Rebels by Jill Williamson - Book3 The Safe Lands Trilogy

The Safe Lands series started out with a strong book in Captives. There we entered a world and met people we could relate to on some level, or many levels. We found out there are so many secrets, and in the second book, Outcasts, those issues and relationships only deepen. I fully recommend that you read these books in order, as the series they are meant to be. Not doing so would cause you to miss out on way too much! First, oh groan... as this is the end of a series, but yet such an ending it is!

Omar, Levi, Mason, Jemma - to name a few -- dealing with their world that is a well crafted parallel of our own in so many ways. Jill didn't skimp out on us or on them. Our characters face things that we face today, or that our children face today. I know some are saying, this is too young for a 14 year old to process. My thoughts on that are yes, and no. Yes if they are sheltered home-schooled children, and no if they are dealing with the world that reminds me too much of what I dealt with even at 12. I never let anyone know what I was going through in school for many many years. In these ways I can see this series being great for 14 year olds, as long as they have an adult they can talk with once the issues come up.

Drug or substance abuse, forced pregnancies, being harassed by the same gender that you are.. this is all present in this book. However, it was present in schools in the 80's, 90's and it is even more relevant now. Sin and evil didn't stop, but in some areas of our world it got buried or became common place, even "acceptable." Thankfully this writer wasn't afraid to show that, and I'm well pleased about that.

Now.....
Is Liberation what they though it was? Is it what YOU thought it was? Will the Owl really rise?? Is there an end to the plague, and if so, are you going to find out? This series has forgiveness. Rebels has redemption as well. This series has God's unconditional love embedded through out this series if are willing to see it. I'd hate for you to miss this book, but more so this series. Read it, then share it with others.

Carol :)

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

About The Book:

The Safe Lands have long kept the true meaning of Liberation secret from their people. But after being sentenced to Liberation themselves, Mason and Omar soon discover the truth.

Levi watched his brothers’ public sentencing and tries to hold out hope they are still alive. He is forced to focus his attention elsewhere, however, when his new wife, Jemma, is captured and made the Safe Lands’ newest Queen. His only choice to save Jemma may be to take up Omar’s old role of undercover vigilante, leading the rebels in their quest to overthrow the government. But will Levi’s new role be enough?

Meanwhile, Jemma’s sister, Shaylinn, is ready to give birth to the “Safe Lands’” children … but not even Ciddah is sure they can be delivered safely in the midst of a rebellion. And Mason must face the fact Omar’s illness could be fatal.

If they can all unite their efforts, together they may be able to expose the Safe Lands’ lies to the people. But if they fail, they will all surely die.

About the Author:

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including the Blood of Kings trilogy, Replication, the Mission League series, and the Safe Lands trilogy. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online atwww.jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

Connect with Jill Williamson:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads

Book Link - http://www.amazon.com/Rebels-Safe-Lands-Jill-Williamson/dp/0310735777/ 
Author Website - http://www.jillwilliamson.com

Participants’ links:
Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Vicky DealSharingAunt
April Erwin
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Jeremy Harder
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Writer Rani
Audrey Sauble
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Jojo Sutis
Elizabeth Williams

Hidden In The Stars by Robin Caroll (Quilts of Love #21)

To start with, this cover is just lovely. I love the pastels with the quilt and the beautiful ballerina in blue folded over. That alone would make me want to read this book! It is a good page turner, as we learn more and more and wait for the mystery to be solved. 

Sophia Montgomery is having a horrible time.  She is in the hospital, she can't talk because of major damage to her larynx and throat. Her wrists, arms, and all kinds of things are broken.  Most of all her heart I'd say.  Sophia saw her own Mother's murder.  Sophia can't talk, and she can't write. That makes things extra complicated because how can she share what she feels, and what she saw in this condition? Not to forget to mention, the Olympic gymnastic team is out of the question with her injuries.  Can Sophia lean on God to get her through this horrible live changing experience? 

Julian Frazier is a detective, and right now his job is to get a statement from Sophia. He has to get creative, and calls in a lip reader to help. However, the more he learns the more his heart is wrenched, and the more secrets keep being reveled.  He and God are on the "outs", and you have read to find out the depth of why.

To find the killer, it isn't going to be simply. The clues are indeed hidden in the stars. Wait till you find out who, why, and what the plans are unfolding for all the characters in this really good book! 

Carol :) 

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Hidden in the Stars

Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014)

by

Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn't writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?


ABOUT THE BOOK


Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn't help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?



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

Robin can be reached through the Contact link on her Website 

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426773609

The Curious Case Of The Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble (A Professor and Mrs. Littlefield Mystery)

This is the first book by this author that I have read. The "about the book" doesn't do this book justice.
Oh do bear with the first few pages that feel a bit lost or confusing because it is going to be worth it! It starts with some history behind this tale. Treasure, hidden from the Nazis is secreted away in a very unlikely place, a ship's figurehead. It is being sent to America to keep it safe, but it must have never reached the destination for some reason. The next thing we know, Professor is trying to finish an ocean salvage operation. Lives are at stake trying to retrieve a lovely work of wooden art from the ocean depths.

Next meet El Littlefield. She runs a catering business and light weight sleuthing company called...
"The Butler Did It." (Lovely pun!) El's daughter Katie, and her Granddaughter Chloe Grace, and her best friend Hyacinth, all live in the same area. This makes for lots fun!

Catering a huge event, featuring the 1812 figure head, is daunting just to feed everyone. However, it is hoped that a map is hidden in this work of art. One more glitch, it seems that the Dr. Haverthill's very life could be at risk if they host this unveiling. What on Earth is going on here? El's entire financial future is tied up in this event, and it seems that Dr. Haverthill's life, reputations, and maybe more could be on the line too!

Romance, mystery, crime, and a great who-done-it!
(Please don't say the Butler!)
I sure hope there are more books in this series that I get to read!

Carol :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead

David C. Cook (September 1, 2014)

by

Diane Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning novelist Diane Noble writes stories that tap into the secrets of the heart.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She recently finished writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one, The Sister Wife, and book 2, The Betrayal, which are published by Harper Collins/Avon Inspire, are now in bookstores.

Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor

El Littllefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead, go HERE

Diane can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1434704971 

Nowhere To Turn by Lynette Eason

Danni had no idea her world could change so much! Kurt her abusive husband has been killed on the very day she was fleeing to safety. Now you would think this woman and her deaf son could get back on their feet, but no. Something else is going on. Not only will her creepy "brother in law" not leave her alone, but now someone is trying to kill her, or at least it seems that way. Since her husband and her former brother-in-law are both FBI, the entire situation is even more complicated. 

Desperate, she hires Adam Buchanan who runs Operation Refuge. She can run, and she can hide, but can she stay safe when people are out to find her? It would seem her former husband left some very big loose ends, and now there is pretty much nowhere to turn. God has answers for her and provision, but only if she can listen and stay alive and protect her child too! Frankly, I didn't want to put this book down. 

My copy of this book came from Revell in exchange for my honest review and nothing else. 

Carol :) 

Want to read some? Click! 

She thought her days of hiding were over . . . but the danger has just begun
The day Danielle Harding takes her eleven-year-old son and flees from her abusive husband is the same day Kurt Harding dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe--but in reality, things are just heating up. When Kurt was alive, he took something important from a mysterious individual--who wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won't be able to hide for long . . . 

From the first breathless scene, this tension-laced story will hold you in its iron grip as bestselling author Lynette Eason propels you along in a race to discover the truth.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

1. 

   Lynette Eason

   Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she...

   Continue reading about Lynette Eason

Reviews

Praise for No One to Trust
"Being the first novel in a brand-new series, all that can be said for this author is that she certainly started out with a 'bang'! For any reader looking for 'edge-of-your-seat' thrills, this series is the perfect gift."--Suspense Magazine

"The author doesn't let up until the end, making No One to Trust extremely difficult to set down. I enjoyed her Deadly Reunion series, but this book surpasses those by far, and I hope this is only a glimpse of what we can expect from the Hidden Identity series. Fans of Eason's and readers of Christian suspense will definitely want to check out this new series. I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment."--Fiction Addict

"Eason begins an exciting new series with action and thrilling chase scenes. . . . The conclusion is excellent, and mystery lovers will enjoy this suspenseful novel."--RT Book Reviews

"With betrayals and bodies piling up and more than their own lives at stake, Summer and David will have to rely on their faith, their wits, and maybe even each other if they're going to survive. They may have No One to Trust, but their author proves she can be trusted to add another solid story to her already impressive resume."--Crosswalk.com

The Desire by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley (Restoration Series Book 3)

This book can rip at your heart, especially if you know someone or if you have struggled with wanting a baby and don't have one. Allen and Michele just aren't having that come easily. While Allen is, like many men, more able to deal with it in other ways, he works with orphans and feels more fulfilled. Michele is desperate for a child. They have to find out what God's plan is if they are going to move forward in their relationship, and their life. It is never easy to be childless and wanting a child, but God always, has a plan.

While this is a topic I hold dear to my heart, this book just didn't do for me what I was hoping. It is good, but I didn't find it as strong in some ways as the others.

Carol :)

For two years, Allen and Michele have been trying to have a baby. For Michele, it has become an obsession. But Allen seems content to spend his time--and their money--saving orphans in Africa. As Michele researches their options for fertility treatments, she begins to resent Allen's divided attention. And yet, God has a plan for Allen and Michele that they could never have imagined. All it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .

With a keen eye toward the give-and-take of the marriage relationship, along with the ability to weave an engaging story, Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley show readers what it is to have godly desire and show selfless love. Fans will love this heartwarming story.

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, as well as The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery, and The Reunion. He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. Learn more at www.danwalshbooks.com.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Colorado.

The River by Beverly Lewis

A free sample of this book can be read by clicking HERE! 

An Inteview with the Author... CLICK! 

I have read a good handful of Beverly Lewis's books. I had a hard time with The River for several chapters. Once it picked up for me, I was quite interested in solving some of the mystery surrounding little Anna's death. Anna's sisters Ruth, and Tilly aren't Plain anymore, they live among the Englishers. Tilly is married with twin girls of her own, and Ruth is trying to sort out God's plan for her next. 

When an Anniversary trip becomes much more than just a "visit" home, it is time for answers, healing, forgiveness. A time for open doors, and closed ones, and it's not going to be easy at all. 

The River was different, but pretty good. I could see the Author pouring out her heart with the Dad and his multi-complex situations. I did feel for this family torn apart in so many ways, and yet I was sad I couldn't engage well with the first half of the book. 

My e-book copy came from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review, and nothing else. 

Carol :) 

She looked once more at the dreaded river. Since Anna's death, it had been such a barrier . . . a place and a moment she could not seem to move past.
           
A line I can't move beyond...
The River

Tilly and Ruth, two formerly Amish sisters, are plagued by unresolved relationships when they reluctantly return to Lancaster County for their parents' landmark wedding anniversary. Since departing their Plain upbringing, Tilly has married an Englisher, but Ruth remains single and hasn't entirely forgotten her failed courtship with her Amish beau.

Past meets present as Tilly and Ruth yearn for acceptance and redemption. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can't undo?

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is the New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has...

Continue reading about Beverly Lewis

Photo courtesy of Gene Photography

With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

Hey! Let's start off different this time!

An FAQ with the author is HERE.
Read some for FREE??? Sure! Just click HERE!

Now, Kate has practically warred her entire life for everything she got. She was often up against Trevor at school. The brightest boy in the school, and the brightest girl warning it out for a scholarship for collage. Trevor won, leaving Kate behind, hurt and with out a collage opportunity. Thus we find our amazing girl working for the Census Bureau, in a job where the boss is far from kind. Her husband she dearly loved had passed, and now Kate is cornered in ways you have to read to fathom the full depth of her situation.

Kate has no other option. She is going to work in a high risk medical area to record data. Tuberculosis, a disease with out a cure yet, is taking lives daily. Kate will be front line in this environment, putting her very life as risk. More shocking yet, she is going to have work for, and with Trevor! Horrible Trevor McDonough is what she has called him her whole life. How can you love someone who wrecked your whole world, and how can you not love or admire a Doctor this determined? What is God's plan for their lives, and how many more lives will perish before a cure is found?

A very good read, like her other books I was not at all disappointed and enjoyed the hard work Ms. Camden put into her research and characters.

My e-book copy came from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review and nothing else.

Carol :)

"Camden takes readers on a breathless ride..."--RT Book Reviews

In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston's respectable life as a government worker is disrupted by an encounter with the insufferable Trevor McDonough, the one man she'd hoped never to see again. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and business is the only reason he has sought her out now. 

Despite her misgivings, Kate agrees to Trevor's risky proposal to join him in his work to find a cure for tuberculosis. As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor's past, his hidden depths fascinate her. However, a shadowy enemy lies in wait and Trevor's closely guarded secrets are darker than she ever suspected.

As revelations from the past threaten to destroy their careers, their dreams, and even their lives, Trevor and Kate find themselves in a painfully impossible situation. With everything to lose, they must find the strength to trust that hope and love can prevail over all.

The Author:

Elizabeth Camden is the award-winning author of four books, including Against the Tide (2012), winner of a RITA Award, Christy Award, and Daphne du Maurier Award. With a master's in history and a master's in library science, she is a research librarian by day...

Continue reading about Elizabeth Camden

Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography

THE BOOK LINK : 

http://www.amazon.com/Every-Breath-Elizabeth-Camden-ebook/dp/B00GHXRREQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410457987&sr=1-1&keywords=with+every+breath+elizabeth+camden

Reviews

Kate and Trevor challenge each other to aspire to greater heights in this captivating, emotionally charged journey through America's past. Romantic tension balances perfectly with a plot energized by medical intrigue, making for a truly satisfying whole. Publishers Weekly starred review

Camden has penned a truly eloquent Christian romance from start to finish. Everything here is top notch: the writing, the detailed characterization, the historical setting, and the tender romance that will resonate with readers. The dialogue between the two main characters is not only fabulously smart, but playfully witty.

RT Book Reviews Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars

Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer

Hi Everyone! I have always enjoyed Sigmund's books. However, I can't give you a review yet because my book has not show up! Till it does, and I can update this, here is some info.

Carol :)

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Thief of Glory

WaterBrook Press (August 19, 2014)

by

Sigmund Brouwer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of nearly thirty novels, with close to 4 million books in print. Based on his inspiration for Thief of Glory, which Sigmund wrote as a way to learn and honor the his parent’s stories, especially of his father’s boyhood in a Japanese concentration camp, Sigmund leads The Chapters of Our Lives memoir seminars across the United States and Canada. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan and has two daughters.





ABOUT THE BOOK

A boy coming of age in a time of war…
the love that inspires him to survive.

For ten year-old Jeremiah Prins, the life of privilege as the son of a school headmaster in the Dutch East Indies comes crashing to a halt in 1942 after the Japanese Imperialist invasion of the Southeast Pacific. Jeremiah takes on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings when his father and older stepbrothers are separated from the rest of the family, and he is surprised by what life in the camp reveals about a woman he barely knows—his frail, troubled mother.

Amidst starvation, brutality, sacrifice and generosity, Jeremiah draws on all of his courage and cunning to fill in the gap for his mother. Life in the camps is made more tolerable as Jeremiah’s boyhood infatuation with his close friend Laura deepens into a friendship from which they both draw strength.

When the darkest sides of humanity threaten to overwhelm Jeremiah and Laura, they reach for God’s light and grace, shining through his people. Time and war will test their fortitude and the only thing that will bring them safely to the other side is the most enduring bond of all.

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

Sigmund can be reached through the Contact link on his Website 

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307446492 

Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes

Gina Holmes write books that you don't just breeze through. I have really found a good bit of "meat" if you will in her prior books. This one is the same way, so I was not disappointed!

Holton has hit rock bottom. His wife is dead, his life in shambles, and he is an alcoholic. He spends his time making amazing driftwood sculptures, and trying to drink away the pain. His competition in the driftwood sales is really harming his Holton's life is about to change, and he had a change to change. Is he willing to do so?

Libby's parents kind of tossed her to the curb. Now she is getting married to Rob. However, there are some genetic issues in the backgrounds. To be prudent they get blood work run. Libby's blood work results changed everything. Her whole world was flipped over. Libby's Mom, is not her biological mom after all. Where are her biological parents? What happened that she has the life she has now and not the life she would have with her parents?

Turns out that Holton is her father. Libby says she was friends with his deceased wife, Adele, so she can get to know him. Soon Holton is going to find out that the wife he thought was a saint and could do no wrong had a child he never knew about!

What happens next you just have to read because this journey has just started! This is a good story of healing and truth, reality, forgiveness and some of what happens when you deal with yet another kind of addiction, this one called alcohol.

Carol :) 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Driftwood Tides Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2014) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain was a Christy Award finalist. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore. When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making drifwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.

Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

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

Gina can be reached through the Contact link on her Website 
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1414366426