Hanover Falls series by Deborah Raney

Author Deborah Raney:

Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. After All, the newest book in her Hanover Falls Novels series releases in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They have four children and four grandchildren, all of whom live much too far away.

Learn more about the author here!

About Almost Forever:

Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear… but could it also set her free? Bryn Hennesey, a volunteer at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, was there the night the shelter burned to the ground and five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam. Like the rest of the surviving spouses, Bryn must find a way to begin again. But Bryn must do so living with a horrible secret...
 Garrett Edmonds’s wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. As her husband, it was his job to protect the woman he loved.… How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss and guilt?

And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer….

Not only are these books name ingeniously clever, but the stories within are equally unique and attention grabbing. I've always thought that firefighters must have the most interesting of lives, and I enjoyed getting to dive into the lives of these characters. These books reminded me of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, so if you enjoyed those you are likely to find these entertaining as well!

Purchase the first book HERE for only $6!

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Warring Spirits by April Garner

Where blood is spilt, unexpected love may bloom.

 In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome. 


Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.

The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 16 & up


Having read Wounded Spirits, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up it's sequel, Warring Spirits. April Gardner had already impressed me and gained my favor with her smooth writing style, deep characters, and intense storyline. The wait between Wounded Spirits and Warring Spirits was a hard one to wait out, but after what seemed like forever, Warring Spirits was released and I eagerly snatched it up.

Once again, I was immediately drawn into the beautiful story that April wove deep in the heart of Georgia. Both Milly and Phillip's characters were well fleshed out and easy to like. We learned a bit about Phillip in Wounded Spirits, and it was nice to continue his story and see from his point of view in Warring Spirit. I also enjoyed learning about True Seeker. I must admit, he was my favorite character and I'm holding out that the next book in the series is about him! He intrigued me greatly!

Some content to point out:

- A girl wakes up to a man sleeping next to her, but nothing happened in the night.
- A crude man, obviously a "bad guy", suggests that he wants to sleep with a girl and that it was too bad she was laid up because he always likes his women to have a little fight in them.
- Several mentions of a woman stirring up passion in the men. Not purposefully, they're just lonesome soldiers and a girl is around. 
- A military leader informs his men to keep their hands off the slaves and their trousers buttoned or they'd pay for their pleasure with a lashing. 
- A man attempts to rape a woman(scene not written, but afterwards is very obvious) but is stopped but not before tearing her blouse(it says you can see the swell of her breast), as the rescuer notices later.



Overall, even though I preferred the first book I really enjoyed Warring Spirits and can't wait for the next book to release!

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Litfuse Blog Tour -- By The Light of the Silvery Moon

About the book:

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Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change.

Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

About Tricia:

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Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired (http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired) and www.triciagoyer.com.

Giveaway!

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Win an Flip HD Camcorder during @TriciaGoyer's Unsinkable Titanic Giveaway and RSVP for 4/10 Titanic Party! 

  Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.

One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

• Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)
• Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}
• Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)
• And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/ 10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon! So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. 

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The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 16 & up

I've read a couple of Goyer's works before, but never one as great as this! I have always enjoyed stories that take place on the Titanic(such emotion is bound to surface!), and Goyer did amazingly with this wondrous tale of family, loss,  love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I couldn't put it down!

Goyer's characters were well fleshed out and easy to cherish. I enjoy it when authors don't take the common route and create their characters as perfect angels who could never do a wrong, but actually make realistic, deep characters who make mistakes, same as every ACTUAL person, and learns from them. While the romance moved quick, I didn't find it to be cheesy or unrealistic -- Goyer handled it quite well!

As for content, there were a few things. There are a few times where it mentions things like a woman being "all his flesh desired", having to "swallow down his desire", and there is a scene where a man is tempted by a woman(who is purposefully tempting) and it talks about him imagining the taste of her lips, smelling the alcohol in her breath, and imagining how easy it would be for him take her to his room. In the end, he realizes it would be wrong and doesn't do it. We know a man in the book has a past involving multiple quick relationships with women, all of which he regrets.

All in all, it was an amazing book that I highly recommend! My heart both fluttered and ached as a soared through this story, enjoying both the lessons learned and history retold.

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Litfuse Blog Tour -- Sweeter Than Birdsong

To celebrate, Rosslyn and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up for a fun iPod Nano giveaway (2/9-2/28) and "sweet" facebook party on February 28th. (You could walk away with a Downton Abbey Prize Package!) See below for all the details!

The first book in the series, Fairer than Morning, gained Rosslyn muchacclaim and this release is shaping up to be even better!

Author Elliott (Fairer than Morning) creates a pleasing blend of fact and fiction in this second installment in the Saddler’s Legacy series. Hanby is best known for his song “Up on the Housetop,” and slave rescuer John Parker is a real figure large enough to seem legend. Readers will appreciate the well-told tale as well as its historical basis. Publishers Weekly

Elliott’s second Saddler’s Legacy book contains remarkable storytelling about the abolitionist movement. The author graces the pages with imaginative accounts of people living during these precarious times. She delves deeply and intimately into the lives of the brave people who risk all for the Underground Railroad. Romantic Times Book Reviews

About the book:

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter. In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

About the author:

Rosslyn Elliott is the award-winning author of Fairer than Morning, the first in the Saddler's Legacy series. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue writing fiction. Elliott lives in Albuquerque, where she homeschools her daughter and works in children's ministry. Visit www.rosslynelliott.com for more information.

Party!

In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."

So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
• Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
• Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced atSweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, Seasons 1 and 2 of Downtown Abbey and a soundtrack DVD, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.) 

So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

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The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 15 & up

Some of you may have read my glowing review of Rosslyn's book, Fairer Than Morning, which I wrote a few months back upon it's release. In case you haven't, I must say that I absolutely loved it. You can read it over here.
Once again, Rosslyn's deep and intriguing characters immediately captured my attention. Kate's excessive shyness really made it excellent for Ben's pursuance -- she was hard to get, and he really had to try to get to know her at all. The fact that book was largely surrounded by music made me personally really like it because I, in case y'all didn't know, love music and am very involved in it, playing both piano and guitar and planning on taking up violin soon and loving to sing(though I won't claim to be any good at it!). Some of the ways Rosslyn described the music was amazing. Her incredible talent at evoking sensation from her readers really shone through this novel for me.

There were a few things that I have to point out briefly, the first being that I absolutely loved how Rosslyn kept the characters desiring to obey their parents. Even though they failed in some ways, they recognized this and corrected the situation. I absolutely loved this. Bravo Rosslyn! Too many authors let disobedience and disrespect pass by and become "okay" on the basis of two people being passionately in love.
Another was, once again, how much history was packed into this book. I love how Rosslyn simply writes a story around real people in history and the things they did.

Sensuality:


A man kisses the wrist of his fiance.
A girl feels the breath of her fiance on her neck and it says it causes her to anticipate her wedding day.

Overall, I really loved Rosslyn's second book in the Saddlers Series and am already eagerly anticipating the next one. All historical fiction lovers should definitely get their hands on this one. An amazing novel packed with history, music, a hint of adventure and peril, and a sweet love story; You won't want to miss this one!

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The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

An unthinkable danger.
An unexpected choice. 

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. 


Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf.


As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

The Review:
My Ranking: 8 out of 10
Ages 15 & up

Beauty and the Beast is, and has been for quite some time, my favorite princess story. I’m not sure what about it fascinated me, but while I never was a huge fan of Cinderella or the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast was a beloved favorite. You can imagine my delight when I found out that a previously favored author, Melanie Dickerson, was writing another retold princess fairy tale – this time Beauty and the Beast.

I wasn’t disappointed with this book. While it didn’t manage to make it onto my favorites list, it did hold my attention easily and I had a hard time putting it down. In fact, I was so captivated by the story that I read the whole book in a single day! With a smooth writing style and intriguing characters, Dickerson’s novel was both entertaining and unique.

As in The Healer’s Apprentice, the characters were engaging and easy to enjoy. Annabel was endearing, and Ranulf was intriguing and mysterious. Who couldn’t like them? I loved getting to know them both more as the story went on, and took pleasure in watching their friendship and trust grow. I did have a few problems with some of their conduct, as you may see if you read the content warnings below, but overall I liked their characters.

Sensuality:


A man tries to force himself upon a woman. Nothing happens, but intentions are clear. It mentions him trying to kiss her and muttering his vile intentions. No further detail is given. Later she is thinking of whether to tell her older brothers but decides against it knowing that her brother would say when she told him of what he intended to do to her, “Well, I told him he could marry you.” This man attacks her on several occasions.


Girls fall over the lord of the village and a few times is mentioned that Annabel overhears “offensive comments”. One girl mentions his scar and says something about wondering how extensive they are, and it says Annabel covers her ears to try to keep out the banter as they "discussed the possibilities".


When discussing reasons to marry, one girl says, “You’d be sleeping in your own bed, keeping your man warm every night.” Giggles erupt.


There’s a scene towards the end where a girl is shaving the man she loves and it mentions him thinking she shouldn’t be taking such liberties with him because they were yet to be married, but that he didn’t say anything because he liked the feel of her hands on his head and being able to watch her and feel her so close. While this irritated me, it was a short lived scene and nothing more explicit about his thoughts was said.


Overall, while I had a few personal issues with the book, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to those out there who like a well written romance.

I received this free book in return for an honest review from Zondervan. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Asenath by Anna Patricio

Two Destinies...One Journey of Love 

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered. 
When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph. 
Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison. 
Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 16 & up


As many of you know from reading my reviews of other Biblical Fiction, it is one of my favorite genres. I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up Asenath, as it told the story of Joseph's wife, which is something I've thought would make an excellent book for a while now.

The debut book of new author, Anna Patricio, was exceptional. I absolutely loved how much history was packed into it, while at the same time it told the tender, trying story of the wife of Joseph. It was excellent. 

The writing style was smooth and easy to read, though I did find a few scenes to end a bit suddenly. This didn't hinder me from enjoying the story though. For being a debut, it was very well written and impressed me.

Asenath was a great character who was easy to relate to. I really liked watching her and Joseph's relationship develop. The turmoil she goes through during the trials Joseph has to face were heart-wrenching. Patricio did a wonderful job of making her readers ache for her characters. Joseph was also an excellent character who I thought was perfectly created. It wasn't hard at all to like this character.

Sensuality:
When taken hostage, one of their captors asks a girl how old she is, and when she replies "nine" he tells her that's perfect and that at the red moon she will become his wife. When she asks what the "red moon" is, the man tells her that another lady will inform her and it is later insinuated that it is her first monthly.
There is a scene where a woman in the next room is being raped. There is no description, only that the girl can hear lots of screams.
When Potipher's wife tries to seduce Joseph, it says she wore a dress that "left almost nothing to the imagination.".
There is one saying of "What in Seth's damnable balls was he thinking?", Seth being a god. 
One scene has a wife joining her husband while he bathes and it says she helped him scrub down. Nothing is described or implied sensually.




Profanity:
There are two uses of the word "b****", both uses frowned upon and one rebuked.
As mentioned above, damnable was also used.

All around, I loved this book and highly recommend it to all lovers of Biblical fiction, or to those of you who would enjoy sitting back and reading a great story set in ancient Egypt. You won't be disappointed!

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Litfuse Blog Tour -- A Lasting Impression

ABOUT THE BOOK:


A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

 Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities.

But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

 The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen,

A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.
For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com











ARE YOU READY TO PARTAY!?

While Tamera and her book,  A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually (with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

The Review:
My Ranking: 7 out of 10
Ages 16 & up

I’d read a book by Tamera Alexander prior to this one, and I wasn’t all too pleased with it. But, because of how interesting this one sounded I decided to give her another chance. While the beautiful cover, intriguing synopsis, and interesting story would suggest that I’d be leaving a glowing review, I had a few personal problems with the book that leave me unable to give it full praise. But I’m getting ahead of myself now. ;)

The writing style was easy to read, and I never found myself lost or confused about what was going on. I found the story unique enough, and kept me reading. Alexander has a way of making her reader’s get lost in the story, and she certainly had me turning pages as I read through this novel. One thing I'll give Alexander is her incredible gift at whisking her readers away into another era in history. Her descriptions of the surroundings are incredible and I always feels as if I'm there.

 Her characters were well laid out and easy to get to know. I never found myself completely liking the hero, but he was sweet and perfect for Claire, and I found them to be a cute couple.

 The thing that kept me from fully enjoying this book was the unneeded levels of sensuality in it. Sure, it was nothing but kissing and nothing further than that was even begun, but it still was pretty passionate and got to me(I think I've gotten more picky about my books as of late, concerning their romance levels). You can see below in my content warning what all took place, and find out if it would be a problem for you.

 Sensuality: 


There were several kisses, several somewhat passionate and described, never excessively though. 


 There is a part where girl is said to be “grateful for every point where their bodies touched – their hands, their arms, their knees”, which takes place during an Indian-wrestle match between a couple. They end up flirting and kissing. 


There is a scene where a girl is led into a room by a man and she notices he closed the door and perceives he has less than honorable intentions. She flees, and he calls after her saying she mistook his intentions. There is no further interaction between the characters. 


 There is also a scene where one of the main character’s walks into the woods and stumbles upon the girl he is attracted to in her undergarments. He only sees her for a split second, but it says he “appreciates what he saw”. She ducks behind a rock and from there she demands, while giggling, that he wait up the hill. 

So, while her stories are very good, Alexander’s romance level is just too high for me, with little prudence shown from either character. BUT, not everyone has the same convictions and such as I, and I do believe many people would enjoy this book. It has a well written story and intriguing characters, and I truly did feel like I was stepping back in time when I picked up this book.  :)

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Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Webb Hart

Now that she's arrived at her ultimate address, will Mary Lynn's longed-for view of the harbor satisfy the craving of her heart? 


 At last, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living the life they've dreamed of. Two self-described "small town bumpkins" from Round O, South Carolina, they made a small fortune selling the little gems of lowcountry real estate Jackson inherited and now they are living in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, carefully working their way up the social ladder in hopes of meeting their ultimate goal: to give their three daughters the life they themselves never had. 


 But the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn's childhood seems to be trying to get her attention in clear and unusual ways. So clear and strange she can no longer deny it. When Mary Lynn prays for Jackson to open his mind and heart to God, her prayers are answered beyond her wildest imaginings. Now Jackson's dramatic conversion (which includes street witnessing, giving away a lot of money, and inviting poor, desperate and marginalized people into their home) is threatening their social status as well as their family mission statement. Is she willing to go along with him?


The Review:
My Ranking: 6 out of 10
Ages 15 & up


I’d never read a book by Beth Webb Hart, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Sunrise on the Battery. What I found was a simple story about giving up and letting God be the center of our lives. I actually didn’t care too much for this story. I found the writing style difficult to read and I didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters.

There was nothing profound that happened in the book that would make me eager to continue, nothing gripping that would keep me turning pages. Like I already described it, it was simply...simple. Nothing much to it.

The characters were likeable enough, but not very deep. They were your typical Americans – loving their life in high-society. I did find some of their actions a bit dramatic and maybe even unrealistic, but that really didn’t have much of a bearing on how much I enjoyed the story.

While it was a good enough book, the story seemed to have little depth and meaning. I could see where the author was trying to go with it, but I think the way the idea was executed was what got me. Sadly, it just didn’t have what it took to make it onto my permanent shelf.

 Sensuality:
There is a mention of a person getting married at 18 so they didn’t end up a senior and pregnant with no father. 
There is one kiss between two teenagers, and another between a married couple.


 Other:
One of the characters is involved in drugs and it goes into minor detail about how they make her feel.

 To conclude, I’d say that I know some people would enjoy this book, but because of its lack of depth I was unable to take much interest in it.

Read more »

Litfuse Blog Tour -- Zombie Church

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A creative, entertaining approach to resurrecting the undead church.
 There is something missing in the church today. Stuck in a rut of routines and rituals, the church is caught up in doing what it is “supposed to do” but is lacking the true essence of what it is supposed to provide: life. Real faith--and a real relationship with Jesus--is not about playing by the rules, attending services, and praying before meals. Real faith is more than religion. Believing there is a way to breathe life back into the church, Tyler Edwards adopts a contemporary and entertaining metaphor--zombies--to highlight and challenge the problematic attitude of today’s believers. Written for the discouraged, disenfranchised, and anyone unsatisfied with their same-old church routine, Zombie Church challenges readers to turn away from hollow religious practices, which characterize “zombie Christianity,” and turn toward a radical relationship with Jesus. While other books have addressed legalism in the church, this is the only book that effectively capitalizes on a popular entertainment genre in order to diagnose and correct the problem. Realizing that even his own church is part of that problem, Edwards has written an accessible and often humorous book that will help believers change the Spirit-draining (or life-draining) habits that stop them from achieving a full, fulfilling life in Christ.

Order a copy here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


About Tyler Edwards: Tyler Edwards is the lead pastor at Cornerstone Christian Church in Joplin, Missouri, where he works to help people learn how to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and look like Jesus—so they carry out the mission of Jesus to the world. He graduated from Ozark Christian College with bachelor’s degrees in both Biblical Literature and Christian Ministry. He has written articles for Lookout Magazine, spoken at various campus ministry events in Missouri, and served overseas in Mbale, Uganda. Tyler loves cheesy horror films. He is particularly fond of movies like Dawn of the Dead, The Signal, and 28 Days Later, where zombies run wild and threaten to infect an entire town. Connect with Tyler on Facebook.


PARTY!!


To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about Zombie Church or share about it on Facebook! If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use @litfuse.

If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let us know (info@litfusegroup.com). Easy.

 Not sure what to tweet/post? Here's an idea:

 TWEET THIS: Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards - a fair-minded & tenderhearted critique of the church http://ow.ly/6Nv05 @litfuse RT for $50 to @amazon

 FACEBOOK THIS: Don’t miss Edwards - a fair-minded and tenderhearted critique of the church. http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13424384 Written for the discouraged, disenfranchised, and anyone unsatisfied with their same-old church routine, Zombie Church challenges readers to turn away from hollow religious practices, which characterize “zombie Christianity,” and turn toward a radical relationship with Jesus.


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  The Review:
My Ranking: 5 out of 10
Ages 16 & up

The moment I read the synopsis of this book I knew it was a must-read for me. The church today is one of the biggest things that really gets me fired up. I find that a lot of churches today have little to do with actually leading people in the Truth to God. Generally, they are more what I call selling religion, preaching what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear. When I read about this book, I thought that that was where Edwards was going with this, but sadly it wasn't. It was the exact opposite.

To be honest, as I read the first few chapters I was absolutely loving it. It wasn't until my mom picked it up and read it in a different light, also skipping to the end to see if her ideas of what Edwards was getting at was true, and told me her thoughts that I actually realized how this book was not what I was hoping it would be. It did have good points about the lifelessness in churches today, but he wasn't going for the way I was taking it -- he was trying to further the idea of mega churches.

After I realized this, the following chapters were read in a whole different light. I actually didn't finish the book because I began disagreeing with what was being said; not necessarily because of what was said, but because I now knew what he meant by it and I disagreed.

But, because my thoughts and beliefs are my own, I do think that many people would really enjoy this book. He did have some excellent points about how lifeless the church is now. If you would enjoy a book that encourages church growth above all and talks about the lack of passion in churches today, you might like this book. You can find it here. 

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Glass Roads Tour -- God Makes Lemonade

ABOUT THE BOOK:

God Makes Lemonade True Stories that Sweeten & Inspire I bet you could use a little good news right about now. We have just the book for you! In God Makes Lemonade™ you'll read stories from everyday folks who discover unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some of these real-life stories are laugh-out-loud funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will have you reaching for a tissue. We sure did! But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope. There's no question that life gives us "lemons," like issues with health, employment, and relationships-truly sour circumstances we wouldn't wish on anyone. But when those lemons become lemonade, it's as refreshing as an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Don Jacobson's twenty-five years in publishing included serving as the president and owner of Multnomah Publishers, where he oversaw the production of more than 1000 titles, including the five-million-plus-selling series Stories for the Heart. He's had the pleasure of working with such best-selling authors as Randy Alcorn, Joni Eareckson Tada, Henry Blackaby, Robin Jones Gunn, Karen Kingsbury, Andy Stanley, and Bruce Wilkinson. Don's wife, Brenda, has been mentoring mothers for more than a decade.
Jacobson and his wife are passionate about helping single mothers and their children, so the royalties from God Makes Lemonade will benefit these unsung heroes through the LemonAid Foundation.




The Review: 
My Ranking: 6 out of 10 
Ages 14 & up


This was a neat compiling of short, simple, yet sweet stories. Some of them were funny, while others somewhat sobering, yet each held a lesson and something to walk away with. I, myself, didn't find this book that interesting or inspiring, which is strange because usually I like books like this, but I do think that many other people would find it an enjoyable and encouraging read.
The stories were clean and well written, easy to read, and enjoyable. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Chicken Soup for the Soul books, or likes inspirational non-fiction. :)

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TNT Tour -- Lost In Dreams

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the moment eighteen-year-old Kim Hartlinger steps off the plane from a mission trip to a remote Mexican village, her journey takes a turn for the worse. As she collides with the biggest challenge of her young life--and faith--Kim struggles with haunting questions and recurring nightmares...all while trying to hide a deep, dark secret. Will Kim find the hope and healing she needs? Or is her broken spirit beyond repair?






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roger Bruner worked as a teacher, job counselor, and programmer analyst before retiring at sixty-two to pursue his dream of writing Christian fiction full-time. The first two novels in his young adult Altered Hearts series, Found in Translation and Lost in Dreams, will come out in 2011. He's negotiating with Barbour Publishing to extend the series by at least an additional two books. A guitarist and songwriter, he is active in his church's choir, praise team, and nursing home ministry. Roger also enjoys reading, photography, web design, mission trips, and spending time with his wonderful wife, Kathleen, and their two cantankerous cats.

 You can learn more about Roger on his site, www.rogerbruner.com.



A General Review:

The Review:
My Ranking: 8 out of 10
Ages 14 & up

Having read Lost In Translation, I was was excited to dive into the next book in the series, Lost In Dreams, and continue Kim's story. I absolutely loved the first book and knew if Lost In Dreams kept up the pace, these authors would find themselves in my favorites list. Sadly, I didn't find this one quite as good as it's prequel, but I still enjoyed it.

In this book, something tragic happens to Kim and she blames it all on herself. While I did find it a bit unrealistic how much the blamed herself for the accident which obviously had little to do with her, it did not hinder me from enjoying the story.

The rivalry between Jo and Aleesha was interesting, though. I fell in love with Aleesha in the first book, while Jo annoyed me, so I was kinda partial when I picked up the second book. But those two were hilarious. The way they bickered made me chuckle and I loved the scenes where they were arguing over Kim.

All around, this was a good book and I recommend it. While not a heart-stopping thriller that will keep you gripping the pages into the wee hours of night, I did like this book and will definitely be looking out for more of Bruner's works.

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Lost in Dreams by Roger Bruner by clicking on the links below, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

The Librarian’s Bookshelf â€¢ Rachelle Rea â€¢ The Book Fae  â€¢ My Life with a Mission  â€¢ Katie McCurdy  â€¢ Katy’s Reviews â€¢ Reviews by Jane  â€¢ Jill Williamson

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Litfuse Blog Tour -- Blue Skies Tomorrow

ABOUT THE BOOK:

 Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit, but at least his stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him the luxury of a personal life. As he courts Helen Carlisle, a young war widow and mother who conceals her pain under a frenzy of volunteer work, the sparks of their romance set a fire that flings them both into peril. After Ray leaves to fly a combat mission at the peak of the air war over Europe, Helen takes a job in a dangerous munitions yard and confronts an even graver menace in her own home. Will they find the courage to face their challenges? And can their young love survive until blue skies return? Want more? Read the press release. 

 ABOUT SARAH: 

Sarah Sundin received the 2011 Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and her second novel A Memory Between Us is a finalist for an Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. Her stories are inspired by her great-uncle who flew with the U.S. Eighth Air Force in England during World War II. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Visit with Sarah online at www.sarahsundin.com.


BUY THIS BOOK!

  To celebrate the release of Blue Skies Tomorrow, the final installment of the Wings of Glory series, Sarah is giving one lucky winner A Vintage Kindle Prize Package!  Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi * Handmade vintage apron for you and a friend (see a photo here) * Blue Skies Tomorrow (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/10. Winner will be announced on 9/12 at Sarah Sundin's blog. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

I had heard so much about Sarah Sundin's amazing historical novels so I was very excited to dive into Blue Skies Tomorrow. What a book! Engaging plot, realistic characters, sweet romance -- everything you'd want in a historical fiction was found within the pages of this unique book. 

 Ray was the perfect hero, in my opinion. I really appreciated how Sarah made him to have a realistic personality and have faults as well as virtues. Too often today the characters are perfect angels and it makes them hard to relate to, so I especially loved how Sarah made Ray the way he was. 

 Helen, also, was an unique character who was charming yet had her own ups and downs. I was able to connect with her and feel for her sufferings. She was so sweet and cared so much for her son -- her steadfast love was commendable and I enjoyed watching her interact with Jay-Jay. 

The writing was very easy to read and flowed well, and I never had to go back an reread something because I didn't understand it. 

 Sensuality: 

 There are scenes where it is obvious that Helen wants to further her and Ray's physical relationship beyond kissing, but Ray refuses and leaves, understanding that she is missing the intimacy of her deceased husband and trying to fill the void. 

There are several passionate kissing scenes, one of which the girl is wearing a nightgown and neighbors speculate that they were being immoral, though it is false. 

This may be funny to mention, but there is a scene where a man is ordered to take his clothes off because they need to use them for something. Nothing further is described. 

 Violence: 

It deals a bit with physical abuse(punching, burning, etc) from a husband, and also minor war-involved casualties, such as gun shots and shot-down planes, all in minor detail.

All in all, this was an absolutely marvelous book that I highly recommend to all who enjoy a historically accurate novel with a nice story blended in. Highly recommended!

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Litfuse Tour -- Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliot

Ann dreams of a marriageproposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobilityis more than fine words. On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio,young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominentfamily. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautifulthings and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.
Ann travels to Pittsburgh,accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, asaddle-maker's apprentice.

Will has spent years eking out an existence under acruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights along-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a mastersaddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendousadversity. When the Millers must return to Ohioand their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will canmake it back to Ann, will she be waiting?




Read an excerpt here: http://www.rosslynelliott.com/books.php

Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocatedso often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. Withthe help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University,where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as aschoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University,where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literatureand history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. Shelives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches inchildren's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com

GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic. Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well- written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here. Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 

One winner will receive: * Kindle with Wi-Fi * Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle) To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest. Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

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The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10 stars
Ages 16 & up

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. The first reason being its a Christian Romance, which I often find myself disappointed with, and secondly that its a debut novel. But it looked so good and I was eager to try out a new author so I dove in with great expectation, and boy was I surprised!

I was immediately enraptured by this beautiful, unique tale about two struggling souls whose lives intersect and change them forever. Not only was I amazed at the excellent writing, but I also was stunned to find out how much of the events in the book, along with the characters, were actually historically accurate. After reading the afterword, I was simply like "whoa!" and was left wondering how Rossyln was inspired to write Ann and William's story. It was so neat learning about these characters who I'd never even heard of before. I just gotta say....Too. Cool.

The personality Rossyln built into these characters made me totally fall in love with them; especially William. My heart was torn in two for him. The struggles he went through...and the abuse he faced. I felt myself on the verge of tears as I read through some of his scenes. It was heartbreaking, yet it made his character extremely easy to connect with. I found William to be the perfect "hero" for this book and I think he and Ann made the perfect match.

Ann was also very lovable. She cared so much for her family yet longed to branch out and make her own life. She was so sweet and compassionate -- exactly what Will needed. While I connected more with William, I found Ann an excellent main character.

Sensuality:

A man lays with a girl before marriage. The scene is not described but we know what happens because of how much guilt he feels afterward. It also says he knew she was a virgin before because of the bed sheets.

Violence:

A man kills another by gunshot. There also is frequent physical abuse(punching, kicking, etc) but is not described in great detail.



To conclude I have but one thing to say: Go get this book...NOW!  ;)

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