Life is a Highway with Tracy Krauss

Life Is a Highway 

Tracy Krauss

$2.99 eBook

$5.98 Print
ISBN-13: 9781491223741

Buy on Amazon 

c. 2014

About the Book:

Life is full of surprises and there are many unexpected twists along the way. Hope and guidance are within reach when you let God be your tour guide. Using Biblical examples sprinkled with personal anecdotes. This little book offers sound advice and is sure to lift your spirits. Based on a series of talks given at a Christian women's retreat, it can be used as a study manual for small groups or as a personal devotional.

My Review:

Connecting with other people of faith is important for encouragement and sharing life lessons and experiences. Krauss’s book is like a virtual visit with this uplifting author. The chapters vary a bit in length, but each is a deeply personal and honest reflection on one Christian’s faith walk. Scripture comes alive to me when I see it interpreted through the eyes and practice of others, role models, so to speak. Krauss shares honestly where she came from as a youth, how she gave her life to Christ, and the continued sometimes difficult but joyful walk as a wife and mother and daughter of the king.

The personal reflection questions are great, intentional, and made me think about how I want to be seen as a person of faith to my neighbors and what practicing m faith really means to me. It’s a short book but shouldn’t be read all in one gulp. I’ll be going back to it.

About the Author: Tracy Krauss is a multi-published author and playwright living in northern BC, Canada. For more, visit her website: http://www.tracykrauss.com

Love Is... Navy Blues by Julie Cosgrove

Book Number 7 in the Love Is Series from Prism Book Group has arrived!

First Corinthians 13:4-8a New International Version (NIV)  

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love never fails

Buy on Amazon
$2.99 single novella

From the Publisher:

Her fiancé cheated on her…in paradise. Brokenhearted and confused, Emma flies home to Fort Worth, Texas not sure what life without him will entail.

Ryan is being discharged from the Navy to join a gastroenterology private practice in Fort Worth. New city, new life. The last thing on his mind is falling in love. Until a forlorn lady sniffles in the seat beside him on the flight.

A storm, an emergency landing and an out of control ex-fiancé thrusts Ryan and Em into a dilemma. Each must make some tough choices, but will those involve each other? 

NOTE: Julie Cosgrove's earlier book in the series, Greener Grasses (love does not envy) was featured here in February.

My review: 
This addition to the series shows how versatile Cosgrove is as a writer. Her earlier book, Greener Grasses, featured twins in different lifestyle to show the concept of love does not envy. In Navy Blues, she illustrates "love is not self-seeking" though a honorable young veteran physician who finds an unexpected soul mate who just broke up with her fiance. 


Told in first person, Emma West shares all her inner turmoil, fears and doubts as she makes an effort to move on with her life. The former Navy doctor, however, seems to turn up whenever she needs him most--especially when the former cheating fiance turns up again. There's nothing cavalier about this former soldier who seeks only the best for everyone he encounters. Emma worries she's not good enough wile Ryan helps her learn what she's capable of.

Connect with Julie

www.juliebcosgrove.com   

blog: Where Did You Find God Today?

Twitter@JulieBCosgrove, LinkedIn, Facebook

Unlocking the truth of Daniel with Laura Davis

From the Publisher:

Do you long to immerse yourself in God's Word and discover its truths for yourself? The new and exciting Digging Deeper Series was created just for you! Embark on a fulfilling journey through God's Word using a foundation of Scripture as well as history. Are you ready to begin? Who are the Kings of the North and South and what role do they play in the end-times? Many have speculated on who they could be. Using Scripture and history as our guide, this study will seek to reveal the truth. Discover God's plan for the Jewish people and for the world. See how events played out historically, and where we can expect to be taken next. Undertake a journey through the Book of Daniel and discover God's plan for your life.

Available in Print and E-book
ISBN: 978-0973202212
Buy on Amazon

My Review:
Laura J. Davis, a trained Precepts Ministries teacher, isn’t afraid of tackling the tough stuff of Bible studies. After digging into Revelation in her book, He Who Has an Ear, she begins a Bible Study series called Digging Deeper with the book of Daniel.

What I like about this series is that it’s meant for group discussion, but can also be used for personal introspection. The author includes suggestions and directions for anyone with an interest to lead a group interested in exploring the Scriptures. She recommends using a particular version or translation of the Bible for the study, but does not limit the choice and even explains that she also uses a variety of translations for her studies.

Each of the twenty-two chapters contains a brief explanation of the events of the biblical era in which the book is taking place, some contextual lessons, potential interpretations and possible connections to contemporary events, and a life application. Between ten and twenty questions are included as food for thought, with extensive explanations on each chapter for the group facilitator included at the end of the book.

Recommended for persons and groups who enjoy discussion and analysis of Scripture.

James Andrew debut novel WEST

West book review

James Andrew

11.99 paperback

9.99 ebook

buy on Amazon

Paperback: 164 pages

Publisher: Rising Star Studios, LLC.; First edition (May 1, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-1936770724

About the book:

All is not well with Christopher Wilks. Nor is all as it seems. For one thing, he is ill-equipped for the mind-bending journey he is about to undertake. Hitching a ride in a strange fifties-era station wagon driven by an even stranger couple of elderly eccentrics he calls The Mister and Missus, Christopher finds his life unwinding along with the countless miles—all into the WEST. Is the journey real? Most certainly. But when is the natural actually supernatural? He’s not quite sure. Mystical campsites, impossible visitations, shattering memories come-to-life...the roadside attractions he encounters are incredible and exhilarating. James Andrew's WEST straps the reader in for a thrill ride through landscapes both painfully real, and wildly fantastical.

My review:

I loved the opening line of Andrew’s description of his quirky little novel. It’s not quite cliché, and it sets the tone for this ride of a lifetime.

Seeing one’s life before one’s eyes is not nearly as much fun as this clock-less journey with quaint and occasional surprising guides as Christopher visits his past. Where are we going? he asks after some time, when he’s had the time to recover from acute hopelessness in the gentle but unexpectedly fun  and poignant care of his hosts. Camping out, the endless supply of food, convenient pull-outs never seem to be a cause for question until Christopher’s hauntings, so to speak, begin to rouse him. From the innocuous question of how did they know my name, to passing through the eye of the needle in painful accusations to meeting people long gone from his life, the journey is more than allegory, and the destination coming quickly.

Told through Christopher’s eyes with gentle splashes from The Mister and The Missus, WEST is an interesting look at one interpretation of—without giving anything away—a reflection of a life not so well-lived. I never thought about needing to prepare for such a journey, but as I read I thought, why not? Those intrigued by spiritual things will enjoy this story. A few grammatical and punctuation issues made this editor stop a couple of times to make a mental fix, but the casual reader shouldn’t be bothered. Nicely done.

About the Author

Artist, Designer and sometimes writer, James Andrew lives and works on Hayden Island on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon. WEST was written during the long hospitalization of his wife Irene, who’s been faced with the challenge of recovering from several disabling strokes.

Clash of the Titles 2016 Laurel Winner Delia Latham

2016 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Delia Latham's novel 

~At First Sight~

is the winner of Clash of the Titles's sixth annual Laurel Award.

CONGRATULATIONS, DELIA!

Delia will receive the following: a beautiful banner to display on her website; a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, At First Sight; a feature tour on COTT's Blog Alliance; and a lovely plaque.

At First Sight was chosen by a panel of judges who narrowed the list of competing novels to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote. Delia's novel, At First Sight, took home the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest!

BRIEF SUMMARY OF At First Sight: 

Reagan Massey has gone through a great deal of trouble to make her cousin irresistible to the visiting single minister but things get a little sticky when Reagan falls in love with Cord Phillips herself…

Stay tuned for the full-length feature of Delia's winning novel, At First Sight!

Cindy Lynch and debut novel Bye For Now

Bye For Now

Cindy Lynch

About the Book:

Callista Lamply sits watching television 1,300 miles away from her hometown. In an instant she recognizes the place in which a horrific tragedy is taking place. While watching images of the scene unfold, Callie finds herself anxiously waiting to hear new details of those involved. Feeling frightened and alone, wishing she could turn back time when life was simple, her childhood memories begin to flood her consciousness.

Remembering in detail the summer of 1982, Callie recalls meeting a blond haired, blue eyed, handsome boy named Wyatt who, as luck would have it, lived several doors down from her grandfather’s camp. Callie and Wyatt begin a romance that blossoms from summer to summer, bringing them closer than Callie had ever imagined. If only her brother Jimmy could let go of his suspicions about Wyatt. Just because he is the kid brother of Jimmy’s arch nemesis doesn’t make him a bad guy. Does it?

The seasons change, and as Callie enters college she meets Charlie—the vivacious, devilishly handsome co-ed who quickly becomes an important part of her life. But is it more than that? Are her summers with Wyatt about to end?

Needing some clarity, Callie seeks out Marilyn- her loveable, quirky Aunt with an otherworldly voice of reason. Unexpectedly she finds Aunt Marilyn having a conversation with a blackberry bush and wonders just how dependable she can be.

With her love life in the balance, Callie is determined to make a decision, but which way should she turn? Will Wyatt make promises he can’t keep? Is there more to Charlie than fun and games? Is it worth the risk or is it time to say goodbye?

A brief interview with the author:

Cindy, tell us what you love about this book.

I love this book because I have had it bouncing around my head since I was 14 years old but never knew how to start it. When the Sandy Hook tragedy took place in my hometown, I knew I had the start to my story.

Please share a couple of things you learned along the way to publication.

Two things I have learned during my publishing process: 1) Find an editor that gets you, really gets you. Make sure they are on the same wave length and that they understand what you are trying to say or do creatively. I was lucky enough to find an editor like that in Keltin Barney. It makes for such an enjoyable ride. 2) Don't let the little things becoming daunting tasks. Getting your ISBN isn't as difficult as it may seem. Take baby steps and before know it you'll have a novel completed; you're very own paper baby.

Introduce us to a character:

Meet Maddie, one of my favorite characters in Bye For Now. She's as harsh and addictive as an unfiltered cigarette. She speaks the truth even if it isn't asked for. This character is based on a close friend of mine from college whom I have great admiration for her ability to speak the truth no matter the outcome.

What do you hope readers will pass on to other potential readers?

Truthfully I just want people to feel something reading my books. Whether it's pain, angst, fear, sorrow, happiness I just want you to feel emotion. My biggest compliment is when someone says to me that my book made them cry.

Tell us what you’re reading now.

I just finished reading Me Before You and it wrecked me. Talk about emotion! It was so well written that I didn't want to put it down. I anxiously await the film adaptation.

What’s next?

Next on my agenda is to publish the second book in the Bye For Now trilogy. Even Willows Weep, the second installment should be published by the end of May, 2016. I'm very excited to continue this trilogy.

--That sounds enticing, Cindy. Best wishes!

Thank you so much for allowing me to share my book with your viewers.

Sincerely,

Cindy Lynch

My book can be purchased on my website cindylynch.net, createspace.com, or amazon.com.It's also available on Kindle.

Julianna Deering and Dressed for Death

The Votes have come in, and we've got a winner!

DRESSED FOR DEATH

by Julianna Deering

Congratulations, Julianna!!

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. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016) and Murder on the Moor (Coming 2017). Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and six contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

Find her On the web:
www.juliannadeering.com
www.deannajuliedodson.com

On Facebook:
https://business.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering/
https://www.facebook.com/julie.dodson.9659

On Twitter:
@DeAnnaJulDodson

On Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565151.Julianna_Deering

Dressed for Death Back cover:

A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, But it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering 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 has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn't know whom 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.

Clash Comments:

• "Dressed for Death" is the best Drew Farthering mystery yet, and I'm really looking forward to the next one (and yes, even more after that)! Julianna Deering has a gift for storytelling that keeps me turning the pages long into the night, and her characters are always so vivid and lifelike! I love pulling out her books and re-reading them over and over again.

• Julianna Deering captured our hearts and attention with Drew Farthering mysteries....can't wait for more.

This sounds like such a FANTASTIC read! Ready to dive in? Want to peek at the sample? It's right here:

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD

And don't Miss Drew's Upcoming Adventure:

Murder on the Moor

At the urgent request of Drew's old school friend, Hubert "Beaky" Bloodworth, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Brontë hero. According to Beaky, there have been several incidents of mischief making out on the moor, property destroyed, fires started, streams dammed up, sheep and cattle scattered and, if local gossip is to be believed, the sighting of the shadowy figure of a great black hound. Worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church, and no one can imagine who would want to kill him.

Beaky is obviously smitten with his wife of eight months, the gorgeous and vivacious Sabrina Bloodworth, though it's hard to imagine what she sees in a man as awkward and plain as he. Drew can't help wondering if Sabrina's affections lie more with Beaky's money than himself and, just perhaps, with the fiery Welsh gamekeeper, Rhys Delwyn. Delwyn says poachers are to blame for the recent trouble, Sabrina claims the moor is haunted, and Beaky suspects that Carter Gray, a neighboring landowner with a longstanding grudge against the Bloodworths, is behind the episodes. But when someone else is murdered and the troubling incidents grow more threatening, Drew begins to suspect local ne'er-do-well Jack Midgley of more than poaching. But just how does Midgley fit into the scheme and who is paying him? It's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what is really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.

>>Would you like to see the cover for Murder on the Moor? Sign up for Drew’s News at http://www.juliannadeering.com/newsletter.php for exclusive series information and giveaways.

Have a blessed week, everyone!

From your friends at Clash of the Titles!

Jan Karon Come Rain or Come Shine

Mitford fans...rejoice!
Dooley and Lace are tying the knot...#13 has arrived.

Come Rain or Shine

Jan Karon

September 2015

About the Book:

Over the course of twelve Mitford novels, fans have kept a special place in their hearts for Dooley Kavanagh, first seen in At Home in Mitford as a barefoot, freckle-faced boy in filthy overalls.

Now, Father Tim Kavanagh's adopted son has graduated from vet school and opened his own animal clinic. Since money will be tight for a while, maybe he and Lace Harper, his once and future soul mate, should keep their wedding simple.

So the plan is to eliminate the cost of catering and do potluck. Ought to be fun. An old friend offers to bring his well-known country band. Gratis. And once mucked out, the barn works as a perfect venue for seating family and friends. Piece of cake, right?

In Come Rain or Come Shine, Jan Karon delivers the wedding that millions of Mitford fans have waited for. It's a June day in the mountains, with more than a few creatures great and small, and you're invited--because you're family.

By the way, it's a pretty casual affair, so come as you are and remember to bring a tissue or two. After all, what's a good wedding without a good cry?

Buy on Amazon

My Review:

For Mitford fans, Come Rain or Come Shine is one of those family conversations where you can come in the middle of and know who’s talking about what. The cousins and the neighbors are an open book, and all the advice is free and full of good intent regarding matters of love and the wedding. For that’s what this story is about—Dooley and Lace’s long-awaited marriage.

There are a few lovely little twists and surprises, some grief, a lot of joy, some wondering and bewilderment, a lot of pride. This, number thirteen in the series, would not be the best introduction to those new to Karon’s writing style. Folksy and familiar, the reader has always to feel as though stepping into the middle of someone’s thought, or to pick up a thread of conversation, or listen to the inkling of a great plan only to pick it up later, and to learn of an expected event, such as Dooley’s graduation from veterinarian school, but then come in after it’s done and feel slightly miffed that you missed the ceremony. Readers never quite know exactly where they are, but it’s the people of Mitford gathered not exactly in town but nearby, and you’re safe. You feel as though you’ve stepped into a 1930 scenario set in modern contemporary times and the breeze of a slight time warp as you adjust your shawls for a rock on the porch swing.

Full of layers of imagery and decision-making, revelations, hiding or being in the open, angst, finding the right dress, creating the right atmosphere, Come Rain or Come Shine is a lovely story of being oneself.

It’s good, it’s poignant, it’s humbling, and it’s home.

National Foster Care Month with Anne Garboczi Evans

 

Welcome Anne Garboczi Evans, to celebrate National Foster Care Month.

Anne, a licensed foster care provider, shares about two books that help anyone learn more about caring for those who need a safe and stable home.

Learn more at National Foster Care Month Coalition

Anne is offering an electronic copy of each of her books in a drawing from those who comment or share a story about how fostering has touched your life. Leave your email as well, please, to be entered. Thank you.

About the Books:

What's a Foster Family?

Alex's an only child who's used to having Mommy and Daddy all to himself. So when his parents start doing foster care and little Malik joins their home, Alex's not so sure he's happy about sharing.

Buy the Books:

What's a Foster Family? 

$3.50 eBook

$9.50 Print

What's a Forever Family?

 Read an excerpt:

On Tuesday, Bonnie’s brothers arrived.
“We’re twins,” said Charlie.
“But I’m bigger,” said Harry.
“No, you’re not,” said Charlie. He punched Harry.
Harry whacked Charlie back.
“Don’t hit,” Alex told them.
They both stuck their tongues out at Alex. 

In this sequel to WHAT'S A FOSTER FAMILY?, elementary-school-aged Alex York is about to gain not one, not two, but three forever siblings. But becoming a forever family isn't quite as smooth a road as Alex envisioned.

What's a Forever Family?

$2.99 eBook

$9.99 Print

Anne, What do you love about this book?

As a licensed foster parent, it hurts my heart to read about how short on foster homes America is. While the goal of foster care is to reunify children, that does not always happen and America is even shorter on adoptive families for those children who do end up needing a forever home. At this very moment, there are over 100,000 children in America who are unable to return to their bio-family and are waiting for an adoptive family. Over twenty thousand of those children will age out this year without finding an adoptive home. My goal with this picture book series was to heighten the awareness of the needs of children in the foster care system and encourage both parents and children to learn more about the most at-risk children around us.

If fiction, introduce us to your most influential secondary character; non-fiction, share the journey to your theme.

What do you hope readers will tell others about the book when they’ve finished reading?

I hope that children reading this book will enjoy the story and start asking the question, "What is a foster family?" I hope they will take that knowledge they've learned and use it to be kinder and more sympathetic to the foster children they meet at school or in their neighborhoods. Children in foster care are more likely to encounter bullying in their schools than other children, so it's important to teach our children empathy.

What are you reading now?

 I'm actually in the middle of some counselor style books for continuing education as a counselor. One book about dialectic behavioral therapy for children with strong emotions has especially caught my interest. But as gripping as non-fiction can be, I'll always be a fiction lover at heart.

What’s next for you?

 My Love and Warfare series, Christian love stories set during the time of the early church is currently being released. I have quite a few other historical romance book proposals out there so we'll see what contracts I get. I'd really like to break into non-fiction as well and write about mental health issues and apologetics.

About Anne:

Anne Garboczi Evans is a mental health counselor, military spouse, and mama to an opinionated little preschooler named "Joe-Joe." Anne and her husband are licensed foster parents in the state of Colorado and Anne has worked with foster children, adopted children, and forever families in her day job as a counselor.

https://www.facebook.com/annegarboczievans/

http://annegarboczievans.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/garboczievans