Thursday, July 7, 2016

Clash Champ--Her One and Only by Becky Wade

Congratulations to Becky Wade 
and her novel
Her One and Only
for taking home this month's Clash crown!


PURCHASE

About the book:
After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

Becky also has a FREE book sale going on RIGHT NOW!
Undeniably Yours





What Becky's voters had to say:
~I have read and loved Becky Wade's books for awhile now! She is talented and brilliant. I love having the option to read romantic fiction that is Christian based and clean for the soul. It's wonderful! Thank you!!
~I wouldn't even need a beach to want to read your book, Becky Wade!
~LOVE Becky Wade!! Loved the conclusion to the Porter Family Series!! Perfect book poolside or other Summer destination or really any place any time!! :)
~Even though I have only read one of the books on this list (I look forward to checking some more of these out) i want to thank all the authors for doing what they do. I believe God uses you to help others. I love reading because it can just help me escape sometimes and than start fresh and go forward. Also encouraging our relationship with God through seeing your characters growing in faith. Thank you for writing even when it toughs because it makes a difference and matters to people like me!!!
~I just received a whole set of Becky Wade's books and can't wait to read them
~Becky Wade, I love your books. Keep up the great work
~I have loved all of Becky Wade's books! I am never disappointed with any of her books - I look forward to each next one. They are always on my to purchase list as soon as they come out - one of my new favorite authors! :)



Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Inspirational YA from Leslea Wahl


About the Book:
He’s an egotistical snowboarder with a silver medal.

She’s a judgmental honors student with a flair for photography.

Slashed tires….False accusations….A coded text message….When all they can see are each other’s flaws, how can Jake and Sophie work together to figure out what’s really been happening at the abandoned gold mine?

Follow Sophie and Jake into secret tunnels as they unravel the mystery and challenge each other to become who God wants them to be.

Print $10.95
Ebook $10.40
ISBN 978-0819860132
Buy at Amazon

A Brief Interview with Leslea:

Tell about the story, how it took root for you.
The Perfect Blindside is an adventurous mystery about two teens. Jake, a silver-medal winning snowboarder who is dealing with his new found fame as well as the unwanted move to a small Colorado mountain town and Sophie, a studious high school student who thinks Jake is arrogant and full of himself. When they find themselves entangled in some strange events they must work together to uncover the mystery set in the town’s abandoned gold mine. The underlying theme of this book is to find and use your gifts from God to help others.

As a mother of three, I was often very frustrated with the things my growing children were exposed to through movies, television, music, and even literature. The societal messages that bombarded them didn’t always coincide with our faith. As my children grew and began reading middle grade and young adult novels, I struggled to find books that my kids wanted to read and exemplified the morals I was trying to instill in them. Then one day this story of Jake and Sophie literally popped into my mind. Characters and scenes just kept coming to me until I finally had to write them down. 

Share one or two things you learned during research or the publication journey.
I really feel God led me to write this book so what I’ve learned through this process is to listen to Him. Besides the fact that the story came to me in an unusual way, other odd things happened as well. Out of the blue things related to the story appeared in the mail, and when I researched the name of my fictional town to see if there had ever been a Silver Springs Colorado, I was shocked to find that not only had there once been such a town, but incredibly it had been located in the exact spot I now envisioned it. I had no doubt God was leading me.
When I finally felt it was ready, I began sending it out to publishers but wasn’t getting any interest. Even though the rejection letters were piling up, I knew God had a plan so I kept praying and asked Him to guide me. And He did. I was browsing at a local bookstore one day and came across a young adult book that changed everything for me. The novel combined all the elements I loved in a story - humor, action, mystery, a little romance, and amazingly it had a Christian message. I hadn’t considered writing the book from a Christian perspective, but I realized by changing the genre I could not only create characters that kids could really relate to - teens who struggled with everyday problems and relied on their faith - but could also include my belief that we all have gifts and talents from God that we should use to help others.

What do you hope readers will tell other readers?
I hope readers tell others - “Hey, I read this great YA book that is fun and adventurous. I love these characters and can’t wait to read their next adventure. You’ve got to check it out.”

What are you up to next?
I have a few things in the works. Right now I’m working on Jake and Sophie’s next adventure with a sequel to The Perfect Blindside. In October my second Christian Young Adult novel will be released, which I’m really excited about. You can visit my website at www.LesleaWahl.com for more information on all my upcoming projects.

An Unexpected Role – due out in October
Josie Del Rio has spent the last two years cautiously navigating the perils of high school.  Just as she is about to emerge unscathed and finally move up in social standing as an upperclassman, her author mother releases her newest YA novel. Though a work of fiction, Josie’s classmates assume the embarrassing events that fill the book are about her and mercilessly humiliate her, making the most anticipated summer of her life a teenage nightmare.       

Josie flees to a South Carolina island to stay with her aunt in hopes of reinventing herself. Her summer transforms into the one of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only begins to rely on her faith but along the way also discovers herself.


About the Author:
After a fulfilling career as a stay-at-home mom, Leslea Wahl has now turned her interests to reaching teens through encouraging Christian fiction. Her debut novel, The Perfect Blindside, won an Illumination Christian Book Award Silver Medal in January and was recently awarded First Place honors at the Catholic Press Association Annual Book Awards.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Never Tomorrow psychological thriller from Judith Rolfs

30237943

ISBN-13: 9781533305947
Publication date: 05/18/2016 from Prism Book Group
Pages: 336
$13.99 Print, $3.99 Ebook
A compelling mystery with a powerful theme of forgiveness and healing...

Journalist Whitney Barnes investigates the mysterious death of her mother and three women from Cortland City seeking the thread that links them to an enigmatic killer. Why are women being murdered with no apparent motives for their death? Police are mystified at the lack of clues and a growing sense of fear surrounds the community. Who will be the next victim?

Determined to find the killer, Whitney discovers these women were dealing with wounds from their troubling pasts, but what was their connection? She teams up with Dr. Sarah Stevens, an expert on women’s issues, to ferret out information while TV talk show host Rich and real estate broker Jordan vie for Whitney’s affection.

Whitney discovers new strength within her but is it powerful enough to cope with this dark force of evil? Suspense escalates as Whitney becomes the killer’s next target.

My review:
Never Tomorrow is one of those mysteries that make the reader twitch and look over a shoulder while reading. It’s Whitney’s story, the daughter of the first victim in this troubling story of the investigation of a serial killer still at work. As a journalist, Whitney is in a prime seat of power to search for clues, with or without the cooperation of the small town police chief, who is on her side and not too proud to quietly accept help, as long as she stays on her side of the fence and doesn’t get herself killed too. Which is likely the deeper she digs.

Rolfs, a therapist, has created a large cast with multiple layers of personal issues that have you chasing down well-trampled bunny trails while the killer stares you in the face the entire time. While well-populated, each character has his or her own quirks and story line that keep them separated, even if you dare to put the book down for a day. Told in multiple viewpoints, sometimes a single time from a particular character, the reader is held at chilling arm’s length as the killer calmly presents the reasons behind the murder even as you get an inkling of what might be coming. Some repeated use of titles and full names and repetitious scenarios either heighten tension or slow the action depending on reader preference. For those who like a story laced with all the right reasons to live no matter who endangers your life.

About the Author:
Judith RolfsJudith Rolfs is an award-winning author who writes about family and relationships in her mystery novels and non-fiction. She's been published in every genre. Her acclaimed adult mystery thrillers are Directive 99, Bullet in the Night and Never Tomorrow.

As an author and professional marriage and family counselor she focuses on motivating people to live their best lives - emotionally, physically and spiritually. In her thirties, she researched the complexity of the natural world and moved from agnosticism to faith in God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Judith has also written a Tommy Smurlee children's mystery fantasy series, how-to books for men and women's relationships and parenting, and devotionals like Breathless Minute Meditations.

Her home bases are Wisconsin and Florida where she lives with her husband and best friend, Wayne, and their chocolate lab, Alex. She says she has the best job in the world. "I meet amazing people every day and some are even real. I'm never bored." She blogs at www.judithrolfs.blogspot.com Website: www.judithrolfs.com




Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Preview of Knight in Shining Apron from Carole Brown



Stay Tuned!
Enjoy this preview of Carole Brown's upcoming Romance Mystery. I'll share my review and another note with the purchase links when the book releases.

COMING SOON: Knight in Shining Apron
Carole Brown

About the Book
Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia.  Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, top notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play?

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past?

Carole shares about Trust Issues
Trust Issues by Carole Brown

We’ve done a lot of marriage and spiritual ministry through the years, and one of the biggest issues is trust. In this world of immoral lifestyles, it’s easy for one or the other marital companion to mistrust the other. It takes two people committed and determined to stay together.

In Knight in Shining Apron, Starli Cameron has serious issues with trust because of her past abusive and unfaithful husband. Although Joel keeps assuring her that she can trust him, she needs to see that faithfulness and sincerity from him in action. The least little thing from him shoots her doubts skyward again.

Though Joel is happy-go-lucky and has always been confident in himself, his God and others, he slowly learns that it takes more than enthusiastic assurances to convince her that he is for real.

Only with Joel’s persistence and striving to be what he says he is--and God’s help--does Starli finally learn to let go of her bitterness and fear, to live and love again.  

About Carole
Besides being an active participant of many writing groups, Carole enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance and whimsy into her books, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Connect with Carole:
Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/

Friday, June 24, 2016

Breaking Barriers, with Gail Pallotta

Breaking Barriers (Love Is Book 8) by [Pallotta, Gail]

Breaking Barriers
Love Is series novella 8
Gail Pallotta

Love is…not easily angered.
Except when hatred and violence rule.

Gunshots ring out as Ann Jones enters the church. She hides in the bathroom until they stop, then stumbles into the sanctuary. The congregation lies dead in pools of blood. To rebuild the church, she starts True Light Guardians. At the first meeting, she’s attacked by a terrorist, but rescued by James Crawford. He melts her heart, cold from her father’s abuse, and they fall for each other. She’s afraid to commit to love that might grow angry later, like the type she knew as a child. James yearns to stop other attempts on Ann’s life, but can’t. Tormented by her constant risks, he breaks up with her. When an assault sends her to the hospital, an unlikely ally shares Ann’s plight with James, but he reveals a lead that puts all three of them in even more danger.

Inspirational romance novella
Near future events
$2.99 eBook Buy on Amazon
Bundled Print coming in the future


When I was in college I used to run into an atheist in the small cafe where we gathered for Coca-Colas, hamburgers and French fries after class. I tried to avoid him, because he always hopped over to my table and started an argument about my faith.

Perhaps he comes to mind on the release day of Breaking Barriers for several reasons. One, he was angry at me because I am a Christian. Even though today I can’t recall which verses he used, he’d take passages from the Bible and try to make me say they weren’t true. When I wouldn’t, he’d retort with a scientific argument and claim it had to be right.

The second reason he comes to mind—it was the mention of God’s love that finally silenced him. One day I grew so frustrated I asked, “If there’s no God, where does love come from? Why don’t you mix me up a little bowl of it? If scientists could do it, they would, because they could sell a ton of it for lots of money.”

His mouth gaped.

He never trotted to my table again.


Since then I’ve read that we have chemicals in the brain that produce love. I’ve often wondered if he came up with that theory. Even if that were true, the chemicals in the brain came from somewhere, and that would still lead back to God. I hope it wasn’t him. I hope he thought about God’s great love for us and decided to read the Bible. 

Lisa's review:
In the very near future Christians in the US are targeted for destruction. Ann knows, or thinks she knows many who could be likely culprits when she’s being stalked and attempts made on her sanity and life. When she takes on the job of leading disenfranchised and now underground church members in a new united effort to save the faith, attempts on the people of faith ramp up. The new man in Ann’s life, James, shows her not only how to practice what she preaches, but also how to trust God and let go of painful mistrust she’s carried since childhood. Ann’s stubbornness about her personal safety gives James more angst than he believes he can handle.

The story contains some humor mixed in with the real possibilities of future and present attacks. We’re not as safe as we think we are. Pallotta’s story is told through several viewpoints and focus on the gentle and growing love between two people caught up in frightening events outside of what we’ve come to accept as reasonable and expected safety. The goons might provide a little comic relief, but the potential situations underscore a general lack of respect that seems rampant in these times. When Ann can’t trust family, boss, workmates, maybe not even colleagues or friends, what’s left? A short novella will transport readers into a realm where trust not only relies on being able to sort out feelings, but also on faith.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel


Time Trap

Time Trap
By Danele J. Rotharmel
Time Travel/Romance

$3.99 eBook/$16.99 print
ISBN: 978-1-943104-56-7

When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate. While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program. As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question. A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself.

Buy at the following links
LISA: Danielle, I love your series premise, though I wondered about how some
of the travels worked. Can you share with us some of your conundrums?

DANELE: Conundrums were definitely on my mind when I wrote Time Trap. You see, at the time, I was very ill—so ill that I was quarantined in my home. I literally talked to people through the window glass. Quarantine wasn’t fun, and it lasted a long time--seven years.

Now, what does quarantine have to do with the conundrums in Time Trap? Everything! My whole life while I was writing Time Trap was a conundrum. That’s why I included so many in my story. You see, before I became ill, I served God faithfully. I expected Him to keep me from harm. Instead, I became so sick that I almost died. I had to quit my job and stop driving my car. I couldn’t go to church, to stores, to restaurants, or out with my friends. I was shut up inside my house like some sort of weird zoo exhibit. I felt so much despair that I turned my back on God, but eventually, I reconciled my faith and my circumstances.

When I wrote Time Trap, I explored some of my questions about God. And as the years of isolation slowly passed, I learned several truths. I learned that God is faithful. I learned that He will stand by us even when we temporarily lose faith in Him. I learned that this life is truly a momentary vapor. Pain comes, and pain goes—but God remains the same. And most of all, I learned that when we are in the middle of a trial, we can’t always see the great things that are just up ahead.

I thought God was being mean when He allowed me to become ill, but what I’ve learned is that God allowed me to walk that painful path because He knew it was going to lead to something beautiful. During quarantine, I had time to draw closer to God. I studied the Bible and memorized vast quantities of Scripture. What I went through was painful, but it was beneficial. Besides my spiritual transformation, Quarantine also gave me the time I needed to write my books. During those long, painful years, I wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles (Time Trap is book two). If I hadn’t been ill, my books probably wouldn’t have been written. Quarantine also opened up a path of ministry. Because of the publication of my books, I started a blog, and on https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/, I discuss the lessons I learned during my illness. My blog is being read around the world. If my life hadn’t unfolded in the way that it did, I never would have had the opportunity to touch so many people for the Lord.

Life isn’t fair. Life hurts. If we only look at the pain, we can become bitter toward God. But if we quiet ourselves and trust that everything will be okay, we learn that Romans 8:28 isn’t just a nice verse—it’s a powerful reality. God will turn every hurtful, confusing thing in our lives into something beautiful if we let Him. Our responsibility is to hold on and trust that God is real, God is good, God is concerned about everything that happens to us, and God is trustworthy. When we hold onto these truths, we can face the conundrums in life with peace—and even with joy. That’s what I have learned, and that’s what I tried to express in Time Trap.




My review:
Another romance amidst the astounding horror of a TEMCO project gone horribly awry. When a time counselor works to save a vulnerable teen in the near past, they unwittingly unleash a murderer who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on all those blamed for removing the object of desire. 

Book Two in the Time Counselor series takes a dramatic and gruesome turn even while loose ends are woven throughout and the future personas of those involved not only reach back to help at the exact right moments, but look fondly upon unfolding events. This begs the question, which is addressed in the story, of whether and especially why not prevent catastrophe when able to do so. Shouldn't suffering be avoided when possible? The answer is one for the ages and the subject of good discussion.

Told in multiple viewpoints in voices from the past and future, readers of the series, and new readers will welcome old friends and nemeses, find new villains to keep you awake at night, and a fluid, highly intertwined and entertaining visit to the future, the past, and a dramatic present as the founder of TEMCO is both available and unavailable to help his staff during their most dire project so far. Be warned: This ride is not for the faint of heart, despite the occasional lighter moments during the pursuit of true soulmates and the search for everlasting love. I especially enjoyed the creative clues used to track the murderer. Recommended for those who love a good conundrum with a truly warped antagonist and uber determined victors.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Clash of the Titles Alliance featuring Bitterroot Bride

A beautifully spun story about the power of second chances. ~ Amazon Reviewer
I loved The Bitterroot Bride! The part where she compares church 
to riding a trot made me laugh out loud.  ~A. Chatman




About the book:

No one knows the real Emmalee Warren, just what they want from the infamous prostitute. Men are coming out of the woodwork to stake a claim on the miner's widow. They wanted her body before. Now they want her money. Hiring a lawyer, Richard Lewis, to save her from financial ruin might let her start over where no one knows Miss Ellie. Becoming an unknown is the only way to freedom…or is it? Can she leave her past and build a new future?

Purchase


Chat with Angela:

Ques: We heard there was something special that happened to you while writing your fourth book in the historical romance series, Montana Beginnings. What was special about the Bitterroot Bride heroine for you?
 
Angela: Writing Miss Emmie learning to read became an amazing experience. Though I’d learned to read at four, I didn’t understand how to connect and read people until well into my adulthood. So while Miss Emmie became proficient in reading, I became proficient in relationships. She’d eat up every book she could get her hands on and studied with intensity. I did the same thing, but about relational topics.

Ques: When did you realize the parallel character arc had so much in common with your real life?

Angela: About halfway through the first draft an epiphany happened. I stopped, took a day or so to really think about my personal experience, then began an intentional focus on writing the emotional parallel.

Ques: What do you hope Bitterroot Bride does for readers?

Angela: I hope this story is both entertaining and encouraging. I’d like readers to absorb the idea that like Miss Emmie and me, if you have the desire to learn something then you can. Age doesn’t matter.

Ques: Can you tell us the titles and a little about the Montana Beginnings series?

Angela: All four titles are set in Helena, MT from 1889 – 1895. It’s right when we became a state, but mining couldn’t support us forever. The Debutante Queen introduces us to Calista who steals an orphan off the street to protect her from a cruel master. Eleven Pipers Piping brings forward the newsies, newspaper boys and orphan train leftovers, into Mirielle’s classroom. Then in Taking the Plunge, Delphina takes us back to the iconic Broadwater Natatorium as a swim instructress. Then Emmalee enters the scene as we find out how Montana chose her state flower. Each of these lovely Victorian ladies finds her true love while carving out a meaningful life in Montana’s frontier. 

~~~~~~~

About Angela:
Angela Breidenbach is a bestselling author and host of Grace Under Pressure Radio on iTunes. Angela is the Christian Author Network's president. And yes, she's half of the comedy duo, Muse and Writer, on social media.
Connect Here:
Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest: @AngBreidenbach