The Edge Of Recall

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Edge Of Recall
(Bethany House July 1, 2008)
by
Kristen Heitzmann


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Of her three main interests, art, music and writing, she chose to study English at the University of Colorado and thrived on Creative Writing and Literature classes. She married her husband Jim, and turned her energy to building a family. They have four children whom they have home schooled for all or most of their education. Kristen is a music minister with the ecumenical covenant community People of Praise.

Once she realized the stories in her head were truly a calling from the Lord, she made writing not just a passion, but a ministry. She has written seven historical fiction novels as part of the The Rocky Mountain Legacy series, the Diamond of the Rockies series, and the Christy Award winner Secrets. Most recently, she has written several contemporary fiction novels, including Echoes, Freefall and Unforgotten.

Kristen and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Tessa Young, an up-and-coming landscape architect who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths, has immersed herself in the mythological, spiritual, and healing aspects of the elaborate structures. She also is searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, an estranged colleague--with whom she'd half fallen in love a dozen times before catching herself every time--calls to propose a project he claims is the opportunity of a lifetime, she reluctantly agrees to check it out. Smith is reconstructing a pre-Revolutionary War abbey for wealthy clients. Among its remarkable features is an overgrown labyrinth.

Unable to resist, Tessa accepts his offer to work with him. Soon she is immersed in the project of a lifetime. But one evening, after weeks of work in the labyrinth, Tessa and Smith are attacked. While protecting Tessa, Smith is stabbed, and the nightmare begins...again.


If You would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

Wiser Than Serpents

You've GOT to read this. Ok wait, I'm getting ahead of myself here. This is no ordinary blog tour because this is no ordinary book.

Susan May Warren hasn't written just a great piece of fiction (and oh, it is!), she's dug in and written about what is a horrific reality for some. As we go through our day to day lives, running errands and griping about the slow driver in front of us, there are men, women and children who are being kidnapped and sold into slavery. Yes, in today's world.

Keep reading...there's a surprise at the end of this post!

About Wiser Than Serpents: When her sister vanishes into a human slave ring, FSB agent Yanna Andrevka is determined to rescue her. Unfortunately, she's in over her head, with no way out, especially after destroying the undercover operation of Delta Force Operative David Curtiss, who is deep undercover in the Twin Serpents crime syndicate. David has his hands full trying to save Yana, and his operation -- one that could rescue hundreds of women from the Serpent, or cost he and Yanna their lives. The thrilling next chapter of the Mission: Russia series!

A Note From Susan: Did you know that there are 27 million people around the globe held as slaves today – more than 80% of them women and children, and up to 50% minors. In fact, there are MORE slaves today than were in the time of William Wilberforce. That leaves me horrified, and it was those stats that compelled me to write a story with a human trafficking plotline.

Wiser than Serpents is a continuation of the Mission:Russia series, a thriller about Yanna, whose sister is snatched through a Russian dating service, and disappears. Yanna enlists the help of Delta Force Captain, David Curtiss to find and rescue her. Readers who’ve read, In Sheep’s Clothing and Sands of Time will recognize Yanna as the tech expert, and David as the solid Christian of the group. (Read the 5-Rose Review here!)

The book is written from the point of views of the rescuers, not the victims, and offers hope and empowerment, instead of feelings of helplessness. It raises awareness without lowering the standards of Christian fiction.

However, the world is real, and the need to get involved is great. I so greatly admire people who take their beliefs and put action to them –hence why a portion of the proceeds of Wiser than Serpents is going to help the International Justice Mission, (www.ijm.org), an organization dedicated to rescuing victims and fighting the scourge of slavery.

About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

My thoughts:

I highly recommend Wiser Than Serpents! It's an amazing piece of work just as a stand-alone fiction, but knowing the subject is a harsh reality brings it into a whole new light. This is no casual story about a rescue. It's an on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of thrill ride. I love that it's written from the rescuers' perspective, so it's not only full of action, suspense and life-threatening situations, but it's also full of hope, courage and reliance on God. It opened my eyes to a real problem in the world today without being preachy. Oh, and just so you're not loaded down with the run in and shoot 'em up scene, there's a romantic side woven in as well.

Even though this is the third book in a series (I haven't read the first two), it feels full and complete on it's own. Susan gives enough background along the way so we're not feeling left out...and enough to pique my interest into running to the bookstore going to get the other two books.

Susan is donating 15% of the books royalties to the International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org/)! Let’s help spread the word about the IJM and their vital work!

Go here to buy the book!

Susan’s Website: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/

Susan’s Blog: http://susanmaywarren.typepad.com/scribbles/

Contest Info! Susan will be giving away 3 SIGNED sets of the Mission: Russia (In Sheep’s Clothing, Sands of Time, and Wiser Than Serpents) series. To enter the contest…click on over to Susan’s blog tour post here (http://susanmaywarren.typepad.com/scribbles/2008/07/wiser-than-serp.html) and tell us which ministries/charities you support and why! Susan will randomly select three winners!

Love Starts With Elle - Tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Starts With Elle
(Thomas Nelson - July 8, 2008)
by
Rachel Hauck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Hauck is a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's, who roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero. She graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism.

After graduation, she hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, destermined to see the world. But, she's traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine.

Rachel met Tony, her husband, in '87, at church, of all places. They married in '92.
They don't have any children of their own, just lots of kids-in-the-Lord and they love them all. However, they do have two very spoiled dogs, and a very demanding cat.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. My current release is Sweet Caroline from Thomas Nelson. Romantic Times Book Club gave both books their highest rank of 4.5 stars, with Love Starts With Elle being honored as Top Pick!



ABOUT THE BOOK

Elle's living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

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

July Book List

For the month of July we'll get to enjoy:

• Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck
• Wiser Than Serpents by Susan May Warren
• The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann
• Try Darkness by James Scott Bell

Calico Canyon Book Tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Calico Canyon
Barbour Publishing, Inc (July 1, 2008)
by
Mary Connealy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARY CONNEALY is an award-winning author and playwright, married to Ivan a farmer, and the mother of four beautiful daughters, Joslyn, Wendy, Shelly and Katy. They live in Decatur, Nebraska. Mary is a GED Instructor by day and an author by night. And there is always a cape involved in her transformation.

Mary has also written Petticoat Ranch, Golden Days, and her latest, Alaska Brides that will debut in August.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Let yourself be swept away by this fast-paced romance, featuring Grace Calhoun, an instructor of reading, writing, and arithmetic, who, in an attempt to escape the clutchs of a relentless pursuer, runs smack dab into even more trouble with the 6R's - widower Daniel Reeves, along with his five rowdy sons. When a marriage is forced upon this hapless pair - two people who couldn't dislike each other more - an avalanche isn't the only potential danger lurking amid the shadows of Calico Canyon. Will they make it out alive? Or end up killing each other in the process?

Running from her Abusive foster-father, a man intent on revenge, the prim and perfectly proper Grace Calhoun takes on the job of schoolmarm in Mosqueros, Texas.

As if being a wanted woman isn't bad enough, Grace has her hands full with the five rowdy and rambunctious Reeves boys─tough Texan tormenters who seem intent on making her life miserable. When, in an attempt to escape from the clutches of her pursuer, Grace is forced to marry widower Daniel Reeves, father of the miniature monsters, she thinks things couldn't get any worse. Or could they?

Daniel Reeves, happy in his all-male world, is doing the best he can, raising his five boys─rascals, each and every one. Since his wife's death in childbirth, Daniel has been determined never to risk marriage again.

When God throws Grace and Daniel together─two people who couldn't detest each other more─the trouble is only beginning.

Will this hapless pair find the courage to face life together in the isolated Calico Canyon? Or are their differences too broad a chasm to bridge?

If you would like to read the first chapter go HERE

My thoughts:

Oh! This was a fun book! I loved the characters and how Connealy let us see each of their points of view. Mixing romantic tension with some suspense and adversity made for a real page-turner.

In this story we follow Grace who was adopted so that she could be forced into child labor, then escaped so she could earn enough money to send for her sister. When her step dad finds her in Texas she runs for her life only to wonder if where she ended up was worth it. She ends up married to the father of five rambunctious boys, who got her fired from her school teaching job, because of his rowdy boys.

She doesn't want to be there, and they don't want her there. But there is nothing they can do about it when they get snowed in for the winter. I won't spoil it, so you'll have to read and find out if they survive the winter together or not. And if her step dad ever finds her.

I have to say, though, one of my favorite parts is when Daniel is trying to handle his "frustration" with Grace by staying busy. His train of thought cracked me up.

This is the second book in the Lassoed in Texas series. I haven't read the first book, Petticoat Ranch, but it's now on my list. And I cant wait for book #3 to come out.

Summer Reading

Here is my summer reading list. Some of these books I'll read for book tours and post reviews (marked with *). When I post a review I will add the link next to the title below. For the other books I'll add comments about what I thought of them.

I'll add to this list along the way, but here is what I have so far:


Shiloh Autumn ~Bodie & Brock Thoene Mixed feelings on this one. It's really good and very well written (both historically and in style), but the time frame is around the Great Depression, so I found it to be a little...depressing, naturally. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. But I also gained a greater appreciation for the people who lived during that era and what they went through.

* Skizzer ~A.J. Kiesling Click here for my review.

The Scarlet Thread ~Francine Rivers Pretty good, but I didn't like jumping between two different stories so much. Kind of hard to get into, but I liked both story lines.

Alaska Twilight ~Colleen Coble Good story, but I also had a hard time getting into this one (could have just been timing). I do recommend it, though.

Redemtion Series ~Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley: So far I really like this series. It's encouraging how good can come from bad and shows the fruit of turning to God.
- Redemption
- Remember
- Return
- Rejoice
- Reunion (putting this one off 'cause I think it's going to be sad)

Heirs of Montana Series ~Tracie Peterson: I've only read the first book, but I'm hooked. It starts during the Civil War and follows a family on the trail to Montana. Very real, but not depressing. Looking forward to the rest of the series and Peterson's other books, too!
- Land of My Heart
- The Coming Storm Ok, I think I've found a new favorite author! LOVE her!
- To Dream Anew
- The Hope Within


* Calico Canyon ~Mary Connealy (2nd book in a series) Click here for the book tour post (reading this one right now...it's really good so far!)

* Wiser Than Serpents ~ Susan May Warren (3rd book in a series) Click here for my review

* Love Starts With Elle ~Rachel Hauck (2nd book in a series) Click here for the book tour post Didn't get a chance to read this one yet. BUT! There will be another tour for this one in October and I'll definitely have read it by then. Cant wait! I also want to read the first book, Sweet Caroline, first.

Try Dying ~James Bell This is the first book in a series. I got it because I'm scheduled to review the second book, Try Darkness, and wanted to be caught up. This is the first time I've read this author. I liked his writing style (written in first person) and really enjoyed the humor/sarcasm throughout, even though it's more of a suspense book. It was a definite page turner, but didn't necessarily "keep me on the edge of my seat." It's also not a "preachy" book, which is nice. The Christian theme is more subtle. I recommend it and am looking forward to the next book.

* Try Darkness ~James Bell Alright, to be brutally honest, this wasn't as good as the first book. The story was interesting but it wasn't as suspenseful. It was more of a casual read and not as much the "page turner" as I hoped it would be. I still liked the humor/sarcasm and I'd recommend it. I guess I just expected more. You can check out the tour post here (but I didn't finish reading it in time to post my thoughts on it until after the tour was over).

* Finding Stephanie ~Susan May Warren (3rd book in a series) Click here for my review.

* Twice Loved ~ Lori Copeland (1st book in a series) I'll post my review of this in late August.



* Books that are part of a book tour. See links for reviews.



Be sure to check out more Summer Reading here:

~ Jenni at Conversations With My Hairdryer



If you have a summer reading list or would like to start one just post it on your blog and let me know. I'll link to your blog!

June Book List

For the month of June you can enjoy hearing about:

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy