3 book reviews and a giveaway!

One of my freelancing jobs is reviewing Christian books for FaithfulReader.com, a branch of The Book Report. This month I reviewed three books, which I've posted links to below, if you're interested in checking them out. I am also giving away my reviewer copy of GODWINKS, which is an awesome little book of inspiring devotionals. Be sure to leave a comment on this post to enter. The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible comments on Friday.

Now, here are three books you may enjoy:

Based on the #1 New York Times bestseller Every Day a Friday, DAILY READINGS FROM EVERY DAY A FRIDAY is designed to help readers see every day of the week as a gift from God, and to live each day with gratitude, good humor, and faith.

This 90-day devotional incorporates excerpts from the original book emphasizing faith-building messages day to day; along with additional supportive and encouraging material in the form of key Bible verses, daily prayers, and daily thoughts.

Divided into seven key sections, each building on the next, the format helps readers to put events and circumstances in perspective, and to give them a mental, emotional and spiritual lift each and every day.

MY REVIEW of DAILY READINGS FROM EVERY DAY A FRIDAY

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town...until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

MY REVIEW of SUBMERGED

 Building on the themes in his popular book When God Winks, SQuire Rushnell shares real-life stories that are certain to uplift and encourage you. 

The stories in this book reaffirm that godwinks happen to everyone. We just need to learn how to see them, allow them to unfold, and accept them as direct, person-to-person communications from God to each of us.

As you’ll see, those so-called coincidences that you’d been dismissing so easily really do mean something. And you need to pay attention. They are like unopened gifts that have been placed upon your doorstep.

You will be amazed to read how every joy, every hurt, and every worry that happens to you has already been written about in the Bible. Godwink Stories simply draws upon the parallel between the stories of real people and God’s wisdom in the scriptures.

Godwink Stories can be read in various ways. You can read the book cover to cover. Or follow along each week for a year. It’s also perfect to read for a pick-me-up story that fits your need of the day.
Whether you’re looking for encouragement in a time of need or a story that speaks of joy, there’s a godwink story just for you.

MY REVIEW of GODWINKS

ENTER TO WIN my reviewer copy of GODWINK STORES: A DEVOTIONAL simply by leaving a comment on this post. 

Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win! 

Winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries on Friday, January 25

 **Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants.**

The Book Stops Here: Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck

Call me fun-loving, young-at-heart or just plain immature, but I love to read YA. When I was asked to review Kristin Billerbeck's latest novel, Perfectly Ridiculous, I jumped at the chance. I read the first two books in this series (Perfectly Dateless and Perfectly Invisible) and loved them both. So I had high hopes for this one.

About the book:

Daisy Crispin is at a crossroads. In one direction lies the promised land—life at college, away from her embarrassing and overprotective parents. In the other direction is reality—her strapped bank account, an ailing father, and family priorities. Daisy knows the “perfect” daughter wouldn’t have to think twice. But maybe Daisy was never really perfect on any level, because she does not want her life to look the way her parents think it should. She won’t let that stop her, though. Now that she has been given an exciting free trip to Argentina before going to college, she’s thrilled—until her parents decide to go along with her.

My thoughts:

I adored the first two books in the Daisy Crispin series, but Perfectly Ridiculous stood out above the others. It included the usual quick wit found in all of Kristin's books, but this one made me chuckle a little more often. The storyline was fresh and fun, and offered a couple of twists I didn't see coming, which is always a plus. But I think the main reason I enjoyed it even more than the first two is because of the growth Daisy experiences. Despite Daisy's perfectly ridiculous drama (a perfectly perfect title for this book, by the way), she manages to grow up. Of course, this may be due to the fact that she's now out of high school. 

I will be submitting a full review of Perfectly Ridiculous to FaithfulReader.com next month. As soon as it's posted, I will share the link with you. But for now, I'll just say that if you are a fan of light, fun, chick-lit type reads, or if you have a teenager who is, I highly recommend this book. In the meantime, check out my reviews of the first two Daisy Crispin books:

Perfectly Dateless

Perfectly Invisible

*Perfectly Ridiculous available July 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

**Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.**

Three Book Reviews and a Giveaway, Too!

Looking for some good Christian fiction? I have some suggestions for you. Each of the three books I reviewed this month for FaithfulReader.com were excellent in their own right. Take a moment to read my full reviews (links provided after the blurbs). 


There is something for everyone. If you are a romance and/or suspense fan, check out WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS by Lynette Eason.THE BAKER'S WIFE by Erin Healy is contemporary fiction with mystery and suspense. And ADDISON BLAKELY: CONFESSIONS OF A PK is a young adult novel, but is a great read for anyone who is young at heart and remembers their high school days (I completely relate and I'm over 40!)


GIVEAWAY:  I somehow ended up with an extra copy of THE BAKER'S WIFE and would love to pass it along to you! Simply leave a comment on this blog post and I will put your name in the hat for this giveaway. The winner will be announced next Friday, March 2nd.



Before Audrey was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife. Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.

Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something-or someone-at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to alocal teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.

Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.

But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind-her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.

READ MY FULL REVIEW

*Don't forget to comment on this post for your chance to win this book!

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series. 

READ MY FULL REVIEW

Sixteen-year-old Addison Blakely has tirelessly played the role of PK—preacher’s kid—her entire life. But after Wes Keegan revs his motorcycle into town and into her heart, Addison begins to wonder how much of her faith is her own and how much has been handed to her. She isn’t so sure she wants to be the good girl anymore. 


READ MY FULL REVIEW

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants.**

The Book Stops Here: When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

My thoughts:

I read and loved Lynette Eason's Women of Justice series, so when I was offered the chance to review the first book in her new Deadly Reunions series, I jumped at the chance. And I was not disappointed.

When the Smoke Clears is perhaps the most action-packed romantic suspense I've read in a long time. There is non-stop action, and twists and turns abound. But even in the midst of dodging bullets and escaping car bombs, there is a little time for romance. As with any good romance, conflict is inevitable. And in this story, it is compounded by the fact that two brothers compete for Alexia's affections. Of course, Alexia only has eyes for one of them, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.

There is a lot going on in the storyline, some of which didn't make complete sense to me. However, because the book ends with many loopholes, I suspect that many of the questions I have will be answered in book #2.

Eason is a superb storyteller and I eagerly await the next edition in this series.

I have submitted a full review of When the Smoke Clears to FaithfulReader.com. As soon as it's posted, I will share the link with you. But for now, I'll just say that if you are a fan of romantic suspense, I highly recommend this book.


*Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

*Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.

The Book Stops Here: Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

I'm taking a break from my Mind over Madi excitement to promote  a book written by an author I've come to really enjoy. I met Dan Walsh for the first time a couple years ago at the ACFW conference in Denver.  His first book was coming out at the time and now, two years later, he's got several books under his belt and is even collaborating on a novel with Gary Smalley! Cool, huh?

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing his latest novel, REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS. And just in time for the holidays! Here's a blurb:

Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more.

Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

A full review of REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS will be posted soon on FaithfulReader.com, but let me just say that I highly recommend this book. The characters are expertly crafted, the plot is engaging, plus it's set in my favorite-ever era of the 1980s! Could it get any better than that?

REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS will make you smile and warm your heart this holiday season. Definitely one for the Christmas keepsake shelf.

Watch for the link to my full review in the next week or so. In the meantime, you can purchase Remembering Christmas: A Novel on Amazon.com or at your local bookstore.


“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

 **Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.**

3 more book reviews for FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com has just posted a slew of new book reviews for October. Three of them are reviews written by me. All three come highly recommended, so I want to share them here with you.

 Athena Pappas is the head writer on Stars Collide, one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition--and attraction--between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem writing the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as Athena and Stephen discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

MY REVIEW



In a matter of seconds her entire world shifted...

An early morning call shatters Caryn Becker's world. Unable to cope with her brother’s news that he is gay, Caryn rejects him and disappears into her own turbulent life as a young widow and single mom. But when David is attacked and nearly killed, Caryn is forced to make hard choices about family, faith, and her own future; choices that take her to the very edge of grace.


MY REVIEW

The average person has 70,000 thoughts every day, and many of those thoughts trigger a corresponding emotion. No wonder so many of us often feel like we're controlled by our emotions. Our lives would be much improved is we controlled them.

In LIVING BEYOND YOUR FEELINGS, Joyce Meyer examines the gamut of feelings that human beings experience. She discusses the way that the brain processes and stores memories and thoughts, and then - emotion by emotion - she explains how we can manage our reactions to those emotions. By doing that, she gives the reader a toolbox for managing the way we react to the onslaught of feelings that can wreak havoc on our lives.

In this book, Meyer blends the wisdom of the Bible with the latest psychological research and discusses: the 4 personality types and their influence on one's outlook, the impact of stress on physical and emotional health, the power of memories, the influence of words on emotions, anger & resentment, sadness, loss & grief, fear, guilt & regret, the power of replacing reactions with pro-actions, and the benefits of happiness.

MY REVIEW

HAPPY READING!

The Book Stops Here: Hello Hollywood by Janice Thompson

From the back cover:

Athena Pappas is the head writer on Stars Collide, one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition--and attraction--between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem writing the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as Athena and Stephen discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

My Thoughts:

Multi-published author Janice Thompson's tagline is: Love, Laughter, and Happily-Ever-Afters. (love that!) So, as you can deduce, Janice writes romantic humor. And her romances end happily. Yay!

I recently got the chance to review her latest novel, Hello Hollywood!, the second book in the Backstage Pass series. I haven't read the first, Stars Collide, (but it is ready and waiting on my Kindle!) so I didn't have any preconceived notions of what the series was about. I only knew that I love Janice's writing, so how could I turn down the opportunity to review her latest book?

Hello Hollywood! did not disappoint. This book contained romance, drama and, of course, lots of humor. Like many other character families Janice Thompson has created throughout her writing career, the Pappas family was quirky, fun, and loud. If you loved the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you'll love the Pappas's. In fact, I kept picturing Nia Vardalos as main character Athena. Food and family are the driving forces behind this novel, and is what makes it especially endearing.

Then there's the romance factor, which is sweet and funny. Athena falls for Stephen, the guy she thinks may be trying to steal her position as head writer of a highly rated sitcom. The inclusion of Stephen's 11-year-old daughter and a Greek domestic dog, brings the story into a whole new - and better - dimension.

Hello Hollywood! is a fast-paced, quick read. Although certainly a stand-alone, I look forward to reading the first book in the series, in which the hero and heroine are apparently the stars of the sitcom Athena writes for. My full review of Hello Hollywood! will be featured on www.FaithfulReader.com later this month, and I'll be sure to leave a link for you. But, for now, just take my word for it. If you love romantic comedies, or, better yet, love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters, pick up a copy of Janice's latest book. You'll be glad you did.

*“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”*

**Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.**
_____________________________________________________

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas. To learn more about Janice visit her at: www.janiceathompson.com

4 New Book Reviews for FaithfulReader.com

The September FaithfulReader.com book reviews have been posted. This month, I reviewed 4 books - two fiction and two non-fiction. All four were excellent and come highly recommended by moi. Enjoy!

She’s all about going green. Could he be her white knight—or will he make her see red?

Tree-huggin’, animal-lovin’ Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is on a mission. Well, two. First she has to come to terms with being a widow at thirty-three. After all, it’s been four years and even her five-year-old niece and nephew think it’s time she shed her widow’s weeds. Second, she needs to find a buyer for her family’s estate—a Biltmore-inspired mansion surrounded by hundreds of acres of unspoiled forestland. With family obligations forcing the sale, Bridget is determined to find an eco-friendly developer to buy the land, someone who won’t turn it into single-family homes or a cheesy theme park.

Enter J. C. Dirk, a high-energy developer from Atlanta whose green property developments have earned him national acclaim. When he doesn’t return her calls, Bridget decides a personal visit is in order. Unfortunately, J. C. Dirk is neither amused nor interested when she interrupts his meeting—until she mentions her family name. In short order, he finds himself in North Carolina, and Bridget has her white knight—in more ways than one. But there are things Bridget doesn’t know about J. C., and it could mean the end of everything she’s worked for…and break her heart.

READ MY REVIEW

From the creators of Fireproof comes an inspiring new story about everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them? When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God . . . and to their children?

READ MY REVIEW

During the course of his 60-year ministry, John Osteen combined an extraordinary love for people with a vision for ministry best described in his own words: "No limits." In this hardcover volume not only includes content from John's sermon transcripts, but also a foreword and commentary written by his son, Joel; the principles of this "no limits" faith come alive again for a new generation.

For the moments of struggle and temptation that every man faces, and the times in life when he feels surrounded and under attack, John's message is profoundly simple-those moments are precisely the time for an unwavering faith. In this book, John schools today's believers in seven qualities of unwavering faith:

1. It hears and sees what the world cannot see or hear.
2. It prays earnestly even though it has already heard the answer.
3. It is strong when there is no evidence of the answer.
4. It always says, "Go Again!"
5. It goes on when there's just a little evidence.
6. It believes for the big when it sees the little.
7. It begins with nothing but ends up doing mighty things for God.

Osteen also provides principles for those times when faith doesn't seem to be working. BECOMING A MAN OF UNWAVERING FAITH is a guidebook to stronger faith, from a man who spent a lifetime testing its limits.

READ MY REVIEW

New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian in a beautiful padded hardcover edition is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional Deluxe Edition. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage.

These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.


A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.

READ MY REVIEW

4 Recommended Reads

Just back from the FaithWriters conference and I have lots to report. I hope to post a recap of the conference, including my workshop, sometime soon, so stay tuned for that. I did post a recap on The Barn Door if you're interested. You can read that HERE.

In the meantime, enjoy these reviews of 4 great books I had the privilege of reviewing this month for www.faithfulreader.com. All four were wonderful in their own right and all four are recommended.

Kimberly Tucker's life hasn't turned out the way she thought it would. While her ex is living it up, she struggles to understand what went wrong. When her two sons end up spending five weeks of summer vacation with their father, Kim plans a respite at the family vacation home on tiny Cedar Key. As she revisits the long-forgotten past, she discovers that treasures in life are often buried, and sometimes you do get a second chance at love.

Let yourself get swept away to an island retreat of warm tropical breezes, sandy beaches, and the most glorious sunsets you can imagine.

READ MY REVIEW

She serves him breakfast at her café every morning … but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small café in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals … although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.

When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries … and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all to present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s built with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

READ MY REVIEW

Life after high school is so close . . . and yet so very far away.
It's Daisy Crispin's final semester of high school, and she plans to make it count. Her long-awaited freedom is mere months away, and her big plans for college loom in the future. Everything is under control.

Or is it?

Her boyfriend is treating her like she's invisible, and her best friend is making her sell bad costume jewelry in the school quad--and hanging out with her boyfriend. To top it off, Daisy's major humiliation of the year will be remembered in the yearbook for all eternity. It's enough to make her wonder if maybe being invisible isn't so bad after all.

Can Daisy get her life back on track? Or is she stuck in this town forever?

READ MY REVIEW

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

READ MY REVIEW

HAPPY READING!

The Book Stops Here: Perfectly Invisible by Kristin Billerbeck

From the back cover:

Life after high school is so close . . . and yet so very far away.
It's Daisy Crispin's final semester of high school, and she plans to make it count. Her long-awaited freedom is mere months away, and her big plans for college loom in the future. Everything is under control.

Or is it?

Her boyfriend is treating her like she's invisible, and her best friend is making her sell bad costume jewelry in the school quad--and hanging out with her boyfriend. To top it off, Daisy's major humiliation of the year will be remembered in the yearbook for all eternity. It's enough to make her wonder if maybe being invisible isn't so bad after all.

Can Daisy get her life back on track? Or is she stuck in this town forever?

My review:

A year ago I posted my review of Perfectly Dateless. And if you read that review, you know how much I enjoyed it. So much so that I jumped at the chance to review Perfectly Invisible, Kristin Billerbeck's second installment of Daisy Crispin's story. I have to say after reading it, I'm on the fence. Not about whether I liked it, but about which book  I liked more. They were both so good!

Because I will be posting a complete review on www.faithfulreader.com next month, I won't go into great detail. I'll just say that if you are a Kristin Billerbeck fan like I am, and if you like reading teen fiction, you will love the character of Daisy Crispin. She's fresh and quirky with character flaws most of us can relate to. Reading Perfectly Invisible, I was taken back to my own high school years (pause to shudder). Granted, I didn't attend a snobby rich school, but snobby richer-than-me kids definitely played a part in my life's story. My parents didn't make me wear homemade clothes and have jobs that required them to dress up in duck costumes, but they humiliated me a time or twenty. I wasn't in love with an Argentine guy with olive skin and awesome dance moves who acted like he was more interested in my best friend than me, but my love life did contain plenty of drama. My best friend wasn't as outspokenly rude to me, but she did sometimes hurt my feelings.

My point is, even though I attended high school twenty-something years ago, I totally related to Daisy.

The writing was clever (brilliant in some spots) and made me laugh out loud. I don't know if there is another Daisy Crispin novel in the works now that Daisy has graduated from high school. But if so, I'll snatch up a copy as soon as it's available.

I'll be sure to post a link to the full review in August.

*Available July 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

**Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.**
___________________________________________________

Kristin Billerbeck is the author of more than 30 novels, including "What a Girl Wants" and the Ashley Stockingdale and Spa Girls Series. She is a fourth-generation Californian, who loves her state and the writing fodder it provides. Learn more at www.KristinBillerbeck.com

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Book Reviews: The Waiting Place, Live Loved, Double Take, and Desert Gift

I will be posting another entry about platform next week, but today I want to give you the links to my July Faithful Reader reviews (www.faithfulreader.com). All 4 books I had the privilege to review this month were excellent. If I had to pick a favorite, though, it would be The Waiting Place by Eileen Button. Eileen is the very good friend of a very good friend of mine. This is her debut book by Thomas Nelson and it is fabulous!

Happy reading!

We all spend precious time just waiting. We wait in traffic, grocery store lines, and carpool circles. We wait to grow up, for true love, and for our children to be born. We even wait to die. But amazing things can happen if we open our eyes in The Waiting Place and peer into its dusty corners. Sometimes relationships are built, faith is discovered, dreams are (slowly) realized, and our hearts are expanded.

With humor and heart-breaking candor, Eileen Button breathes life into stagnant and, at times, difficult spaces. Throughout this collection of essays she contends that The Waiting Place can be a most miraculous place-a place where beauty can be experienced, the sacred can be realized, and God can be found working in the midst of it all.

READ MY REVIEW

From the back cover:

It's spring break of her senior year and Madison Van Buren is fed up. Stressed over decisions on colleges, her parents' bickering, and pressures from her boyfriend, Madison gets in her car and just drives away.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Anna Fisher wants to escape the so-called simple life of the Amish--which for her consists of caring for younger children, sewing, cooking, and gardening--and she's well aware that her future will simply be more of the same with a man she doesn't love.

Worlds collide when Madison and Anna meet for the first time in a small town, realize they look uncannily alike, and decide the grass is greener on the other side. Neither of them will ever be the same.


READ MY REVIEW

From the back cover:

When you’re at the top . . . you’ve got a long way to fall. A nationally known marriage expert, Jillian Galloway is at the pinnacle of success. Her syndicated talk radio show is a hit and her first book is about to release. But just as she’s leaving for her West Coast publicity tour, Jill’s faithful husband of twenty-four years drops a bombshell: he wants a divorce.

As her world crashes down around her, Jill flees to her parents’ home in the California desert, wondering if everything she’s built her career on—and everything she’s built her life around—is a sham. She thought she’d done everything right. So how did her marriage slowly slip away? And will she ever get it back?

From best-selling author Sally John comes an insightful and inspiring story about the unexpected detours our lives can take, the lies we sometimes tell ourselves, and the hope that God is always at work, even in the desert.

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Can you go wrong with a Max Lucado book? Don't think so. Here's a blurb about this devotional. Then click on the link for my full review.

Using the same popular format as Grace for the Moment, Live Loved brings fresh, new devotionals based on the writings of Max Lucado. Included is a broad range of topics such as facing your fears, accepting His grace, and truly knowing God's omnipresent love. Each devotional is accompanied by an ending prayer to nurture a stronger prayer life for new believers, as well as long-standing Christ followers. It's a new devotional from one of America's leading Christian writers that will help men and women experience life from a whole new perspective.

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The Book Stops Here: Double Take by Melody Carlson

It's spring break of her senior year and Madison Van Buren is fed up. Stressed over Ivy League pressure, her parents' marital problems, and her boyfriend's neglect, Madison gets in her car and drives west. Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Anna Fisher wants to escape the so-called simple life--which for her consists of caring for younger siblings, sewing, cooking, and gardening--and she's well aware that her future will simply be more of the same with a man she doesn't love. Suddenly, worlds collide when Madison and Anna meet in a small town, realize they look uncannily similar, and decide the grass is definitely greener on the other side.

MY THOUGHTS:

Remember the movie The Parent Trap? Loved that movie. Watching it as a girl, I remember wishing I had a twin somewhere so I could trade places. Not forever, just for a while. I've watched a few copycat movies over the years (It Takes Two with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen comes to mind) and have always been intrigued at the possibility of two look-alike people (not necessarily twins) trading identities. There is something exciting about the thought of it. Could be just the author in me.

Along comes Double Take, a young adult novel by Melody Carlson. Only this story comes with a twist. Madison VanBuren, a rich city girl, and Anna Fisher, a simple Amish girl, do the switching, each having her own personal reasons for wanting to experience another way of life.

I can definitely see this book as a movie. With the rage of Amish books right now, it would be the perfect time to do it. I'm not offering my a lengthy review here. A full review will be posted on www.faithfulreader.com in mid-July, which I'll be sure to remind you of. But I will say Double Take was a light and fun read and held my interest just as much as The Parent Trap did all those years ago. By book's end, both Madison and Anna have grown up and take away a nice lesson from their experience.

As always, Melody Carlson has written a poignant book for teens. Nothing heavy, just a nice light read with a good message.

If you love switching-places stories, you won't be disappointed with Double Take.

Looking forward to sharing my full review in a few weeks!



*Double Take is available June 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*


Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.
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Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, THE CHRISTMAS BUS. She also writes many teen books, including JUST ANOTHER GIRL, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

Three More Recommended Reads

My latest Faithful Reader reviews have been posted. The three books I reviewed this time around were each wonderful in their own way. All three come highly recommended. Read the blurbs below, then click on the links for the full review.

Happy reading!

Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better . . .

That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, the Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance.

But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly gets lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensics background points to a much darker conclusion: Somewhere onboard, a ruthless murderer walks free.

Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis-handsome Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming onboard, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack-who might not be as arrogant as she originally thought.

And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family.

Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a mystery so daunting that even the mountains might bow down before it.

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What happens when the hunter . . . becomes the hunted?
Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. These new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he may be hunting one of them too.

With nail-biting suspense, clever plot twists, and a hint of romance, A Killer Among Us is the latest thriller from Lynette Eason.

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How much money would it take for you to betray the truth?
Ex-homicide detective Ray Quinn never had glamorous thoughts of the life of a private investigator—but being cornered in a bathroom stall by the enraged philandering husband of a client? That’s something he could live without. Retired from homicide and living with a painful disability, Ray’s options are limited. Stick to the job, keep impetuous sidekick Crevis alive, and spend quiet evenings with trusted pal Jim Beam, that’s about the best he can hope for.

As a new client emerges, Ray finds himself in an impossibly large boardroom holding a check with enough zeros to finally lift him from his financial pit. The job seems easy enough: find Logan Ramsey, an ex-cop turned security officer who’s taken off with sensitive corporate information. But few things are easy in Ray’s world, regardless of the amount of zeros in the check.

In what should be an open-and-shut case, Ray stumbles across Logan Ramsey in a seedy motel room. Only Ray wasn’t the first to find him. Now Logan’s dead, the client’s information is nowhere to be found, and Ray’s employer is less than forthcoming with the details. Suddenly the line between the good guys and bad guys isn’t so clear. With a foot in both worlds and an illuminating look at an unhappy ending that could well be his own, which will Ray choose?

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The Book Stops Here: A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason



Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. These new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he may be hunting one of them too.

With nail-biting suspense, clever plot twists, and a hint of romance, A Killer Among Us is the latest thriller from Lynette Eason.


I have read Too Close to Home and Don't Look Back and couldn't wait for A Killer Among Us, the third and final installment in Lynette Eason's WOMEN OF JUSTICE series. If you like romantic suspense, this series is for you! My brief review of A Killer Among Us is posted below. A longer, full review will be posted on www.faithfulreader.com in June.

My review:

If you've read the first two books in this series, you remember that Kit Kenyon was introduced in the last book, Don't Look Back. She is front and center in A Killer Among Us as a hostage negotiator. As the synopsis tells us, she and partner Noah Lambert work to find the person who is murdering college students. It soon becomes personal when the killer comes after Kit and Noah.

This book is a fast-paced suspense with great characters. Kit and Noah each have their issues, but Noah is a solid Christian while Kit's relationship with God is shaky, which is explored throughout the story. I loved that Noah was a strong Christian male, not afraid to share his faith. As Noah stressed throughout the book as he handed out business cards directing people to his church pastor, he was reaching out to the lost...one by one. Kit and Noah's chemistry is undeniable, proving that author Lynette Eason definitely know how to build romantic tension.

The only thing that overpowered the romantic element was the thrill factor. It was an exciting plot with plenty of twists and turns. Not that it took away from my enjoyment of the books, but I have to admit that in the first two, I figured out who the killer was quite early on. But A Killer Among Us kept me guessing a little more.

I'm sad that this series has come to an end, but am hoping another suspense series like this one is on Lynette Eason's agenda.

I will post a link to my full review when it is posted next month on www.faithfulreader.com

A Killer Among Us is available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.
___________________________________________________

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC and now lives in Spartanburg, SC. She is married and has two precious children, Lauryn and Will. Lynette is a stay-at-home homeschooling mom and full time writer. Lynette loves to ice skate, visit the mountains of NC and surf the web. She gives God the glory for her giving her the talent and desire to spin stories that bring readers to the edge of their seat and to the throne of Christ. Visit Lynette's website at: http://www.lynetteeason.com

Recommended Reads: The Deepest Waters and The Heart of Memory

My monthly reviews for FaithfulReader.com have been posted and I want to share a couple of them with you today. If you're looking for some new reading material, there are two I would like to recommend. Read on...

You may remember I posted a "teaser" a couple weeks ago about this book. I am happy to say the full review is now available. The Deepest Waters is a wonderful book and Dan Walsh is a fabulous author. I'm excited to share this one with you. Here is a blurb of the story:

For John and Laura Foster, what began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 aboard the steamship SS Vandervere soon becomes a nightmare. A terrible hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura is rescued by a small ship sailing by, but there's only room for the women and children. Believing her John is lost but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone in New York City with a family she has never met. The Deepest Waters is an epic story of hope, faith, and love through an intimate lens. Inspired by a true story.
READ THE FULL REVIEW
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Here's another great book to pick up this Spring. This is the second book I've read by Alison Strobel and I'm definitely a fan. Here's a brief synopsis of the story:

When beloved Christian writer and speaker Savannah Trover becomes gravely ill, she has to face the sham that her faith has become. Days before her heart transplant, she vows to change her ways and she renews her relationship with Christ. But when she awakens from the surgery, Savannah discovers that her faith has left her completely. Savannah's husband, Shaun, is concerned about his wife's odd behavior---and even more concerned about the secret he's keeping from her. If she doesn't bring down their ministry, then he might, losing his family in the process. A stranger may hold the answer to Savannah's recovery, but is Savannah strong enough to return to her old way of life? Can Shaun right his wrongs before word gets out? And do either one of them remember how to be who they once were---or who they want to be?In this latest relational drama from Alison Strobel, readers will explore the difference between emotional faith and life-giving truth as Savannah wonders if she can ever trust her heart again.

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Let me know if you've read either of these books. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

HAPPY READING!

Recommended Reads: Another Dawn and Words

As a regular reviewer for Faithfulreader.com, I have the privilege of reading some awesome new releases by fabulous authors. Below, I've posted blurbs of two books I reviewed in April and have provided the links to the full review. I highly recommend both of these novels, so if you're looking for good Christian fiction, be sure to check them out. Enjoy!
ANOTHER DAWN by Kathryn Cushman

Grace Graham returns to Shoal Creek, Tennessee with her four-year-old son on a short unpaid leave from work. Her goal: help her father recover from surgery, and spend some quality time with her sister.

But Shoal Creek seems more backward than ever after her years in California, and it's hard to find organic food anywhere. When the unthinkable happens and her son is diagnosed with measles, Grace's fears over modern medicine take a dangerous turn.

Worse, the town has fallen into quarantine and its residents focus their anger and blame on Grace. She is alone and scared, until one brave woman chooses to reach out a hand of forgiveness and mercy. But when the outbreak takes a life-threatening turn, will Grace be able to forgive herself?

READ MY FULL REVIEW

WORDS by Ginny Yttrup

Kaylee's mother is gone. And it seems she took Kaylee's voice with her. Now, ten-year old Kaylee must fend for herself with her mother's abusive boyfriend. Her days are spent collecting words she may never speak.

Sierra Dawn is alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes. But on the twelth anniversary of her daughter's death, God begins wooing her back to Himself.Brought together by Divine design, the relationship between Kaylee and Sierra begins a healing process in each of them as they dare to let the Truth, Jesus Christ, set them free.

READ MY FULL REVIEW

New releases by Kristin Billerbeck, Vicki Hinze, and Lisa Wingate

If you're looking for great fiction reading material, I have three suggestions for you. Just posted on FaithfulReader.com are my reviews of three newly released books by popular authors, Kristin Billerbeck, Lisa Wingate, and Vicki Hinze. I'll post a blurb  here and you can click on the link to read the review. Enjoy!

 Katie McKenna has never loved any man but one: billionaire Luc DeForges. He was her first love. But there are a billion reasons why she's engaged instead to Dexter Hastings, a solid and stable man who wants the same things she does: marriage and a family but all of the things that she wants without the deep-seeded pain and fear of being abandoned that Luc brings.

Dexter and she have worked an arrangement that's akin to faith without action, love without deeds -- a dead faith. Going home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding, Katie must search her heart to find out if any of her reasons for being with Dexter are stronger than love. Only when Katie steps fully into faith and jumps off the cliff of life into the arms of Luc does she understand the fullness of God's grace.

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Doctor Lisa Harper is determined to rescue her mother, Annie, from an abusive husband and end the separation they've endured since Lisa was sixteen. If not for security expert mark Taylor, Lisa's devoted friend who's oved her from afar for years, Lisa wouldn't know if her mother was dead or alive. But her stepfather refuses to let Lisa interfere, so he hires NINA a multinational organized crime group, to assault Annie, to lure Lisa out into the open where she's abducted.


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Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith.


For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself.

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What books are on your nightstand?

Three Recommended Reads

If you're always on the lookout for good Christian reading material, both fiction and non-fiction, I've got three recommendations for you. I had the pleasure of reviewing these three books for FaithfulReader.com this month. I've posted the back cover copy for all three, and links to my reviews are included at the end of each blurb.

POSSESSION by Rene Gutteridge

Suspense/Thriller

Back cover copy:

In the aftermath of investigating the D.C. sniper case, detective Vance Graegan is burned out on life and love. Hoping to save his marriage, he quits the force and moves his wife and son to the other side of the country. But when the movers decide to hold his belongings for ransom, Vance is determined to ensure his family's new beginning is not ruined. Soon, though, losing his possessions becomes the least of his problems, as everything they are fighting for begins to unravel in the hands of Vance's past. In an unforgettable climax, a little boy's innocent faith brings a group of desperate people to their knees. What is at stake counts for everything, but nothing can prepare Vance for who is behind it.

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MAY COOLER HEADS PREVAIL by T.L. Dunnegan
Mystery

Back cover copy:

The last time Dixie's Aunt Connie saw her fiance' was the night before their wedding. Now, forty years later, he's wrapped in pink cellophane and lying in Connie's flower cooler...

Psychologist Dixie Tanner has been recruited by her uncle to help prove her aunt's innocence in the murder of Aaron Scott. But when Dixie arrives home in Kenna Springs, she finds her loyal-but-wacky relatives have taken matters into their own hands and are determined to find the killer before anyone misses the victim. There are just two little problems...that pesky body in pink and the real murderer--who soon decides that Dixie and her aunts and uncle know too much for his own good.

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SOUL PRINT by Pastor Mark Batterson

Christian Living

Back cover copy:

In Soulprint, Mark Batterson pours the insight and energy he's known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering who you are...and the freedom of discovering who you're not. The wonderful fact is that your uniqueness is God's gift to you, and it's also your gift to God.

A self-discovery book that puts God at the center rather than self, Soulprint encourages you to recognize and explore the five defining moments in your life that will determine your destiny. Along the way, you'll find that you're not just turning the pages of a book. You're turning the pages of your remarkable, God-shaped, world-changing life.

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To check out a long list of titles releasing by ACFW member authors this month, check out my Christian Fiction Examiner page: SNUGGLE UP WITH THESE FEBRUARY INSPIRATIONAL RELEASES

What good books have you read lately?