Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009

It's that time of year again (already!) for the Fall Reading Challenge. Somehow I always manage to post this late, but I like doing it every year anyway so here is my list. I will change it to purple after it has been read and I will link it to the review if I do one. Add a post with your top 5 most want to read books between now and Christmas and I will do a giveaway around Christmas between all the participants. So here I go...





1) One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
2) Fields of Grace by Kim Sawyer
3) Cowboy Christmas by Mary Coneally
4) Bluegrass Christmas by Allie Pleiter
5) 3 Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson
6) The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin
7) Bo's Cafe by Lynch, Thrall and McNichol
8) A Taste of Fame (Potluck Catering Club) by Linda Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
9) It's Not About Him by Michelle Sutton
10) Intervention by Terri Blackstock
11) Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
12) A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling
13) Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart
14) Double Cross by David James Jordan
15) The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason
16) Things Worth Remembering by Jakina Stark
17) The Last Word by Kathy Herman
18) Emmy's Equal by Marcia Gruver
19) The Fence My Father Built by Linda Clare
20) A Little Help From My Friends by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
21) Last Breath by Brandilyn Collins & Amberly Collins
22) eye of the god by Ariel Allison
23) Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh
24) What Matters Most by Melody Carlson
25) Limelight by Melody Carlson
26) Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher
27) Prisoner of Versailles by Golden Keyes Parsons
28) Thirsty by Tracey Bateman
29) Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer
30) Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge
31) Saints Roost by Terry Burns
32) White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner
33) The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall
34) Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
35) It's Not About Him by Michelle Sutton
36) Trial By Fire by Cara Putman
37) The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh
38) The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson
39) The Christmas Glass by Marci Alborghetti
40) Essie In Progress by Marjorie Prestren
41) Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas
42) Songs of Deliverance by Marilyn Griffith
43) Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo
44) The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland
45) Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry
46) Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis
47) Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur
48) The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindy Kelley



Non-Fiction
1) Already Gone by Ken Ham
2) Messages to Myself by Helen B. McIntosh
3) Embrace the Struggle by Zig Ziglar
4) So Much More Than Sexy by Mark Atteberry
5) Touched by a Vampire
6) One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber
7) Setting Up Stones
8) The Christmas Kitchen by Tammy Maltby

"Eternity Falls" Book Review

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Eternity Falls
Marcher Lord Press (October 1, 2009)
by
Kirk Outerbridge

MY REVIEW:

Marcher Lord Press is a new publisher that has only been around for a year, but is taking the speculative fiction genre by storm. They have had 3 sets of titles release so far and with each set they release 3 books. This most recent set included "Eternity Falls" by Kirk Outerbridge. I have read 3 other MLP books so far and have been very impressed with the quality of books they are publishing, but Eternity Falls is a Cyberthiller... say what? Hmm, Cyberthriller. Well, if Eternity Falls is an example of a Cyberthriller than I think I have a new favorite genre.

Eternity Falls sets us in the future where a new genetic formula is being used by the public called "Miracle Treatment" which alters the dna back to a younger you, so an 85 might look 25. This is very popular among the rich and famous but then one of their spokespeople, actress Greta Darling dies, of natural causes... except of course that is not possible because she is a Miracle Treatment user. One of the heads of Gentec, Sheila Dunn, hires Rick Macey to figure out what happened since she is sure that the treatment itself could not have failed.

We set out on a trip to the truth with Macey and Sheila as they try to determine whether it is a religious conspiracy, espionage, or murder and who is behind trying to ruin Sheila. People start dying and the past comes back to haunt Macey, his secrets start rearing their ugly heads and in the midst of everything can he remember Who has been there for him all along?

Great book and an excellent addition to the Marcher Lord Press releases to date.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kirk Outerbridge developed a passion for storytelling at an early age. Through years of reading Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, comics, table top gaming and watching endless hours Japanese anime, he developed a keen sense for what made stories enjoyable and more importantly—what didn’t.

While pursuing an engineering degree in college, Kirk endeavored to tell his own stories, choosing writing as the easiest and cheapest medium to master—or so he thought. Several years and several hundred thousand words later, he produced a Sci-fi trilogy that shall never (God willing) see the light of day, but that did teach him much needed lessons about the craft of writing fiction.

After college Kirk returned to his homeland of Bermuda where he reunited with his childhood friend and future wife, Ria. But before marrying his lovely wife, Kirk entered an even greater marriage and devoted his life to Christ in 2002.

With a new found direction in life, writing fell by the wayside but the urge to tell futuristic stories never left. After much prayer and contemplation, Kirk purposed his writing for God’s Will, seeking to draw to Christ those who shared his passions for all things futuristic and Sci-fi.

Kirk currently lives with his wife Ria and 18 month old son Miles in beautiful Bermuda. He is a faithful member of the Church of Christ and is a professional engineer employed by the government.



ABOUT THE BOOK

In the future, death is only a problem if you can’t afford the price. Such is the promise of Gentec Corporation’s “Miracle Treatment”, a genetic anti-aging elixir that grants eternal life—or does it?

When a Gentec client suddenly dies of natural causes, the powers that be will stop at nothing to ensure their version of eternity remains unchallenged; even if it means concocting a religious sabotage conspiracy to cover a lie.

With the media about to blow the story wide open, the credibility of Gentec and the lives of millions of clients rest on one man’s ability to uncover the truth.
Enter detective Rick Macey, religious counterterrorist expert and Gentec executive Sheila Dunn’s last hope for salvation.

Now with the clock ticking and the corporate brass seeking their own solution at any cost, Macey must track down a religious zealot out to destroy the Miracle Treatment for good.

But when Macey finds himself not only falling for his client, but confronted with the possibility that the culprit could hold a connection to his shaded past, the truth suddenly becomes a dangerous thing.

Only through a test of faith can he stop the crisis before it’s all too late and eternity falls.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Eternity Falls, go HERE

"Thirsty" Book Review

Book: Thirsty

Author: Tracey Bateman

Summary:
There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

MY REVIEW:
Can the Twilight phenomenon cross over into the Christian Bookseller Association? Forays have been made, but I think that Tracey Bateman's book "Thirsty" may be the most likely to make a successful transition.
What happens when you take some incredible characters, unique plot points, fantasy and reality and throw them all together... shake them up and add in a dash of past history and you come out with a great book!

I have read and watched a lot of fantasy stuff with vampires and such and so I was curious how Tracey would handle the subject matter for the CBA market. The fact remains that if you have issues with vampires then you do not want to read this book. If you, however, like that subject matter or have people in your life that do (like Twilight and New Moon lovers), than this is the book for you. I don't want to go into details... you know if you want to read it or not, I don't want to spoil a thing. I just want to encourage you to read this book yourself and use it as a ministry tool this holiday season... as everyone rushes out to watch New Moon in the theater, buy some copies of "Thirsty" and spread some holiday spirit.

"A Prisoner of Versailles" Book Review

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Prisoner of Versaille
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)
by
Golden Keyes Parsons

MY REVIEW:
The French Hugenots are a piece of history that most people don't know about. During the time of King Louis the XIV, he believed that everyone should be Catholic and the Hugenots were persecuted for their faith. Prisoner of Versilles is the sequel to Shadow of the Sun King and is even more gripping than the first one. Golden Keyes Parsons has created a family that is so real you will feel like you on going on their journey with them. Madeline grew up with the King and they once loved each other, now he wants her back even if its by force. With no regard for her family or home. In book one she travels to Versailles to beg for her family and home in the name of the old days. The King is not convinced and she must flee.

Now we follow Madeline as she tries to get her family out of the country and away from the King's reach. She is thwarted and is taken back to Versailles, against her will and with her oldest son. Can she be like Esther and save her family at the cost of herself? Is her son really the heir to the throne?

I was completely swept away by this story. The only good thing about this book ending is that I know there will be a third book to come out and I can't wait. Step back into history and walk the pathway of the past as you read this book and fall in love with Madeline's story!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic Bible teaching, combined with her vivid personal examples, moving from tears one moment, to laughter the next, all the while communicating the message that God is faithful--keep trusting Him. She has a passion to communicate the Word of God in such a manner that will lead to godly living.

Golden, and her husband, Blaine, have just retired as pastors at Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Her testimony and myriad of life experiences lend a touch of authenticity to her teaching. She loves to speak for women's conferences, seminars, luncheons, retreats and Mother/Daughter events.

If deep Bible teaching that brings the Scriptures alive is what you want, Golden is the speaker you need.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Madeleine's faith puts her at odds with an intimidating rival: King Louis XIV.

Having fled their homeland of France because of the persecution by Louis XIV, the Clavell family seeks refuge in Switzerland. However, the king is not about to let the recently widowed Madeleine, his childhood sweetheart, escape that easily. He sends musketeers to kidnap her and her oldest son, Philippe, holding them captive in his opulent palace. King Louis is suspicious that Philippe could be his son, and he's enraged by the growing affection of one of his courtiers for Madeleine.

Will Madeleine escape the king with her life or lose everything that she's fought so hard to keep?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Prisoner of Versaille , go HERE

"White Picket Fences" Book Review Giveaway!

Story Summary:

When the storybook-perfect Janvier family temporarily "adopts" their teenaged niece, Tally, they assume they'll be helping her. But when Tally befriends her cousin, Chase, she soon realizes that he badly needs encouragement, too. When the troubled teens interview two holocaust survivors for a sociology project, will they trigger the healing process that everybody needs?


MY REVIEW:
I really liked Susan's book, "The Shape of Mercy" but it raises the bar awfully high for any future books she has come out. She does not disappoint. In White Picket Fences we meet Neil and Amanda and their kids Chase and D who live the perfect life in a house with a white picket fence. They take in Amanda's niece, Tally, when her dad disappears. Tally turns the family life upside down (not intentionally) by befriending Chase and all kinds of issues arise to the surface. Is Neil and Amanda's perfect marriage really perfect? What really happened when Chase was in a fire at age 4? Why is Tally's dad in Europe when his daughter needs him?

Chase and Tally have a school project that leads them to interview two old men at a nursing home that survived Treblinka during the Holocaust. This opens doors to the past that no one new existed. Susan Meissner has a gift for bringing the past to the present in an inspiring way. She does it again in this book and I loved it! Secrets are exposed, mysteries unravel and darkness comes to light in "White Picket Fences".

**************Special thanks to Staci Carmichael for the review and giveaway copies of this book!*****************************
For a chance to win a copy of this great book leave a comment telling me if you have read a book by Susan Meissner and what you thought... be sure to leave your email address. Good luck!

"A Silent Gift" Book Review & Giveaway!

The Director of Love Comes Softly Films

Pens New Heartwarming Story

The Silent Gift

by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

MY REVIEW:

It is almost 3:00 in the morning as I write this review. Why? Because I just finished the last page of a book that gripped my heart from the first paragraph and didn't let go until the last sentence had me in tears. I was swept away into the life and times of the 1930's with such abandon that I would have sworn for a short while that I could smell the circus, see the sunlight reflecting off the windows at the Edmundson's estate, glimpse the red skin barely peeking out from under Mary's white kid gloves and feel Jack sitting next to me in comfortable silence, sharing companionship with an old friend. The fact that the storyline was fresh and original and always left me wondering what was around the corner was sheer bonus.

The story opens with Jerry driving his young wife Mary to the hospital in labor. On the way there things go horribly awry and we are left wondering if Mary and Jack even survive. From there we move forward seven years and things aren't good. Mary finally sees an opening to leave Jerry and she does just that, taking Jack and fleeing to safety... maybe. Along the way she discovers that Jack has a gift... of prophecy, but he can't speak. This is incredibly interesting and then suddenly the world is turned on its head and Jack is taken away from Mary. Time passes and Mary can finally go looking for Jack, but her search does not reveal what she was hoping for. Is God really watching out for her? Who can she trust? Has Mary let down her son when he had no one else?

Venture carefully into this story because you may not want to leave after meeting Mary and Jack, and I dare you not to love them and sob at the last sentence in this wonderful book.

**************************Special thanks to Elliot at Edify Media for a review copy of this book!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of this book (also provided by Elliot) then leave a comment telling me which of the spiritual gifts has always intrigued you the most. Be sure to leave your email address in case you are the winner - good luck!

Minneapolis, MN. – With over ten million DVDs sold of the hit Love Comes Softly movie series, director Michael Landon Jr. is known for his ability to capture characters and themes on film. A feat he couldn't do without the help of his longtime screenwriting partner Cindy Kelley. Now they bring their creative teamwork to the world of books. A bittersweet story of hope in the midst of suffering, The Silent Gift follows the story of a devoted mother and her disabled son trying to survive the Great Depression-and the discovery of the boy's unusual gift. "We wanted to tell a story to illustrate that one's worth isn't dependent upon what society deems valuable, but that our intrinsic worth comes from our Creator;' said Landon Jr. and Kelley. Yet the book explores another theme-one that isn't often found in the pages of fiction. And one that the authors didn't take lightly. "The uniqueness of this story is that it focuses on a child who is both deaf and mute, but everyone believes has the gift of prophecy;' said the authors. "It was intriguing to delve into the spiritual gift of prophecy and its own unique implications." With prophecy as a hot-button issue with some denominations, Landon Jr. and Kelley wanted to give an accurate but thought-provoking portrayal of this special gift. As a result, they conducted in-depth research as well as interviewed some of the top theological minds of today. "The challenge was trying to find clarity between actual prophecy and what we typically call 'psychic' today;' they said. With research balanced by story, Landon Jr. and Kelley weave a beautiful narrative of love and enormous sacrifices that lingers long after the last page has been read.

Synopsis:

The decade of the thirties was a time of enormous uncertainty¬ for the world, for America, and in particular for one lonely, struggling mother and her disabled son. But then The Gift appears...where has it come from, and why? How can a young boy who cannot communicate provide comfort and direction to seekers who learn of the special ability? Whatever the source, its presence brings a single shaft of light and hope to Mary and her beloved son, Jack.. .. Will it be enough?

About The Authors

Michael Landon Jr., son of the Little House on the Prairie star, has been building his own reputation in the film world and beyond with his highly successful Love Comes Softly movies. His Christian worldview illuminates all his work. He and his wife make a home for their three children near Austin, Texas. Cindy Kelley and Michael have co-written fIlm scripts together for over a decade, including the screenplays for most of the beloved Love Comes Softly films. Cindy and her husband, Jim, have three children and a granddaughter and make their home in Tucson, Arizona

"Fit To Be Tied" Book Review

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fit to Be Tied
Zondervan (November 1, 2009)
by
Robin Lee Hatcher

MY REVIEW:
I enjoyed the first book in this series, "A Vote of Confidence", where we are introduced to Gwen and her not so identical twin sister Cleo. I liked Gwen and following her in book #1 was great, but I have to say that I love Cleo and "Fit To Be Tied" is so fun! Cleo is an independent woman living on her dad's ranch, breaking horses and dressing like the guys in a time when that is not typical. Guess what? She doesn't care! But she is lonely. And now that her sister is married (and expecting) she feels the desire to find Mr. Right more than ever. But is there a Mr. Right for someone as unique as Cleo?

One of the best things about Cleo is the way she loves unreservedly, with no holds barred. I thought this was so true, but for so few people anymore. She also has something very unique in our day and time... very little regard for what others think of her, she is comfortable in her own skin... for most of the book anyway. The journey with Cleo in this book is a romp that you will not soon forget. I am excited for book #3, Robin Lee Hatcher is a wordsmith and if you have never read her book "Ribbon of Years" I encourage you to get that book as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon



ABOUT THE BOOK

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy, because he has never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.”

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.

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

Watch the book video Trailer: