Maybelle In Stiches by Joyce Magnin (Quilts of Love #16)

Maybelle is welding. Yes indeed, hard work, but she has to do something while her husband is off fighting in the war. Two weeks before he shipped out, they got married and now here she is, missing Holden more than words, letters or her heart can say. Time feel slow when someone you love is away from you. When Maybelle finds a quilt, though she had no idea how to sew, she decides she is going to make this thing whole. It would be just right for their bed when Holden comes home from the war. 

Finding out the scraps she found to make this quilt, that were all in the attic of her Mom's house are all little parts of her heritage and family history makes her all the more interested in getting this task done, and piecing together more of her torn life. With her husband missing in action, all she can do is sew and pray for his return. 

Will she get her happy ending, or will she be left with a quilt and no husband?

Carol :) 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Maybelle In Stitches Abingdon Press (March 18, 2014) by Joyce Magnin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the Author:

I am the author of seven novels. Five adult novels and two middle grade readers. I never wanted to do anything else but write and every day I wake up astonished that I get to do what I always dreamed about. My days are filled with words and images along with the usual family stuff. I have three children, Rebekah who is married to Joshua. They have three of the most adorable boys on the planet, Lemuel, Cedar and Soren. My daughter Emily Kate is a lovely young woman anthropologist and my son Adam is fourteen and a student--he's a genius who loves frogs and lizards and fish and plants. He amazes me.

I have never eaten a scallop. I love cream soda. Drink way too much coffee. I do not like elevators but I do enjoy needle arts and of course books. I prefer jazz over country (no offense), milk chocolate over dark, but not roller coasters although my life has often resembled a roller coaster ride.

One of my life's desires is to meet Amy Grant so I can tell her she saved my life.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it. At first, it’s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, staff sergeant Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return—to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.

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

Joyce can be reached through the Contact link on her Blog 

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426752806 

A Draw of Kings by Patrick Carr (The Staff and The Sword Series)

Today we get to read some about the third book in this series. I throughly enjoyed the first two books.
A Hero's Lot and A Cast of Stones are the first two books. We enter this book and things get shocking quickly! Errol and Princess Adora, among a few others, are quickly found to be captured by a man who thinks to make himself King. Weir thinks he can take over, and in doing so turns Adora over to his evil niece, Sevra. She physically tortured Adora and while she was brave and strong, and didn't give up hope or faith, it about did me in with the abuse she suffered! It could have been worse, but that was just horrible. (Slight spoiler) Adora survives, for now, but has to be separated from Errol.

Now we start seeing more of what the church plans, and plots start to unfold. Romance is really picking up! I am not done reading, so God willing I can update you again shortly!

Carol :)

   From the Back Cover

Dark Forces Have Gathered and the Final Battle for Illustra Has Begun
Their journey to Merakh should have made Errol and his companions heroes of the realm. Instead, they've been branded enemies of the kingdom. 

In the wake of the king's death, Duke Weir is ruling the country--and he intends to marry Adora to bring an heir from the royal line. With Errol and the others imprisoned and the identity of the rightful heir to the throne still hidden in secrecy, Illustra is on the verge of civil war--and threatened by hostile forces gathering on every side.

A dangerous mission to free Errol is attempted, but the dangers facing the kingdom mount with every passing moment. The barrier has fallen, ferrals are swarming toward the land, and their enemies draw ever closer. Will the discovery of the true heir turn back the tide of Illustra's destruction?

Biography

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick's day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

A Draw of Kings -  http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Kings-Staff-Sword-Patrick/dp/0764210459/ 
Author Website - http://patrickwcarr.com/
Participants’ links:

Gillian Adams
Jennifer Bogart 
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Mike Coville
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Audrey Sauble
James Somers
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Jill Williamson

Poison Town by Creston Mapes

This is the second book in this series. I really enjoyed the first book, and this one too!
Here we find a large corporation. This company, Demlar-Vargus is so upsetting people. The company is under accusations from people that they are destroying the land, causing cancer, polluting the environment and in general - they are just bad for everyone. Folks are sick, they are dying and they are sure that Demlar-Vargus has a hand in their health issues. After all, they make fiberglass, that should cause all kinds of problems, right?

Jack, from our first book, is now in Poison Town with his wife and they have some major forgiving issues to cope with. Jack is invesitgating for the newspaper, The Dispatch. Jack has people he cares about who are very very sick. They are dying from symptoms that may well lead back to Demlar-Vargus. Just how much is this company covering up? Will they find the truth in this situation?

Now, with his family under attack, Jack might be too close to the truth of the entire matter. Folks are going missing, who were witness and things are really going on with non-stop action! Is what is poisoning this town, and Jack's heart what they really think is poisoning them?

Take a trip with Jack Crittendon and see what is really going on in the hearts and minds of the folks who reside in Poison Town.

Carol :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Poison Town David C. Cook (February 1, 2014) by Creston Mapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as "The Shop."

Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.


ABOUT THE BOOK

There's More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town

People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that's crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss.

  The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon's long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal.

The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable--he knows too much.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Poison Town, go HERE.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1434704874

Creston can be reached through the Contact link on his Website 

Ollie Chandler Collection: Three Novels: Deadline, Dominion, Deception by Randy Alcorn

This book is interesting, but VERY hard to get through. That is unusual for me. It focuses on a man who has died and is in Heaven. He is learning about God's glory with the help of his guardian Angel. I like all that, and the lives of the people on Earth try to figure out what killed this man, and some other things along that line. It stars a homicide detective, Ollie Chandler. That is typically right up my "alley"!

Over all, I am not happy to say that I haven't been able to force myself through the rest of the story. I mange to read a few pages and I just can't stay engaged. I will continue to try to finish this book. I hate not knowing endings. I really hope that it is just me who has not been able to read this book as it was intend by the Author. I feel like it has potential, if I could just make it through enough of it for it to fully engage.

I was given this copy from Blogging for Books for my honest review and nothing else.

Carol :)

The Book Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Ollie-Chandler-Collection-Deadline-Deception-ebook/dp/B00985DV4U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394649473&sr=8-1&keywords=The+ollie+chandler

Three suspense detective novels for the price of one in this eBook-exclusive omnibus.
Ollie Chandler is a brilliant and quick-witted homicide detective who lives by Ollies' First Law: "Things are not what they appear." These best-selling novels offer readers a compelling, intriguing story of Ollie Chandler combined with other favorite characters. Deadline, Randy Alcorn's first novel, stayed on the bestsellers list for thirty-six months. Dominion is a dramatic story of spiritual searching, racial reconciliation, and hope. Deception responds to readers' demand for more of his believable, compelling fiction. Readers will gain a greater understanding of heaven while recognizing a new idea of why God allows suffering.

Deadline
Involved in a tragic accident under suspicious circumstances, award-winning journalist Jake Woods teams with detective Ollie Chandler to uncover the truth. This alluring e-omnibus of the Randy Alcorn bestsellers finds Jake drawing upon all his resources in an ever-intensifying, dangerous murder investigation. Unaware of the imminent threat to his own life, Jake struggles for answers to the mystery at hand and is plunged into a deeper search for the meaning of his own existence. Deadline is a dramatic and vivid novel of substance, filled with hope and perspective for every reader who longs to feel purpose in life.

Dominion
When two senseless killings hit close to home, columnist Clarence Abernathy seeks revenge for the murders--and, ultimately, answers to his own struggles regarding race and faith. After being dragged into the world of inner-city gangs and racial conflict, Clarence is encouraged by fellow columnist Jake Woods to forge an unlikely partnership with a redneck homicide detective. Soon the two find themselves facing dark forces, while unseen eyes watch from above. This re-release of Randy Alcorn's powerful bestseller spins off from Deadline and offers a fascinating glimpse inside heaven. Filled with insight--and with characters so real you'll never forget them--Dominion is a dramatic story of spiritual searching, racial reconciliation, and hope.

Deception
Homicide detective Ollie Chandler has seen it all. Done more than he cares to admit. But when he's called to investigate the murder of a Portland State University professor, he finds himself going places he's never gone before. Places he never wanted to go. Because all the evidence is pointing to one, horrific conclusion: The murderer is someone in his own department. That's not the worst of it, though. Ollie has nagging doubts...about himself. Where was he during the time of the murder? Joined by journalist Clarence Abernathy and their friend Jake Woods, Ollie pushes the investigation forward. Soon all three are drawn deep into corruption and political tensions that threaten to destroy them--and anyone who tries to help. But they're in too deep to quit. They've got no choice. They have to follow the evidence to the truth...No matter how ugly--or dangerous--it gets.

Balenced: Finding Center as a Work At Home Mom by Tricia Goyer

We are women. We have a million things to do each day. Many of us have children. How you do balance a work at home career and still raise the kids, help the husband, and do what God called you to do with out falling apart? Tricia Goyer has written a very nice book on this topic! Like many of us, I have read some of her work before, but nothing that has come close to the depth of what she shared in this book.
Unlike most of the folks reading this book, I don't have children. Yet. I still pray over that. That aside, I have friends with children.  I have watched them struggle to keep things "together", and I do work at home. I have 100's of things pulling at me that I have had to learn to shut off or try to figure out how to deal with those things at a later date. I found that Tricia's book was a fast easy read with lots of personal sharing. I deeply appreciated her honestly that her home (like most of ours) isn't exactly "perfect at all times". Life is simply not perfect, we are learning as we go and Tricia shared so much of her lifetime of learning with us in this book! 
Tricia gave ideas of how to figure out your top priorities and to stick to them. She gave women permission to not be perfect, but to refocus themselves on the things that matter the most while still getting the bulk of the work done. As someone who is working on writing themselves, in an area I am not use to writing in, I LOVED all her insight into how she writes, and was amazed at the way she has accomplished this with the insights God has given her. 
This was a very important read that I think I will find myself referring to again, and do plan to share with others! 
Carol :)  Get Balanced!
 Tricia's Balanced author chat party on March 10(https://www.facebook.com/events/1452943561603285/). Tricia will be chatting about her tips for attaining balance and juggling the many hats moms wear. There will also be some giveaways, and Tricia will announce the start of an eleven-day Balancedchallenge that begins on March 11. You're invited to take part in the challenge, and everyone who participates will receive a downloadable package of freebies from Tricia and her friends! 
This post is part of the Balancedchallenge with Tricia Goyer—and you can join, too!

 About the Book: 

How can a work-at-home mom raise kids, juggle a career and take care of family responsibilities with only 24-hour days? Working at home while raising kids and juggling a career and family responsibilities is no easy feat. Author and homeschooling mom Tricia Goyer shares her tips for finding balance among all your many hats as a mom. Balancing is a process and a journey, one that Tricia herself has yet to perfect. But between writing more than forty books, raising and homeschooling six kids, being a wife, and being active in her community, she has amassed valuable tips she shares in "Balanced."

The book includes tips on:
—how to create focus themes for your family
—how to prioritize your schedule
—how to utilize your job so it also benefits your kids
—how to keep yourself out of the comparison game
—how to make working at home work for you
—and much more!

The book link is :http://www.amazon.com/Balanced-Finding-Center-Work-at-Home-Mom-ebook/dp/B00HHDF788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394480707&sr=8-1&keywords=balanced+by+tricia+goyer

About the Author: 

Tricia's web page has more about her than I can easily past here. For starters she has written more than 35 books while raising SIX children!!!  I highly suggest you check out her web site and learn more about her, her work, and her framily!  http://www.triciagoyer.com/about/

Litfuse sent me this book for free in exchange for my honest review, and nothing more.