Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

This is book #14 in the Quilts of Love Series! (YEAH!)

Tess is a brave woman. She is a detective that has worked hard to get where she is. She doesn't worry about glamour all that much, but her job is about getting bad guys, not looking like a Princess. From the outside, it could seem that the most female things she does is quilting. Yep! This tough hard working gal also quilts. Her new partner Logan, is getting use to all this, and to the fact that her best friend was murdered. A as-of-yet unsolved murder.

That doesn't stay a closed issue for long, as in this historic and quaint town, another death occurs. And unknown to the public, the same mark that was on Tess's best friend, is on the deceased. They have a killer on the loose. The problem is, he is close to them. This person has to live there, or this couldn't keep happening this way. Even when the crime solving seems fast, it is still slow in some ways. The other lives lost could have been stopped had they been able to solve Samantha's murder sooner.

As Tess and Logan start to grow closer as partners, and maybe more, things really pick up with the case in ways that they hadn't expected. They can't stay mad at God if they want to move forward in life. It's been three years since Tess went to church or worked on that relationship. With her Aunt that she is so close to in the hospital for "tripping" over the cat who never gets off the couch, there is a lot to deal with.

While you might figure out who the killer is sooner than you liked, you will not lack in interest as they work to get that person brought to justice. Also, I liked how the quilt happened to have some "scraps of evidence" in it that helped solve the case. Over all this is a great way to put a quilt into a murder mystery, with some romance and healing.

Carol :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Scraps of Evidence

Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014)

by

Barbara Cameron

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the author:

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 35 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

Barbara can be reached through the Contact link on her Website 


ABOUT THE BOOK

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he’s been trying to get to know her better and he’d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess’s uncle. There’s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?


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

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426752784 

Outcasts by Jill Williamson (Book Two in the Safe Lands Series)

Return with us to the second book of this wonderful series! It is called dystopian as a genera, the opposite of Utopia. (Oh! Real life perhaps just set in the future!)  We are back with the boys, and they are really growing in this book! Here is out chance to catch up with Levi, Omar, and Mason. The boys are wanting to be men, and they are working on their goals.

Levi is sure he can be a good leader, and from what we have seen, that is possible. He figures he can lead and be an Elder. Mason is still of the same frame of mind he use to be, he wants to be a healer. A doctor, even though it is not as well excepted in his culture. Mason wants the thin plague to be cured, and has hopes that he can do that. Omar, mostly he just would like to be free of guilt. That guilt that eats up his gut and plagues him, and since he needs some goals too, ok.... he would love to be a hero. If he were a hero, maybe he wouldn't feel this way.

Being an Outsider in The Safe Lands means you are in a world where everyone is living for themselves. For what pleases them. (Does that sound familiar?) Intense topics are in this book too. Reminiscent to me of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which was down right scary to me in my teens. In this book, there are young teens being forced to have babies for the good of the community and their survival. True, they are clean of the disease so they can have babies, but because of this you might want a bit older teens or mid-aged teens to read this with lots of chats with their parents. The topics should be covered, yes, but just my thoughts there. I needed a bit of guidance after the book I mentioned up there! (That one was traumatic to me!)

These young men are fighting the system they are in. They are struggling to set their beliefs into place where they can't be shaken by romance, or other "doctrines" or peer pressure. They have to be un-addicted in a world addicted to drugs, to pleasure instead of to what is right and Godly. (Yes, that is familiar to us too!)
They are trying to rescue people who don't even know they need to be rescued, and might not want to see the truth at all. Some of their friends, might not be friends. They might be loyal, or they could have their own agendas in place. Omar has some major crisis and test of his faith and possible long term consequences. Touted as a great and rather perfect society, some mega issues with it are coming forth. Issues that the powers that be don't really want highlighted, shared, or allowed to be well known.

No shortage of action, and in some ways, this book tops Captives!  It is very fast paced, so read it quick before the next book comes out so you don't have to worry about catching up!

Carol :)

About the Book: 

In Outcasts, the second book in Jill Williamson's Safe Lands series, Levi finds himself not only the leader of Glenrock's remaining people but also the head of a new rebel force called the Messengers, intent on unmasking the Safe Lands' lies. At the same time, Mason uncovers secrets that may be more dangerous than he ever imagined. Meanwhile, Omar decides to take matters into his own hands.

    The inside Cover.... 

Uncovering the truth could cost them their lives.

Since entering the Safe Lands, Mason has focused on two things: finding a way to free his village from captivity, and finding a cure for the disease that ravages many within the walls of the Safe Lands. After immune-suppressive drugs go missing in the clinic, Mason discovers his coworker, Ciddah, may know more about the Safe Lands than imagined ... and may have an agenda of her own. At the same time, Mason's brother Levi is focused on a way to free the remaining Glenrock captives, while Mason's younger brother Omar decides to take the rebellion against the Safe Lands into his own hands as a vigilante.

Soon all three brothers are being watched closely---and when Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, his investigation just might get those closest to him liberated.

   About the Author

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including By Darkness Hid, Replication, The New Recruit, and Captives. She's a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. She loves teaching about writing. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two children, and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online at jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

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

Outcasts - http://www.amazon.com/Outcasts-Safe-Lands-Jill-Williamson/dp/0310724244/
Author Website - http://www.jillwilliamson.com/

Participants’ links:
Red Bissell
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Julie Bihn
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Writer Rani
Chawna Schroeder
Jacque Stengl
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Deborah Wilson

The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Now is is time for The Calling, the newest book by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
Mental illness isn't talked about too much, if at all in some circles. With an Amish book, it is about unheard of, until now. Bethany Schrock has had a tough time of it. She fell for the wrong guy, and the more you read, the more you find out just how wrong that wrong guy was! She working herself to a frazzle cleaning the home of five sisters who never married. Five sisters who are pack rats and can't bear to part with items. Very un-Amish of them, but they are unique ladies. They are from their 90's to somewhere in their late 70's if I got that right. Cleaning her way through their life history wasn't suppose to be this hard, or this frighting. But soon Bethany unearths a few secrets as she is working.

Meanwhile, Geena is a youth pastor who's job just went belly up. She is taking refuge at Eagle Inn, but her calling will not quit. The gifts and callings are like that you know! Soon she is helping with Amish projects, including helping the Five Sisters with their self appointed task of helping the homeless and those in need in their area! These gals are cooking, cleaning and now... well now ministry is calling too. What is a non-Amish out of work youth pastor to do?

To farther complicate matters, Bethany's past is about to wind up smack in the present, while her sister is busy doing some very helpful, but not quite Amish things as well. It just escalates when Bethany finds out more about her Mother, and why her Mom left her like she did. Does this tie into the nightmares that Bethany's been having, or is the past coming back a nightmare in and of itself?

You will have to read this one to find out, because it is quite well done and will keep you turning pages to see how folks deal with what happens next.

Carol :)

UPDATE: There is a drawing in progress! Check it out! :)
http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/contest/?utm_source=The+Calling+blast&utm_campaign=TheCallingGiveaway&utm_medium=email

Bethany's restless heart is searching for answers--in life and in love

Bethany Schrock's love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending hot summer days wading through a lifetime of accumulation at the home of five elderly Amish sisters. She's not sure what she wants out of life, but she knows that she's not finding it in Stoney Ridge.

Then a new guest at the Inn at Eagle Hill ropes her into volunteering in a community project for down-and-outers. Reluctant at first, Bethany starts to feel a bit of joy and satisfaction again. But not so much that Jimmy Fisher, adorable and impossible, can woo her affections with his winks and tricks. Well, maybe a little.

When a figure from her past reenters her life, Bethany must decide: What does the past mean to her future?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

An excerpt can be found HERE. 

You can visit the Author's page here:
http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/

No One To Trust by Lynette Eason

Lynette has just about topped herself this time. You can check my blog for all the other good books she has written that I have reviewed.

Summer's whole life just turned upside down. She wakes up at knife point and promptly finds out her husband is missing and her life is at stake. Worse than that, her husband isn't Kyle, he is David!

Summer herself is a lawyer, working to protect battered wives and abused children. Now her clients, her family, everyone she knows is at risk because of the man she calls husband. Summer isn't sure she should trust him, and she basically doesn't have a choice but to trust him or they are all dead.

She is going to have to forgive her husband, or at least trust him enough to get her out of this alive, and for him to get to to his court date to review what he knows about some major crimes. Crimes he know about before he met and married Summer.

It's a page turner, and very fast paced. As David and Summer work their way through who to trust, who they can't trust, and try to stay alive so they can both make it to the court dates where other lives in the balance!

I think this is her best book yet!

Carol :)

(Photo will not load - Will fix that tomorrow!)

She doesn't know who she's running from--and the man she loves may be someone else entirely

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.

“Available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell

O.k. I am now *officially* hooked on the "Quilts of Love" books. You can find them ALL here: http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com/

I read the first one that came out, and in some ways I had trouble with it from the major storms I have been through. However, I ventured out into another one when Bonnie Calhoun wrote it. That did it. I'm hooked! (That was book #8.) Since then I have read #1, #2, #8, #11, and today is #13! This book is Tempest's Course and it is also very good.

Kelly Frost has really been through a few things. She was raised by foster parents, and she has made her share of mistakes. Her field of work is fascinating to me. She repairs old textiles. Kelly has been called in to work on a Mariner's Compass quilt that has seen much better days. The quilt lives in Grey House, a reasonably sizable house that has been unoccupied for quite a while. Why? Well we aren't sure just yet.

The quilt sure has seen better days. It has quite a story to tell and so does the Grey House. Since Kelly has to live in the house to restore the quilt, she is getting to know Tom who is working on the grounds there. He has some issues from serving our country. Both Tom and Kelly are finding out, some on their own, and some together that they are some strange things about this house, their jobs, and this project.

Shortly after moving in, Kelly found Mary Grey's hidden journal. She was the wife of the whaling captain who owned the house to start with. Mary's life and her secrets have a huge impact on how Kelly feels, and it has impact on others as well. Mary's life, in itself is almost a whole book and I found myself wishing for more of her journal entries. How Mary ties to the quilt is very interesting too.

This is a story of how a quilt served through several lives, all with some nicely inter-woven threads. This book tells of history, love, loss, forgiveness and with the promise and hope of healing. I enjoyed it.

Carol :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Tempest's Course

Abingdon Press (December 17, 2013)

by

Lynette Sowell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lynette Sowell is an award-winning novelist. Her most recent novel, Tempest’s Course, is part of the Quilts of Love line from Abingdon Press. When Lynette’s not writing, she divides her time between editing medical reports and chasing down news stories for the Copperas Cove Leader-Press. Lynette was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland but makes her home in Coppress Cove, Texas, with her husband and a herd of cats who have them well-trained.



Lynette can be reached through the Contact link on her Blog 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Army veteran Tom Pereira, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore the quilt, she and Tom grow closer. And as she reads stories in a daily journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns the secrets of the quilt and Mary's own sad tale of regret. Then Tom learns secrets of his own family's past, and both Tom and Kelly learn they are tied to Gray House in ways they never imagined.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tempest's Course, go HERE.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426752768