January 2008

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Passion Most Pure
(Revell January 1, 2008)
by
Julie LessmanABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write “Mainstream Inspirational,” reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God’s precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. A Passion Most Pure is her first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She’s found the love of her life. Unfortunately, he loves her sister …

As World War I rages across the Atlantic in 1916, a smaller war is brewing in Boston. Faith O’Connor finds herself drawn to an Irish rogue who is anything but right for her. Collin McGuire is brash, cocky, and from the wrong side of the tracks, not to mention forbidden by her father. And then there’s the small matter that he is secretly courting her younger sister. But when Collin’s affections suddenly shift her way, it threatens to tear Faith’s proper Boston family apart.

Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O’Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. Collin is trying to win her sister Charity’s hand, and Faith isn’t sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure is Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.

My thoughts: I couldn’t get enough of this book and I’m not a big romance reader. What drew me to reading A Passion Most Pure was the fact that it took place during the start of World War I and I thought it took place in Ireland (I was wrong about the Ireland part although they did visit for a brief moment).

I loved this book. Seriously, ask Best Friend and she will tell you I couldn’t quit talking about it. What hooked me was the sexual tension between Faith and Collin. Julie was able to take real sexual tension and put it into words without it sounding cheesy (which in my opinion is difficult to do). It’s rare to find sexual tension in a Christian book even though most of us know what sex is and have experienced it. My hat goes off to Julie for delivering a book that is realistic, not only in her characters but in emotions.

Back in November, hubby went to work in the oil field with his Dad in hopes of being able to network and find another job. Apparently it worked because hubby is now looking for us a house in the city we will be moving to. Hubby will live there as soon as he’s able to move in and we will join him when school is out for summer break.

There is a certain area we would like to live in since hubby’s brother is there and he likes it. Hubby found a house he likes and is waiting to see if the landlord has approved us or not. There were two other applicants also interested in the house. Hubby has appointments tomorrow to look at more houses.

This wouldn’t be so bad if hubby were living in the town we will be relocating to. However, hubby is working and living in a town 1 1/2 hours away. The kiddos and I are two hours away from the city. This doesn’t make it easy looking for a home.

Not only that, but hubby is finding us a house without me. He will be making the decision where we will be living for the next year or two. (We want to rent for a bit and then buy a home). He will be looking at the house in a completely different way than I would. I would be looking at the kitchen, how much storage space the house has, where the washer/dryer would be located, how I would arrange the furniture and so on. Nope. I won’t have any of that. Hubby will find the home and we will make do.

Wow. I didn’t realize how much I miss hubby until I realized I could just make do for a while. I am so tired of living away from hubby that I trust he will find a house for us and that we will like it. We will be fine wherever we go because we will be together as a family.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Awaken My Heart
Avon Inspire (February 5, 2008)
by
DiAnn MillsABOUT THE AUTHOR:Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. She is the author of numerous titles including novels, novellas, and a nonfiction. In addition, she’s written several short stories, articles, devotions, and has contributed to several nonfiction compilations.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” Her desire is to show characters solving real problems of today from a Christian perspective through a compelling story.

Several of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents, and she remains a favorite author by Heartsong Present’s readers. Two of her books have won short historical of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers both in 2003 and 2004. She was named Writer of the Year for 2004 at the 35th Annual Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference and is the recipient of Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards for 2005 in the long contemporary and novella categories.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, ChiLibris, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops. DiAnn also belongs to Cy Fair Women’s Networking, an exclusive professional women’s networking organization.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas, the home of heat, humidity, and Harleys. In fact she’d own one, but her legs are too short. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

1803, the colony of Texas

Awaken My Heart is set in 19th century Texas and tells the story of 18 year old Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, Weston Phillips. Weston is involved in a hostile struggle with Armando Garcia, the infamous rebel leader of the ‘mestizos’ who claim to own the land that Phillips has settled.

Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, has never agreed with her father’s harsh treatment of the poor mestizos who first inhabited the colony of Texas. When rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes her father will trade back their land for her freedom, she realizes her loyalty lies with her abductors, not her father, who plans to marry her off to the don of a nearby estate.

Armando Garcia is the locals’ reluctant leader, but his people revere and depend on him. Knowing that without his leadership they’d be forced from their land, Armando accepts his role, but does not approve of the latest attempt to manipulate their enemy. When he learns that Marianne actually speaks his language, of her loyalty to his people, and of the faith that keeps her strong, Armando is faced with a difficult decision. Will his newfound love keep him from letting her go? Or will he set her free and risk losing their land forever?

A friend stopped by the other day to give me a message from God - “You hang on to what defines you, but let go because God has more for you. God has to define you.”

I’m still chewing on that one but know that it is true.

What defines me? I would say my books. What is my passion? I would reply reading. However, I sense there is so much more there. What can I do with books and reading?

Someone once said that with all the reading I do I should also write. That statement blew me away because I had been tossing around the idea of writing. I hadn’t written in quite awhile because I had suppressed the urge since I was laughed at when I was younger.

God put a dream in all of us. For the longest time I wasn’t sure what my dream was until I started my blog. I love my blog. There is more I could do with it and I’m still trying to find what my niche is but at least I’m writing and posting regularly.

Starting a blog was one of the hardest things I had ever done. Wait…no. Telling friends I had a blog was hard because then other people I knew might find out and read what I had to say. I was worried about what they would think. I’m getting over that fear.

The other day I sat down and started writing again. God put an idea in my head and I am slowly getting it out. I would like to branch out and learn more about writing. This is a huge step for me…admitting I want to be a writer.

It doesn’t matter whether I get published or not, what matters is that I write and improve my writing skills.

I am slowly overcoming my fears and striving for my dreams.

I have a tendency to read books about women and their struggles in life. One of my favorite books is My Antonia. Others are Anna Karenina, The Awakening, Brick Lane, She’s Come Undone, The House of Sand and Fog, The Poisonwood Bible, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and many others. Granted not all of the books were about women’s struggles, but they had women as the main character and the story centered around them.

I am also drawn to books where the women have extramarital affairs. Some of my favorites are repeats from the above so here they are again…Anna Karenina, The Awakening, and Brick Lane.

What is it about these books that draw me to them. You can’t say that they are alike because they aren’t. Why am I drawn to women and their issues? Is it because I am a woman?

If you know of any books that might fit either criteria please let me know because I am in need of some more reading material.

PS - I’m doing research on women and the reason they have affairs so the book suggestions don’t have to be limited to fiction.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fallen
(Kregel Publications February 29, 2008)
by
Matthew RaleyABOUT THE AUTHOR:Matthew Raley is senior pastor of the Orland Evangelical Free Church in northern California, where he lives with his wife and two young children. For fun, he enjoys playing chamber music with friends, giving occasional solo recitals, and playing first violin in the North State Symphony. This is his first book.ABOUT THE BOOKJim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.My thoughts: At first I was thinking Jim needed to mind his own business. What right did he have in immediately judging Dave for being in a car with another woman. I almost quit reading the book because I was tired of Jim’s judgmentalism. Almost. Thankfully I didn’t because I ended up getting caught up in Jim’s thoughts of trying to figure out Dave was up to and what would happen next.I was interested in reading Fallen because we all sin. All of us have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and pastors are no exception. Also, it has been mentioned by my pastor that most of the people in the Bible didn’t finish strong. For example, Moses didn’t get to cross over into the Promised Land and King Saul lost the Israelite kingdom. Heck, even King David made mistakes. King Solomon who was the wisest man ever left God to worship the gods one of his wives led him to. Point is none of us are exempt. Accountability should be a priority for us and that is a topic covered in Matthew Raley’s book Fallen.

I have to admit that Matthew Raley could improve on his writing style but everyone has to start somewhere. Matthew Raley has a great concept and brought it around full circle causing me to think about what I do. Overall I enjoyed the book.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this Blog Tour.

The following are my sermon notes from Pastor Ric Freeman at Life Fellowship Church . I had the privilege of attending his church this weekend and couldn’t help but notice that his sermon went along with what God revealed to me last Sunday.

Are You Weary?

Weariness is an emotional, physical, and spiritual wearing down of our sense of significance in the why we do what we’re doing.

It is the discounting of the worth of our purpose.

Weariness is infectious.

 

Galatians 6:7-9 (New King James Version)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

We whine continually about people. It’s not us that have the problem… it’s the other people. When it’s really us that has the problem.

We are worn down from constant struggles and circumstances.

Being tired at night will help you sleep but being weary will keep you up.

Being weary will sap your strength and leave you overwhelmed.

Luke 15:11-24 (New King James Version)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring^[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Why did the younger son leave? How old is he? I always assume he’s around 18 - 20 but he could have been married and had children. He could have been much older. Let’s overlook some of our preconceived notions and look at it some more.

They were farmers. It was a lot of repetitive, tedious work with no immediate rewards. The younger brother had grown weary.

1. Weariness will cause us to exchange full reward for incomplete, immediate gratification.

vs 12 - it is possible for our weariness that others lose their focus also

Not talking about being tired but losing the sense of why you do what you do.

Weariness caused the other brother bitterness.

2. Weariness will put you at odds to others.

Weariness will cause you to lose interest in the very things you used to love. (lost the sense of the desire to do it.)

3. Weariness will impair your judgment (vs 13)

The how for prevention and cure

‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’

In Galatians 6:9 - grow = it’s a process that happens over time.

Being weary is not the result of what people say or do - but it will contribute to the wearing down process.

Our circumstances and our situations aren’t the reason why we are weary but they will contribute to the wearing down process.

*GUARD YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND*

There are signs that are recognizable to us that we are growing weary and we will have to do something to stop the growth or the progression of that weariness.

You do not grow weary overnight.

Philippians 4:4-7 (New King James Version)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1. Recognize weariness while it is beginning. Not after it is full grown and refocus why we do what we do.

Weariness is curable.

That was part one of a several part series. Unfortunately I will not be able to hear the rest of the sermons. Although, I could probably email them and purchase the CD’s.

My prayer is that these notes will bless you as much as they have blessed me.

*All Bible passages are from BibleGateway.com.

About the Book: Russia? Not again. Josey’s finally living the good life - she’s got the man, the (almost-perfect) wedding, the two-story Cape-Cod house of her dreams. That is until her man drags her back to Moscow! Josey knows she has the guts to follow her own dreams across the world, but she’s not so sure she can play the perfect wife while her husband chases after his. Josey’s set on having the perfect life…even in a world without hot water, decent take-out and size-two leather fashion. But can she find the courage to tell her man the secret that will change their lives forever?

Here is Susan’s bio: I can’t help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.

Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, “Measure of a Man,” in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.

I grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it’s where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series. Based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I’m terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 — and now we live in the beautiful town I’d always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings — and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.

My thoughts: When I found the first book Everything’s Coming Up Josey I immediately thought of my friend S who is passionate about Russia and wants to be a missionary there some day. So when I saw I could be part of Susan’s blog tour for Chill Out Josey I knew I had to be a part of it.

This book had me from the very beginning and I was rolling with laughter and anguish for Josey and all of her escapades. I absolutely love Josey’s character. She strives to be the Proverbs 31 woman and wife and does just about everything we all have done in order to be “Proverbs 31″…she messes up. I don’t know about you but I mess up every time I try to be “Proverbs 31″.

Not only is Josey trying to be the perfect wife she is also pregnant…in Russia…away from her family and friends. Although, I don’t know what it’s like to be pregnant in another country, I have heard stories from Best Friend whose sister lives in Europe.

I am so thankful I had my children in America where everything was easy and convenient and didn’t make me grow in character and strength. I honestly don’t know how Josey was able to live without Taco Bell Nachos Bell Grande because that’s all I wanted when I was pregnant with my firstborn. Nachos Bell Grande and Pizza Hut Cavatini.

Here are some links:

Buy the book

Read the first Chapter

Susan’s website

Susan’s blog

Susan’s other books

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2008

WaterBrook Press (January 15, 2008)
by
Sally Stuart
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual “Christian Writers’ Market Guide” for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children’s picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel–plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the “Christian Communicator,” “Advanced Christian Writer,” and the Oregon Christian Writers’ Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers’ Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.Check out her blog!ABOUT THE BOOK:
The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!

Check out the section on Blogging on page 69…the CFBA is listed!

Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.

To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.

A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.

My thoughts: As an aspiring writer, either writing fiction or freelance, I found Sally’s book extremely helpful. When i was thumbing through the book to get a feel for it I quickly became overwhelmed at the amount of information in it. However, when I started reading the introduction and how to use this book sections my anxiety quickly turned into peace and excitement. This book is an excellent resource for any Christian writer. It is one that I pick up and flip through just to look at all the publishers and editors and what genre they publish and so on. Sometimes I pick it up and read each individual entry in a section just to get a feel for what’s out there.

That said this book is a must have for any Christian writer who wants to be published or is already published. Thank you Sally Stuart for taking the time to research and organize the plethora of information and making it available to the rest of us.