of a secretive new order known as the Vincero Knights. They travel to the city of Bel Lione where Lord Ra has been enticing young people in the kingdom to join his festivals, after which many choose not to return home. Their families keep quiet for fear of repercussion.

When Sir Duncan disappears while trying to discover the truth of Lord Ra’s castle, Sir Kendrick attempts to find and enlist the help of a mysterious warrior. Time is short for he must save Duncan and call upon the knights of Chessington to join in the battle against the evil Lord Ra.

Journey to Arrethtrae, where these knights of noble heart live and die in loyal service to the King and the Prince. These knights are mighty, for they serve a mighty King. They are...the Knights of Arrethtrae!

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1601421249

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Hunted by Mike Dellosso

Greetings Blog Friends! 

This is a gripping tale of so very many things, such as revenge, betrayal, trust, Faith, and where is God when you need him? I noticed that Mr. Dellosso's work was compared to Frank Peretti on the front cover. I am here to tell you, that Mr. Dellosso's style of writing was more "down to earth" and faster paced in many areas than Mr. Peretti's work.  I do not dislike Frank Peretti, please do not misconstrue that, it is just that I found The Hunted to be very refreshing, multi-faceted, and an very good read. 

The plot was riveting,  and it never got dull or boring. Quite an accomplishment!!! With scenes that could have fit into one my favorite TV shows, this book still was able to show a strong wonderful Christian message to the readers with out overpowering the plot. 
The Hunted starts off strong, and ends even stronger! I also think a bit of a second book could be pulled out of the same characters and a few little openings I saw at the end of the book. 
Extremely good work Mr. Delloso, and to those who haven't read The Hunted, "Fear Not", this book will not disappoint you! 

Carol :) 



This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing


The Hunted

(Realms - June 3, 2008)

by

Mike Dellosso



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He writes a monthly column for Writer . . .Interrupted. He was a newspaper correspondent/columnist for over three years and has published several articles for The Candle of Prayer inspirational booklets. Mike also has edited and contributed to numerous Christian-themed Web sites and e-newsletters.

Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer's Network, and International Thriller Writers. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.

You can read a great interview with Mike, over here on TitleTrakk


ABOUT THE BOOK

A town's deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith...

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills to aid in the search effort. When Caleb is found, badly mauled and clinging to life, Joe embarks on a mission to find the beast responsible. But the more Joe delves into the fabric of his old hometown, the more he realizes Dark Hills has a dark secret, shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence.

As Joe unravels the truth behind a series of unexplained animal attacks, murder, and corruption at the highest level of law enforcement, he is led to a final showdown where he must entrust his very life into God's hands. Will his young faith be strong ehough to battle the demonic forces of The Hunted.

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

Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti-if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted.
--C.J. Darlington, Cofounder and book editor, Titletrakk.com

A spine-tingling tale of hidden secrets, buried hopes, and second chances. A story best read with all the lights on and an extra flashlight--just in case!
--Amy Wallace, author of Ransomed Dreams

Mike Dellosso's pins-and-needles thriller hurtles the reader down a dark and twisted path. I dare you to take this one home!
--Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of the To Catch a Thief suspense series

With hints of Frank Peretti and Stephen King, The Hunted is a chilling debut."
--Creston Mapes, author of Nobody

A vicious enemy, a family secret, a thirst for revenge, and a need for reconciliation all drive The Hunted from intriguing beginning to thrilling conclusion."
--Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished

Read this someplace safe as you experience the incredibly descriptive world of The Hunted. And sleep with the lights on.
--Austin Boyd, author of Mars Hill Classified trilogy
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1599792966

Sunday, June 8, 2008

House Of Shadows and Watcher In The Woods by Robert Liparulo (The Dreamhouse Kings Series)

I loved these books! I read them both, in the same day because they were that good! 
At risk of sounding presumptious, I am going to go ahead and say this was written like I would want it to be written if I wrote it! I can't wait to see the next book in this series!!! I would love to read all of Robert Liparulio's "adult" books. I think a large part of me never grew up because I love "Juvenile Fiction" a great deal! Frankly, I didn't find anything about these two riveting books that made them exclusively "juvenile!" 

The first book drove me nuts being a cliff hanger, but by the time I started to get near the end of the second book, I already knew it would be a "To Be Continued" type ending, so I was braced for it. These books defiantly need to be sold in a set, because I would have been so aggravated to have had the first book end and no second book in sight! I don't like cliff hangers. Books or movies that leave openings for a sequel, yes, but just flat out cliff hangers make me mad!

I came from a smaller family than the one in this series. As far as children, just me and my brother in my family. I am the older sister, by 3 1/2 years, so I often felt close to Xander as he fought to protect his family and his siblings. Yet, I felt close to David because I have lived many of the emotions he has to deal with in these two books. 

The house, well this house is incredible! A wonderful mix of horrific terror, and fascinating possibilities! Portals to places far away, times long past, and each trip into the portal can change the life of the traveler forever. Xander and David will never forget the things they experienced through the portal trips. Could your worse nightmare or your best sweetest dream be behind a portal door? 

But what is the purpose of this house? Who built it and why? What was it made to do, and how oh how can Xander and David get their Mother back so that they and their sister and father can be a family again? Will they find the Mom from so long ago that disappeared in this house? What about the other little boy and girl that vanished? Where did that dad go? The town rumor is that he went mad and killed all of them, but now that they are living in a house that can transport you to the school locker 119, that can't be the case. With their Mother kidnapped and yanked through a portal, their Dad is acting so very strange! Is he about to go insane, or is he about to find a way to get Mom home again?

What would you do if someone was watching your house but you weren't grown enough to make that person go away? What if someone was accusing your parent(s) of crimes concerning you? How do you cope as the oldest child, or the child that feels most responsible for things that go wrong? All my life, all the lives of all the "oldest child" we feel a pull to care for our parents and siblings. It isn't always easy, but if you have a "haunted" house with portals to other worlds in it, it makes things a thousand times more complicated. 
And what is with the field in the woods? You can go flying in it, or get really hurt. It has to be tied to the house, doesn't it?  But when and who will figure out how and why? 

The Watcher In The Woods is a MUST to read after House Of Dark Shadows
In my own life, yes...I have been watched. I know first hand what it feels like to be stalked. It isn't any fun at all, but to be even more of a child and know you are being watched, what would you expect God to do about it? It is easy to blame your parent(s), but when it comes down to just you and the one watching you, what happens then? 

If you think you have pressure in your life, then you need to read these two books. You will be captivated, and fascinated, have a wonderful escape from your life for a while, and you might be relived that at least your life doesn't have a house with portals coming and going everywhere at the worst of times. 

I will be awaiting the third book in this series! I found it wonderful that Robert Liparulo asked his readers to write in and tell him some of what they would like to see in the third book in this trilogy. I await with much curiosity to find out what was chosen. I would say you should grab copies of these books before they turn into movies or timeless classics that you didn't get to read first!

Carol :) 



This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing a double pair


House of Dark Shadows
and
Watcher In The Woods
(Books 1 and 2 in the Dreamhouse Kings Series)

Thomas Nelson (May 6, 2008)

by

Robert Liparulo



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly.

Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.

Robert's first novel painted a scenario so frighteningly real that six Hollywood producers were bidding on movie rights before the novel was completed. His acclaimed debut novel, Comes A Horseman, is being made into a major motion picture by producer Mace Neufeld and his short story "Kill Zone" was featured in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson.

Bob has sold the film rights to his second book, GERM. And he is writing the screenplay for a yet-to-be-written political thriller, which sold to Phoenix Pictures, for Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) to direct!

And his third book Deadfall. debuted to rave reviews!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

House of Dark Shadows
(Dreamhouse Kings Book 1)

Dream house...or bad dream?
When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.

But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.

They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.

Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.

Watcher In The Woods
(Dreamhouse Kings Book 2)

It's not just the house that's keeping secrets.
Pretending everything's all right is harder than it sounds. But the Kings know that even if they told the truth about the bizarre things happening in their house, no one would believe them. They're hyper-focused on rescuing their lost family member before anyone finds out what's going on.

But when a stranger shows up to take their house, their options start dwindling fast. Why would he be so interested in a run-down old place? And what secret is he hiding--just as he hides the scars that crisscross his body?

The mystery gets stranger with each passing day. Will the Kings be able to find a way to harness the house's secrets and discover who is watching their every move before another gets snatched into an unknown world?

The Dreamhouse Kings Series has three contests that you will not want to miss...Dream the Scene, a weekly "Thanks For Reading Trivia contest, and the Dreamhouse Kings Street Team contest. There are also free bookplates that you can request, and a chapter of each book that you can download!

You can get all those goodies HERE.

The book links are: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595544941
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595544968

Friday, June 6, 2008

From A Distance By Tamera Alexander

Hello Again! 

Before I do anything else I have to thank the author, Tamera Alexander, for portraying such true to life older style techniques of photography! :D Why? Well, that was the main reason I choose to read this book, and I wasn't disappointed! 

Not only was the plot very nice, but my degrees are mainly in photography. I am, among other things, a "Professional Photographer". With every fiber of my being I adored the way that Elizabeth's photography was shown in detail, correctly and beautifully! While I have held in my hands glass plates that were already developed, I have never developed using them. That said, I have used liquid "paper" and developed on other surfaces, and I have used cameras so large that the image you focus is upside down. Elizabeth's photography made me think often of Ansel Adams, who is a very famous landscape artist from the 1900's. It made this book a wonderful thing for me to read. 

My raving about the photography in this book aside, it is also a well told story. A story of a brave woman, and of course, a romance, and indeed also a story of personal freedom as well. 
Most of us will not find ourselves working on a murder investigation, unless that is our chosen line of work, but we all enjoy reading a good "who done it" book! This book is a wonderful adventure in a time that we don't see as much of now. I really enjoyed this book, and I am so glad I was able to review it! 

Carol :) 




This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing


From A Distance

(Bethany House June 1, 2008)

by

Tamera Alexander



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots and poignant prose resonate with readers. Tamera is a finalist for the 2008 Christy Award Remembered, and has been awarded the coveted RITA® from Romance Writers of America Revealed, along with Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction of 2006 Rekindled. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in the quaint town of historic Franklin, Tennessee, where they enjoy life with their two college-age children and a precious—and precocious—silky terrier named Jack.

A Note from Tamera:

Stories are journeys, and each story I write is a journey for me.

Rekindled began with a dream—the image of a man returning home on horseback. He came upon a freshly dug grave and when he knelt to read the name carved into the roughhewn wooden cross, he discovered the name was…his own. The inspiration for Revealed grew from two characters in Rekindled whose stories needed to be told. But even more, whose stories I needed to tell. Writing Revealed was a very personal journey for me, and a healing one. For Remembered, I met that story’s heroine (figuratively, of course) while strolling the ancient cobblestoned pathways of a three hundred-year-old cemetery in northern Paris, France. And From A Distance came from a question I was struggling with in my own life at the time, “What happens when the dream you asked God for isn’t what you thought it would be?”

For me, the greatest thrill of these writing journeys is when Christ reveals Himself in some new way, and I take a step closer to Him. And my deepest desire is that readers of my books will do that as well—take steps closer to Him as they read. After all, it’s all about Him.

In the Potter’s Hand,

Tamera


ABOUT THE BOOK

What happens when dreams aren’t what you imagined,

And secrets you’ve spent a lifetime guarding are finally laid bare?

Determined to become one of the country’s premier newspaper photographers, Elizabeth Westbrook travels to the Colorado Territory to capture the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the remote town of Timber Ridge. She hopes, too, that the cool, dry air of Colorado, and its renowned hot springs, will cure the mysterious illness that threatens her career, and her life.

Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter, is a man shackled by his past, and he’ll do anything to protect his land and his solitude. When an outspoken Yankee photographer captures an image that appears key to solving a murder, putting herself in danger, Daniel is called upon to repay a debt. He’s a man of his word, but repaying that debt will bring secrets from his past to light.

Forced on a perilous journey together, Daniel and Elizabeth’s lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined when first they met . . . from a distance.

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

“…a rich historical romance by possibly the best new writer in this subgenre.”
--Library Journal

“…a most amazing story. The characters are more than words on the page; they become real people.”
--Romantic Times
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764203894