GIFT OF FAITH by Robert Fleming

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Urban Books (December 24, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1601627459

ISBN-13: 978-1601627452

CFBA: No Safe Harbor

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

No Safe Harbor

Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012)

by

Elizabeth Ludwig


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Journey, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year honors. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” part of a Christmas anthology collection called Christmas Homecoming, also from Barbour Publishing.


In 2010, her first full-length historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned Four Stars from the Romantic Times. Books two and three of Elizabeth’s mystery series, Died in the Wool (Barbour Publishing) and Inn Plain Sight (Spyglass Lane), respectively, released in 2011.


Coming in 2012 is Elizabeth’s newest historical series from Bethany House Publishers. No Safe Harbor, the first book in the Edge of Freedom Series, will release in October, with two more books following in 2013 and 2014.


Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, and often attends conferences and seminars, where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoyed a wide readership in its first full year, with more than 17,000 visitors in 2011. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in the great state of Texas.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Thrill of Romantic Suspense Meets the Romance of 1800s America


Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.


Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.


If you would like to read the first chapter of No Safe Harbor, go HERE.

CFBA: Walk with me

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Walk with Me

River North; New Edition edition (September 1, 2012)

by

Annie Wald


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Along with being the author of Walk With Me (forthcoming September 2012, River North/Moody), my fiction has been published in numerous journals including Image, The Southern Review and The North American Review and included in the anthology series, Not Safe But Good, edited by Bret Lott and published by Thomas Nelson. I’m also the author of a young adult novel, The Counterfeit Collection (Tyndale) and I’ve written feature articles for many publications such as Guideposts, Leadership, and Partnership.

Before writing full-time, I worked in book publishing as an acquisitions editor and then as Editor-in-Chief at Princeton University Press. Since 2000, I’ve lived in Morocco where my husband is the pastor of Rabat International Church. We have two married daughters and four delightful grandchildren.

A Word from Annie:

If you still want to know more about me, you may be interested to learn:

 
On the Myers-Briggs scale, I’m not an I for introvert. I’m an H for hermit.
 
But I’ve been known to say, “We’re having a small gathering; only 10 people.”
   
I love Easter sunrise services in cemeteries.
 
I live on the west coast — of Africa.
   
My favorite Moroccan meal: Zahara’s beef couscous with raisin sauce, and tchouchouka.
   
J’adore le francais.
 
I once told God I’d marry anyone except the man who became my husband.
 
I prefer to make things up rather than do research, although I have been described as an ‘infomaniac’.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Peter and Celeste choose to travel as one on the lifelong journey to the King's City
. They are blissfully in love and bound to each other by the Cords of Commitment.
Shortly after visiting the Moon of Honey they discover that the journey proves
much more difficult than they expected. When they find themselves laboring
through the Swamp of Selfishness, crossing the dismal Plains of Distance, and
 nearly becoming separated by the River of Unfaithfulness, their love for each
other and for the King is challenged. They must choose whether to continue on
together, not knowing if they can be warmed again by the Kindling of Affection,
 or visit the Valley of Cut Cords to journey alone once more.


If you'd like to read a chapter excerpt of Walk with Me, go HERE.

CFBA: Against the Tide

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Against the Tide

Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012)

by

Elizabeth Camden


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


A Word from Elizabeth:

I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.


I married relatively late in life, which turned out to be an odd kind of blessing. I had gotten very good at leading a solo life, and although I was not particularly content being alone, I had become reconciled to it.  Most importantly, it taught me never to take my husband for granted. I give daily thanks for the blessing of being able to share a life with my favorite person on the planet.


As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden's Latest Offering


As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.


However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.


Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Against the Tide, go HERE.

CFBA: Full of Disclosure

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Full Disclosure

Bethany House Publishers (October 2, 2012)

by

Dee Henderson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. She is a lifelong resident of Illinois.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Ann Silver is a cop's cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region's most trusted investigative positions.


Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.


Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn't expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.


The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former Vice President. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is…


Watch the book trailer:



If you would like to read the first chapter of Full Disclosure, go HERE.

Two Destinies

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Two Destinies

David C. Cook (September 1, 2012)

by

Elizabeth Musser

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Musser, author of acclaimed novels such as The Swan House, grew up in Georgia, but now lives in Lyon, France, where she and her husband serve as missionaries with International Teams. Look for Two Testaments, her sequel to Two Crosses, in stores now, and Two Destinies, the third book in the trilogy, set for release in Fall 2012.

A word from Elizabeth:

Recent exciting news is that, finally, the whole trilogy is going to be published in 2012. Many readers have written to me throughout the years to encourage me to keep pursuing getting Two Destinies into print.  In a fun twist of fate (really the Lord's perfect timing), David C. Cook (who originally published Two Testaments) has offered me a contract for all three novels.  The Secrets of the Cross Trilogy will be published in June 2012 (Two Crosses and Two Testaments) and in September, 2012, Two Destinies will be in the bookstores for the first time!







ABOUT THE BOOK

Now 1994, France faces unrest and rising poverty while neighbor
Algeria is in the midst of a blood civil war. Risléne Namani, a French
woman born to Algerian parents, converts to Christianity and falls in
love with Eric Hoffmann, a Christian, committing the unpardonable
sin in the eyes of her Muslim family. Eric must find a way to rescue
her—from a forced marriage in Algeria, or even death.

A powerful, relevant tale of social struggle, heartache, cultural conflict,
 and faith put to the ultimate test.





If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of Two Destinies, go  HERE.

The Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts [Kindle Edition]

The Fantasy Fallacy by Shannon Ethridge

• Print Length: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 16, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008GVZ302
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Here's the blurb:Sexual and emotional fantasies tend to reveal certain areas of trauma, brokenness, and disillusionment that are yet to be healed.

Many people, including Christians, look to their sexual and emotional fantasies as a roadmap to where they can find the fulfillment they long for. However, these fantasies aren't a reliable roadmap into the future; they are actually a rocky roadmap from the past.

Shannon Ethridge, best-selling Christian author, certified life coach, and advocate for healthy sexuality, offers fascinating insights into common sexual thoughts such as:

• dating a much older man or much younger woman
• connecting with strangers via cyberspace
• gay and lesbian fantasies
• fascination with pleasure, pain, and power

Introduced in Genesis, God's design for sex, beyond procreation, is to offer connection and pleasure for marriage partners. But also in Genesis is an outline of seven sexual fallacies that bring discord, pain, and brokenness. The Fantasy Fallacy helps explain the basis for these fallacies and offers suggestions to help expose not only the meaning behind them but ways to face them, and heal from them, and find physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom.

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CFBA: Beyond the Storm

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Beyond the Storm

Abingdon Press (October 2012)


by

Carolyn Zane


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author of 35 books, wife, mother and yes…hot (flasher) lives with her fabulous husband, Matt and their 5 children and 3 dogs in the scenic Willamette Valley in Oregon.  When asked to describe her family, Carolyn likens her crowd to the
Brangelia Bunch saying modestly, “Only we’re better looking.”  Right now,Carolyn is back in the saddle with her new title: Beyond The Storm, coming out in October 2012!  In the mean time, be sure to catch her on the critically acclaimed TOOHOTMAMAS Blog where Carolyn and Wendy tackle Marriage, motherhood and menopause: How to do all three and stay out of prison!  They are hilarious!  You'll wet yourself, guaranteed!  Visit them at: www.toohotmamas.wordpress.com.


ABOUT THE BOOK

After a tornado rips through her town, store owner Abigail comes across a piece of fabric from a wedding dress among the devastation. Abigail is moved to start collecting other swatches of fabric she finds – her neighbor’s kitchen curtains, a man’s necktie, a dog’s bed – which she stashes in shopping bags. As she pursues her seemingly absurd quest, horrible realities spark the question, “What kind of a God would allow such tragedy?”


As she struggles to reconcile her right to happiness amidst the destruction, Abigail begins piecing together a patchwork quilt from the salvaged fabric in hopes it will bring some peace. But a new relationship with Justin, a contractor, may require too much of her fragile heart.  Will her pain and questions of faith give way to the courage to love?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Beyond the Storm, go HERE.

Still Life in Shadows

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Still Life in Shadows River North; New Edition edition (August 1, 2012) by Alice Wisler

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice was born in Osaka, Japan in the sixties.  Her parents were Presbyterian career missionaries. As a young child, Alice loved to walk down to the local stationer's store to buy notebooks, pencils and scented erasers.  In her room, she created stories.  The desire to be a published famous author has never left her.  Well, two out of three isn't bad. She's the author of Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation (all published by Bethany House).

Alice went to Eastern Mennonite University after graduating from Canadian Academy, an international high school in Kobe, Japan. She majored in social work and has worked across the U.S. in that field.  She taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Japan and at a refugee camp in the Philippines.  She also studied Spanish at a language institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.

She has four children--Rachel, Daniel, Benjamin and Elizabeth.  Daniel died on 2/2/97 from cancer treatments at the age of four. Since then, Alice founded Daniel's House Publications in her son's memory.  This organization reaches out to others who have also lost a child to death. In 2000 and 2003, Alice compiled recipes and memories of children across the world to publish two memorial cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's been fifteen years since Gideon Miller ran away from his Amish community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as a boy of fifteen.  Gideon arrives in the Smoky Mountains town of Twin Branches and settles in at the local auto mechanic's garage. He meets a host of interesting characters -the most recent acquaintances are Kiki, an autistic teen, and her sister Mari. Known as the "Getaway Savior" he helps other Amish boys and girls relocate to life in modern America.

One day the phone rings. On the other end is his brother Moriah calling from Florida. Of course Gideon welcomes his brother to stay with him and offers him a job. But Moriah is caught in a web which ends in his death and forces Gideon to return to the town of his youth, with his brother's body in the back of a hearse and Mari and Kiki at his side. He must face not only the community he ran away from years ago but also his own web of bitterness. Will he be able to give his anger over to God and forgive his father?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of Still Life in Shadows, go HERE.

Losing Hope

ABOUT THE BOOK   From the acclaimed author of Like Sheep Gone Astray and Secret Place comes a riveting new series with twists and turns to the end.   Social worker Sienna St. James is a woman with a complicated past and a confusing Tuesday morning.   In one single day, every advance Sienna has made in getting over her long lost globe-trotting husband unravels in unexplainable fashion. From a mysterious package that hails from another continent to a new teen client who claims to have a missing sister, Sienna finds herself in the middle of a city-wide scandal, all while sorting out the painful details of her personal life. At the center are two suspicious foster parents, a mega-church ministry leader, and Sienna’s own fragile emotions over a man who changed the direction of her life. It’s a race against time as Sienna seeks closure from a love she never understood and answers about whether a little girl named Hope ever existed. And if she did, where is she now?   In this first installment of the suspenseful Sienna St. James Series, finding hope in the midst of questions and chaos becomes essential when life takes an unexpected turn.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Leslie J. Sherrod is a wife, mom, writer, and a therapist in Baltimore, Maryland, where she lives with her husband and three children. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland at College Park with a B.S. in Family Studies. She also studied writing at Johns Hopkins University before completing her Masters in Clinical Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she specialized in Child, Adolescent, and Family Health.   Leslie is the author of three novels, Losing Hope (coming September 2012); Secret Place (Urban Christian, 2011); and Like Sheep Gone Astray (Grand Central Publishing, 2006), which earned a Starred Review from Booklist and was featured on AOL’s Black Voices. She is also a contributor to a couple of women’s devotionals in the bestselling A Cup of Comfort series (Adams Media). A short story, “The Jericho Band,” is available on Kindle.   Through suspenseful and thought-provoking stories, Leslie offers readers hope and encouragement to live out their God-given dreams and purposes. One of her favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 3:20, which states that “[God] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” It is this message she carries to book signings, bookstores, workshops, and church events both in her neighborhood and across the nation.

Jesus: A Theography [Kindle Edition]

Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

• File Size: 881 KB
• Print Length: 409 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0849947022
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 9, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0078FA9OW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled 

Here's the blurbAvailable on: September 5, print and digital

Jesus says, "The Scriptures point to me!" (John 5:39 NLT). But what does that mean exactly?

The twenty-seven books of the New Testament are largely a commentary on the Old Testament, and each part of the Bible is a signpost to Jesus. Once this is properly understood, everything changes, including our own identities. In this magisterial work you will discover a Jesus who is larger, more glorious, and more challenging than most of us have ever imagined.

Biographies of Jesus generally have been written by those trying to investigate the historical Jesus with little attention given to the grand narrative of Scripture. On the flip side, those interested in tracing the theology of Scripture are typically disinterested in historical Jesus studies. These two approaches have yet to converge...until now.

Jesus is written for the average reader as well as scholars. Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (authors of Jesus Manifesto) unfold the greatest story ever told in a fresh and invigorating way. So whether you are a seasoned Christian, a new believer, or someone who is intrigued by Jesus, this book unveils the discoveries of a lifetime, transforming the tired and familiar way we have read the Bible into an electrifying journey of rediscovering Christ.

Introducing a new kind of Jesus biography.

In this compelling work, authors Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola reclaim the entire Bible as a gripping narrative about Jesus Christ.

Virtually every other "Jesus biography" begins with the nativity account in Bethlehem. In this groundbreaking book, Sweet and Viola begin before time, in the Triune God, and tell the complete interconnected story of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.

Jesus: A Theography is the first book ever written to combine historical Jesus studies with biblical theology, crafting together one breathtaking saga that tells the Jesus story in both Old and New Testaments. This flagship book demonstrates clearly that every bit of Scripture is part of the same stunning drama, what the authors refer to as the theography of Jesus Christ.

---

About the Author

Leonard Sweet is the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University (NJ), a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University (OR), and a weekly contributor to sermons.com and the podcast Napkin Scribbles. With some of the highest “influence” rankings of any religious figure in the worlds of social media (Twitter, Facebook), and a pioneer in on- line learning, he has authored numerous articles, sermons, and more than fifty books.

Frank Viola is a popular conference speaker and the best-selling author of numerous books on the deeper Christian life, including Epic Jesus, Revise Us Again, From Eternity to Here, and Jesus Manifesto (coauthored with Leonard Sweet). His blog Beyond Evangelical is rated as one of the most popular in Christian circles today.

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Lifted by Angels by Joel J. Miller

Lifted by Angels by Joel J. Miller

• Print Length: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 9, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007D1TG1S
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Here's the blurb:

A fascinating and inspiring look at the role of angels in the lives of people-how they lead us to and through a saving experience of Christ.

What if heaven were much closer than we realized? What if its boundaries overlapped our own? What if angels moved in and out of our porous present, this moment that seems to us so real and concrete?

It's all true, and if the reality seems dim to us now, it beamed for the early Christians. Through their writings, sermons, songs, and art, the ancient faithful confessed a powerful and vivid belief that angels help carry us on our journey to God.

Lifted by Angels goes back to those early Christians and presents modern readers with a vision of angels as seen through their eyes and experiences-how they understood the angelic realms, the guidance and protection of angels, and the struggles with the devil and his demons. Whether in trial or temptation, praise or prayer, we find angels present and positioned to help and comfort, guide and correct, walking with us till the point of death and beyond, escorting us to the very arms of Christ. 

Miraculous: A Fascinating History of God's Signs and Wonders [Kindle Edition] Kevin Belmonte

Miraculous: A Fascinating History of God's Signs and Wonders [Kindle Edition]

Kevin Belmonte 

File Size: 5 KB

Print Length: 384 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 2, 2012)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B0078FA8Q6

Text-to-Speech: Enabled 

In our age of constant innovation, technological achievement, and the sad tendency to see ourselves as the captains of our fate, we may be tempted to make little time for miracles, or give little credence to them. But to live our lives without a sense of the miraculous is to live impoverished lives. Our word for miracle comes from the Latin word mirari, "to wonder." And well might we wonder when we consider the nature of miracles and their purpose.

It is here that a grand conversation beckons. God has been our help in ages past. He is our hope for years to come. To learn of holy events and people-supremely, to look upon the Savior-is to see the power of God, and how He has always sought to draw us to Himself. He is our eternal home. Miracles point the way there. 

Look at a night sky, studded with numberless constellations of stars. Each is a celestial shard of glory-bestowing glimpses of the eternal. Miracles in Scripture are like the stars. They, like the heavens, declare the glory of God. 

In these pages are scenes and lives touched by eternity, settings of almighty declaration, moments marked by deliverance, by mercy, or visionary unfoldings of God's divine intent. 

Kevin Belmonte provides learned insight into the profoundly important history of miracles. Miraculousis a richly researched text of wondrous things that have taken place from ancient times to the present.

Unresolved Issues Book Tour

 

This virtual book tour is for Wanda B. Campbell, author of Unresolved Issues (August 2012 – Urban Christian)

 

 

About the Book

Stacelyn thought her life was complete the day she married Dr. Derrick Garrison. The fairytale life she envisioned quickly vanishes, however, when Derrick’s late nights and unexplained absences cause her to question his motives for marrying her. As secrets from the past and emotional wounds are revealed, Stacelyn discovers the hard way that it takes more than love to build a marriage.

 

Alone and bitter after Derrick’s sudden departure, Stacelyn is forced to face hard truths about the man she married. In the process, she discovers her own unresolved issues.

 

Will the revelations drive her to her knees, or send her seeking comfort from the enemy?

About the Author

Wanda B. Campbell is an extraordinary and talented writer who brings creativity, a new sense of hope, and restoration through the healing power of God to the Kingdom, by way of Christian fiction. She uses real life everyday issues to exhort, motivate, and give comfort.

 

Wanda B. Campbell believes there is nothing too hard for God and through His love and power, He can heal you in EVERY area you hurt. Wanda believes with God’s help our darkest time can become our brightest moments. Her primary mission is to encourage everyone to experience the unfailing love of Christ. Wanda is not limited by race, age, sex, denomination or organization; believing the liberation that comes from Christ is free to all.

 

Wanda B. Campbell’s literary achievements include: Mommy’s Present, a short story appearing in the anthology The Midnight Clear, November 2006, First Sunday in October, January 2007, Crusin for Christ I Short Story Contest winner with Illusions, which landed a multi-book deal with Urban Christian. Illusions, the novel, February 2009,Right Package, Wrong Baggage, August 2010, and Silver Lining, August 2011. Her fourth novel, Unresolved Issues, is scheduled for release August 2012.

 

Wanda is a two-time winner of the Urban Reviews Top Shelf Book Award, two-time winner of Coffee Time Romance’s Critical Review Award, and a three-time Black Expressions Book Club Bestselling Author. She has appeared on the BCNN1/BCBC National Bestselling List multiple times and was nominated at the 2011 African American Literary Awards Show in the Christian Fiction category.

 

Wanda is a mother of three and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of twenty-two years and two sons and enjoys spending time with her grandson.

CFBA: Love in Disguise

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Love in Disguise  Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2012)  by  Carol Cox  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Native Arizonan Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than 25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where deer and antelope really do play--within view of the family's front porch.

A word from Carol:

As a native of Arizona, I have a longtime interest in the Southwest and its history. My family shares my love of the Old West, as evidenced by this photo taken back in the halcyon days before my son turned to a life of crime and started robbing trains for a living...


ABOUT THE BOOK  

When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona.


Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love in Disguise, go HERE.

Crossing the Tracks: Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Rural Mississippi and Your Community

This virtual book tour is for Dolphus Weary, author of Crossing the Tracks: Hope for the Hopeless and Help for the Poor in Rural Mississippi and Your Community. Co-authors are Josh Dear and William Hendricks. (June 2012, Kregel Publications)     About the Book An inspiring story of how God called one man to “go back and make a difference” Dolphus Weary knows from personal experience just how harmful racial division can be. Growing up in rural Mississippi, he leared that if poverty, hunger, and disease didn’t kill him, racism, bigotry, or the Klan just might. So when a college basketball scholarship gave him the opportunity to get away from the broken, racially divided city of Mendenhall, he jumped at the chance. But he couldn’t outrun racism.  Eventually God called him back to his hometown--to the city where the railroad tracks not only separate economic classes but also represent a divide in the church. Believing that prejudice is ultimately a spiritual issue, Weary went back to Mississippi and worked to break down racial divides and promote productive dialogue, greater understanding, and ultimately racial reconciliation. The founder and part-time president of R.E.A.L. (Rural Education and Leadership) Christian Foundation, Weary helps ministries and communities realize that a “kingdom mentality” is possible only when we stop limiting God’s work to a denomination or racial group. Crossing the Tracks offers an insider’s look at Weary’s life and experiences. It recounts both the heartbreaking and victorious events that helped him overcome the odds. Profoundly honest and never more timely, this book encourages Christians to partner together to turn the ugly legacy of racism wherever it is found into a beautiful community of hope. About the Author Dolphus Weary (DMin, Reformed Theological Seminary) became one of the first black students ever to graduate from the all-white Los Angeles Baptist College. In 1971, he received a Masters of Religious Education Degree from Los Angeles Baptist Seminary and a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. He returned to Mississippi to work with Mendenhall Ministries, devoting his time to developing his impoverished Christian community. His autobiography I Ain’t Comin’ Back details these early years. Now an ordained minister, Dr. Weary serves part time as the president of R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation and part time as the major fundraiser for Mission Mississippi. He and his wife, Rosie, live in Jackson. Visit the author at R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation at http://realchristianfoundation.info/

One Way or Another

One Way or Another

by

Rhonda Bowen

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Dafina; Original edition (February 28, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0758259581

ISBN-13: 978-0758259585

Includes a Reading group guide.

Includes an excerpt from Rhonda Bowen's Man enough for me.

As a hard-hitting news reporter, Toni Shields knows what she wants and she's usually pretty good at manipulating people to get it - especially when it means getting her stories to the front page of the city newspaper. But she hits a wall when she meets Adam Bayne, the sexy but stubborn head of a young men's rehabilitation centre. He doesn't want to let the gutsy journalist anywhere near his boys. When they become involved in a local court case, soon Toni and Adam are fully involved in each other's lives, sharing their troubled pasts - and wondering if they can make a future together.

Atlanta reporter Toni Shields will do whatever it takes to get a good story. So when she's arrested for sneaking around the mayor's house, she's prepared. What she's not prepared for is getting demoted--or her run-in with stubborn Adam Bayne, director of the local young men's rehab center. . .

The first time Adam saw Toni, she was wrangling with the cops. Now she's looking for a scoop at Jacob House. Adam has no intention of letting her near his boys--yet as usual, her pushiness wins. And when she genuinely helps a teen in trouble, Adam sees a side of her that cares about more than just a headline. Soon, they become close--their attraction growing. But there's more to both their lives than meets the eye. Toni has a haunting family secret, one that is taking a great toll on her. And when she uncovers that Adam has a devastating past of his own, not only their relationship, but their futures, and their faith, lie in the balance.

CFBA: Harvest of Rubies

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Harvest of Rubies  River North; New Edition edition (May 1, 2012)  by  Tessa Afshar  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life.  She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently.  Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School.  She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.


ABOUT THE BOOK  

Remarkable Talent Threatens to Cloud a Life


The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. Her accomplishments catapult her into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen’s favorite scribe.

Not bad for a woman living in a man’s world: so why does Sarah feel like a failure?

A devastating past has left Sarah with two conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her achievements are the measure of her worth – a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is a wife who scorns him.

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Rubies, go HERE.

Son of a Preacherman

Marlene Banks, author of Son of a Preacherman
 (June 2012, Lift Every Voice Imprint, Moody Publishers).

 

 

About the Book

A historical romance novel set in the 1920s in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Son of a Preacherman depicts the highly segregated life of African Americans in the Greenwood District, in Northern Tulsa and the tensions leading up to the Tulsa Race Riots.

 

Billy Ray Matthias is the handsome younger son of the church’s new pastor.  Benny is the daughter of the oil rich Freeman family.  Billy Ray is convinced that Benny is the woman God would have him settle down with. Benny, on the other hand, recently had her heart broken. She is not the least bit interested in getting involved anytime soon. As Billy’s pursuit of Benny intensifies, so does the political and social climate in the prosperous African American neighborhood known as the Greenwood District..

 

Racial tensions in Tulsa escalate when Dick Rowland, a black man, is accused by a local newspaper of raping Sarah Page, a white woman, on an elevator.  Ethan Freeman (Benny’s brother) and Maynard Vaughn (a radical white attorney and Ethan’s mentor) despite continuous threats put their weight and energy behind helping Dick. While the White Glove Society, a racist group seeks to destroy not only Dick but all the African Americans in this successful black owned community.

 

As tensions come to a head and violence breaks out, Billy and Benny are caught up in the heat of chaos.  He vows to keep her safe but will Benny let him?

 

Will faith in God be enough to sustain the people of the community as their lives are changed forever by deadly acts of hatred.

About the Author

Marlene Banks is a Philadelphia, PA native.  She attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and has an Associate’s Degree in Theology from the Rhema Bible Institute in Keysville, VA.  She is the director of ministry at Lifeline Mission of the Gospel.  Through her writing ministry, Marlene’s desire is to promote the gospel and serve the needs of her community. Visit her online at http://www.marlenebanks.com/

 

CFBA: Mary's Blessing

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Mary's Blessing  Realms (May 15, 2012)  by  Lena Nelson  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.


Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?


Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Mary's Blessing, go HERE.

The Guilt Trip

This virtual book tour is for Pat Simmons, author of The Guilt Trip (June 2012, Lift Every Voice Imprint, Moody Publishers)

About the Book

The Jamieson Family Legacy series follows the lives of the two Jamieson brothers in Boston, Kidd and Ace and their cousin Cameron from St. Louis.  Kidd, the older brother, is struggling with anger and resentment issues toward his absentee father who never married his mother, but had the audacity to demand his illegitimate sons carry his last name Jamieson. Ace, on the other hand, is on a collision course with disaster as he shows how much a "chip off the old block" he is when it comes to women. Their highly educated MIT graduate cousin, Cameron Jamieson, is all about saving his family from self-destruction. Through genealogy research, Cameron's mission is to show his cousins their worth as eleventh generation descendants of a royal African tribe and give them a choice: to be angry black men or accept the challenge to become strong successful black men.

The Jamieson men in this three book series are challenged with accepting that the past and the present are both in God's hand.  Without Him they can't move forward toward their future blessings. The bonus storyline is one that progresses the story of the much-loved Grandma B.B. character from the author's previous Guilt books and her new sidekick, Mrs. Valentine. Aaron Jamieson is living a carefree life. He's good-looking, respectable when he's in the mood, but his weakness is women. When a woman tries to ambush him with a pregnancy, he takes off in the other direction. Responsibility as an option is something he learned from his absentee father.

Talise Reed has a bright future ahead of her. She's pretty and has no problem catching a man's eye, which is exactly what she does with Ace. Their chemistry is undeniable and their passion explosive. Trapping Ace is the furthest thing from Talise's mind, when she learns she is pregnant.  She is determined to be a good parent.

When Ace rejects her she lets him know, " I want nothing from you Ace, not even your name," and she means it.  But Ace's big brother and cousins don't plan to let the child who represents the twelfth generation descendant of a royal African tribe leave the fold. Whether Ace decides to accept his responsibility or not, his family embraces Talise and baby.  As for Ace, they turn him over to the LORD.  How long will he be able to endure the guilt trip he's experiencing because of his choices?  What will it take for him to accept responsibility and turn from following in his father's footsteps?

About the Author

Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about digging up the dirt on her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years old. Pat has won numerous awards for her novels which include: Talk to Me, Grace and Humility and Still Guilty, which was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2010.

Pat is best known for her Guilty series: Guilty of Love, Not Guilty of Love, and Still Guilty. She is continuing the series through the Jamieson Family Legacy trilogy: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free From Guilt. Pat has recently been nominated for the best Christian fiction award by the African American Literary Awards for her latest release, Crowning Glory. 

Pat and her husband live in Missouri and have two children. 

Find out more about the series at TheJamiesonLegacy.com or visit the author online at patsimmons.net.