Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Sneak Peak at Salsa and Speedbumps by Susan M. Baganz

One moment of sin leads to a path of pain . . . and unexpected love.

Welcome to Stephanie and Roberto's story! They have serious chemistry, but how many hurdles can they overcome? Both fun and deeply moving, this book will engage you from the start. Here's what readers have to say:

Fantastic read. Riveting from cover to cover. Susan has great storytelling skills that speak volumes. Although the book itself is fiction it did bring to the forefront the reality and seriousness of human trafficking.
Althea Zamzow (Amazon Review)

This book skillfully handles many issues in today’s society: date rape, addiction to pain killers, kidnapping, human trafficking, and the mafia. The well-written story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and the book is hard to put down. How much more can Robbie and Stephanie take before they’re broken apart by life’s circumstances?
Victoria Pitts Caine (Amazon Review)

Listen in on a conversation from the book:


“Christmas is just around the corner.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Come on, dad and I didn’t do too bad getting a tree up and decorated.”
“You did a fine job. Much better than I could have managed with my bulging belling getting in the way.”
“I happen to be fond of your bulging belly. Reminds me of Santa Claus.”
“Very funny.” She snuggled up to Robbie’s side. “If you had a wish for Christmas, what would it be?”
“That forty years from now I would be as in love with you as I am today.”
Stephanie smiled. “I like that.”
“Did you have Christmas wish?”
“Mine wasn’t big enough.”
“What was it?”
“Really? You will laugh at me.”
“Really, I want to know.”
“I want a puppy.”
“A puppy.”
“Yes, a puppy.”
“We may need to wait awhile for that one. Dogs are not allowed on our lease.”
“I know, but you asked. Wishes don’t have to be realistic.”
“No, they don’t. But how about I lick your face and pant in your ear. Will that do in the meantime?”
Stephanie grinned and gave her husband a kiss, “Oh, that will do.”

So where did this story come from?

Susan, can you tell us what inspired you to write Salsa and Speedbumps?


The title was suggested by a friend after I wrote the first draft of Pesto & Potholes. I hadn’t really thought of writing a second novel but figured Renata’s roommate, Stephanie, who seemed to have things all together, might need to have her world shaken up a bit. I also knew someone who had been a victim of a date rape but those were words not really used much years ago. She kept the baby, met a great guy, became a Christian and married after the child was born. He adopted the little girl. And Roberto . . . well, I had to get some salsa in there somewhere so having a Hispanic character seemed a good way to do that along with busting some stereotypes about that culture in the process. Roberto’s back issues . . . well, I’ve struggled some with that but have known people with far worse pain like what he experiences . . . so he struggles with an issue many people have but don’t talk about, intense pain while recovering from an addiction to narcotics. The story became far more intense than I ever anticipated too and the heat between Roberto and Stephanie starts to build pretty early in the story.

The bigger question other than the issues was how does a Christian woman and man stay true to their faith and have integrity when life throws curveball after curveball their way. How do they navigate a relationship in the midst of those trials as well? It was fun to explore.

About the book:


Stephanie’s life hits a speedbump in the wake of her boyfriend’s sin. Splitting up with him, she faces a future of difficult choices shaded in shame. She wants to do what is right but the new man in her life leaves her fantasizing about a future that is now beyond her grasp.

Roberto finds his heart and professional world turned upside down by the beautiful bombshell. He struggles with his own inner demons and past so he’s not about to cast stones. When he is accused of immoral behavior, and temptation haunts him from every side, can he stand true to the calling God has given him?

Joining forces to face the future though comes at a high cost for them both as their individual pasts rise up to destroy them and their relationship. Integrity comes with a high price tag. With a deep faith in God and the help of friends at Orchard Hill Church, can they find happiness and love they long for?

Find the book on Amazon



Meet the author:

Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.

Susan speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church as well as on the board of the local ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writer’s) chapter. Her favorite pastimes are lazy ones—snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.

You can learn more by following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, her twitter feed @susanbaganz or her fan page, www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz/me

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Seventh Dimension series with Lorilyn Roberts' The City

Seventh Dimension - The City: A Young Adult Fantasy (Seventh Dimension Series) (Volume 4)

The City by Lorilyn Roberts

Paperback $12.95
ISBN-13: 978-1523887910


About the book:
The Illuminati want Shale’s ancient scrolls and they’ll stop at nothing to find them. Shale and Daniel will stop at nothing to protect them. The battle rages from Jerusalem to Shambhala in search of Daniel’s father. With the apocalypse looming, Shale must choose between mortal love and immortality.

My review:
This fourth entry into the Seventh Dimension series brings the battle against good and evil back to Earth. Although I'm a bit weary of treating public high school science teachers as the bad guy, I trust Roberts's story-telling skills enough to move on from a dramatic opening in class to the reunion of Shale and Daniel as they pick up the search for Daniel's father in contemporary Israel and Asia. Strangely, Shale's biological father is the face of a deeper conspiracy in the hunt for a closely guarded secret behind the physical means to cross the barriers of time--but what this will mean for the rapidly approaching Armageddon and whether mankind can shut out God will become an intergalactic issue, as much as a challenge to our young couple, is anyone’s guess. Or is it a carefully orchestrated event across time? Daniel and Shale not only face the external pressures of a world in transition, but also their own faith in God and each other. Trust has many avenues and faith many faces.

Roberts is a well-rounded story teller and uses her experiences in international travel to add wonderful layers to her credible characters.

Lorilyn Roberts
About the author:
Lorilyn Roberts is an award-winning Christian author who writes for the young and the young at heart. Lorilyn is a single mother by choice. She adopted her two daughters from Nepal and Vietnam. Read her Amazon best-selling memoir, Children of Dreams, endorsed by New York Times best-selling author Jerry Jenkins, and be inspired. Lorilyn has been a speaker at various events and functions, including women's groups, adoption support groups, and writer workshops. She is the founder of the John 3:16 marketing network.


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Clash of the Titles! February New Releases

At Clash of the Titles we make things easy for book lovers everywhere--including handpicking new releases we know you'll love. This week, we present five of Christian fiction's hottest new titles. Surely, one of them will be the right fit for you.

Introducing, February's New Releases clashing novels...

Don't forget to vote for the one that most catches your interest!


Will the quest for gold tear the Connor family apart?

~~~~~


He receives a diagnosis that alters the course of his life; she is an ICU nurse on the verge of burnout. Faith doesn't come easy for either.

~~~~~


When a pregnant widow returns from the mission field, family and friends rally to help. However she harbors a secret that threatens her relationship with God and may lead to her spiritual downfall.

~~~~~


Two women engineers race the clock to build the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft amid the backdrop of sabotage and murder, and while trying to deal with their own muddled personal lives.

~~~~


Unwilling to deal with his cancer prognosis, Dr. Steven Moore retreats to a happier time in his past—to the woman who once stole his heart, never suspecting she might offer hope for his future.

~~~~~

Cast your vote below. Winner announced next Thursday, March 31!


Thursday, March 24, 2016

Everything About You novella with Lisa Lickel

It's a little weird and awkward promoting myself, but I am proud of this series and tickled to be part of it. 

My novella, Everything About You, is all in good fun, fifth in the Love Is series based on
I Corinthians 13:4-9. The first four books released in February:

Hounded, by Anita Klumpers
Clue Into Kindness, by Gay N Lewis
Greener Grasses, by Julie Cosgrove
A Work in Progress, Nancy Bolton




Check out Lisa’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…


Everything About You
“Love is not proud…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4

She needs a movie set miracle, he needs cash...can a farmer morph into a movie star in five days? 

If Shelly has her way, Danny will become America’s next heartthrob and she’ll get her own promotions company. He’s already gorgeous, a little naive, and needs to work on that accent. To Danny, Shelly is on the pompous side, but holds the key to his real dreams...if he can figure out all the rules, say the right things for the daily vlog session, keep his heart strings in place, dodge Shelly’s vicious former boyfriend and the movie star diva. 
Shelly’s about to lose a lot more than her heart if she can’t get a handle on her wounded pride and learn who to trust.


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Julianna Deering and Dressed For Death


A recency-ero costume party should be no more than an amusing diversion, but it seems, wherever Drew Farthing goes, mystery--and murder--are on the guest list.


Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-Era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew’s former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she’d taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder. The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he’s trusted and admired since his childhood—someone who’s been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew’s never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn’t know who to trust, and he’s not ready for the secrets he’s about to uncover—or the danger he’ll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

PURCHASE


About the author:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey.

Friday, March 18, 2016

March Madness weekend - free and discounted books

MARCH 18-20 ONLY here is a long list of deeply discounted, 99c, or free books ON KINDLE or PRIVATE AUTHOR website from some of my author friends. Some are fiction and some non-fiction but all are clean reads. I hope you enjoy some of these. Curl up with a good book this weekend!

dead dreams ecover 600pixelsDead Dreams, Book 1 $0 for you! http://emmaright.com/dead-dreams-young-adult-teen-psychological-thriller/young-adult-thriller-offer   (It's $4.99 on Amazon) 2014 Reader's Favorite Gold Award Winner for YA Mystery Eighteen-year-old Brie O'Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams--of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality. 

Seventh Dimension - The Door, Book 1 FREE 2013 International Book Awards Finalist
The Door is the first book in the Seventh Dimension Series that combines contemporary, historical, and fantasy elements into a Christian "coming-of-age" story. A curse put on Shale Snyder, because of a secret, shrouds her with insecurity and fear. Following suspension from school, Shale's best friend isn't allowed to see her anymore and she feels abandoned by her family. When a stray dog befriends her, she follows it into the woods. There she discovers a door that leads to another world--a garden with talking animals, demonic underlings, forbidden love, and a king unlike any other.

Seventh Dimension - The Castle, Book 3 99 CENTS Foreword Reviews' 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards Finalist
Haunted by a recurring dream of his missing father in a mysterious castle,17-year-old Daniel is captured by the Romans and finds asylum in the Temple. There he discovers a scroll that reveals his future concerning a wager between good and evil. But the stakes are raised when he witnesses the trial and crucifixion of Yeshua.

Keeper of Reign, Book 1, Reign Trilogy FREE From Award Winning, Best-Selling Author, Emma Right, comes this top selling fantasy for teens and pre-teens. This children fantasy promises adventure and mystery in a magical Kingdom called Reign.
Life couldn't get more harrowing for Reign's cursed inhabitants, the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? Jules, the heir of a Keeper, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago.

First Children of Farmington – stories of historical ethnic settlers of a typical Midwestern community. FREE
The Potawatomi Boy  Green Leaf's longs for a friend his own age he can play with, explore and fish with. When he meets a Luxembourger boy, Henri, Green Leaf is sure they could become friends. Green Leaf's mother says, "Friends learn to speak one another's words." But will Green Leaf learn to say his friend's words well enough to save Henri when he falls into danger? The German Girl - Huldah Hartz is a curious girl who loves to watch the butterflies and grasshoppers. The flowers around her new home are pretty, especially the ones that grow close to the dark woods, where Papa and Mama say she must not play. The French Girl  How can Marie fit in with her new friends?  When her neighbor Augusta makes a poor choice at the county fair, Marie must decide who is a true friend and what new customs to follow. The Irish Girl Who can Ann find for a grandfather? With so many aunts and uncles, why doesn't Ann Riley have a grandfather? Her friend, Katie Murphy, has a special grandfather who tells stories and remembers all the things he did at home in Ireland. When Katie's little sister tells Ann that everyone has to have a grandfather, Ann decides to find one of her own. The Saxon Boy - When John Klessig's father dies suddenly in the mid-1850s, Mama marries Mr. Ernst, who is very different from Papa. The Yankee Boy - How can one boy change the minds of his neighbors? When Matthew LaCraft's father gives up his ship, the Mary Jean, Matthew is going to have to stay home and go to school. Worse, it's a new school his father helped to build. Matthew would much rather go to school with the boys he knows in Boltonville. When a Potawatomi boy, Green Leaf, attends the new school, not all the neighbors are happy. What can Matthew do to help everyone get along? Will his plan work? 

Summer's Winter  FREE When Jeanine finally connects with film star Jamie Newkirk, the object of her obsession, will it be a dream come true? Or will she be pulled into his family's nightmare of secrets, control, and death? At age ten, preacher's daughter Jeanine fell in love with young movie star Jamie Newkirk and the character he played--Danny Summer. Jeanine believed God Himself promised Jamie would be part of her life--that he would rescue her from boring rural Georgia. But eleven years later, she's graduating college and about to settle into the dreary nine-to-five life with no word from Jamie or God.

Spiralling Out of Control The Spiralling Trilogy Books1 & 2 99 CENTS each Set in Australia, these novels contain adult themes Recommended reading audiences 15+ Temptation, depression, seduction, betrayal ... Not what Stephanie was expecting at fifteen years of age. Uprooted from her happy, all-girl high school life with a dream filled future and thrown into an unfriendly co-ed school, Stephanie spirals into depression. When charismatic high school senior, Jason notices her, Stephanie jumps in feet first and willingly puts all her faith and trust in him, a boy she barely knows

Spiralling Out of theShadow With her security tied up in great friendships, life for Tabbie was a breeze... until her best friend moved interstate. That's when the exposing reality hit her. Who was she without her best friend? Forced to stand on her own, Tabbie finds a new confidence and sees the world for what it really is, her new convictions enlighten her to see her friends through a different lens.  Is Tabbie strong enough to stay out of Stephanie's shadow when Steph returns? Can Tabbie be true to herself without letting her friends slip through the cracks?

The Right Person (Montgomery Lake High Book 1)  99 CENTS Chris Dunkin has lived a life of excessive partying since he was twelve. At fifteen, he is drinking more often and trying heavy drugs to keep himself high. But his dream of becoming a pro athlete is slipping away as quickly as his grades. Chris is empty inside, bored with the partying scene, and incredibly attracted to Courtney Angeletti. However, Courtney is Bryan Sartelli's girlfriend and is also the mayor's straight-laced Christian daughter. Chris sees inner strength in Courtney that he finds very attractive. 

When Darkness Tries to Hide: Montgomery Lake High #2  99 CENTS As Chris Dunkin arrives for his first year of high school, he enters drug-free with a new attitude and a Christian set of values. But it doesn't take long before he realizes that he was a whole lot more popular when he was the "life of the party." 

The Battle for Innocence: Montgomery Lake High #3  99 CENTS Within a dimly lit hospital room, Chantal Kagelli peers at her boyfriend Andy's blank face. The Battle for Innocence flashes back to that pivotal year when the characters of Montgomery Lake High were first introduced to the temptations, peer pressures, and internal-struggles associated with adolescence. 


The Aftermath 99 CENTS The Aftermath follows Jason Davids' journey of self-discovery, as he tries to overcome a destructive lifestyle. Jason, a high school freshman, has been caught up in drug use for the past two years. After a natural disaster strikes his town and lands one of his classmates in a coma, Jason feels responsible for the tragedy, attributing the magnitude of the accident to his own drug problem. As he tries to navigate through his mixed emotions, struggle with faith, and the influences of his older brothers and peers, Jason finds himself entangled in an enigmatic situation with a mysterious girl from his school.

The Forces Within  FREE Last month, when a tornado wreaked havoc on my hometown, I suffered a severe head trauma. I have since experienced something much more disturbing. During my recovery celebration, I came face to face with a force more powerful than any weather phenomenon-something darker than I ever dared to imagine. Twice this past month, I woke up in a world that I did not recognize. I heard things that didn't align with my memories-things that made me question my identity, my beliefs, and my own thoughts. I still cannot fully comprehend what happened to me or distinguish reality from illusion. Am I, perhaps, discerning an additional dimension of life that I was too blind-too jaded-too scared-to see before?

When God Speaks Free When God Speaks is a transformational book based on God's promises. If you commit to reading one devotional each day for 40 days and nights, you will come face to face with the faithfulness of God at the end of the journey. Anita takes you through her personal guide, you will not only be strengthened and encouraged in your faith, you will be challenged in the process. Joanne Ellison Teacher and Author Drawing Near to God Bible Study Series

 Get on Board and Stay on Board  Free "Get on Board and Stay on Board contains poems, articles, and short Bible studies. It is directed toward unbelievers and believers alike. It is designed to lead the unbeliever to faith in Jesus Christ, and then help him or her in a spiritual journey. Articles and poems in section one of the book clearly challenge unbelievers about their need for salvation and admonish them to prepare for eternity before it is too late by accepting Jesus’ offer of salvation through His shed blood. 

 Feed your spirit - A collection of Devotionals on prayer  Free  Feed Your Spirit is a collection of devotionals on prayer. This book is a wonderful tool for Christians to develop a deeper relationship with God. "I really enjoyed the devotional - thanks again for sending it to me. I used it as a spiritual checklist for my prayer life and appreciated your vulnerability and the examples and symbols you provided within 


The King of the Trees(King of the Trees series, Book One) 99 CENTS What do an old wooden box, a jeweled pendant and some mysterious, green-garbed strangers share in common? When Rolin son of Gannon sets out to solve this riddle, his adventures take him worlds beyond the walls of his little log cabin. With the help of some grumpy griffins and a long-lost prophecy, Rolin and his newfound friends battle a sorcerer and his underworld army; deadly snake-trees; batwolves, dragons and other mythical creatures. On their perilous quest for the blessed Isle of Luralin, they must trust the King with their very lives. In the end, they learn that “The greatest help oft comes in harm’s disguise to those with trusting hearts and open eyes." 

My Fears Relieved: A Delaware Detectives Mystery Free It all began with a pocket knife which led to a mysterious inscription which led to a wolf. But there are no wolves in Delaware...or are there? It's up to the Delaware Detectives to find out. In book one, Abby and Jamie, along with their friends Scott and Phyllis, followed a trail of tantalizing clues to uncover a hidden fortune.


The Delaware Detectives Free What do the following have in common: a muntjac deer, a toilet, and a hairless cat? They are three key factors in uncovering a treasure that may or may not exist. But for Abby and Jamie Patterson, these items are essential ingredients to fulfilling their grandfather's greatest desire. Is the fortune real, or are the siblings following a path to nowhere as set down by an eccentric old woman? The quest is on, and time is running out.

Random Ramblings of a Raving Redhead Free Feeling overwhelmed by life? Grab a cup of hot chocolate and join me on a journey of personal experience combined with heartfelt encouragement and fun-filled observations. With a giggle here and a sniffle there, you’ll uncover new insights to lift your spirit, lighten your load, and comfort your heart. Each of the 111 short devotions contains life lessons with a Biblical perspective. 

What Happened To PrinceCharming? FREE What is a wife to do when she no longer recognizes the man she married? Within this book, you'll find the answer to that question along with Scriptural advice on making the most of your marriage. When you tied the knot, you made a promise to love your husband for better or for worse. I want to help you keep that promise!

The Lighthouse of Asaph: Unforgettable Christian Reflections 99 CENTS Roberto Ornan Roche's book "The Lighthouse of Asaph: Unforgettable Christian Reflections" is a collection of beautifully written devotionals/essays on the joys and struggles of daily Christian life. It is a very deep and thought provoking book that will touch the core of your soul. I found the book to be both encouraging and inspiring. There are some issues with the translation from the author's Spanish language to English. This should not be a deterrent in buying and reading the book. The depth and honesty found in the stories more than overcome these translation issues. This book is a faith builder.

Financial Empowerment:Realign Your Finances to God's Will 99 CENTS Read this Readers' Favorite award-winning title Financial Empowerment: Realign Your Finances to God's Will In this award-winning title, "Financial Empowerment", Pamela explores nine key areas of personal finance - creating wealth, tithing, saving, giving, investing, spending, borrowing, lending and planning. She examines the issues and misconceptions most experience in their finances and provides help with Biblical and practical solutions.

Blast of the Dragon's Fury (Andy Smithson Book One) 99 CENTS Winner of the Readers' Favorite 5 Star Award! Do you love dragons? Fire breathing dragons? Dragons bent on conquest? Shapeshifting seven-headed dragons? Then buckle up because this book has all manner of dragons! "I LOVED it! Totally hooked and want to hear more, especially about the dragons, epic fantasy & magic!" -- M. Tate, Book Reviewer

Power of the Heir's Passion (Andy Smithson Prequel Novella) FREE  When God Speaks is a transformational book based on God's prom
ises. If you commit to reading one devotional each day for 40 days and nights, you will come face to face with the faithfulness of God at the end of the journey. Anita takes you through her personal guide, you will not only be strengthened and encouraged in your faith, you will be challenged in the process.

Joanne Ellison Teacher and Author Drawing Near to God Bible Study Series