Operation Bonnet by Kimberly Stuart

Good Day Everyone,

Cue the Mission Impossible music! This book is great! Meet an amazing young woman with four names;
Nellie Augusta Lourdes Monroe, aspiring Private Investigator. One problem, no case. Next problem, small towns are not conducive to PI work, or are they?

While she could do anything in the world, Nellie just wants to be a PI. Her parents are wealthy enough, and would be happy for her to do anything, but PI work was not what they had in mind. Both her parents are famous golfers, and while Nellie has the talent, she is not interested in golf as a career.

In looking for a case, the only good one that comes her way is Amos. Amos use to be Amish, but he left the community. The problem is that he also left his heart with the love of his life, Katie. Since Amos is working at the same place that Nellie is, the mini-golf place, Amos decides to hire Nellie to find out if Katie still cares about him or not.

Meanwhile, Matt is trying to figure out what has happened with Nellie. Matt has been her best friend for years and years, and now she is is going all secret agent on him. Then, there is Nona. I really like Nona! Nona is Nellie's Grandmother. She is a painter, and deeply rooted in the word of God. However, somethings with Nona are not as they should be.

With all that is going on in Nellie's life, she still decides to go undercover, um, under bonnet and infiltrate her local Amish community using one of her few really special gifts. Once there, she plans to find out what really happened between Katie and Amos, and set the course of true love straight. From the time she steps foot in the Amish town things really start to sizzle.

Nellie is an amazing character, backed up by several other good characters like Nona and Tank, in addition to others I have already mentioned. I really enjoyed Nellie's hair, her sence of humor, and I don't feel so odd myself when I read this book. LOL! No, my hair is *nothing* like Nellie's, but we all have something.
Kimberly Stuart's wit and humor make this book really good.

I highly recommend it and I really enjoyed it not being the same old trip to Amish country as other books. Not that I don't like those trips time to time, but variety is the spice of life, or at least keeps my book and spice racks happy.

Carol

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Operation Bonnet David C. Cook; New edition (February 1, 2011) by Kimberly Stuart


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:     Kimberly says:

I am a writer of comedic fiction, and would like to suggest that you laugh regularly when reading my books. Let’s also try for one to two teary moments. If you are crying more than that, you don’t understand my sense of humor and should move on to another author.

I grew up in a book-loving home. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. My mom loves books. My dad loves to read the first chapters of books and then make us all listen as he recites his favorite passages. I, however, enjoy reading books in their entirety and came into writing as a result of book-love. After earning two fancy degrees in education and Spanish, I promptly let the thinking part of my brain take a breather and instead became pregnant. (I’m sure a lot of other things happened between early literacy and pregnancy but I don’t really remember any of that. If you also have shared your uterus with another human, you understand.)

In an effort to author a book that would entertain my sassy, irreverent, breast-feeding/drooping friends, I wrote my first novel, Balancing Act. People were so nice to me after that, I decided to continue with writing. Also, I can’t craft, knit, or scrapbook, so what else was a nice, Christian girl to do?

In addition to writing books to make my friends laugh and cry, I observe the chaos at the home I share with my unfailingly supportive husband and three offspring. We’re doing our best and so far, no one’s been to prison.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind.

So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case.

Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Operation Bonnet, go HERE.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0781448913 


Watch the book video trailer:

The God Hater by Bill Myers

Greetings Everyone! Today you get to read my review of The God Hater by Bill Myers. 

First a bit about Mr. Myers:

Bill Myers was born into a Christian home, and although as a child he became bored with Christianity, he decided at the University of Washington to "make God my boss." Ironically, at the University his worst subject was writing. He claims to have prayed, and said that he would be able to do anything for God, except write. Even so, he has become a prominent Christian writer, and has a large amount of successful books and films to his credit.

His book series "The Adventures of McGee and Me" is about a typically average, mild-mannered boy named Nicholas Martin, who has what appears to be an imaginary friend named McGee. The series chronicles the boy's various adventures, all ending with him learning a moral or spiritual lesson.

Here is the book cover:

Meet Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie. Here is a man who is fed up with religion in all forms, in fact, you could say he hates God in some ways. His life is very successful by worldly standards, intellectually brilliant, but inside he is wrestling with some very deep issues. He does his best to never let them surface, never let them out. After all, if God hasn't stepped in and miracle-cured his problems by now, then he just must not be there. Since he isn't there, then  philosophy or science must be more truthful than God himself, and that is why Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie is an atheists. 

No one can even understand why Dr. Annie Brook even gives this man the time of day, and they would certainly not began to fathom the reasons behind Nicholas's interest in her son, Rusty.  Annie is never put off by the philosophical banter that Nicholas "preaches" as he goes. Even though her own world has been badly shaken, she still knows God is there and holds to Him and sees past the words and deeper into the stoney heart of this difficult man. After all Annie is a single parent, but there is no romance between this old curmudgeon that doesn't believe in God and Annie or her small family.

But all that is about to change. It is about to shift drastically in the wildest ways possible, and all because of Alpha 11. What is an Alpha 11? I am so glad you wanted to know! Alpha, or Alpha 11 is the main character of a virtual world. A very very powerful computer program that is going to put Nicholas's brother on the map, rolling in the green, and give him everything he ever wanted, on there are a few um... glitches. Over and over again the program scenarios self destruct and the model must be stable for the mega-corporation to be pleased. Nicholas would much rather walk off and let his trouble enticing brother flounder on his own, but something rooted very deeply in Nicholas about Alpha 11 is something he can't walk away from. Among other things, Alpha speaks to one of those big un-dealt with issues in his past, one of the issues that that "non-existent" God who didn't take care of him didn't alter, fix, or change. Now, angry that he is even drug into this, and baffled by emotions he hasn't ever deal with, Nicholas aggress to help his brother Travis fix the program so it will not fail. 

After many, many attempts to fix the program so that the world that is created is stable, Nicholas is forced to see that there is only one way to help stabilize the program, and the simulated characters. Characters which though he knows are not real, they are so very close to "home" to him. An over all belief system must be interjected into this virtual world. A belief system that is way way to close to being God like for Nicholas to be at all happy about it. And so the Law was given, but it didn't stop there! A rival corporation has unleashed a  really evil virus into this program. Now Nicholas with the help of his friends will have to take even more drastic measures to save this extremely important virtual world. 

This book is extremely well written. It is going to have a hard hitting impact on many lives, and I am very glad I got to read it. I recommend it highly! 

Carol 

Book link - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1439153264
Author’s web site - http://www.thegodhater.com/
Main web site: - www.billmyers.com
Author’s Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Myers/44983396181

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

Participants’ links:
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Kathy Brasby
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

Words By Ginny Yttrup

Hi There,

Well, I can't quite say I am speechless, but I am frustrated. Our copies of this book have not yet reached us so for now all I can do is post the standard write up for you to read. I do want to read this book. I like getting to review first books by new Authors so that I can help promote their work if it is good. So until I can read Words here is the book trailer and more.

Carol

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Words B&H Books (February 1, 2011) by Ginny Yttrup

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ginny Yttrup is an author, freelance writer, and writing coach. As she writes, speaks, and coaches, her prayer is that God will use her words to replace the lies so many believe about themselves with the truth of His unconditional love and grace. To see someone grasp, perhaps for the first time, the truth of God's love, is truly an honor. Through a relationship with the Truth, Jesus Christ, the bonds of shame are loosed and freedom abounds!

When Ginny is not working, she loves spending time with her two college-age sons or with friends. She is surrounded by the most amazing people--each a gift in their own way. If she can spend time outdoors with those she love, it's even better. And she thoroughly adores her dog, Bear. He's a book lover too.

She has two grown sons and lives near Sacramento, California. Words is her first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

"I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I'd like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I'd open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can't take them."

Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.

Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Words, go HERE.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1433671700 


Watch the book trailer video:

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Hi Readers!

I can see why Lisa Wingate is popular. I found Larkspur Cove to be quite a different kind of read. Andrea has come back "home" to Larkspur. The first problem she has it getting stuck in the deep mud with a flat tire, in the dead zones where she can't get a wreck to her straight. Where she has come back to, well  it is a lake, and a cove, and some dangerous places like the Sissortail. The area itself is made very real in this book, so that you feel like you have been there or knew someone who lives there pretty well.

Andrea has barley made it through the worst year of her life, but she isn't sure that it is totally "over" yet. To top things off her son is getting into trouble, but that leads her to more conversations she isn't sure she wants with Mart. Mart is the local game warden, and an ally she hadn't expected.

Life is pretty interesting around this cove and lake. Lots of wildlife, lots of folks keeping to themselves and lots and lots of secrets. In an area where people are clannish, and mysterious, Andrea finds herself working as a Social Worker for children. Not the easiest of jobs even in the nicest of towns, but much more challenging in these back-wood back-water kinds of areas.

Before long Mart and Andrea are smack in the middle of trying to sort out the truth behind a little girl named Birdie who is living with the town recluse. It brings up all kinds of questions about parenting, and is the child safe, and where did her mother go, and why would she leave her with this man? They are getting closer than they planned just working on taking care of solving the problems surrounding Birdie, but are they even ready for a "relationship" or able to handle the secrets and all the things that are not being talked about?

Over all quite an interesting read! A tip to readers, when you see the name of the person under each chapter, it is because each chapter is written in the first person and it swaps back and forth between our characters. I was at least four chapters in and a tad confused before I sorted it out.

One of the neat things about this book is the quotes from the wall. When you read it you will see what I mean. That was a super nice touch to the opening of each chapter.

Carol

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Larkspur Cove Bethany House (February 1, 2011) by Lisa Wingate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Wingate is an award-winning journalist, magazine columnist, popular inspirational speaker and a national bestselling author of sixteen books. Her first mainstream novel, Tending Roses, is in its eighteenth printing from Penguin Putnam. Tending Roses is a staple on the shelves of national bookstore chains as well as in many independent bookstores.

Recently, Lisa’s Blue Sky Hill Series, set in Dallas, received national attention with back-to-back nominations for American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award for A Month of Summer (2009) and The Summer Kitchen (2010). Pithy, emotional, and inspirational, her stories bring to life characters so real that readers often write to ask what is happening to them after the book ends.

Lisa is one of a select group of authors to find success in both the Christian and mainstream markets, writing for both Bethany House, a Christian publisher, and NAL Penguin Putnam, a general market publisher. Her bestselling books have become a hallmark of inspirational fiction. Her works have been featured by the National Reader's Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, Crossings Book Club, American Profiles and have been chosen for numerous awards.

When not busy dreaming up stories, Lisa spends time on the road as a motivational speaker. Via internet, she shares with readers as far away as India, where her book, Tending Roses, has been used to promote women's literacy, and as close to home as Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the county library system has used Tending Roses to help volunteer mentors teach adults to read. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith. For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself. But when a little girl is seen with the town recluse, Mart and Andrea are drawn together in the search for her identity. The little girl offers them both a new chance at redemption and hope--and may bring them closer than either ever planned.


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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764208217