A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee

Have you ever felt your life was like trying chase wild geese? (They don't corral easily at all!)
Well, Izzy's Grandmother has passed. (Mine did too recently  it is hard!) She finds herself coping and in the process with a quilt that is suppose to lead to treasure! Sure - just let that word get out and every vulture, kin, and extra is on a treasure hunt. Izzy is trying to find the treasure her Grandmother intended, but it is that really what everyone else thinks it is, or it is this a deeper more lasting treasure?

Carol 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Wild Goose Chase Christmas Abingdon Press (November 2012) by Jennifer AlLee

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Jennifer:

As I look back on my life, it's interesting to see where God's taken me, and where I took myself that God pulled me out of. I finally got back to writing, the dream of my heart. Since 1996, I've published numerous short stories, devotions and plays. I've also been active in church drama ministries, another passion of mine. My first novel, The Love of His Brother (November 2007, Five Star Publishers), was followed by The Pastor's Wife (February 2010, Abingdon Press) and The Mother Road (April 2012). A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is book two in the new Quilts of Love series.

Besides being a writer, I am a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, my family has learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets here without severely impacting our waistlines. God is good!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure.

Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about the "treasure map," they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. And, if that weren't enough, Max Logan, a local museum curator, contacts Izzy and says that Grandma Isabella promised him the quilt.

What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, go HERE.

Jennnifer can be reached through the Contact link on her Blog.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426752490

Shattered Silence by Margaret Daley

Shattered Silence is the second book in a series, but I think it stood alone just fine. I have not read the first book in this series. Cody Jackson is a Ranger, as in Texas Ranger. He works on murders and helps solve cases. His life is thrown for a bit of a loop when his ex-wife dies and now it falls to him to raise his rather estranged 15 year old son. Because of his former wife Cody hasn't bonded with anyone else, until now. Now he has an attraction to the detective he is working with, Liliana. 

Frankly, Cody hasn't healed, he is a pretty good mess himself. His son has had a horrible time of it. His step-father hasn't been ideal by a long shot and now Kyle is angry. He is angry at his Mom, his Dad, and at God.

They are both hurt and wounded and to top that off Cody and Liliana are tracking a serial killer. I'd say Cody has a bit of stress going on in his life! 

Shattered Silence has romance, but it also has mystery and crime solving. What makes it stand out a bit more is the underlying tug of healing, forgiveness, being a single parent, human trafficking abuse, and violence are brought up and their results are clearly shown. The abuse issues were not so harsh as to drive off more gentle readers, but strong enough to hopefully open a few eyes and get people thinking and praying. 

Carol 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Shattered Silence Abingdon Press (September 2012) by Margaret Daley

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.

Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.

On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A serial killer is targeting illegal aliens in southern Texas. Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with a local police officer, Liliana Rodriguez, to investigate the murders.

While the case brings Cody and Liliana ever closer, the tension between Americans and Mexican Americans heightens. As Cody and Liliana race to discover who is behind the murders and bring peace to the area, what they uncover isn't what they expected. Will Cody and Liliana's faith and love be strong enough to survive the storm of violence?

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

Margaret can be reached through the Contact link on her Website.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426714297 

Walking In Trust Lessons Learned with my Blind Dog by Gayle M. Irwin

Here is our next installment of Cladach's Fall Book Fling! 

Walking In Trust Lessons learned with my Blind Dog is today's book.  I have raised dogs for many years, and I love both people and animals. I was really happy to read this book because I have learned so many things through my animals that I wanted to see what someone learned. This book shows God using a beloved dog going blind to teach about love, trust, hope and how awesome our God really is - all being learned from one family dealing with the changes and helping as their dog's whole life changes! 

(It's been a busy busy Thanksgiving here, so I will add in a few more thoughts later when I can!) 

Below is lots of info about the book, the front and back cover, and a film at the bottom as well!

Carol 

 Here is Cladach's web site: http://www.cladach.com/Walking-in-Trust-Blog-Tour.html

BOOK DATA:Paperback 208 pgs, 5.5" x 8.5" Illustrated with many Bl/Wh Photos $14.99 Available at: Amazon.com BN.com Cladach.com Kindle e-book format BOOK DESCRIPTION: Spending time in this book with Gayle and her dog, Sage, will help you listen more closely to what Creator God may be saying to you through your experience of the world around you. Gayle shares stories of her life with Sage, then draws out principles from the stories and from scriptures that apply to our daily lives. Chapter titles include: Patience, Wisdom, Obedience, Forgiveness, Purity, Friendship, Courage, Loyalty, Confidence, Joy, Compassion, Humility, Mystery, Goodness, Praise, Generosity, Love, Faithful, Respect, Self-Control, Contentment, Gentleness, Kindness, Hope, Peace, Reliable, Trust, Rest, Gratitude, and Perseverance. Thirty topical chapters lend themselves to a month of daily readings. Each chapter closes with a prayer that makes the lesson personal. Photos of Sage and her escapades, interspersed through the book, illustrate the stories. Our Creator has many ways of walking with us and teaching us. He can even use a blind dog named Sage! READ EXCERPT

		PRAISE for the BOOK:"Readers will laugh and cry - I certainly did! Mrs. Irwin's reflections are deep and always focus on glory to God. She shows how God interacts with us, how His instruction and His wisdom have such impact on our lives. She richly connects Sage's journey through life and God's path for us. I will be rereading and reflecting on each chapter to deepen my walk with God!" ~ Kari Nordahl, Bible Study Facilitator and Elementary School Educator, San Bernardino, CA "Readers will laugh and cry - I certainly did! Mrs. Irwin's reflections are deep and always focus on glory to God. She shows how God interacts with us, how His instruction and His wisdom have such impact on our lives. She richly connects Sage's journey through life and God's path for us. I will be rereading and reflecting on each chapter to deepen my walk with God!" ~ Susan Bulanda, author of God's Creatures and Faithful Friends AUTHOR BIO: Gayle Irwin has worked as a journalist, and as an educator in conservation and humane treatment of animals. She is the author of two children's books, and several of her stories appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Mrs. Irwin writes regularly for Our Town Casper, a monthly community magazine, and for The River Press, a newspaper in Fort Benton, Montana. Mrs. Irwin sees God's handiwork in his creation and believes great lessons can be learned by observing nature. She shares those lessons with students and others when she speaks. Mrs. Irwin was raised in Iowa. She and her husband, Greg, a videographer, currently reside in Casper, Wyoming. Get to know Mrs. Irwin better at http://www.cladach.com/Irwin.html AUTHOR INTERVIEW: We did something different this time, and we asked Gayle to fill in the blanks in the following statements: 1. My husband and I were looking to adopt a Springer Spaniel because we liked the size and personality of the breed. 2. Two years after we adopted Sage, she became fully blind. This presented many challenges. The hardest part for me was trying to not feel sorry for her, wondering if she missed being able to see. But, as we shared life together, I came to understand that dogs are very resilient and that her other senses helped her navigate her surroundings, even those with which she was not familiar (i.e., school buildings, hotels, etc.) . 3. One thing that triggers my memory of Sage is when we spend time at our cabin. Not only is this the area where we lost her for two days, but it's also a special place where we shared long walks in the forest, a cozy fire in the woodstove during spring and autumn, and evenings with friends and family. . 4. If I won a reality TV show where my winnings would go to a charity, I would choose Best Friends Animal Society of Utahbecause they do so much to help homeless pets, not only those that come to their sanctuary, but numerous others around the country, through workshops, conferences, and other guidance. They also respond to pets in need during a natural disaster. . 5. I feel like I'm really getting something done when I pray before my day begins and read my devotional, then focus on the goals I've set for the day and not let the phone or other potential interruptions distract me; that sometimes means closing my office door and letting the voicemail pick up the phone . 6. Outside of my own home, the place where I spend the most time is the cabin and property on Casper Mountain. Our acreage has become my sanctuary, a place of solitude, a place to write, a place to spend time with God. Because it's located only 20 minutes from our house, I'm able to go up there frequently, even if only for a few hours after work one evening. I am thankful for this lovely, quiet place! . 7. My favorite sport to watch is basketball, but I sometimes sit through a baseball game with my husband, as that is his favorite sport. . 8. If I had the time and money, I would donate to and volunteer more with children's charities and companion animal groups, and also start my own pet foundation and animal sanctuary, particularly for disabled pets. AUTHOR VIDEO:

Judge by R.J Larson (Books Of The Infinite Series)

Greetings!

Today's book is Judge, sequel to the book Prophet. In this book we find Ela, the Prophet of Parne still alive and working to do the Infinite's will. Seven months have passed since the events in Prophet occurred  Now Ela is a bit more confused, because prophets tend to die young, and her heart pulls her towards Kien.

Kien, on the other hand, is finding out that he too has missions he must fulfill that the Infinite has given him, and he isn't pleased about them. In His wisdom, the Infinite has sent Kien to warn the people of ToronSea to turn back to Him, and away from the bloodletting and morally debased false goddess of the Ateans. However, Kien isn't handling his mission so well. He is angry that he isn't busy courting Ela, and isn't very gung-ho about trying to per-sway people of the Infinite's love. His first attempt's are down right rude, and extremely non-productive. Kien figures he can say what he has to say, declare judgement and leave. How very very wrong he was about that!

Ela isn't with him because the Infinite sent her on a mission of her own to warn the people of Parne of an upcoming massively devastating invasion. She needs to take her little sister and go get the rest of her family out of there! So off on Pet (Skythe) the destroyer Ela and Tzana go to save who they can in Parne, while Kien finds his rebellious self swallowed whole by a sea monster! (O.k... very much Jonah and the great fish but quite quite nice even so!) Being almost digested and dumped out in a place even more remote and worse than he had planned to be Kien has some major choices to make. The Infinite isn't playing when it comes to His plans. There is a message to be spread, and hearts that must make major choices.

Lots of changes, forgiveness, love and grace going on in this book. It also has a sneak peak into the third book coming in this series -- King.

Carol

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Judge

Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)

by

R.J. Larson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



R. J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women's Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman's Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Kien Lantec, you will bear witness to my followers in ToronSea.

The last thing Kien Lantec expects on his first day of military leave is to receive marching orders from his Creator, the Infinite. Orders that don't involve destroyer-racing or courting the love of his life, Ela. Adding to Kien's frustration, his Infinite-ordained duties have little to do with his skills as a military judge-in-training. His mission? To warn the people of ToronSea against turning their backs on the Infinite to worship a new goddess.

Tell them I see they are beguiled. Tell them I seek their hearts.
The wise will hear Me.

But why Kien? Isn't this the role of a true prophet, such as Ela of Parne? Seeking answers, Kien visits Ela and finds her stricken by a devastating vision of her own. Her birthplace, Parne, has forsaken their Creator and will soon suffer judgment. Pulled in separate ways, each must seek to follow the Infinite's leading...and hope He will reunite them again soon.

Child of dust, will you be My servant?

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

R.J. can be reached through the Contact link on her Website 

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764209728 

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot

Celia is a widow, with a little girl to raise. She is struggling, and she is lonely. She has been "informed" that her child needs a father and she needs a husband. That is so much easier said than done though isn't it? Fiances are so hard that she opens her home to borders. To protect her heart, she says she will not marry a man who can't get her roses at Christmas time, and in frozen Wyoming non-the-less! When her handsome boarder who is just passing through starts to dream again, he is soon considering what it would be like to be married to a woman who hasn't totally stopped hoping and dreaming herself. A very sweet story, a short fast read that might be worth reading more than once! 

Carol 

About The Book:

Celia Anderson doesn't need anything for Christmas except a few more boarders, which are hard to come by in this small mining town. She certainly doesn't have a husband on her Christmas wish list. But when a wandering carpenter finds lodging at her boarding house, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man--the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas. It would take a miracle to get roses during a harsh Wyoming winter. But Christmas, after all, is the time for miracles . . .

About The Author:

Amanda Cabot is an accomplished author under various pen names and a popular speaker. The author of Paper Roses,Scattered Petals, Tomorrow's Garden, and Summer of Promise, she is also a charter member of Romance Writers of America, the cofounder of its New Jersey chapter, a member of the ACFW, and an avid traveler. She lives in Wyoming.

Her Web Site: http://www.sff.net/people/amanda.cabot/

The Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Roses-Amanda-Cabot/dp/0800720040

     From the Inside Flap

"My husband was a good man," Celia said, "and I grew to love him, but ours wasn't the kind of marriage I dreamt about, and it certainly wasn't the kind I read about."

A raised eyebrow telegraphed Mark's feelings. "Are you talking about novels? They're not real."

"The stories may not be real, but the love they portray is. I've seen it. I want a husband who looks at me the way Reverend Pearson looks at Bertha. I want a man who will love me for myself, not for my cooking or because I would be a mother to his son or even because he's lonely." Celia closed her eyes for a second before she said, "I want a man who will give me roses for Christmas."

When she opened her eyes, Mark was staring at her, his expression inscrutable. "That's a pretty tall order. Roses don't grow in December, leastwise not in Wyoming Territory."

Forcing a laugh to cover her embarrassment, Celia gave Mark a wry smile. "Then I guess I won't marry again."

     From the Back Cover

Celia Anderson doesn't have a husband on her Christmas wish list. But when a traveling carpenter finds lodging at her boardinghouse, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man--the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas. It would take a miracle, though, to find roses during a harsh Wyoming winter.

But Christmas, after all, is the time for miracles . . .

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

Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Tales of Goldstone Wood Series)

Ahhh!

We have heard mentioned in the books that come before this of a woman named Starflower. Now, we get to learn more! Remember Eanrin? He was in a few of the prior stories. You might recall him as the Chief Poet and Bard of Rudiobus. He is about as self-centered and narcissistic as he could possibly be. His ego could fill rooms. Uggg!  However, he so very much fancies the Lady Gleamden. One bit of a problem, she has been taken hostage, kidnapped by a dragon-witch. So off he goes, to rescue his damsel in distress and save the day! Umm, one other problem. There is a girl stuck in the world-between and her name is Starflower. He can't exactly leave her there because she seems to know more, and be more than she looks.
Eanrin has the Black Dogs hounding him. Really. They are tracking him and it isn't a glamours game now, it is getting down to the heart and soul of matters, and some matters need changing and changing fast!

I have so much more to say about this book, but it will come later.
I have to stay I have not been disappointed by a single book in this wonderful series and if you haven't read them, go get them all and start with Heartless!

Carol :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Starflower Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012) by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys her profession as an art teacher, giving private lessons from her personal studio, and teaching group classes at the Apex Learning Center. She is married to the handsome man she met at fencing class and lives with him and a gaggle of cats. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. Heartless is her debut novel.

Anne Elisabeth is also the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The Black Dogs Are on the Hunt, But Who Is Their Prey?

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps fairest Lady Gleamdren, the Bard Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal. 

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer? 

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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764210262 

Too Far To Say Far Enough by Nancy Rue (The Reluctant Prophet Trilogy)

Hello Readers!

This is the third book in this series. If you have been reading my prior posts then you know that David Cook Publishing was so kind as to send all of us CFBA reviewers ALL THREE books in this series! So please read my posts on The Reluctant Prophet and Unexpected Dismounts so that you aren't lost by the time you to my review here on Too Far To Say Far Enough by Nancy Rue.

Allison Chamberlain has been through so much! She now has more women than ever getting off the street, off drugs, out of addictions, working with God to change their lives. Her adoption of Desmond has gone through, he is now hers! Chief is recovering from an accident that was on purpose, and the perpetrators in the last book, and the revelations there have changed her life.

But what about when you feel like wanting to be done? Wanting to say, ok... I did my part and now I am through. It is enough? When did you "do" all that God has called you to do? When have you gone as far as you are going to go???

Check back again later tonight or tomorrow and I will tell you  more!  
I have been running a tad behind this week, so this review will get fully finished here shortly!

Carol :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Too Far To Say Far Enough

David C. Cook; New edition (October 1, 2012)

by

Nancy Rue

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In 1980, Rue took a leave of absence from teaching and took on writing as a nine-to-five job. Although it quickly became apparent that she could starve to death that way, that didn’t stop her: she spent fifteen years getting up at 4:00 a.m. to write before going off to teach school, until she was finally able to pursue freelance writing full-time in 1995.

“I am living a God-directed life,” says the author: “doing what I was meant to do, what I love to, what allows me to give what I’ve been given. I spend as much of my time teaching, filling my well, hanging out with the people I love, as I do writing, and that has made all the difference."

Rue has become a successful, best-selling author of books for ‘tweens and adults. Over her career she’s written more than 100 books. For a complete list of adult fiction, click here. For ‘tween books, click here.

Nancy travels the country speaking and teaching at schools, churches, home school groups, and for groups of ‘tween girls and their moms. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. Their daughter, Marijean, son-in-law, Brian, and baby granddaughter Maeryn, live in nearby Nashville. The Rues’ two yellow Labs share (and eat) Jim and Nancy’s home.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Allison Chamberlain has done everything God required of her—but as He continues to nudge her in the third and final book of The Reluctant Prophet series, she is ready to say, “Enough!”

Even with two Sacrament Houses open, the Sisters’ second hand clothing boutique making its debut, and the orphaned Desmond legally adopted, Allison Chamberlain receives the divine Nudge to Go another mile. Eventually responding with her usual reluctant obedience, she finds herself caring for a very young prostitute and facing the deepest roots of evil. Despite the adversaries who threaten those closest to her, Allison finds that she has not gone far enough until she conquers hate and learns to love as God does. No matter what the consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Too Far To Say Far Enough, go HERE.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1434764907 

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue (The Reluctant Prophet Trilogy)

Hang on tight folks!

I don't know how many of you know what an unexpected dismount is regarding a Harley. Basically  it means you didn't mean to get off the bike, or take it down with you when you did. It is never fun, and it can be dangerous. Allison is finding out what life's unexpected dismounts feel like, and how to work through them.

After learning what God's Nudges feel like, and how to follow them, Allison now finds herself in the middle of multiple whirlwinds. She has new women to help, an adoption that has hit a few snags, and most of all her past that seems to keep rising up to greet her when she would rather never see it, or him again. Chief is still by her side, but the number of things that are unsaid feel like they are growing. To top it all off, she has had less clear Nudges of late. The only one she has had is to wash their feet. Allison wants that to be a metaphor  and not an actual action, and she isn't sure who's feet are suppose to be washed where either.

Her former Pastor is still edgy and not really on her side, he wants her to follow the big money trail, because surely that is God. Allison doesn't want to sell out, or give up, or shut down what she is called to do, but more and more road blocks keep popping up like an obstacal course in a full throttle race!

Most of us know that the hardest past we deal with is our own. We can watch God heal others, and help them, and feel awesome, and keep on trucking, but when our own pain threatens to render us immobile we often find ourselves flounder. Feeling alone, like we can't hear God clear like we use to, wondering if our friends are going to turn on us, or if we ever heard that "word from God" correctly at all. This is part of a dismount that you didn't expect. In this book you are going to see Allison and her friends, you are going to see God work through the pain, through the issues, through the least likely people so that His work and His calling continue through willing vessels. Vessels that are healing, and growing.

A wonderful mid-series book, I can't wait to dive into the next one!
Carol

ABOUT THE BOOK:

You can’t be afraid to fall … The second book of The Reluctant Prophet trilogy shows that some are guilty of terrible wrongs—but everyone must be responsible for righting them. Allison Chamberlain is already taking care of five former prostitutes who are recovering from lives no tick-ridden mongrel dog should have to endure. And trying to adopt an orphan. And coping with feelings she didn't know she had in her. But along the way, she experiences unexpected dismounts, as every Harley owner who risks the ride eventually does. A distant relative challenges the adoption. An influential businessman tries to block her ministry. A beloved friend is seriously injured. A piece of her past elbows its way in. As she picks herself up again and again, Allison realizes she just might have to give up everything she loves just to stay upright.




  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

In 1980, Rue took a leave of absence from teaching and took on writing as a nine-to-five job. Although it quickly became apparent that she could starve to death that way, that didn't stop her: she spent fifteen years getting up at 4:00 a.m. to write before going off to teach school, until she was finally able to pursue freelance writing full-time in 1995.

“I am living a God-directed life,” says the author: “doing what I was meant to do, what I love to, what allows me to give what I've been given. I spend as much of my time teaching, filling my well, hanging out with the people I love, as I do writing, and that has made all the difference."

Rue has become a successful, best-selling author of books for ‘tweens and adults. Over her career she’s written more than 100 books. For a complete list of adult fiction, click here. For ‘tween books, click here.

Nancy travels the country speaking and teaching at schools, churches, home school groups, and for groups of ‘tween girls and their moms. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. Their daughter, Marijean, son-in-law, Brian, and baby granddaughter Maeryn, live in nearby Nashville. The Rues’ two yellow Labs share (and eat) Jim and Nancy’s home.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Dismounts-Reluctant-Prophet-Series/dp/B007BWCFGW

I got this entire series through CFBA, sent by David Cook, and I am thrilled that they did this for us!

The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue (The Reluctant Prophet Trilogy)

Not only does this book have a story -- now there is a story about how I got these books!

In about two more posts you will see the book that I signed up for to review with my amazing CFBA book reviewing group. Imagine my surprise when I get a box delivered, and open it up and not ONE, but ALL THREE books in series have been sent to me! WOW!!!! David Cook Publishing, you impressed me with that move! After checking with Bonnie about how I wound up with all three books, I started working to add the first two books in this series into my reading schedule. I am not at all sorry I have, in fact, I am inspired and want a few others I know to read these books also!

Allison Chamberlain is about a real as a person can be. She became a Christian seven years prior to this story of her life. As Allison says, she "found Jesus but didn't know what to do with Him." Church is, well church. She has her group of friends, and life is a bit hard, but over all rather status-quo in sunny Florida. Then that changes. Allison starts getting Nudges, aka to the rest of us, Words of Knowledge or just plain hearing from God. The first thing he tells her to do is to get a Harley! She is 42, never been married, not in love and now she is going to start riding a Hog.

{Let me go ahead and tell you. I can't drive a Harley, but I have ridden on them. I was a member of a Christian Motorcycle Ministry and I know a good bit about Harley's.} Allison's task of learning to ride her own bike is not any easy thing! But with God "nudging" her this hard she is going to follow Him. This soon puts her at odds with her church friends, her neighborhood, and her Pastor. Regardless - God is calling and lives are suddenly changing because of Allison's obedience. In making a promise to a man who is dying, Allison is quite suddenly involved helping a woman change her life from that of a prostitute and drug user, into a clean, free woman working to figure out how to raise her son and follow God daily. Oh but it is NOT that cut and dried, it never is in real life, and this book is interwoven with REAL life. While Genevieve is recovering "Big Al", Allison is basically raising her son, Desmond. The Nudges just keep coming, and before Allison has time to sort through it all, she now has THREE women working to turn their lives around. They can't all keep living in her house, because the neighbors aren't happy, the house is getting crowded and issues just keep popping up. Not the least of them are issues of safety and Allison dealing with some things in her own past that could threaten the women she has sworn to protect.

This book is gripping, it is amazing. It is hard core, beautiful, and it shows so clearly what happens if people step up and answer when they hear God calling them. This book is about love, forgiveness, healing, and what it means to really be a Christian. This is a highly recommended read! As soon as I finished it I launched into reading the second book in this series.

Carol

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At age forty-two, Allison Chamberlain is still making a half-hearted attempt to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Although she has been a pew-sitting member of a church for seven years, “prophet” has never been on the short list of possible careers.

Then one Sunday Allison senses a divine nudge to buy a Harley motorcycle and go wherever it takes her. Soon she is wondering if she is called to present the reality of Christ to one of society’s darkest corners—and challenge her own church to look beyond their fears.

The first in a brave trilogy from seasoned writer Nancy Rue, The Reluctant Prophet shows how one person’s response to God’s call can change a community forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

In 1980, Rue took a leave of absence from teaching and took on writing as a nine-to-five job. Although it quickly became apparent that she could starve to death that way, that didn’t stop her: she spent fifteen years getting up at 4:00 a.m. to write before going off to teach school, until she was finally able to pursue freelance writing full-time in 1995.

“I am living a God-directed life,” says the author: “doing what I was meant to do, what I love to, what allows me to give what I’ve been given. I spend as much of my time teaching, filling my well, hanging out with the people I love, as I do writing, and that has made all the difference."

Rue has become a successful, best-selling author of books for ‘tweens and adults. Over her career she’s written more than 100 books. For a complete list of adult fiction, click here. For ‘tween books, click here.

Nancy travels the country speaking and teaching at schools, churches, home school groups, and for groups of ‘tween girls and their moms. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. Their daughter, Marijean, son-in-law, Brian, and baby granddaughter Maeryn, live in nearby Nashville. The Rues’ two yellow Labs share (and eat) Jim and Nancy’s home.

Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Reluctant-Prophet-Novel-Series/dp/B004IEA2T8

I got this entire series through CFBA, sent by David Cook, and I am thrilled that they did this for us!

The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson

Oh what fun!

O.k. I love horses, and I love ponies and one day, I may tell you my own story. For now though, grab a copy of The Christmas Pony for your coffee table this year. When you have your friends and relatives over, and someone isn't as social, they can read this sweet fast read!

This is the story of small town life, and one family, trying to survive during bad economic times. Lucy is eight, and more than almost anything in this world, she wants Smoky, the grey pony that lives not too far from her. She prays about owning him every night, until it just makes Mama so sad that she can't bear to make her sad by asking for a pony when they need boarders and income at their place. They rent out most of the upstairs  as a small bed and breakfast to help make ends meet.

One day as Lucy is in town picking up the few items they can afford, Lucy meets a beautiful woman. Veronica and George are in a really fancy car, but the car is broken  Lucy is quick to jump into telling them they can come stay at her house. After all, Mama is wonderful cook and her home is fun. The two agree, and with a happy heart Lucy figures God is starting to answer her prayers after all, and that she might just get her pony for Christmas. Even more so, as life progresses with the new borders, Lucy hopes that God will bring back her Mama's smile. She has been with out it every since Lucy's Daddy died. Veronica is going to be a movie-star, once she and George make it California. That is the most exciting thing to come to this little girl's world in a long long time, but things are only starting to get interesting!

This is a sweet, clean, romantic, adventurous tale much like some of  my favorite old black and white movies! This is a book that would be fun to read to both young and "old" children as well!

Carol

About the Book:

The Christmas Pony

Eight-year-old Lucy Turnbull knew better than to wish for a pony that Christmas in 1937. Her mother had assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony was the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they needed at their boarding house were the paying kind. But when an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, Lucy starts to believe her Christmas wishes might just come true after all.

About the Author:

My husband Chris and I live in a cabin-style home next to the National Forest in the beautiful Cascade Mountain area of the Pacific Northwest. Our two grown sons and granddaughter live nearby and we try to see them as often as we can. We also have two “re-homed” pets to make life more interesting—our yellow Labrador retriever Audrey and a Maine coon cat named Harry.

My writing studio is in a separate building next to our courtyard (a garden area that’s off limits to the voracious deer). The window behind my desk looks out into the ponderosa pine forest, where I see deer, squirrels, rabbits, and an occasional raccoon. The other windows in my office overlook the courtyard which is frequented by numerous hummingbirds in the summertime—one August evening we counted nearly fifty of the little hummers.

Melody Carlson grew up in a small town in Oregon. She wasn't raised in a Christian home, but when she turned 15, her life turned around dramatically after she became a Christian. She became very involved in missions, and was the youngest short-term assistant that Wycliffe Bible Translators ever had in Papua New Guinea.

Melody loved to write at a young age, but she found other ways to express her creativity over the years. Eventually she found she had a compulsion to write, and that she could write quickly. In 1995, her first book was published, and she has been writing prolifically ever since. Her award-winning books include: The Prayer of Jabez for Little Ones, King of the Stable, The Gold and Honey Bible, The Ark that Noah Built, and Benjamin's Box. In the past few years, she has published over sixty books for children, teens, and adults--with total sales of over a million copies. Melody's recent projects include the Just Like Jesus Said series for children, Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them, and Looking for Cassandra Jane, and the upcoming releases Sold Out--the latest in the Diary of a Teenage Girlseries, I'm Zoë--part of the Little Blessings series, When Creepy Things Come Out, Miranda's Story, and Heal Me, Oh God.

In her professional life, Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab. They enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800719271
Author's Web Site: http://www.melodycarlson.com/

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

Journeys To Mother Love Complied by Catherine Lawton

It is time for Fall Fling again! 

FIRST of all - if you HURRY you can get this book FREE in Kindle format for a few more days! :

ALSO 5 copies in print will be included in a give-away. Enter by liking Cladash Publishing on Facebook, by making comments or following Journeys To Mother Love blog, or by sharing your story as a guest post. This closes on Nov. 12th with winners announced on Tuesday the 13th of November. You can get there to enter by reading links here on my blog, or finding Cladach's Facebook page. Come join the fun and healing! :)


Journeys To Mother Love is a book about needing our Mother's love, or growing up with out that love. It is a book about healing, and lives lived, and how they turned out. In this book, NINE different ladies lay out the stories of their lives. These ladies tell us how they grew up. How their Mothers affected their lives in positive or negative ways, and how that impacted their lives and their children's lives.

These stories are moving. These lives are open and real, their pain and their joy of dealing with their Mother's is laid wide open and shared for all of us. If you read this book, I don't see how you will not be able to identify with at least one, or maybe more, of these womens' lives. This book came at a good and bad time for me. My Grandmother has just passed. In some ways it was hard for me to read this book, and in other ways it was very very good for me. I think you will enjoy and benefit from these open and honest lives laid out in order to benefit those who read it.

Carol

About The Book:

Mother love is a beautiful thing. But giving and receiving mother love doesn't always come easy. So many obstacles can get in the way. What do we do, then, with mother wounds and losses, and the unmet needs we carry? Women readers are sure to find themselves in one or more of these true stories filled with grit and grace. The courageous authors of Journeys to Mother Love aren't merely venting about their mother wounds. Neither are they giving pat answers. The hurts were real and the healing was real. From manipulation to abandonment, from neglect to favoritism, from mental illness to emotional distance, from abortion to Alzheimer's, these nine women from several generations, tell their personal stories with heart-wrenching honesty. Each had hurts and conflicts in their mother/daughter relationship that left them wounded and affected their relationships with others. Each tells how, with God's help, they experienced healing and new freedom to give and receive love. Women with broken places in their relationships with mother or child can begin their own healing journey as they read.

About the Author/Complier AND the Nine women who's lives are shared in this one book:

Compiled by Catherine Lawton ABOUT THE AUTHOR/COMPILER: Catherine enjoys getting outdoors and observing wildlife in the Rocky Mountains and on the north Pacific coast. She cherishes moments of quiet reflection and communion with the Creator, laughter with friends, worship with other Christ-followers, and music-making with her husband (he sings, she plays piano). Born in Colorado, Catherine grew up in California, moving from one town to another as a preacher's daughter. With a BA in English and training in music, she has worked as a substitute teacher in public schools, a private piano teacher, and as a freelance writer and editor. InJourneys to Mother Love she shares a personal story of trauma, grief, and healing. Through fiction and memoir she explores the depths of our relationships with--and need for--God, each other, and nature. She sees life as a journey, an adventure, an unfolding story. CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: A.R. Cecil Treva Brown Verna Hill Simms Kerry Luksic Kyleen Stevenson-Braxton Ellen Cardwell Ardis A. Nelson Loritta Slayton Meet all the Contributing Authors Visit the Journeys to Mother Love BLOG to read posts by the contributors, share the story of your personal journey, and find helps for healing in mother/daughter relationships.

REVIEWER'S PRAISE:
"An anthology of heartfelt true stories by Christian women about the healing gifts of God, and how He helped mothers bridge rifts between themselves and their children or stepchildren.... Profound, powerful, and emotionally moving, Journeys to Mother Love is highly recommended as a resource of faith, inspiration, and hope." -Midwest Book Review

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Ordering information:
BUY NOW:
at Amazon.com
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FREE ON KINDLE:Nov. 8-10

Find in Kindle store
Get More Information about Journeys to Mother Love

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INTERVIEW with the AUTHORS:
1. Did you laugh or cry, or both, while you were writing your story?
Ellen Cardwell: Surprisingly, I didn't do either. Rather, writing the story released something inside that needed to come out. I feel lighter now whenever Mom comes to mind.
Treva Brown: I completely did both. I also felt anger, but was able to fully release it quickly.
Ardis Nelson: I went away to a secluded camp so I could focus on writing and prayer. I cried at times. Now my tears are tears of joy.
Kerry Luksic: In writing this story, I had plenty of tears. My mom's was diagnosed with Alzheimer's eight years ago. It was hard to accept that there's no cure and that it's progressive--Mom would only get worse through each heartbreaking stage. But in sharing this story, the tears I shed were healing for me.
Loritta Slayton: I don't think I did either, but I felt the emotions again--the upset, the struggle and the joy of what God accomplished in me that I couldn't do for myself.

2. What do you especially relate to in one or more of the other women's stories?
A.R. (Alice) Cecil: I can relate to all the other authors in JOURNEYS TO MOTHER LOVE. We all found the only way to healing is through Jesus Christ, and we all want to help others by sharing our experience.
Catherine Lawton: Treva Brown tells of how her mother died even younger mine did (and by much more violent circumstances). I relate to her regret over some of the words she had said to her mother, and wishing she had said certain other words before it was too late.
Ellen: The last part of Loritta Slayton's story, "White Knuckles," took me back to when my mother needed my help and our roles were reversed. God encouraged and enabled her to let go of hurt feelings and journey down the path to love.
Treva: In "Walking My Mother Home" Ardis Nelson wrote, "I was embracing the parts of my mother that were in me." I am currently doing that now, so it really touched my heart.
Ardis: I think I was the most moved by Loritta's story. I felt her pain with each decision she made along her journey with her mother. The ending to her story was a fitting ending to the book--very encouraging.
Loritta: The emotional process of their hurts being released to God and their journeys of walking it out with Him speak to me. I was moved by Treva's descriptions of this process.

3. In what point in your relationship with your mother did you realize you needed relational healing?
Alice: My mother was always closer to me than any of her other children; I sensed her unhappiness and wanted to try to be there for her. Then in my early twenties I left home for the city to work. Transported into the world, I began to see not all the ways in my childhood home matched the ordinary way of going about life.
Catherine: The need in my heart became evident when I was going through grief over my mother's death. As you can read in the book, the Lord has ways of healing our relationships even when separated by distance, disease or death.
Ellen: When I was a new Christian and learned how important it was to forgive others. Also at that time, the relationship with our mothers was a topic of discussion with my close friends, all of whom felt they had emotional gaps that their parents, especially their mothers, hadn't filled.
Treva: Years after she died. It was a hard journey because I was unable to talk to my mom and hear her respond. But I wouldn't change a thing, for that is where I truly encountered God.
Loritta: I knew most of my life that it wasn't what it should be. But when I read A Daughter's Journey Home, by Dr. Linda Mintle, some of the pieces of the puzzle came into focus. I began to pray about my relationship with my mother and ask God to work in us. And my journaling with God and the listening practice opened the door significantly.

4. What is it that makes the mother/child relationship so significant?
Ardis: I think the mother/child relationship is a mirror of the love our heavenly father has for us.
Kerry: I never realized until I had my own children, but at the end of the day, a mother's love for a child is the strongest bond that exists--there's nothing that a mother wouldn't do to help her child.

5. What events, sensory experiences, etc., trigger your memories of your mother?
Catherine: My mother had a quip, saying, or song for every situation or occasion, it seemed. Those sayings and songs pop into my head often and remind me of her, and I "hear" her voice.
Ellen: Going to the farmer's market, smelling apple pies baking ... sewing, bringing flowers in the house ... Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Treva: A certain Dolly Parton song, camping and eating spaghetti. My mom loved spaghetti.
Ardis: This may sound strange, but I think I am most reminded of my mother in my writing and speaking opportunities. I feel that she is proud of me for who I am finally becoming that I get a great sense of her presence with me. In a way, I think it makes up for not having her there when I was young.
Loritta: My mother enjoyed flowers and colors in shades of purples, aquas, violets. Just this week I walked past orchids in the grocery store that are tinted in those tones and thought of her.

6. Do you ever see your mom in yourself?
Catherine: Every time I make the choice and the effort to be positive, to engage with other people when I feel like pulling away ... I think of my mother who modeled those attitudes to me.
Ellen: Yes. She had an authoritative way of speaking. She would make pronouncements (not always based on facts), pontificate and discourage discussion. I still find myself sounding like her, even though I've tried for years to overcome it. When I notice myself doing the same thing, it lets me know how ingrained her attitudes were/are in me. I feel frustrated that it's still there inside my personality. Then I'm motivated to revisit my efforts to change and make it more of a priority to do so.
Treva: At times I do. I used to despise it. But God was able to bring me to a place of embracing those characteristics and bring me more understanding of my mom.
Verna Hill Simms: I remind myself of Mother every time I sit in the living room and watch for the mail carrier. Mail means a lot to me as it did to her.
Ardis: This question hits to the core area of my personal healing when my mother died. I was able to integrate and embrace the parts of my mother that I had been rejecting all my life. Thanks to the Lord's work in me, I am no longer embarrassed by our similarities.
Kerry: Yes. I especially see my mom in myself when I'm faced with a tough challenge. My mom never gave up on anything and she leaned on her faith during the hardest times. When I'm going through a tough time, I think of mom and follow her example. Whenever I feel like life is a bit too hard, I remember my mom's example and immediately feel stronger.

7. In what way is mother love a journey?
Alice: I wonder how God would have brought me along without children! I know there are people who do not have children and who have a deep relationship with God, but God knew I needed children!
Ellen: For me, mother love grew from an unrealistic ideal to a reality based on experience. Each stage of our children's growth, from elementary school to junior high to high school has challenges of its own. As I journeyed along with my children, my love was tested, strengthened and developed through the ups and downs they experienced. My love grew from the tenderest feelings for our infants to caring for their needs while juggling other responsibilities, to tough love as they tested boundaries. Mother love survived the smooth and rocky places along the path because, I believe, it originates in God's love for us all.
Ardis: I am seeing this theme poignantly in my life now. Just today I had a conversation with my 15 year old son about this. We had connecting time while attending a doctor's appointment. I didn't have any of that with my parents. I am embracing the journey of learning how to mother anew, be a "sister" to Rosa, an "aunt" to Pedro, and a daughter to my stepmother. This journey is connecting me with my heart and allowing me to share it with others.
Kerry: Mother love is a journey because life is a journey. There are ups and there are downs. There are moments of joy and moments of sheer pain; but through all of it, love is the foundation. My mom has progressed to the advanced stage of Alzheimer's, and this is the final destination in our journey. It's a heartbreaking disease, but I have peace knowing that at the end of my mom's journey here on earth, she will be rewarded for her lifetime of love. faith, and determination--the gift of Heaven.
Loritta: You can't understand everything from one vantage point. You have to climb that mountain and look back sometimes, and other times you just have to put your hand in God's and let Him talk to you about what you need to know that only He can reveal in a way that you can receive.

Placebo by Steven James (A Jevin Banks Novel)

Ah!! Here we are with the newest series by Steven James. Placebo is the first of the Jevin Banks Novels. With out dropping the energy or pace that is Mr. James's writing style, we enter into a new series. Jevin Banks is a magician, an illusionist, a self made man with plenty of resources both financial and the people he needs when he needs them. However, he is a tortured one.

This story opens with him at the scene of an accident or possibly it is a crime. It is not just any scene though. This is the death of a mother and two twin boys. Horrible to start with, but worse yet, this was Jevin's wife and children! Life still goes on for Javin, but not with out a million questions and a lot of grief. In trying to survive he is doing "pieces" for TV. with out being on stage doing escapes, acts or shows. Jevin is stuck in his pain that hasn't healed, making it hard to move forward or see a future because he is constantly drowning in his past.

For this assignment Jev and his lovely long-time assistant and friend, decide to do a bit of research on a Dr. Tanbyrn. Jevin and Charlene travel to a research center to be part of a study of how positive thoughts effect people who are in love. Here in spa like settings that are also medical and Spiritual settings as well, they must faking being in love in order to be in this study. If they can fake it and they will debunk this place and move onto the next one. Jev figures that since people can get well taking a placebo, then the power of negative or positive thoughts must be somewhat real, all they have to do is prove if this Dr. is a quack or if he is onto something. However, Jevin and Charlene have stumbled into something far deeper than just sending loving thoughts and positive energy to someone you care about. They have wound up deep in the middle of a pharmaceutics drug company's agenda, as well as several people who think they can harness negative and positive energy for their own agendas. Just how much of the power of life and death really is in the tongue, or in the mind?

What I just told you about this book only starts to explain a little of the many characters in this book. It doesn't touch on any of the conspiracy theories, or the folks behind them. Placebo is going to be a very though provoking read for many people. It is filled with the story of people sorting through their pain, and making life and death decisions, even if they are a sociopaths who can't feel feelings. I enjoyed it, and I look forward to the next Jevin Banks book from Steven James!

Carol

About the Book:

One man must uncover the truth--even when others will stop at nothing to keep it buried.
While investigating a controversial neurological research program, exposé filmmaker Jevin Banks is drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy involving one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms. He seeks answers about the questionable mind-to-mind communication program--and answers to his own family tragedy. 

Rooted in groundbreaking science, Placebo explores the far reaches of science, consciousness, and faith. This taut, intelligent, and emotionally gripping new thriller from master storyteller Steven James will keep you flipping pages late into the night.

About the Author:

Award-winning Author of The Patrick Bowers Files

Steven James has penned 30+ books spanning the genres of psychological thrillers, prayer collections, dramas, monologues, a nine book series on creative storytelling, YA fantasy, and inspirational nonfiction. He has received wide critical acclaim for his work including four Storytelling World Honor awards, two Publishers Weekly starred reviews, and 2009, 2011 and 2012 Christy Awards for best suspense. His latest thriller, The Queen, won a 2012 ECPA Book Award and the 2012 Christy Award for Best Suspense Novel. Steven earned a Master’s Degree in Storytelling from ETSU in 1997 and is an active member of International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and International Association of Crime Writers.  He is a contributing editor to Writer's Digest, and has taught writing and storytelling principles on three continents. 

He lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife and three daughters. When he's not writing or speaking, he's rock climbing, playing disc golf, or (shh....) slipping away to a matinee.

Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/Placebo-Jevin-Banks-Novel-Experience/dp/0800734254
Author's web site: http://www.stevenjames.net/books_placebo.htm

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