Projecting A

CFBA: Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas

2009-12-04T16:02:00.003-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: The Squirrell Went Berserk by Ray Stevens

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Raising Rain
by
Debbie Fuller ThomasMoody Publishers (September 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Raised to be a 'new woman' by her mother and three college roommates in
the 70's amid anti-war protests, feminist rallies, and finals, Rain
Rasmussen discovers that putting her career first has left her overdrawn
at the egg-bank, and her baby fever has now driven off her significant
other.

When her terminally ill mother demands a Celebration of Life before she
dies; they all confront ghosts from the past on a 'stormy' weekend in
Monterey. Bebe, the roommate closest to Rain's heart, revisits choices
that have impacted Rain the most, raising doubts about God's—and her
own—willingness to forgive and to be forgiven.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Raising Rain, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debbie writes contemporary fiction from an historic Gold Rush town in Northern California. By day, she manages after school and day camp programs, and she burns the midnight oil to write what she loves. Her first book Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, is a Christy finalist. Raising Rain, her second book became available September 2009.

Debbie has contributed to story collections such as Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul, and Lord, I Was Happy Shallow, along with articles in Coping With Cancer magazine.

She has two teenagers and her husband is the executive pastor on Sonrise Church with 1,000 members. Debbie is a manager at Auburn Area Parks and Recreation.

CFBA: The Christmas Glass by Marci Alborghetti

2009-12-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Carol of the Bells by Kenny Rogers

Good 'ol Kenny. The one I said I'd marry... when I was 4. I guess it's a little too late for that... Still love his voice though.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
The Christmas Glass
GuidepostsBooks (October 1, 2009)
by
Marci Alborghetti

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the tradition of The Christmas Shoes and A Christmas on Jane Street, the heartwarming story of The Christmas Glass shows how, today as always, the Christmas miracle works its wonders in the human heart.

In the early days of World War II in Italy, Anna, a young widow who runs a small orphanage, carefully wraps her most cherished possessions -- a dozen hand-blown, German-made, Christmas ornaments, handed down by her mother -- and sends them to a cousin she hasn't seen in years.

Anna is distressed to part with her only tangible reminder of her mother, but she worries that the ornaments will be lost or destroyed in the war, especially now that her orphanage has begun to secretly shelter Jewish children. Anna's young cousin Filomena is married with two-year-old twins when she receives the box of precious Christmas glass.

After the war, Filomena emigrates to America, where the precious ornaments are passed down through the generations. After more than forty years, twelve people come to possess a piece of Christmas glass, some intimately connected by family bonds, some connected only through the history of the ornaments.

As Christmas Day approaches, readers join each character in a journey of laughter and tears, fractures and healings, as Filomena, now an eighty-four-year-old great-grandmother, brings them all to what will be either a wondrous reunion or a disaster that may shatter them all like the precious glass they cherish.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Christmas Glass, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marci Alborghetti has been writing only slightly longer than she's been reading. In seventh grade she received her first writing prize for a zany Halloween story. The prize? A five dollar gift certificate to a local bookstore. She was hooked. The Christmas Glass is her fourteenth book, and she is currently at work on a sequel as well as a non-fiction book about service. Some of her other books include: Prayer Power: How to Pray When You Think You Can’t, A Season in the South and Twelve Strong Women of God.

She and her husband, Charlie Duffy, live in New London, Connecticut and the San Francisco Bay area. While in New London she facilitates the Saint James Literary Club.

CFBA: Saint's Roost by Terry Burns

2009-11-30T00:01:00.000-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: As the Deer

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Saint's Roost

Sundowners (September 20, 2009)

by

Terry Burns

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Terry Burns has written a novel rich in Texan drawl and old western authenticity.

Saint’s Roost opens with a determined couple leaving a wagon train to set off on their own, only to be set upon by savages. Patrick, an eager evangelizing preacher, steps out to share the Good Book with the savages and meets an untimely demise, leaving his wife, Janie, alone on a trail to nowhere with no one to help her survive.

She makes her way across the frontier determined to follow her husband’s calling, but she doesn’t know where to begin, or even how to take care of herself. When her travels bring her into the lives of two cowhands, an ex-prostitute, a young boy and his drunken grandfather, and towns filled with cowboys waiting to be saved, she discovers there’s more than one way to spread God’s word.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Saint's Roost, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry has over 30 books in print, including work in a dozen short story collections and four non-fiction books plus numerous articles and short stories.

His last book Beyond the Smoke is a 2009 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion for best youth fiction and a nominee for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has a three book Mysterious Ways series out from David C Cook, and Trails of the Dime Novel from Echelon Press.

A graduate of West Texas State he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University. Terry plans to continue writing inspirational fiction as well as working as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency. Terry is a native Texan Living in Amarillo, Texas with his lovely wife Saundra.

CFBA: Loss of Carrier by Russ White

2009-11-23T14:12:00.002-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett ... Which bites, I don't even care for the song, it's just the last thing I heard on the radio and now it's running through my brain over, and over, and over...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Loss Of Carrier

by

Russ WhiteBookSurge Publishing (October 27, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Bright yellow cables against a blue shirt? Carl never would have approved of that color combination. Why was his face so white? His eyes should be closed, not open. Why hadn’t one of the security guards seen this and reported it to the police? The lights were off, the cameras were useless in the dark.

Of course, the cables wrapped around Carl’s neck explained why the server wasn’t working. Loss of carrier.

Jess Wirth lives a dreary life. He spends most of his time crammed inside a cubicle, toiling as a network engineer and stewing over the details of his ugly divorce. But when he finds his co-worker dead in the basement of their office, Jess’s life takes a surprising—and unpleasant—turn.

The police quickly declare the death a suicide, but Jess isn’t so sure. Not long after he begins digging into the victim’s work, another co-worker turns up dead, convincing him once and for all that something sinister is brewing behind the cubicle walls.

His investigation leads him to a mysterious woman name Leah, who pushes him to entrust her with the information he’s collected about his dead colleagues. Wary of Leah’s motives yet inexorably drawn to her, Jess keeps her at arm’s length...until an attempt is made on both their lives. Realizing they are close on the trail of a dangerous criminal, the pair race to expose a data theft ring before they become the killer’s next victims.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Loss Of Carrier, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Russ White is an internationally recognized internetwork engineer. He has co-authored eight books in the field of network design and routing
protocols and is a regular speaker at international networking conferences.

In addition to working on several expert and senior-level network engineering certifications, he is a certified firearms instructor.

Russ, his wife, and their two children live in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, where they enjoy spending time on Jordan Lake and attending Colonial Baptist Church. Loss of Carrier is his first novel.

CFBA: Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge

2009-11-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Mighty To Save by Hillsong

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

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

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.

CFBA: What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy

2009-11-17T00:11:00.000-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Everything I Do, I Do It For You by Bryan Adams

I'm on a bit of a Robin Hood kick. Love the legend.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
What The Bayou Saw
by
Patti Lacy

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.

The past can't stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy's second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.

Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.

But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally's memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally's story comes to light, the lies she's told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of What The Bayou Saw, go HERE

Watch the Book Trailer:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Though Patti's only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.

The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.

The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti's WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.

Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.

Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.

CSFF: Curse of the Spider King by Batson & Hopper

2009-11-15T20:45:00.005-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Robin Hood theme from BBC America's series. Awesome show.

Today the CSFF is featuring:

Curse of the Spider King

The Berinfell Prophecies

Wayne Thomas Batson

and

Christopher Hopper

About the Book:

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that's what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

About the Authors:

Wayne Thomas Batson was born in Seabrook, MD in 1968. He attended Gabriel DuVal Senior High School and wrote this for his Yearbook Senior Goals: To become a professional writer or artist. During the high school and early college years, he played lead guitar for a rock band called "Contagious." They were catchy, but apparently not enough to get a record deal.

Wayne Thomas Batson has spent the last fifteen years teaching Reading and English to middle schools students. He lives in Eldersburg with his beautiful wife of eleven years and his four wonderful young children. Besides dividing his time between family, teaching, and writing, he likes to read, golf, play PS2, travel to the beach, play electric guitar, and create 3D artwork.

Christopher Hopper is a recording artist, record producer, author, motivational speaker and youth pastor. He travels internationally each year speaking and performing for schools, churches, and conferences with a message of hope for his generation. His various business and academic interests perpetuate his desire to have a positive impact on world culture, inspiring people to lead meaningful lives. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and three children in the 1,000 Islands of Northern, NY.

Read what other blog members are saying:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

CFBA: A Prisoner of Versaille by Golden Keyes Parsons

2009-11-11T09:45:00.003-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Letters From War by Mark Schultz

Thank you goes out to all you who serve. Your willingness to stand for your country and place a protective barrier between us and danger is both heroic and appreciated. God Bless you and bring you home safe and whole.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

A Prisoner of Versaille

by

Golden Keyes ParsonsThomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)

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

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.

CFBA: Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher

2009-11-10T09:09:00.002-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Give Me a Revelation by Third Day

I never would have realized how hard it is to be without internet. It's like losing an arm. It's still down and I'm lucky enough to borrow a computer. Heaven help me if I don't get it back soon. I'm going through withdrawl!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Fit to Be Tied

by

Robin Lee HatcherZondervan (November 1, 2009)

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:

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

CFBA: One Fine Season by Michael Sheehan

2009-11-04T09:07:00.000-06:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
One Fine Season
by
Michael SheehanAuthorHouse (November 25, 2008)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend.

Best friends Pete O’Brien and Danny Grace are gifted college athletes, both hoping for careers as professional baseball players. When tragedy strikes, Danny struggles to cope with his overwhelming grief and fulfill a pact the young men made years earlier: to play in the World Series.

Events unexpectedly thrust Danny into the spotlight with the new expansion team in Sacramento. Three guides – an aging catcher, spiritual centerfielder and wise manager – plus a beautiful woman lead him on a healing journey, revealing that even death cannot break the bonds of true friendship.

If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of One Fine Season, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Sheehan is CEO and founder of BioResource, a company that distributes natural remedies including the popular INFLAMYAR ointment for sports injuries. He wrote One Fine Season to honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young, before they could realize their dreams.

One Fine Season is true to life. It draws on Sheehan’s religious education at a Catholic seminary and his experience as a high school baseball and collegiate soccer player. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Sheehan also earned a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. He lives in Northern California.

New Contest!

2009-11-03T21:12:00.002-06:00

Enter to Win:

Who Made You the Princess by Shelley Adina

or

Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

Contest is open to US residents only and ends at midnight November 30, 2009. To enter, click on the book cover in the sidebar to email me your entry.

Sorry for the weird sidebar, I'm having trouble with my code.

CFBA: A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth

2009-11-02T12:27:00.002-06:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Here With Me by Mercy Me

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
A Slow Burn
by
Mary DeMuthZondervan (October 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Watch the video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

Good News!

2009-11-02T00:42:00.000-06:00

I received word today that my chick-lit novel is a finalist in the STAR contest. Whoo Hoo! It never hurts for an agent and editor to look at your stuff, right? Maybe I'll inch a little bit further down the road to publishing. :)

I Just Haven't Met You Yet...Oh Yeah!

2009-10-29T00:02:00.000-05:00

I Love Michael Buble's music. This is first single of the new album Crazy Love. I think it's really cute and I identify with the song so well. Thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

VH1 TV Shows Music Videos Celebrity Photos News & Gossip

CFBA: eye of the god by Ariel Allison

2009-10-28T13:03:00.003-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

eye of the god

by

Ariel AllisonAbingdon Press (October 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

eye of the god takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond and weaves it together with a present-day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian Institute.

We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative jewel thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the gem, which according to legend was once the eye of a Hindu idol named Rama Sita. When it was stolen in the 17th century, it is said that the idol cursed all those who would possess it. That won’t stop the brilliant and ruthless Weld brothers.

However, they are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond and a deadly secret to keep. Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration.

When the dust settles over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, readers will understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of humankind, nor can it change the course of God’s story.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of eye of the god, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Allison is a published author who lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Justin Case, the first of three children’s books will be published by Harvest House in June 2009. Ariel is a weekly contributor to http://www.christiandevotions.us/ and on her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at http://www.arielallison.blogspot.com/.

From Ariel:

I am the daughter of an acclaimed and eccentric artist, and given my “unconventional” childhood, had ample time to explore the intricacies of story telling. I was raised at the top of the Rocky Mountains with no running water or electricity (think Laura Ingles meets the Hippie Movement), and lived out the books I read while running barefoot through the sagebrush. My mother read to me by the light of a kerosene lantern for well over a decade, long after I could devour an entire novel in the course of a day. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, George MacDonald, and L.M. Montgomery were the first to capture my heart and I have
grown to love many others since.

CFBA: A Little Help From My Friends

2009-10-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Little Sparrow by David Cook
I always loved Dolly's version, never imagined I'd love a guy's version even more. David's voice is amazing. Love this song.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

A Little Help from My Friends

by

Anne Dayton & May VanderbiltFaithWords (October 15, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Zoe is used to being overlooked. As the youngest and shyest Miracle Girl, she was happy to fade into the background last year. But when she sheds her baby fat and shoots up four inches the summer before her junior year, everything changes. Now she's turning heads at school, and this new attention is beginning to strain her relationship with her sweet, serious boyfriend, Marcus.

Pressure builds when Zoe's assigned partner for history class is Dean Marchese--a handsome New York transplant who isn't afraid to show her how he feels.
Just when she needs her three best friends the most, the Miracle Girls are suffering from boy troubles of their own.

Even Zoe's rock-solid home life begins to shake underneath her when her parents' relationship frays in the face of serious financial burdens. As this uncertain year of growing pains comes to a frenetic head, the quietest Miracle Girl must find her voice at long last and take control of her own destiny . . . with more than a little help from her friends.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Little Help from My Friends, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.

MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.

Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls series

CSFF: Haunt of Jackals by Eric Wilson

2009-10-24T18:58:00.005-05:00

My apologies to the author and the CSFF organization. With the passing of my father, I missed posting the book review for this great book.

The CSFF presents:

Haunt of Jackals

Eric Wilson

About the Book:

1211: Crusaders ship tons of soil from Jerusalem back to Italy, convinced of its holy properties. But something unholy has joined them.

1944: Allied bombs destroy a cemetery only yards from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A fire rages. A tomb is opened.

In our modern world, Gina Lazarescu is a young woman caught trying to forgive her mother and track down her father. If she fails at either task, she will die.

Thorns will overrun its palaces...The ruins will become a haunt for jackals. --Isaiah 34:13

To read the first chapter, click HERE.

Haunt of Jackals is the second in a trilogy. To read more about the trilogy, click HERE.

About the Author:

"From an early age, I wanted to be a writer. Although I was born in California and raised in Oregon, my more enduring memories start in Europe where my parents took Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. Life was an adventure, full of exotic cultures and peoples.

Back in the States, I went through junior high and high school. I loved soccer, basketball, chess...oh, yes, and girls. It took a few years to learn how to talk to them, but they interested me from a distance. After high school, I traveled in eastern Europe and China. I returned to my parents’ crumbling marriage. I moved to LA and began college.

During my junior year, a childhood friend showed up as a freshman. Within months she and I were married, and we’re now in our eighteenth year, with two daughters to keep us on our toes. We’re not perfect (our kids could give you details), but we refuse to stop fighting for our family...and for our faith in Jesus, who is bigger than our self-centeredness. "

Jason Castro - I am Second

2009-10-22T00:57:00.002-05:00

My sister sent me this video and we both found it very powerful. I wanted to share it with all of you as well.

CFBA: The Fence My Father Built by Linda S. Clare

2009-10-21T00:43:00.003-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: As the Deer by Jim Greeninger

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

The Fence My Father Built

by

Linda S. ClareAbingdon Press (October 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When legally separated Muri Pond, a librarian, hauls her kids, teenager Nova and eleven year-old Truman, out to the tiny town of Murkee, Oregon, where her father, Joe Pond lived and died, she's confronted by a neighbor's harassment over water rights and Joe's legacy: a fence made from old oven doors.

The fence and accompanying house trailer horrify rebellious Nova, who runs away to the drug-infested streets of Seattle. Muri searches for her daughter and for something to believe in, all the while trying to save her inheritance from the conniving neighbor who calls her dad Chief Joseph.

Along with Joe's sister, Aunt Lutie, and the Red Rock Tabernacle Ladies, Muri must rediscover the faith her alcoholic dad never abandoned in order to reclaim her own spiritual path.

Watch the trailer:

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Fence My Father Built , go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda S. Clare is an award-winning coauthor of three books, including Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them (with Melody Carlson and Heather Kopp), Revealed: Spiritual Reality in a Makeover World, and Making Peace with a Dangerous God (with Kristen Johnson Ingram). She has also published many essays, stories, and poems in publications including The Christian Reader, The Denver Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Linda grew up in a part of Arizona, where the dirt is as red as it is in Central Oregon. She graduated summa cum laude in Art Education from Arizona State University and taught in public and private schools. She has taught college-level creative writing classes for seven years, and edits and mentors writers. She also is a frequent writing conference presenter and church retreat leader. She and her husband of thirty-one years have four grown children, including a set of twins. They live in Eugene, Oregon, with their five wayward cats: Oliver, Xena the Warrior Kitty, Paladine, Melchior, and Mamma Mia!

Things Our Father Taught Us

2009-10-19T11:06:00.006-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Behold the Kingdom by Brother John. (Dad's favorite song.)

Thank you all so much for your prayers and kind words. Shortly after I wrote the post asking for prayers, my father passed away. It has been a very busy and emotional time for all of our family, so this post is a little slow in coming.

His service was very touching. We wanted it to center on praising God and showing Dad's love for his Savior and the gospel. I wrote an essay on behalf of me and my siblings to be read during the service. I've included it below. Dad was a very special man.

Things Our Father Taught Us

Dad taught us many things in his lifetime. He was a great father with a big heart and a love for God that kept our family strong.

He Taught Us To Laugh

Anyone who knew Dad knew his sense of humor. He knew when to be serious and when to focus on ministry and comfort, but he could also find the funny even when it didn’t seem possible. He passed that ability on to all of us.

There was the ever present ‘Daddy Joke’. The bad pun or silly joke he made up on the spot that made us all groan and chuckle at the same time. He liked to take words and mix them up just to make us giggle. Dad never missed an opportunity to make a silly face or crack a joke, and yet he was never hurtful or mean in what he said. Dad loved to make people laugh, to lighten their hearts and see them smile.

He Taught Us To Dream Big

Dad was a dreamer. He always had a new idea or a new plan to create something great. He enjoyed photography and had a good eye for the beauty in everything around him. Dad would take pictures of everything and we have the photo albums to prove it. He started as a photographer and later worked as a photo lab technician. He followed his dream, and passed his love of photography on to the rest of us. He was a great teacher.

Dad had many hobbies. He loved knives and wanted to learn to make his own. So he did. He wanted to learn locksmithing, so he went back to school and got his license. Dad’s dreaming didn’t always become reality, but that never stopped his imagination. He used that same ability to dream big, to encourage all of us. There was never a time when Dad said, “That’s too big or too hard, find something else to do.” He believed in us and encouraged every dream we had. If sometimes we failed, he’d encourage us to find a new dream and keep going. There was always some way for us to serve God with our talents and he reminded us of that often.

He Taught Us To Always Be Prepared

For someone who was never a boy scout, he took their motto, always be prepared, to heart. He always wore shirts with two pockets, because he needed all the room to carry his gear. All his pockets were full and he had at least seven pocket knives on him at all times. They were different sizes with different blades, and there was always a Swiss army knife with tools included. Why carry so many? Because each knife would serve a different purpose and you never know when you would need them. For Christmas and birthdays he often received pocket gear. Anything pocket sized intrigued him. A mini flashlight or magnifying glass; a tiny measuring tape or screw driver, every new item was added to his pockets.

We teased him about his pocket gear, but if you ever needed anything, you could count on Dad to have something in his pockets that could do the job. As one friend said, “If there was a flood, I’d want to be around Duane Erwin. I bet he would have an inflatable raft in his pocket.”

He carried that need to be prepared into all areas of his life and not just for this physical world. He taught us to be prepared for tribulations that would come, and for Zion’s return. All of life is a challenge and preparation is key.

He Taught Us To Be Curious

Dad had an insatiable curiosity. He wanted to know how things worked. From the inside of a car, to inventions old and knew. He read voraciously. He loved magazines and books, fiction or non fiction, they were all exciting. His curiosity brought him knowledge. Some people know a lot about one or two things, Dad knew a little bit about everything. If you had a question about how to do something, chances were good that Dad knew enough to help you through.

He loved science and nature and his curiosity drove him to understand it better. Many conversations revolved around how God created things so intricately. He wanted to understand the mystery behind everything. Space and astronomy, biology and botany, electricity and magnetism; it all fascinated him. In turn it opened our minds to the miracles in creation and the world around us. He encouraged us to seek truth and answers to our own questions, simply by example.

He Taught Us To Have Faith

Dad’s faith was very strong and it grew everyday. We all grew up hearing the testimonies that he and Mom had over the years. Prayer was important in all areas of life and miracles were to be expected.

Once, when we were attending Center Branch, he was helping a friend repair a wheel chair lift. By accident, the lift was activated and Dad’s foot was pulled between the concrete step and the metal platform. With less than the width of a pencil, Dad’s foot was crushed and rolled between them. It only took seconds and they quickly pulled Dad’s foot free. Across the top, his toes were black. The elders administered to him and the blackness went away. Not a bone was broken. What should have removed his foot completely didn’t harm a bone.

There were healings and blessings to be found at all times. If we were sick or upset, scared or hurt, Dad’s prayers and faith always made us stronger. It was a gift that God blessed him with and he used it well.

He Taught Us To Trust

With great faith comes great trust. Dad learned to trust God for all of life’s needs. As newlyweds, he and Mom often were down to their last dollar with no more money in sight. God always provided when asked. One testimony they often shared was of a time early in their marriage. They were renting a trailer. The rent was due that day and they had no money to pay it. With no idea of how they would keep their home, they decided to take a drive and put it in God’s hands. Finally they returned to the trailer with no clear answer in mind. They opened the locked trailer door and there on the floor was a sealed envelope with their names written on the front. Opening it, they found exactly enough money to pay the rent. Shocked they tried to figure out who had left the money and how they’d gotten it into the trailer. They tried sliding it under the door, but it sealed too tight. They tried the window slats, but nothing they tried would land the envelope any where near the same spot. It was clear to them that God put the money there to not only provide for them, but to show that they could always trust him to provide and protect.

Mom and Dad were foster parents and there always seemed to be at least six of us kids in the house at all times. Money was often tight. They never let that stop them. Somehow there was always enough to provide, whether it was food left by a church friend that said God told them we were in need, or money given anonymously at just the right moment. Sometimes the blessings weren’t seen immediately, but we always knew that even if we didn’t understand the reasons, God had a plan and we could trust that His plan was best.

He Taught Us To Love

Some people say blood is thicker than water. Mom and Dad never believed that. They fostered more than 28 children during their marriage and loved every one, no matter how difficult it might be. Because of their love, they expanded their family, their home and their hearts. Love is taught by example and they continued to love and support anyone that God placed in their home.

There was never any doubt that Dad would do anything for his children, whether they were his by birth, by adoption, or by love. He stood up for us, protected us, and never, ever failed to love us. Sometimes it felt like love and faith were all that held us together, but it was enough. He taught us to love our family, our friends, and the gospel. More than anything else, he taught us to love our Savior Jesus with all our hearts.

He Taught Us To Hope

Dad studied his scriptures regularly, often looking up the meaning of words to find the greater understanding. Hope is a word used as a form of wishing today, but Dad found that the archaic form was to put one’s trust in something greater. He knew that hope was putting your trust in Jesus.

His greatest hope was in seeing God’s kingdom return to earth. He wanted to see his Savior and walk with him through the streets of Zion. Many times he would talk about how evil the world had become and how he longed for Zion to come soon. His hope and prayers for Zion guided his life and in turn, ours. He showed us that despite our determination to keep our covenant, we often fail. The hope that we find in God’s mercy and forgiveness is a gift like no other. Dad clung to that gift and taught us all to keep hope alive in our hearts.

We could not have asked for a better earthly father. He was a simple man that allowed his heart and his life to reflect our Heavenly Father every day. And because of all that our father taught us, we know that we will never be fatherless. Dad taught us that no matter where we are in life, we have a Father in Jesus and he will never leave us alone.

Thanks, Dad; your lessons will never be forgotten.

Dad and I in 1978

Dad in 2007

CFBA: Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish

2009-10-19T10:55:00.003-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: You're Still the One by Orleans

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:

Watch Over Me

by

Christa Parrish(Bethany House October 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Her Rescue Might Be the Miracle They Needed Things like this don't happen in Beck County. Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl, hours old, abandoned in a field. As police work to identify the mother, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the obvious couple to serve as foster parents. But the newborn's arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating military tour. Their marriage teeters on the brink and now they must choose to reclaim what they once had or lose each other forever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Watch Over Me, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christa Parrish graduated high school at 16, with every intention of becoming a surgeon. After college, however, her love of all things creative led her in another direction, and she worked in both theatre and journalism.

A winner of Associated Press awards for her reporting, Christa gave up her career after the birth of her son, Jacob. She continued to write from home, doing pro bono work for the New York Family Policy Council, where her articles appeared in Focus on the Family’s Citizen magazine. She was also a finalist in World magazine’s WORLDview short story contest, sponsored by WestBow press. She now teaches literature and writing to high school students, is a homeschool mom, and lives with her husband, author Chris Coppernoll, and son in upstate New York, where she is at work on her third novel.

A very special prayer request

2009-10-14T22:43:00.003-05:00

Dear friends and readers,

I know many of you have a strong faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. I'm asking you to please pray for my father. He's been sent home with cancer and they don't expect him to live much longer. We are all praying mightily for a healing if that's God's will, but more than anything we want peace and comfort for Dad. If you feel compelled in your heart, our family would greatly appreciate your prayers.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." -Matthew 18:20

Thank you,
A.

CFBA: Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman

2009-10-14T22:40:00.002-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: When peace like a river attendeth my soul...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Leaving Yesterday
by
Kathryn CushmanBethany House (October 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Alisa Stewart feels like she's lost two sons: her youngest to a terrible tragedy and her eldest, Kurt, to a life ruined by addiction. But now Kurt has checked himself into rehab and found a healing faith that seems real. It's like he's been raised from the dead.

But then a detective arrives at Alisa's door asking questions about a murder--the death of a drug dealer before Kurt entered rehab. Alisa fears losing her son again, and when she finds evidence linking him to the killing, she destroys it. Her boy is different now. He's changed and deserves a second chance.

But when another man is charged with the crime, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: be silent and keep her son or give up everything for the truth.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I graduated from Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, but I’ve known all my life that I wanted to write a novel “some day”. For me, “some day” came about five years ago, when I started writing and never looked back.

My third attempt became my first published novel.

A Promise to Remember was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in the Women’s Fiction category, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Leaving Yesterday just arrived on scene and I’m very excited about it!

On the homefront, I’ve been married to the wonderful and handsome Lee for over twenty years now, and our two daughters are currently braving the worlds of elementary and high school. We’ve lived in Santa Barbara for the last seventeen years. When I’m not writing or reading or braving seventy degree holidays, you’ll find me watching the younger daughter play softball, or the older daughter building amazing high school theater sets

CFBA: Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark

2009-10-12T16:48:00.003-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: Her Diamonds by Rob Thomas

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Things Worth Remembering
by
Jackina StarkBethany House (October 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Kendy Laswell and her daughter, Maisey, used to do everything together--until one fateful summer when Maisey witnessed something she shouldn't have, and their relationship fractured. Now, Maisey is back home to get married and Kendy realizes this is her last chance to reconnect with her daughter. Will Kendy and Maisey be able to reclaim the bond they once shared?

Maisey asked for a bride doll the Christmas she was five, mesmerized by her aunt's wedding the fall before. Since then I've been dreaming of the day, or days, we would shop for her wedding dress. A mother helping her daughter find just the right creation for that momentous walk down the aisle strikes me as one of life's happiest endeavors. The night she called to tell us she'd bought her "dream of a gown," I sat beside Luke on the couch, a striking contrast to Maisey's exuberance.
My dejection seemed a tad inappropriate. "Being hurt because I wasn't included is silly, isn't it?" I asked.

"Not so silly," he said.

Will I ever quit longing for the Maisey who was once mine?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Things Worth Remembering , go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jackina (pronounced with a long “i” to rhyme with China) Stark recently retired from teaching English at Ozark Christian College to spend more time writing and traveling.

Jackina says: "Although I loved my subjects and my students, I retired to do more writing and speaking, to spend more time with my family, and to travel with family and friends (including trips to encourage two missions in Cambodia). I have also spoken nationally and internationally at many retreats and seminars and enjoy running into many readers and former students. I have written frequently for both Christian Standard and Lookout, periodicals of Standard Publishing. Years ago I wrote two non-fiction books, published by College Press, but currently out of print. These days, I’m exploring fiction. My first novel, Tender Grace, was released by Bethany House January 30, 2009, and Things Worth Remembering, is the second. I’m working on new projects, including a third novel, as time permits. Whether speaking or writing, I love the opportunity to tell about Him whom Jesus called “Holy Father” and “the only true God.”

She has been married to her husband, Tony, for forty-two years. They live in Carl Junction, Missouri, and have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Confessions of a Quiz Addict

2009-10-09T00:11:00.001-05:00

Song Stuck on the Brain: I Love You by Nine Days

I'm hopelessly addicted to quizzes (If you hadn't guessed that already...) Here are a few of my most recent choices. They're a lot of fun and fairly accurate. Try them yourself and join me in my addiction. :)

Which CSI Character Are You?

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Which The Mentalist Character Are You?

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Which Disney Heroine Are You?

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Which Charmed Character Are You?

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