This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Big 5-Oh!Abingdon Press (February 2010)

by

Sandra D. Bricker





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Author Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While writing in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant

and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.



One of Sandie's passions revolves around the rights of animals. She's been involved in fundraising for Lost Angels Animal Rescue for several years now; in fact, a portion of the proceeds of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida will go to help the non-profit group with their expenses. And Lost Angels paid her back in a big way: They brought a free-spirited Collie named Sophie into her life after the loss of her 15-year companion Caleb.



It was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer.



In Sandie's words: "I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career. I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost, so it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line."





ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.



But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.



Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!



If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Big 5-Oh!, go HERE



Watch the trailer:





My Comments

I started this book on an airplane after one mishap after another followed me on my journey back to St.Louis. Airports and the travelling experience in general are not my friends. Two out of three airport workers of any job description seem to think that I'm something that they must endure in the course of their day(judging by their long suffering looks in my direction). I don't mean to be a pain in the neck, but I get really anxious without my husband doing everything for me. He knew what he was getting into, but he married me anyway! So anyway, I was feeling like a big fat weirdo when I started reading The Big 5-Oh! Co-incidentally, I also turned 50 on Christmas day, so I could really relate to heroine Liv Wallace's birthday trepidations. But enough about me!

Sandra Bricker writes engaging fiction about characters that make you smile. At the beginning of each chapter is an excerpt from a children's book that serves as an alter ego to Liv reflecting her need to overcome fear and start living in freedom and daring to believe in love again.

Sandra's style is easy breezy and not at all preachy. Just pure fun and laughs. It got me through my stressful flight and was the perfect story to help me safely land...

Oh, my husband was waiting for me, though an announcement over the intercom was involved.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Cowgirl at Heart

Barbour Books (February 1, 2010)

by

Christine Lynxwiler





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Best-selling author Christine Lynxwiler lives with her husband and two precious daughters in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Christine has been writing toward publication since 1997. She sold her first story in 2001 to Barbour Publishing. Since then she's written and sold fourteen Christian romance novels and novellas including the four novels that were included in the best-selling book Arkansas, which has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide. Her novel, Forever Christmas, ranked number 12 on the Christian Bookseller's Association Bestseller List in January, 2009.



A four-time winner of the prestigious American Christian Romance Writers/American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award, Christine recently signed a new six-book contract with Barbour Publishing bringing her total of contracted books to twenty. Besides, Along Came a Cowboy, her latest novels include Promise Me Always and Forever Christmas. She also writes mysteries with two of her sisters, Sandy Gaskin and Jan Reynolds. Their book, Alibis in Arkansas, is currently available nationwide, as well as in many bookstores. The first book in Christine's new McCord Sisters series, The Reluctant Cowgirl released in April, 2009 and was a TOP PICK in Romantic Times Magazine.



When Christine isn't at her computer, you'll often find her, with her husband, co-coaching their daughters' softball team, kayaking down beautiful Spring River with her family, or getting together with friends from church.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Elyse McCord always plays it safe─a fact she blames on being the biological daughter of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Even in the security of her adoptive family the McCords, the timid dog whisperer keeps her guard up with strangers. But when she discovers a dog being horribly mistreated, shy Elyse transforms into a mighty warrior and charges into a perilous situation, not only risking her life but also her heart



Reporter Andrew Stone has been fearless since the day his wife was shot and killed three years ago. He has one mission─use hid Texas Ranger upbringing to find her murderer and clear his own name of any involvement. When he sees a beautiful brunette in the hands of a pistol-welding maniac, he’s forced to abandon his covert surveillance and go to the rescue. The danger surrounding Andrew doesn’t scare him at all, but the awakening of his dormant heart terrifies him.



When painful pasts collide, the explosion is deafening. Can Andrew and Elyse pick up the pieces and go forward together? Or will they forever live with haunting memories, unable to forgive, unable to love?



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

Cheryl's Comments:
I liked this book. I haven't read the others in this series, but I appreciate the adoption theme that Ms Lynxwiler has incorporated into Cowgirl at Heart. It's nice to read about people and animals being rescued because Jesus motivates his people to love and care for one another. Cowgirl at Heart is a story of love and trust. The once lost Elyse finds love and acceptance in her adopted family who encourage her to overcome her shyness and reach higher professionally and relationally.

I think Elsa will like this one. It's young and fresh.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

Summerside Press (January 1, 2010)by

Miralee Ferrell





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In October 2007 Kregel Publications published The Other Daughter with excellent reviews. The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four and a half stars, with a very strong review. Two different major motion picture studios are currently considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being reviewed for a possible contract offer now.



In February of 2009, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California was published by Summerside Press



And Finding Jeena will release in April 2010 from Kregel Publications.



Miralee Ferrell lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, ans has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church ans is actively involved in ministry to women.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.



Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she's giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.



While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.



When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE

MY Comments:

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil Oregon is one in a series of love stories based on interesting names of towns such as Holiday, Florida or Humble,Texas-you get the picture. The time period of the Love Finds You books can be contemporary or Historical.

"Bridal Veil" takes place at the turn of the century in a tiny logging community with a signature waterfall- hence the name. Summerside Press has chosen some high quality stories and Bridal Veil is a stellar example of clear story telling and well drawn characters. Miralee Ferrell is a first rate story teller who knows how to create empathy in the portrayal of her main characters. I loved the strength of Margaret Garvey, a young woman whose father dies with a secret that changed the course of her life. The question is, was it for the best?

As a mother of college age daughters, I understand how a parent might interfere with the potential happiness of a child in order to save them from making a huge mistake.

This book had it all, great characters, suspense and romance. Most of all, the reminder of the reality of God, and his divine plan in every situation, was a comforting theme.

My Best Surprise

Seventeen years ago today I gave birth to the twins, Samuel and Jonathan. Their birth was a comedy of errors starting with Rachael,then three, throwing up all over her parka, which meant that she stayed in the car with Elsa, who was almost two, while I tried to get the attention of someone to let us into our condo. I didn't have my key with me, David was at a meeting, and his sister Cynthia had given us a ride home. So I was ringing doorbells, starting with Hal, one of the nice people who lived on the first floor. Hal thought I made a mistake in ringing his bell and went back to watching TV. Meanwhile, the girls managed to shift Cynthia's big, gold mercedes into neutral and Cynthia and I turned around in time to see it slowly rolling backwards down the hill. I believe that angels helped Cynthia fly down the steps and get into the moving vehicle in the nick of time to save the girls from breaking their necks- they were picking up speed and heading for a crash into some cement stairs. I kept saying "this night couldn't get any worse". A few hours later I went into labor and delivered the twins.

Jonathan was a surprise.

Lying to Be Perfect on Lifetime

I love Cinderella stories.

Lifetime's Lying to be Perfect, starring Poppy Mongomery is the perfect big-girl movie- literally! Poppy stars as Nola, an overweight writer who creates an alter ego advice columnist named Belinda Apple- complete with British accent and a perfectly photo shopped bod- in order to be published in the high fashion magazine where she works as an editor.

The movie is an adaptation of the book "The Cinderella Pact" which I haven't read but would like to. I'm sure Elsa, the princess of romance would love it! I thought the acting was fun and the dialogue was snappy and had that "why can't I come up with lines like that?" feel. There was also a message about finding out your true identity that touched a personal chord with me.

If you are looking for a lighthearted Valentines girl-movie, this is it. Not especially for guys though.. not even gonna go there with David.. nope.

It does have a gratuitous sex scene, so not for the little girls. Too bad.

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Beguiled



(Bethany House March 1, 2007)



by



Deeanne Gist



andJ. Mark Bertrand





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her... Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.



Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Beguiled, go HERE





Check out their video:





Comments by Me:
You know what? I liked this book. These two (the authors) have great chemistry- watch the video to see what I mean. I think that the romantic suspense worked. Beguiled is a light hearted read that delivers on the mystery side of things also. Elsa requested that I send her some books to help her escape a bit from the serious pursuit of pilot and missionary training and this one will be included in the box.