CFBA Blog Tour - Jenny B. Jones and The Big Picture

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Big Picture
(NavPress Publishing Group, April 15, 2008)
by Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)Jenny resides in Arkansas, where, as a teacher, she hangs out with teens on a regular basis.

Buy Your Copy Today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes there's a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.

School is winding down for the summer but Katie Parker is having a bad day. After leaving the drive-in, where her imploding love life was the main attraction, Katie arrives home to a big surprise on the Scott's front porch. Her mother, Bobbie Ann Parker, a former convict and recovering addict, wants to take Katie away from her family, friends, and church. Now Katie's life will be changed by a series of dramatic choices as she struggles to understand what family and home really means.

Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving behind a family who loves her, a town drive-in to save, and a boyfriend who suddenly can take his eyes off his ex. When the life her mother promised begins to sink faster than one of Maxine's stuffed bras, Katie knows she needs to rely on God to keep it together. But where is he in all this? Can Katie survive a chaotic life with her mother—and one without the Scotts? And if God is there, will he come through before it's too late?

A Katie Parker Production series offers teen girls real-world fiction balanced by hope and humor. The The Big Picture helps us realize that the difficult chapters in our journey are only part of God's big story for our lives.

You can read the first chapter HERE

"A heroine to love. Jones just gets better with every book, and The Big Picture is her best one yet." ~BARBARA WARREN, author of The Gathering Storm

"Such inspiration in a package of fun and faith!" ~EVA MARIE EVERSON, author of the Potluck Club series

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

We knew from book one, IN BETWEEN, that my main character, Katie Parker, had an addict mother. So it was just a natural progression that Mom would have to show up sometime and deal with some issues, as we find in THE BIG PICTURE. As a teacher, I see a lot of teens struggling with addict parents or parents who just aren't living right, and the kids getting trapped in the cycle. And it is a cycle. Without education, encouragement, and support, these kids will most likely go on to repeat the process or repeat some form of dysfunction. So I wanted to write the story from the perspective of a kid who has hope and wants more for herself, no matter who her biological parent is or how she was raised. The cycle can be broken, and God provides that out. Also Katie is a new Christian in book three, and I wanted to see how these life challenges played out against new faith.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

I definitely have experience with addict family members, though not from a teenage perspective. I think as a teacher, my teen students influence me a lot. Their personalities, humor, trials and issues are on every page. And I think there are definitely aspects of myself in this girl. We're both a little snarky, clumsy, irreverent, and occasionally love to ham it up. We both had wonderful, sassy grandmothers. And we both look just like Keira Knightley. (Kidding!) And as for aspects of Katie that were just hers? Hmmm...she's into vintage eighties clothing, and I'm definitely not, since I lived it once already...though I am REALLY thankful the giant hair didn’t come back in with the clothes.

3. What themes exist in The Big Picture that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I think we see a few themes played out. There's the theme of defining what true family is. There's the dominant theme of trusting God when it makes no sense—when life isn't fair, when the tragedy or problem defies explanation. There's also the theme of using fireworks to snare a man, but I won't go into that.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think any of the scenes were Katie deals with her addict mother were hard. Though I wouldn't call this a dark book, this was dark for me. In my own life, I don't function well in pitiful situations and will start cracking jokes immediately. So it's hard to stay in one of Katie's issues until it's fleshed out. But you can see in her character that she can't be pitiful or wallow either. Most sad or high emotion scenes end with some sort of joke or crack. I was really worried the book would be too emotionally charged, too dramatic, but I've gotten nice feedback from reader’s with similar life experiences as Katie or her mother.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Next is a new series for Thomas Nelson called A Charmed Life. The first book, So Not Happening, won't be out until spring of ’09, but I'm really excited about it. It's quite a departure from the Katie Parker Production, but still includes humor, sass, and teen issues. This series revolves around Bella, a 17-year-old socialite from NYC. Her life radically changes when her plastic surgeon dad dumps her mom for a newer version, and Mom remarries...a professional wrestler from Oklahoma. I'm really excited about it, though I miss Mad Maxine already. But there's enough spandex and pile drivers to keep me typing.

Thanks for letting me stop by!

* * * * *

Thank you, Jenny, for being with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of The Big Picture.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Promises, Promises Blog Tour -- July 2008 -- Hosts Needed!

CALLING ALL INFLUENCERS!

I'm thrilled to announce that Promises, Promises will hit Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com and other online retailers this coming July! I am prepared to send out copies of the book to influencers who will help me get the word out by posting reviews and/or hosting me on their blog. If you think you'll be able to assist me in promoting Promises, Promises, please send me an email letting me know what you’d like to do. I greatly appreciate any assistance. You’re all the best.

The tour will take place from Monday, July 7th through Saturday, July 26th (excluding Sundays), 2008. My book will also be part of the CFBA Tour during this time from Monday, July 21st through Wednesday, July 23rd. So, if you're a member of CFBA, you can request the book through that venue and still be part of the overall tour. If you wish an additional component to add to what CFBA provides, feel free to email me after finishing this invitation.

The theme of the book is the promise that God will never leave or forsake us, no matter what happens in life.

I would love for you to host me on your blog by featuring an:

• an interview


• a guest appearance


• or a book review

Offer a free book as a prize to anyone who leaves a comment. Books will be provided for reviews and giveaways as needed, and I will mail the free copy to the winner so you don't have to incur the cost of shipping.

Email me with:

• the date you prefer (Monday, July 7th through Saturday, July 26th -- excluding Sundays)


• the URL of your blog (and title if applicable)


• the type of feature(s) you will be doing (interview, guest blogger, book review)


• your snail mail address, so I can mail your influencer copy to you

I prefer all interview questions to be sent no later than June 30th to allow me time to answer them. If you decide to have me as a guest on your blog and have a preference for a topic, please get that to me by June 30th as well.

If you know of someone else who might be interested in participating in this tour, feel free to let them know about it. The more, the merrier!


Now, thanks to my friend, fellow author and ACFW Advisor, Deb Raney, the following are a few influencer activities that I'd also love for you to do to help promote this book:


KEY PREFERRED OPTIONS
•Write a review for the book on online bookstores such as:

• http://www.amazon.com/


• http://www.barnesandnoble.com/


• http://www.christianbook.com/

•Write a review at one of the many online book review sites, including:

• http://www.acfw.com/bookreviews.shtml


• http://www.faithfulreader.com/wom/wom.asp


• http://www.epinions.com/

•Using http://www.christianbook.com, recommend this book via an e-mail link that will take your friends right to the page featuring this book.

•If you have a unique perspective—for instance, personal experience with the book’s topic, etc.—offer your insights with your review.


*** For the above, even if you don't have a blog/web site or you don't wish to participate in the tour, I will provide 1 influencer copy that you are free to use as you wish. ***

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

•If you have a newsletter that goes out on a somewhat regular basis, consider promoting this book.

•Offer to write a book review for your church newsletter, neighborhood newspaper or any other printed source that might reach readers.

•Recommend this book as a featured title for a local book discussion group. Discussion questions can be provided if needed.

•When you’re finished with the book, tuck it into a gift basket for someone who is ill or in the hospital; or take it to your next dinner party as a hostess gift.

•Word-of-mouth is still probably the number one way books hit bestseller lists, so simply start conversations about the book. Tell your friends and family what you’ve been reading and why you enjoyed it so much.

Feel free to write to me and share your experiences after doing any of these things. I'd love to hear about your creative or unique ideas. Thank you for any and all assistance you can offer in helping me get the word out about this book. You truly are a blessing.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Brandilyn Collins and Amber Morn

I have to confess. Every time I see this author's book title, I have to do a double-take. It's so similar to my writing name that catches my eye every time. I'd like to believe there was a smidgeon of partiality to her title choice, but that would be stretching things quite a bit. She IS a big fan of my husband's writing...and she even has a character in this series patterned after him. But, that's where the favoritism ends, I'm afraid.

Oh well, a gal can dream right?

Anyway, back to our spotlight guest. :) I am honored and pleased to share Brandilyn Collins with you as part of the CFBA blog tour:

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Amber Morn
Book Four of the Kanner Lake series
(Zondervan - April 1, 2008)
by Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline

“Don’t forget to b r e a t h e …®”

Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 19th book. Her first, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.

She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences.

Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith. Visit her Website to read the first chapters of all her books.

Buy Your Copy Today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The whole thing couldn't have taken more than sixty seconds.

Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she'd collapse—and the twitching fingers of the gunman would pull the trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.

Dear God, help us! Tell me this is a dream . . .

The shooter's teeth clenched. "Anybody who moves is dead."

On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read "Scenes and Beans" bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside.

Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the "comments" section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can't possibly provide. But if he doesn't, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die...

Amber Morn is the climactic finale to Collins' widely read Kanner Lake series. All first three titles in the series, Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, and Crimson Eve, were bestsellers. Library Journal placed Crimson Eve on its Best Books of 2007 list, and hailed it the "Best Christian suspense of 2007."

A few early reviews of Amber Morn:

"… essential reading … a harrowing hostage drama." – Library Journal

"… heart-pounding … breakneck pace … satisfying and meaningful ending." – RT Bookreviews

"This cataclysmic ending left me breathless … Kanner Lake is the Best Suspense Series of 2007/2008." – deenasbooks.blogspot.com

"Collins has saved the best for a last .. a powerful ensemble performance." -- BookshelfReview.com

"… a staccato tempo … Sometimes you just have to close the book in order to come up for air." – Dale Lewis

"…a masterpiece of page-turning suspense with a cast of dozens." – Peg Phifer

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is the fourth book in your series, one that features a cast of characters that readers have come to love. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Because books 1-3 feature different protagonists with the same set of supporting characters—the bloggers at Java Joint—I wanted the finale to feature all those characters. And I wanted the story to revolve around the real Scenes and Beans blog, which was started with the release of Violet Dawn. I thought it would be cool thing to combine fiction and reality like this.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

There’s very little of me in these characters. As I was creating them for the first book in the series, I asked for suggestions for various quirks from my blog readers. I tried to incorporate as many of their ideas as possible. Old codger Wilbur, who’s always raising his shirt to show his scar from heart surgery—yup, that was a suggestion from one of my readers. I can’t imagine the series without that character.

And I wanted to feature a quirky science fiction writer. S-Man, as he’s called, is completely fictional, but as you know, Tiff, the manuscript he’s writing isn’t. One day we’re going to see Starfire, your husband’s novel, published.

3. What themes exist in Amber Morn that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I often have underlying symbolism in my suspense. Many readers don't see it because they're just caught up in the action of the surface story. And that's okay. But for those who want to think more about the story, or perhaps use the novel for a book club pick, I have discussion questions for the Kanner Lake series on my web site. These questions help lead the reader to some deeper thinking. For example, Violet Dawn is about a frightened young woman who has to make a terrible choice when she finds a body on her property. But that story's really about emotional scars, and how different people handle them. Wilbur, with the scar from heart surgery on his chest, is the overt symbolism. He deals with his physical scar by showing it off. He's proud of the trauma he's endured. Paige keeps her emotional scars totally secret, and thinks she can get away with that emotionally. That never works—not if you want to live a victorious life. Chief Edwards lives with his scars over the death of his son every day, going about his normal business, but dragging around this chain of grief. The ending scene between Wilbur and Paige is a subtexted scene that speaks to this symbolism. I didn't want it to be overt, and many readers may not have caught it. But of all the characters, crotchety old Wilbur was the one who addressed Paige's scars and how she should handle them.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The difficulty for Amber Morn came in handling so many points of view and keeping straight in my mind where every character was at any given moment. Also the time sequences. Things happen at a rapid pace at two main locations—Java Joint and the negotiation command post. Many times I needed to show what was happening at one location, then back up in time to show what happened at the other. This needed to be done without confusing the reader. The third difficulty was in concluding all the loose ends in the characters' personal lives. As the conclusion for the series, Amber Morn needs to leave the reader satisfied as to what happens to all these characters.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next novel is a stand-alone titled Dark Pursuit. Here's the back cover copy:

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, recluse and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she's rebuilding her life.

In Kaitlan's town two women have been murdered. She is about to discover the third. The only possible culprit? Her boyfriend, Craig, son of the town's police chief.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he'll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell's muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan's plight may be the stunning answer to the illusive plot he seeks ...

* * * * *

Thank you, Brandilyn, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Amber Morn.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Linda Windsor and For Pete's Sake

I'm pleased as punch to have Linda Windsor here today. And speaking of that, where did that phrase originate? I wasn't aware that punch could be pleased. It could be pleasing, I suppose, if you need refreshment, but it doesn't feel emotions...I don't think.

Anyway, back to Linda. :) If it weren't for her mentorship, encouragement and friendship, my first book would never have been published. She walked me through each chapter and helped me fine-tune the errors or areas that needed tweaking. She helped me find my author voice and merge it with the rules of writing. And, most importantly, she helped me inject humor into an historical romance. That was no easy feat. But Linda helped me do it.

And now, I present Linda as part of the CFBA blog tour:

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
For Pete's Sake
Book Two of the Piper Cove Chronicles
(Avon Inspire - April 1, 2008)
by Linda Windsor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maryland author Linda Windsor lives on the Eastern Shore of MD, the setting of her latest contempory series, The Piper Cove Chronicles. God gave her the boot to the inpirational market after she'd written sixteen secular romances and she's never looked back. Twelve titles later, Linda has been a Christy finalist with her Fires of Gleannmara Celtic Irish series and garnered many awards for her romantic comedies (with a dash of suspense) in both secular and inspirational contests. She is most noted for delivering "The Lift of Laughter and Spirit" in her modern inspirational romances.

Linda has written for Multnomah Publishing (historical fiction and contemporary romances), Barbour Publishing (romcom novella), and Westbow Press (the Moonstruck romantic comedy trilogy). Wedding Bell Blues the first book in her new The Piper Cove Chronicles series, is featured on Avon Inspire's launch list.

Reviewers have called this series a cross between Nora Roberts' Cheasapeake and Jan Karon's Mitford books. For previews of Linda's books, contests, and contact information, go to www.LindaWindsor.com.

In addition to writing and doing fiction-writing workshops at conferences across the country, Linda continues a music and lay speaking ministry started by her and her late husband, and she is a part-time financial analyst. She also works on "as desperately needed" home improvement projects on the 18th-century-plus house that she and her husband began restoring in 1986. Wallpaper and paint are definitely in her near future.

LINDA WINDSOR LOCAL APPEARANCES:

Saturday, April 5th, 2008
Jack's Religious Gift Shop
701 Snow Hill Road
Salisbury, MD 21804
2:00PM

Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Gospel Shop
800 South Salisbury Blvd
Salisbury, MD 21801
11:00 AM

Buy Your Copy Today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

For Pete's Sake is a remarkable story about the unlikely love between a grown-up tomboy and the millionaire next door.

Ellen Brittingham isn't sure true live exists until she contracts to do the landscaping of the estate of the sophisticated widower next door, Adrian Sinclair. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface, He's engaged to a beautiful woman who helped him build a successful business and he'll soon have a mom for his troubled son Pete.

Yet, from the moment Ellen rescues a stranded Adrian on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down, cracking his thin façade of happiness and revealing the void of faith and love behind it. Even more, his son seems to have his own sites set on Ellen – as his new mom.

As Ellen's friendship grows with Pete, she realizes that his father is about to marry the wrong woman for the right reasons. And despite her resolve to remain "neighbors only" with the dad, the precocious boy works his way into her heart, drawing Ellen and Adrian closer. Close enough for heartbreak, for Pete's sake!

But how can her heart think that Adrian Sinclair is the one when he's engaged to a sophisticated beauty who is everything Ellen isn't. When Ellen's three best friends see she's been bitten by the love bug, they jump into action and submit her to a makeover that reveals the woman underneath her rough exterior and puts her in contention for Adrian's love.

But Ellen must ask herself whether she's ready to risk the heart that she's always held close. Will Ellen be able to trust that God brought this family into her life for a reason? Or will her fear of getting hurt cause her to turn away from God's plan and her one true chance at love?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is the second novel in your latest Piper Cove Chronicles series and follows the next friend of four who grew up in the small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I was a tomboy like Ellen and when I met a fifty-something widow who rode a Harley, well, Ellen was born. The entire ensemble from Piper Cove evolved from a real group of ladies, an amalgam of bosom buddies, all different, yet all friends.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Ellen, Adrian and Pete? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

As I said, I was a lot like Ellen. I worked in my dad's motor shop. Grease runs in the blood, I guess. As for Adrian, I think I can say that my changing careers in midlife from software consultant/business manager to a writer was reflected in his realization that he'd become something he wasn't cut out to be. And Pete. Well, Pete is fashioned after my dear, sweet, sensitive son, who has a mild case of Asperger's Syndrome. It's a high -functioning form of autism. These kids are geniuses, hampered by extremely high frustration levels and anger management issues, sometimes ADD. So they often come across as jerks, when they are anything but.

3. What themes exist in For Pete's Sake that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Ellen dealt with hiding her light under a basket, hesitating to reach out and risk her heart. Adrian wrestled with his anger at God and realizing his need for God, as well as how the distance between him and God was self-imposed. Then there's the life issue of being true to oneself for both Ellen and Adrian. Living behind a facade does not lead to happiness. And, of course, I wanted to show just how beautiful a child with Asperger's is on the inside and that there is help for them to cope with their problem. Although Pete's progress around Ellen was faster than children with more significant cases.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

It was all a delight to write. Wait, that's not so. Portraying Pete was hard for obvious reasons. As for my favorite parts, hands down, it was when Ellen allowed her friends to make her over for a costume party and she lost her... well, it's best that you read the book. (grins)

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I'm not sure yet. I'm doing the proposal now for Jan, the shy buddy who always wants the kind of guy she shouldn't have. The tentative title is Sweet Nothins. Jan is a dessert chef with low self-esteem, who has had enough of being a doormat to her handsome boss. But now what's she going to do? How does one separate the glitter from the gold? Especially when she's being accused of embezzlement and a gambling syndicate thinks she knows more than she does. Like, it couldn't get any worse!

From the Author:

APOLOGIES regarding Wedding Bell Blues. I had two regrettable errors in this publication that, when called to my attention, I didn't at first believe it.

I didn't remember my hero having a Rhett Butler moment when he said "D_mn, I still love you, Alex."

And while I'd written unsaved character Sue Ann exclaiming, "Oh my g_wd!" with the intent of convicting Sue Ann of its blasphemy in her own book #4, I changed her mind after discussing it with my editor and deleted those occurences rather than offend anyone. Well, I missed one. The GOOD NEWS is that these have been removed from future printings and book club issues.

To anyone who read Wedding Bell Blues and was offended, my humble apologies. I'd written this after my husband died and during those months of brain fog, I almost stopped writing because it was so hard to put coherent thought together. Then I turned it in months late, which put my publisher in a bind as far as getting multiple editings. This was the result.

Thank you and God Bless,
Linda Windsor

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Thank you, Linda, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of For Pete's Sake.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Rachel Hauck and Sweet Caroline

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sweet Caroline
Thomas Nelson (February 12, 2008)
by Rachel Hauck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, I partied my way though the last few years of college.

But, the truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me.

After graduation, hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. And I did it without a laptop, a cell phone, an IPod or portable DVD player. Those were hard times.

But, I traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine. But, life on the road is difficult. Working twelve to fourteen hour days, one doesn't get to see many of the sites. In Ireland, our company's distributor drove me around at night so I could see something of Dublin.

I met Tony, my husband, in '87, at church, of all places. We got married in '92. Tony has been a pastor for twenty years. I've worked with him in eighteen of those twenty. Our heart is to see teens and adults passionate, radical and whole hearted for Jesus.

Tony and I don't have any children of our own, lots of kids-in-the-Lord and we love them all. However, we do have a very spoiled dog, and an even more spoiled cat.

I've always wanted to be a writer. My dad used to tell me, "You're a writer." I have letters he wrote me post college, exhorting me to write. In this, I believe he had the heart of God.

In '93, I started an epic WW2 novel with two plots. It was well rejected. After that ordeal, I took a break and put efforts into my job as a software project manager. But, I missed writing and in late ' 99, I took up the craft again.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. I love writing chick lit and romance. I love writing. What an honor.

Rachel has several other books that have been received with great praise, including Diva Nash Vegas and Lost In Nash Vegas

You can purchase copies of Rachel's books, signed personally for you, at this site: Signed by the Author.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order.

Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.

Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.

But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Robin Lee Hatcher and The Perfect Life

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Perfect Life
Thomas Nelson (February 5, 2008)
by Robin Lee Hatcher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon.

She also likes to blog. Go leave her a comment at Write Thinking!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.

She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.

Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Julie Carobini and Truffles by the Sea

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Truffles by the Sea
Bethany House (February 1, 2008)
by Julie Carobini

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Carobini is an award-winning writer whose stories often spotlight her family, the sea, and God's timely work in the lives of those around her. She lives with her husband, Dan, and their three children in Ventura Beach, California. She also likes to blog! Go leave her a comment at Waves of Grace.

Julie left you all a special message: To celebrate my upcoming CFBA tour March 5-7, I'll be giving away a copy of Truffles by the Sea AND and a 1/2 lb. box of yummy truffles to three of you reading this interview right now. All you need to do is drop by my blog http://juliecarobini.blogspot.com/ during the tour and leave a comment and a way to contact you if you win!

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you read, Julie's first book, Chocolate Beach, then you might remember Gaby as Bri's dramatic, lovesick best friend. Unfortunately, things get worse—much worse—for her before they get…well, best not to give it away.

Sometimes all a girl has left is chocolate...

Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it's time to turn things around.

So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: "Be gullible no more!" With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby's motto and fledgling faith are put to the test

Can a young woman prone to disaster in both work and love finally find happily ever after?

"Truffles by the Sea is delightful! Julie Carobini has a new fan in this reader, and she's earned a spot on my keeper shelf." --Kay James, RomanceReaderatHeart.com

"This book is a delight to read, and the author has us rooting for Gaby from page one. This girl's never-say-die attitude is incredible, and her life is filled with all kinds of foibles. This is chick lit with heart – about so much more than finding a man.... While keeping the light chick lit tone, this book satisfied while avoiding the tired old formulas. Just when I’m ready to give up on the genre, I stumble across an author who can write without relying on stereotypes." --Cara Putman, writerinterrupted.com

"I liked Julie Carobini's first novel, Chocolate Beach, but her sophomore release, Truffles By The Sea, greatly surpasses it. I thoroughly enjoyed Carobini's second book and felt her writing was much stronger throughout. The characters are deeper and yet funnier – a great combination.... It's a great read for a cold winter day – you can curl up with the book, a nice fire and pretend you're the one by the sea." --Jill Hart, RadiantLit.com

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your second novel and a chance for the secondary character from your first novel to have the spotlight. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Although Gaby was a lively best friend in Chocolate Beach, she'd had way too many bad dates. I wanted to find out what was going on with that--and I did :)

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the character of ? What aspects became traits that were hers and hers alone?

Gaby's much more girly girl than I am! I do speak some Spanglish, like she does. My father's Mexican and I live in California, so that's sort of second nature :) As for experiences, most of those are Gaby's alone Except the kayaking. And the truffle-eating, ha. Seriously, Gaby's creative with her hands, very artistic, and I need to stick to words. Trust me on this.

3. What themes exist in Truffles by the Sea that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

It's hard to point those out without telling the reader too much, I think, but here are some basic thoughts: pride and surrender!

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I struggled a bit at the beginning because I didn't want to dump too much of Gaby's backstory there. Instead, I wanted readers to learn her background as they went along. A couple have commented that they wish they knew more at the start, but for the most part, I've been told that the backstory was done well. It's a challenge!

There's more than one favorite, but I loved writing about Gaby's adventure on the kayak. My heart beat extra fast during that one!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is about a woman's quest to honor her father's memory by moving her family back to their hometown, only to uncover secrets that destroy the fairy tale life she believed they all had once lived. It's tentatively titled Sweet Waters.

Thanks so much for having me here today, Tiff. Feel free to stop by my website or blog any time! www.juliecarobini.com or juliecarobini.blogspot.com

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Virginia Smith and Stuck in the Middle

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Stuck in the Middle
Revell (February 1, 2008)
by Virginia Smith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker with the release of her first novel Just As I Am. Since then she has contracted eight novels and published numerous articles and short stories. She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including Murder by Mushroom (Steeple Hill, August 2007) and her newest release, Stuck in the Middle (Revell, February 2008), book 1 in the Sister-to-Sister Series.

Her short fiction has been anthologized, and her articles have been published in a variety of Christian magazines. An energetic speaker, she loves to exemplify God’s truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, “Biblical Truths in Star Trek.”Virginia is a speaker, and an avid Scuba diver. She and her husband Ted, divide their times between Kentucky and Utah, and escape as often as they can for diving trips to the Caribbean!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement-or romance.

That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to catch his eye and get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut and into the life she's been hiding from.

Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry that is sure to make you smile.

"A gentle story of one young woman's season of growth, deftly blending the tangle of family relationships with gifts of whimsey and revelation. A joy to read." ~SHARON HINCK, author of Renovating Becky Miller and Symphony of Secrets

"Virginia Smith has created a charming and humerous novel that celebrates small-town life, generations of women caring for each other, and the value of finding a deeper, more active faith." ~SHARON DUNN, author of the Bargain Hunters mysteries

CONTEST INFORMATION

My publisher and I are conducting a contest to promote Stuck in the Middle. I'm giving away a $500 shopping spree on March 31st. All you have to do is subscribe to my bi-monthly eNewsletter to be entered into the drawing. And if you refer someone, you can get more entries. Just tell that person to state your name as the referral when they subscribe. Details are here: www.virginiasmith.org/contest.html

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is book 1 in your new Sister-to-Sister series. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The initial thread of inspiration for Stuck in the Middle came during a family gathering at my mom's house. My sisters and I are very close, but they have so much in common with each other that I sometimes feel left out. They have children the same age, while I had mine ten years before. They're both very much into dramatic arts – they're actresses, directors, and choreographers – while I have never set foot on a stage. They're both really bubbly and outgoing and energetic. I'm by far the quietest person in my family (which some find hard to believe!) So during this gathering, my sisters were holding court in their usual energetic, boisterous way, and I found myself sinking quietly into the background, just watching. I know they love me as deeply as I love them, every bit as much as they love each other. It's just a difference in our personalities, but at times I feel a little left out.

So I decided to translate those feelings into a story. But I wanted to reflect all my feelings about my sisters – the deep love we have for each other, the sense of belonging, the certainty of acceptance no matter what. All those things come from sharing a lifetime of struggles and joys and tears and laughter. My relationship with my sisters is one of the most precious blessings God has given me. They've been with me through. . . well, everything! I wanted to write a book that reflects how important sisters can be to each other.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Allie and Tori and Joan? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

The main points of this book all come from my own experiences. Joan and her sisters are twenty-something adults who are experiencing the ripple effect of their parents' divorce when they were young. My parents divorced when I was nine years old, and I have struggled to overcome the effects of that divorce as I tried to establish lasting relationships as an adult. In Stuck in the Middle, Joan's father deserted after the divorce was final, so she's also trying to work through the impact of those feelings of desertion. Though I still did have contact with my father after my parents' divorce, it was sporadic, and I felt emotionally deserted.

But as you are well aware, fiction takes on a life of its own. I became a Christian when I was twelve, but Joan never had a real relationship with her heavenly Father – which, of course, is an important part of the book! Plus, Joan isn't close to her mother, while my mom and I are extremely close. Joan falls for a gorgeous doctor, which I've never done. And I have never in my life paid $250 for a pair of jeans!

3. What themes exist in Stuck in the Middle that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The major theme in Stuck in the Middle is God's desire to be a real Father to us. He's not just 'out there' somewhere, loving us from afar. He's right here with us every single moment of every day, loving us intimately and intensely.

The thing that developed as I wrote isn't a theme per se, but it supported the central theme. God will go to great lengths to prove His love for us, even miraculous lengths. One of my favorite scenes is when God sends a very powerful and clear message to Joan through her sister Tori in a simple action. I get chills every time I read that part!

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part for me was the medical detail I needed to include to make the hero believable. Ken is an emergency room doctor, and I don't know the first thing about ER treatment! But thank goodness for ACFW, where I found help from Ronda Wells M.D. and Crystal Laine Miller. They served as my subject matter experts for medical treatments, and also for the process of becoming a doctor.

My favorite part was a scene that takes place in a contemporary mega-church. Joan has been raised in a conservative, ritualistic church and ventures into a worship service like she's never seen before. I had a terrific time writing her reactions to the service. Like when she thinks, "If anybody does anything weird, like drop to the floor and roll, I'm outta here!" She had no idea what to expect, and thought somebody might even pull out a box of snakes or something. It made me laugh out loud as I wrote. And then, a missionary lady stands up in the service and talks about God's miracles on the mission field, and I got goose bumps right along with Joan. When I do readings from this book, that's the part I read. I just love it!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The next Sister-to-Sister book, Age before Beauty, comes out in February of 2009. But I have two being released before then. Sincerely, Mayla is the sequel to my debut novel, Just As I Am, and follows my wacky heroine as she faces some unpleasant facts about her family and herself. Namely, that being a control freak is an inherited trait. It's an edgy book, which is appropriate since Mayla is such an edgy character, and since her friends are pretty 'out there.' This book answers the question so many readers have e-mailed and written to ask me: "What happens between Mayla and Pastor Paul?" The wait to find out is over – Sincerely, Mayla comes out in March.

And A Taste of Murder is a romantic suspense novel being released in October from Steeple Hill. In that one, a classical violinist goes to a barbeque festival in Kentucky, and when she checks into the hotel she finds a body in her bathtub covered in barbeque sauce. (Yes, I did say it's suspense, but I had to put something wacky in there, too!) This is the first of a 3-book series, so I'm excited about it.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate the opportunity!

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Thank YOU, Ginny, for the bonus interview and the spotlight. :)

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Ted Dekker and Adam

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
ADAM

(Thomas Nelson, April 1, 2008)
by Ted Dekker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), and Obsessed, with two more...Renegade, and Chaos to be released later this year.

ABOUT THE BOOK

He died once to stop the killer...now he's dying again to save his wife.

FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has become famous for his well-articulated arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” is about to end abruptly with an unexpected death-his own.

Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by the loss of memory of the events immediately preceding his death.

Daniel becomes convinced that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes during which he alone saw the killer’s face. And the only way to access them is to trigger his brain’s memory dump that occurs at the time of death by simulating his death again…and again. So begins a carefully researched psychological thriller which delves deep into the haunting realities of near-death experiences, demon possession, and the human psche.

"As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the details of ADAM are stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It's all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can't help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we're not careful."

New York Times best-selling author Ted Dekker unleashes his most riveting novel yet...an elusive serial killer whose victims die of unknown causes and the psychologist obsessed with catching him.

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Rebeca Seitz and Sisters, Ink

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sister's Ink
Broadman & Holman Books (February 1, 2008)
by
Rebeca Seitz

Today's spotlight is enjoying the release of the first novel in a series of four about scrapbookers, but she has made a significant name for herself in the publicity realm by starting a well-known publicity firm for authors -- GlassRoad Public Relations. It takes what CFBA does for authors a few steps further and offers an all-encompassing publicity package explicity for Christian worldview books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebeca Seitz is Founder and President of Glass Road Public Relations. An author for several years, PRINTS CHARMING was her first novel. Rebeca cut her publicity teeth as the first dedicated publicist for the fiction division of Thomas Nelson Publishers. In 2005, Rebeca resigned from WestBow and opened the doors of GRPR, the only publicity firm of its kind in the country dedicated solely to representing novelists writing from a Christian worldview. Rebeca makes her home in Kentucky with her husband, Charles, and their son, Anderson.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sisters, Ink marks the first in a series of novels written by, for, and about scrapbookers. At the center of the creativity and humor are four unlikely young adult sisters, each separately adopted during early childhood into the loving home of Marilyn and Jack Sinclair.Ten years after their mother Marilyn has died, the multi-racial Sinclair sisters (Meg, Kendra, Tandy, and Joy) still return to her converted attic scrapping studio in the small town of Stars Hill, Tennessee, to encourage each other through life's highs and lows. Book one spotlights headstrong Tandy, a successful yet haunted attorney now living back in Orlando where she spent the first eight years of her life on the streets as a junkie's kid. When a suddenly enforced leave of absence at work leads her to an extended visit with her sisters in Stars Hill, a business oppor­tunity, rekindled romance, and fresh understanding of God's will soon follow.

Endorsements:

"What more can any woman want? Sisters, Ink weaves the love of sisters, the fun of scrapbooking, and a romance as sugary and tingling as Sweet Home Alabama. A must read for those who love southern fiction." --DiAnn Mills, author of Leather and Lace and When the Nile Runs Red

"Fun . . . funny . . . fantastic! Rebeca Seitz has brought together scrapbooking and sisterhood in a lively romp, with a love for going home again."--Eva Marie Everson, coauthor of The Potluck Club series

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to be entered in a drawing for a FREE copy of this book. If you do not wish to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure your email is available or that you return next week to see if you've won. Would hate to see you miss out on winning a free book.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Karen Ball and What Lies Within

You'd never believe from the content of her latest books that this author is a side-splitting riot when she does speaking engagements and live talks. Not only is she a prolific and established author, but she's been an editor of many top names in the Christian book industry and worked for Zondervan, among many other publishers.

Now, partnering with David Webb of B&H Publishing, she is helping to relaunch their fiction line with a new and innovative brand.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
What Lies Within
Multnomah Fiction (November 20, 2007)
by Karen Ball

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Ball , bestselling novelist, is also the editor behind several of today's bestselling Christian novels. Her love for words was passed down through her father and grandfather - both pastors who shared God's truth through sermons and storytelling. Blending humor, poignancy, and honesty, Karen's writing style is a powerful force for revealing God's truth. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, and their "kids," Bodhan, a mischief-making Siberian husky, and Dakota, an Aussie-terrier mix who should have been named "Destructo."

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Nothing’s going to stop Kyla…

until the ground crumbles beneath her feet.

Kyla Justice has arrived. Her company, Justice Construction, is one of the most critically acclaimed, commercially successful companies in the Pacific Northwest. And yet, something is missing. Not until she’s called on to build a center for inner-city kids does she realize what it is: her sense of purpose. Now nothing can stop her, not the low budget, not supply problems, not gang opposition, not her boyfriend’s suggestion that she sell her business and marry him–and most especially not that disagreeable Rafael Murphy.

Rafe Murphy understands battle. Wounded in action, this Force Recon Marine carries the scars–and the nightmares–to prove it. Though he can’t fight overseas any longer, he’s found his place as a warrior in the civilian world. So he soldiers on, trusting that one of these days, God will reveal to him why Rafe survived the ambush in Iraq. That day has arrived.

Kyla and Rafe both discover that determination alone won’t carry them through danger and challenges. When gang violence threatens their very foundations, there’s only one way to survive: rely on each other, be real–and surrender to God. In other words, risk everything…

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to be entered in a drawing for a FREE copy of this book. If you do not wish to be entered, say so when you post. This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.