Book Review Streets on a Map by Dale Harcombe

Book Description:

Every choice carries a price as Abby discovers when she marries Joel. If she had known when Joel first walked into Clancy's what lay in store, she would have stopped the relationship before it got started. However, by the time she found out it was too late. The choice was made. Or so she thought.

But then between her and her one friend in Astley, Laila, they arrive at solution that could benefit Abby and the small county town. A deliberately lit fire and an unplanned pregnancy threaten to bring their carefully laid plans and Abby's dreams undone. Problems of some newcomers to the town impinge on Abby's life too, but it is the arrival of an old resident of Astley that could end up destroying everything and not just for Abby.

Who else's lives will be affected and changed forever. Will the unwelcome arrivals in Astley destroy everything Abby and Laila have worked to achieve? What is the secret that will have all of Astley reeling?


Book Review:
This is another good Aussie book. In this book we see a city girl who has moved to the country and a small country town at that. Astley is a small country town where everyone know everyone and any new comers are notice. Abby has made friends with Laila and they end up working on a plan together. Add some new other newcomers including Shannon and the Zoe. Laila's sister also comes back to the town and this will affect Laila. The story was interesting getting to know the different characters and and the different storylines. We also learn about forgiveness when something happens which many think is unforgivable. We also see how 2 people can live in the one house but there memories of events are so different. The other issue we see is how we can see ourselves one way and then we meet someone and suddenly we see things in a new way and learn new things about ourselves. This happened at times in this book.
This is a christian book and there are Christian values in the book albeit subtle, but I was a little disappointed that the main characters were still not christians at the end of the book or had an encounter where they realise they need God in there lives. 

CFBA Tour Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Shadows on the Sand Multnomah Books (July 19, 2011) by Gayle Roper





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gayle is the award winning author of more than forty books. She has been a Christy finalist three times for her novels Spring Rain, Summer Shadows, and Winter Winds. Her novel Autumn Dreams won the prestigious Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Summer Shadows was voted the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Book of the Year (tied with fellow author Brandilyn Collins).



Gayle has won the Holt Medallion three times for The Decision, Caught in a Bind, and Autumn Dreams. The Decision won the Reviewers Choice Award, and Gayle has also won the Award of Excellence for Spring Rain and the Golden Quill for Summer Shadows and Winter Winds. Romantic Times Book Report gave Gayle the Lifetime Achievement Award.



Her Amhearst mystery series, Caught in the Middle, Caught in the Act, and Caught in a Bind, originally published by Zondervan, was reprinted in 2007 by Love Inspired Suspense with a fourth original title added, Caught Redhanded. Another original single title, See No Evil, was also released. Caught in the Middle has been optioned for film.



For her work in training Christian writers Gayle has won special recognition from Mount Hermon CWC, St. Davids CWC, Florida CWC, and Greater Philadelphia CWC. She directed St. Davids for five years and Sandy Cove CWC for six. She has taught with Christian Leaders, Authors and Speakers Services (CLASS), serving for several years as their writer in residence. She enjoys speaking at women's events across the nation and loves sharing the powerful truths of Scripture with humor and practicality.



Gayle lives in southeastern Pennsylvania where she enjoys her family of two great sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and the world's five most wonderful grandchildren. When she's not writing, or teaching at conferences, Gayle enjoys reading, gardening, and eating out.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Carrie Carter’s small café in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.



When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries … and into her life. But Carrie has a painful past, too, and when the reason she once ran away shows up in town, the fragile relationship she’s built with Greg threatens to implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry. Two wounded hearts struggle to find a way to make one romance work. Failure seems guaranteed when Carrie locates her waitress but is taken hostage...



If you would like to read the first chapter of Shadows on the Sand, go HERE.

My Review:
This is a good book. I loved the story and the mystery. There were some things I didn't expect to begin with which were interesting. Carrie is a great character who has had a hard life and is still holding on to many issues even though she doesn't realise it. I love what Gayle did with her. I also like seeing Greg and getting to see what makes him tick. He also has issues he is struggling with. The book deals with forgiveness of ones self and even others. It also deals with fears and how sometimes fear can cloud your reasoning. There are also great secondary characters in this story. I loved the book and would love to read more books by Gayle.

Book Review Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy

Product Description:
Get ready for a Grand Canyon tour de force by award-winning author Mary Connealy. Gabe Lasley and Shannon Dysart are an unlikely pair. He’s an aimless wanderer who wants nothing other than to be left alone. She’s a fearless female determined to find a city of gold. When they are forced together the mayhem begins. As they set out to find the treasure, trouble is hot on their trail. Will the dream of gold color every decision Shannon makes? Will Gabe fail yet another helpless female in his life?  


Book Review:
Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to review.
I loved this book I think this is one of Mary's best so far. The story is set in the Grand Canyon and when reading the book it took me back to when I visited Wiamea Canyon in Hawaii. The story starts with Shannon in trouble and Gabe comes across her. The adventure starts right from the first sentence and continues throughout the book. I also love the secondary characters in this book as they really make the book. Gabe is the youngest in the family and his brothers tend to baby him and think he is incapable of making his own decisions regarding what he will do with his life. We see some of these struggles in the book also. Shannon is an only child who is determined to prove her father's discoveries were real and not just wishful thinking. Seeing the stories blend together and grow was interesting. The back drop to this story is the Grand Canyon and Mary describes it in a way that makes me want to visit it and see what the characters saw. Excellent read.

Book Review The Art of Romance by Kaye Dacus

Book Description
Author Kaye Dacus will ignite your love of romance with book 2 of her Matchmakers series. Dylan Bradley, who once illustrated steamy romances under the name Patrick Callaghan, has moved into his grandparent’s guest house in Nashville. Caylor Evans, having once written titillating novels under the penname Melanie Mason, lives with her grandmother. When their lives collide, due to the machinations of meddling matriarchs, the pasts of Dylan and Caylor threaten to derail their futures. Will they accept each other for who they now are—and once were? Or will they never discover the true art of romance?


My Review:
This is book two of the series and another good read. Once again the Grandmothers are in on the act trying to fix there grand children up so they will be married and have the first grand children before another group in the Church. Its actually quite interesting seeing how there minds tick. Caylor is an English Professor and an writer where as Dylan is an Arts teacher and artist. Both have things done in the past they want to keep secret and its interesting seeing what happens.  I found it interesting when Caylor's sister isn't an academic and doesn't have high ambitions that it was looked down on in a way as being under achieving. I know this comes from Caylor and her friends having higher jobs but wondered if all Academics and professionals think the same way of what they consider low ambition jobs. It struck me as I am studying Business Administration and never considered it a low ambition job. Saying this I still loved the book and enjoyed seeing what makes a professor tick. I loved seeing what would happen and how the different things would happen. Also we see Dylan's family and how they consider an artist as unimportant and almost a black sheep because it wasn't a profession but we also see how the brothers all get on so well. What I love most is that regardless of status everyone has vulnerabilities and insecurities and I liked how Kaye showed this. Good read and cant wait for the 3rd book in the series.  Thanks to Kaye Dacus and Barbour for a copy of this book to review.

Book Review She Makes it Look Easy by MaryBeth Whalen

Book description:

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

 

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

 

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

My Review:

I received this book to review with the CFBA tour. I have been sick on an off for about 7 weeks now and reading got behind. I found this book to be interesting. Its another case of things are not always what they seem. From the outside Justine looks to have everything and be everything other women want to be. She is organised to a fault and even teaches other women how to be organised in their lives, homes and everything they do. Arial is a busy mother of three boys and feels her life is in chaos. Arial and her family move to a better part of town, an area she has wanted to live in for so long believing it will be a better place to live and a better life. Through the book you can see both sides of the story with MaryBeth taking you inside the minds of both women and you soon see Justine has issues. One of the lessons from this book is to not judge people because of who they are as in this case Justine looked to have everything the perfect house, family, everything and Arial felt she was lacking. But we need to follow our intuition and look behind the perfect facade.  This is a good book and well worth the read as it tackles and difficult topics that are often swept under the carpet.

Book Review Fade to Blue by Julie Carobini

Product Description:
Suz Mitchell is a determined dreamer and won't allow her ex-husband Len's jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah's life. An accomplished artist, she moves with her child across the country to California's central coast and lands a job restoring priceless art for the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the ocean.

To her utter surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, is also now working at Hearst and jumbles the dreams inside Suz's heart. While sorting out the awkwardness of their past split and current spiritual differences, a repentant Len shows up eager to restore his family.

When confronted with her most painful, past decisions, will Suz second guess herself? Or will she learn to let God restore all that once seemed lost?

Book Review:

This is book 3 in a series but if you haven't read the first two in the series you wont be lost. I haven't read the first 2 books and followed this book with no problem. Suz has moved to California with her son and moved in with her brother to start a new life after her ex husband ends up in jail and she finds he lied to her. She starts at a new job and finds her old boyfriend is also loving in the same area and even working where she is as a contractor. Both Seth and Suz have issues they need to deal with from there past which makes for interesting story lines. I love some of the secondary characters, loved Suz's co worker who seems to have a few issues with Suz. I enjoyed the whole story and the different turns. One thing I love about the book is how Julie portrays Suz, when some things with her ex husband come up I love how we see Suz uncertain as what to do, to me it was very real and what often happens. It was good to see how Suz processes the different issues, alot with uncertainty where others were so set in there thinking.  Good read.

Book Review Rugged & Relentless by Kelly Eileen Hake

Product description:
hire to help them set up and run a sawmill, they never dreamed their tiny town would be overflowing with proposals from bachelors who responded promptly...and in person! Out of this logjam of potential suitors, which one will Evelyn Thompson choose? Jacob Grainger trails his brother's murderer to Hopesfall where, to keep his true intentions secret, Jacob pretends to court Miss Evelyn Thompson. Will this lumberjack-turned-bounty-hunter find himself falling for the enterprising female?


My Review:
This is an interesting book. I love the idea of this series with the 4 friends moving to Colorado and advertising for husbands. This book tell the background story how the Ladies end up moving to Colorado and then advertising for husbands. While all 4 ladies are featured the story is more focused on Evelyn. Jacob ends up in the same town as the ladies trailing his brothers murderer. I love getting to know the ladies and the town. The different characters who turn up in the town are interesting. I love Evelyn's character she is strong and in charge watching her and Jacob spa is really entertaining. Its interesting how men back in this era and even today to a degree don't think women can be business women and think they need looking after. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The series is different from other historical I have read because the women take the initiative in this series to build and save a town.

Book Review The Lawman's Christmas Wish by Linda Goodnight

Product discription:
Widow Amy James can't get through grocery shopping in Treasure Creek, Alaska, without a marriage proposal. And she's hardly flattered. Most of her "suitors" are after the treasure her great-grandfather had buried on her property. But only one man promised her late husband he'd take care of her and the boys: police chief Reed Truscott. True, Reed is handsome and honest and makes her feel safe. But his honorable marriage proposal is about obligation—not love. Unless he can convince her that his Christmas wish is to join her family forever. 


My Review:
I loved this book, its the final in the Alaskan Bride Rush series. We see Amy James who is the owner of the Treasure Creek Guided Tours dealing with issues since the treasure has been found and there are some who want it for themselves. Reed mad a promise to Amy's husband before he died that he would look after her but doesn't understand why she turned him down. Amy wants to open the treasure at the town Christmas pageant but with all thats been happening Reed wonders if now would be better. Add to the mix 2 adorable boys and you have a heart warming story. Seeing Reed interact with the boys is interesting as he himself had a hard childhood. I enjoy the themes of hope, belief and forgiveness are in this book. What the treasure Provides with the hope and belief in the town is inspiring. Wonderful book and I am looking forward to the historical books in this series.

Book Review Danger on her Doorstep by Rachelle McCalla

Product Description:
Her father's death didn't seem suspicious. Yet Maggie Arnold can't deny that there's something odd about the old Victorian house he was working on when he died. The house that Maggie has now inherited. All she wants is to finish the renovations, sell the house and leave Holyoake, Iowa…but that's easier said than done. The only handyman in town who steps up to help her is Gideon Bromley—a man no one in Holyoake wants to trust. And just beyond every corner hides the person determined to keep them both away from the house…for good.


My Review:
This is the first book I have read by Rachelle and found this to be a good book. I like the Love Inspired ranges and felt like reading one of the suspense line. This is a good story with Maggie  working on the house she has inherited from her father how has recently died. Gideon is in suspension from the police force and is helping her restore the house he also thinks her father's death was suspicious. One of the themes of this book is forgiveness. I love how these books have hero and heroines with issues they need to overcome and sometimes issues that are not as big an issue as they have built them up to be. The not knowing who was behind the things happening at the house added to the story and I found I wanted to know more.
Look forward to more stories by Rachelle.

Book Review of The Blacksmith's Bravery by Susan Page Davis

Product Description:
Ride shotgun alongside Vashti Edwards, saloon girl turned stagecoach driver, as she tries to redefine her life into a brave Christian citizen. Watch as Griffin Bane, local blacksmith and stagecoach manager, wrestles with his attraction to her. When a gang of outlaws target the stagecoach line, will The Ladies' Shooting Club come to their friends’ aid again, saving Vashti and Griffin to build a future together?


Book Review:
Another wonderful book by Susan Page Davis. This is the third book in this series. This time the book focus's on Vashti a former Saloon girl who wants to be a stagecoach driver. The saloon she worked for is now a restaurant but not making enough money to support all the employees. Griffin is in charge of of the stage line in Fergus and also the local blacksmith. I enjoyed the story line with Vashti wanting to take on what is considered a mans job and wanting to make a way for herself. We also learn about her early life and what lead her to being in Fergus. Seeing how Vashti tries to change her life and the problems she encounters and how she deals with them make the the story. I am sad to see this series end as I have come to love these characters and have loved the different ladies and how they learn to except each other.

Review Maverick Heart by Loree Lough

Maverick Heart

by 

Loree Lough

Nurse Levee O'Reilly and her husband, Dr. Liam O'Reilly, are headed west to the California Territory to practice medicine when their stagecoach is tragically attacked by the infamous Frank Michaels. All alone now and grieving, Levee makes her way to Eagle Pass, Texas. The local doctor can't afford to pay a staff nurse, however, and so she turns to the only other option-teaching. Devoted wholeheartedly to her students, Levee has little time for romance.



Deep down, Daniel Neville wants to be a preacher, but he's battled doubts and distrust for most of his life. Wracked with guilt over his twin sister's death and then "punished" with a limp from an injury sustained during a stampede, Dan dedicates himself instead to serving his family and working with horses on their ranch. Marriage is far from the top of his to-do list, and he aims to keep it that way.

My review:
I enjoyed this book. I hadn't read the first book in the series but didn't feel I missed out on what was happening. I felt for Levee from the beginning of the book when she is attacked by the outlaw and left a widow. I love how Loree used the tragedy to create a wonderful story.  Levee has to make a new life alone in a new town and is devoted to her students where she is now teaching. You can see the love she has for the students. Its interesting seeing Dan and how he interacts with Levee and is dealing with his own guilt. This is another good historical western and I cant wait to read book 3.

A Christmas Gift by Diane Craver with Review

A Christmas Gift 

By

DianeCraver

Justin Reeves is a man who has it all: a good job, a loving wife and children who are the center of his universe. Justin also has a secret he's hidden from everyone his entire life;or so he thought. Quite innocently his small daughter, Debby, stumbles upon his secret and is shocked by what she finds. She confronts her father with the awful truth, and together they embark upon a journey which takes her father from the darkness of shame into the light of victory.

Drawing from true events in her own childhood, author Diane Craver captivates the reader from page one to a stunning climax which will touch your heart and impact your life forever in this must-read story of love's triumph over adversity.

My Review.

This is a delightful story. When Debby stumbles upon her fathers secret it starts a chain of events which make this a wonderful story. I don't like to give away storylines so its hard to say much about this story but I found it inspiring and was captivated from page one. There are some parts in this book that are quite funny as Debby is 7 we see some of her antics. I particularly like one involving a rope. This is a magical story that I would recommend everyone read.

Review of Alexis and the Arizona Escapade by Erica Rodgers

Alexis and the Arizona Escapade (Book 9)

By: Erica Rodgers

Alexis is invited to join her grandmother, Molly Windsor, on a trip to the London Bridge Resort in Lake Havasu, Arizona, where she’ll be teaching guests about the English. After hearing reports that London Bridge really is “falling down,” Alexis, soon joined by Elizabeth, is determined to get to the bottom of it. Why does a small fishing boat regularly appear by the stone supports of the bridge? And are the stones, appearing for sale online, really official rocks from the London Bridge? The Camp Club Girls are on the case!

My Review:

I enjoyed this book. Its part of  a delightful series for tweens and the young at heart. It takes me back to my summers when I use to read these sorts of stories and I really wish we had this series when I was younger. This book features Alexis and Elizabeth in Arizona and another mystery to solve. I love how the 6 girls from different states and backgrounds have become such good friends. they age from 9 - 14 and keep in contact via a special website. These are good christian fiction and have lessons for us all to learn in the books. Another good story for tweens. 

Tribute book tour of Care for Creation by Christy Baldwin

About the Book

Care for Creation

by Christy Baldwin

Care for Creation helps children to foster an appreciation and respect for nature. They learn to protect the environment through recycling, home energy conservation and neighborhood clean-ups. Through accompanying Bible verses, they are encouraged to be responsible stewards of God's creation.

"Care for Creation by Christy Baldwin backs up the modern theme of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with the Biblical messages passed down from our Creator. From the time of Adam and Eve, men and women have been called to care for the Lord’s creations. In this meaningful and inspiring book, children learn how easy and important it is to do their part."
- Cheryl C. Malandrinos, author of Little Shepherd

"Christy Balwin's  Care for Creation is a charming story that teaches children how to care for our environment in a fun and loving way. The colorful illustrations and inspiring verses from the Bible will delight both children and adults. The book is a powerful tool for families that shows how living responsibly can make a difference in our world!"
- Tony Townsley, inspiration for Three C

Christy Baldwin Bio:Writing has been a passion of Christy's since she was very young. As a child, she loved to write stories for her grandfather and poems just for fun. She lives in Mason, Ohio with her family and is active in church, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and volunteering with various organizations. Christy has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Cedarville University and a master's degree in Special Education from the University of Scranton. She is a stay at home mom who enjoys spending time with her kids and being involved in their schools. Her previous children's titles include Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night and Remembering Wilma.




Book web site:http://www.CareForCreationBook.com
Christy Baldwin Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001044000739

Tribute Books website:http://www.tribute-books.com
Tribute Books Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176
Tribute Books Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks


For a chance to win this book go to  http://bit.ly/9xeePq  





My Review:
This is a lovely book teaching children about looking after God's creation. It tell what happens when we don't look after our world and what I like it brings it back to the child reading the book. It also gives ways to help cut down pollution, save electricity and to recycle. This would be a great resource for schools where they could read the book with the students and then work on some of the ideas in the book. It would also be a good resource for parents who are trying to teach children the importance of saving energy, recycling and looking after the earth.
A good read.

Book Review Snow day by Billy Coffey

Product Description

In this debut novel, Peter is a simple man who lives by a simple truth--a person gains strength by leaning on his constants. To him, those constants are the factory where he works, the family he loves, and the God who sustains him. But when news of job cuts comes against the backdrop of an unexpected snowstorm, his life becomes filled with far more doubts than certainties. 

With humor and a gift for storytelling, Billy Coffey brings you along as he spends his snow day encountering family, friends, and strangers of his small Virginia town. All have had their own battles with life's storms. Some have found redemption. Others are still seeking it. But each one offers a piece to the puzzle of why we must sometimes suffer loss, and each one will help Peter find a greater truth--our lives are made beautiful not by our big moments, but our little ones.

My Review

This is a very good read. Peter wakes up to snow the schools have called a snow day and Peter decides to take one also. Peter is looking at maybe having his job cut or decreased and things look bleak.
Being as I have never seen snow fall I found some of the things in this book interesting one being how everyone wants milk and bread. This leads to encounters with many different people during the day and little life lessons happen with many of these meetings. I found the insights and truths he found from the different encounters quite interesting and ones that can be applied to my own life. The different perspectives on the same idea, item or thought can be interesting also. Alot happens in one day but it was a day of discovery and a really good read with alot of humor in the story telling. For a debut book this was excellent would love to read more stories by Billy.

getting to know you Thursdays with Henry Brown and a review

Today I am interviewing Henry Brown who I met at the edgy fiction board. I got to read his book Hell and Gone.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself? 
I'll cut and paste from my blog profile: I'm a Christian (of the non-wimpy variety), a patriotic American, a veteran, a Zionist, a creative type (yeah, I know: these qualities don't often go together), a reforming cynic, and a criminal genius mastermind masquerading as an overworked, underpaid blue-collar drone. 


2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books? 
The Great Comic Book Heroes by Jules Feiffer has been with me since I was nine years old. At first I just read the Golden Age comic reprints inside. Later I delved into Feiffer's multi-chapter introduction. Over the years I re-read it several times, and understood a little more each time. And appreciated it a little more each time. I liked the Hardy Boys, but there was an obscure juvenile detective series I liked even better called The Three Investigators, with forewords by Alfred Hitchcock. In fact, one of my first prose efforts was inspired by them, to some degree. I loved The Fastest Funnycar by Patrick Williams, and Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. Those were some of my favorites in prose. You don't have room on your blog for me to list my favorite comic books. 


3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write? 
I've enjoyed books from just about every genre. I almost never read horror or chick-lit (but have read some romances), and don't read gay/lesbian ever. I usually go through phases--this month I might want to read epic fantasy, next month classic sci-fi, this time next year a western, or a war novel, or non-fiction, or a mystery, or whatever. It's kind of the same way when I write. Whatever genre, though, it tends to be male-oriented. I'm a man and like to do man stuff, read about man stuff, and write from the male perspective (though lately I've been broadening my horizons just a tad).  (Jenny here I am not a big chit lit fan either some is good but alot is not my cup of tea)


4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you? 
Growing up, I just read what I could find that I liked, with no consideration of who the author was. In fact, I rarely paid attention to authorship, in the early years. I read a whole lot from different authors, including genre fiction and series fiction--probably most of it by authors dismissed as "hacks."
I'm sure I was influenced, but by whom I'm not sure--there were just too many sources to pin them all down. I know Edgar Rice Burroughs' combination of exotic locations and heroic adventure made an impression on me. I was dazzled by some of Erle Stanley Gardner's better whodunnits. The comic book writer Doug Moench is a fantastic storyteller--his medium just happens to be graphic fiction.
As an adult, I tracked down some info on the writer himself, read an interview of him...and discovered, predictably, that his politics are in lock-step with pretty much every other artistic type. Even so, he's a brilliant storyteller. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the greatest author ever: God/the Holy Spirit. Growing up, I thought christianity was wimpy, and even the men I saw at church struck me as effiminate. But when I finally did start reading the Bible on my own, it was eye-opening how parts of it are so raw, they would never be read in most churches.
There are parts of Hell and Gone which you could say pay homage to the book of Judges. One of the characters is named after a certain left-handed judge and, in fact, his prowess in combat is more like an annointing than the result of training. There is one scene I intentionally meant to resonate with Gideon's preparations before attacking the Midianites. And, of course, I quote passages about Samson, since something called "the Samson complex" hangs over the characters throughout the plot (in fact, I had titled this book "the Samson Doctrine" at one point).


5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
By my teenage years I was already writing fiction (horrendous drivel, but fiction just the same). At some point early in my military service I knew for sure I wanted to be an author.


6. How did you go about becoming an author?
I battered my head against the New York publishing industry for years. All but two of the queries I submitted were rejected via form letter. Out of hundreds. My attitude was pretty snobby about self-publishing, POD and e-publishing for a few years as they were becoming the rage. There's a stigma still attached to anything that smells like "vanity publishing," and I'd had it beaten into me that legitimate, respectable authors wait for a breakthrough with a traditional publisher until they grow old and die unpublished, if necessary. My attitude began to change when I read some articles about the future of publishing. I finally asked myself why I was stagnating, beating my head against the proverbial brick wall, waiting to hitch a ride on a ship that's probably sinking. So I researched POD (Print On Demand) publishers until I found what I thought was the best one. I had a few finished novels, and submitted the one I assumed would be the most "commercial." At the time I still had some residual snobbery about electronic/digital publishing, but I eventually overcame that, too


7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be? 
A film-maker; a musician; an A-10 pilot; a race driver; a used bookstore owner; a power-mad dictator of a resource-rich country somewhere with a perfect climate; a genius super-criminal mastermind...and a thousand other things. 


8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
Unfortunately, I have no time for the other things I like to do. But if I did, I'd finish my project car and take it racing; shoot a few films; go camping and hunting frequently; play in a band; pick up another language or two; learn how to use some software programs; play a whole bunch of video and computer games; experiment with some inventions I've conceived; sleep at least eight hours a night...and the list goes on (bom-bom-bom, ba-bom-ba-bom-bom), the list goes on...


9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
I'd love to visit the Holy Land. I also love traveling out West, from Oklahoma to California. I would live somewhere in between, if circumstances were different. 


10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?
Hmm. Well, one might be film maker John Milius, to discuss some of his work and maybe ideas I have for the big screen. Another would probably be Bible teacher Chuck Missler, to pick his brain a bit and ask questions not covered by his tapes and CDs. Maybe the third would be hot-rodder Lou Santiago, to see if I could get him interested in fabricating some custom parts for my car. ;-) 


Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

My website is http://www.hell-and-gone.com/, and from there you can not only find out about my military thriller (Hell and Gone) and get a feel for it, but also follow links from there to pretty much everything else I do online, including my own new blog (twofistedblogger.blogspot.com). I have a blurb and mini-blurb about Hell and Gone on the website, but in essence it's the story of some real people with real flaws hastily thrown together for a desperate mission with an improbable chance for success.

Some readers have voiced a desire to read a sequel--which I hadn't anticipated. So I've been toying with a couple ideas...

Virtual Pulp: Tales of High Adventure, Low Adventure, and Misadventure is the first issue of my cyber-pulp magazine which, like some of the classic pulps of yesteryear, is a novel-length anthology of shorter adventure fiction. Genres in this first issue include fantasy ("epic" or sword & sorcery plus a humorous sci-fi flavored satire); historical; and an aviation adventure in a post-apocalyptic setting. Themes include honor/brotherhood; forbidden love; the evolution of folklore and language; and liberty vs. slavery. Some of the tales are stand-alone, some feature characters I intend to revisit in future issues. Virtual pulp has a page on my site also. So far, it's only available in e-book, though. I have plenty of ideas for more books, but no time to write them (especially with me now trying to market). But I've got a start on Virtual Pulp #2, and the first few chapters of an alternate history novel which should be a lot of fun.


My Review of Hell and Gone:
I found this book to be very insightful in many ways. There are three main sides to this story, The americans, Israelis and the Sudanese army. In this story Henry explains how some suicide bombers come about which I found interesting and after reading the passage could fully understand. We also see why Israelis feel like they do about other countries and how different solutions haven't always helped them. There were times some of the Americans were quite put out with what the was being said about America and some of the process they had been involved in. I learnt quite alot from this. Being I am not an America I could actually identify with some of what was being said. I got quite involved in the story and although it is a war story I found I was cheering for the good guys. Also references to the south of Sudan which is christian was interesting as at our church we have had dealings with some of the missions there and heard first hand how some of the issues there.
I also found it hypocritical at times what the ones in charge of the Islamic section were doing and one scene in particular really got to me it goes against what they teach and what they say they believe but seems is quite common. (I am not going to say more when you read the book you will understand what I am referring to). If you like military books or fast action this is a great read. If you dont like war or military or can't deal with killing in a book I would suggest its not for you.  

Book Review of Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon.

Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. She pilots a mail-delivery plane in the forbidding Alaskan wilderness, the lone woman in a male profession. But even that seems easy compared to finding true love. She likes a fellow pilot and would even consider marrying him--if it weren't for Paul, a mysterious man on her mail route with a gentle spirit and a past to hide. Can Kate break through the walls Paul has put up around his heart? And will her quest for adventure be her demise?


My Review:
Another great read. This is the first book by Bonnie I have read although I have all her others (just haven't had the time to read them yet) This book won't be my last. I really enjoyed the story. I have been fascinated with Alaska for as long as I could remember and this book just made me want to go more. The book starts in 1935 with Kate flying to Alaska to be a bush pilot. What I love about Kate is she is strong and knows what she wants and goes for it. She also has some issues she needs to deal with. Hearing of some of the areas Kate flies over really does make Alaska sound like a great place to visit. I love how Bonnie protrays Paul also. I was drawn into the whole story and I really cant wait to read book 2. 


If you go to http://www.bonnieleon.com/html/contests.html you can enter a contest with a great prize

Review of The Protector by Carla Capshaw

The Protector

Rome, 81 AD - Former merchant turned slave and gladiator trainee, Quintus Ambustus will do almost anything to earn his freedom. Enslaved for his faith in Christ, he hopes someday to find a Christian woman to marry and share his life. A friend of Quintus's master, Adiona Leonia is one of wealthiest, most beautiful women in Rome. She has good reason to despise men and has vowed never to wed. Although each of them is attracted to the other, they're determined to fight their feelings. But when an attacker threatens Adiona's life and Quintus is made her protector, neither can resist their fascination for the other. As Adiona learns to trust, first Quintus, and then his God, Quintus learns the Lord's gifts sometimes come in the most unexpected packages and in ways he never dreamed possible.
 
My Review:
Another great book from Carla. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. After reading The Gladiator I really wanted to read Quintus and Adiona's story and I wasn't disappointed. Right from the start this book is full of action. Quintus becomes a bodyguard for Adiona and it is here we learn more of both there histories. In the prologue we learn alot about what it is like to be a girl in early Rome. We learn girls are not valued and were treated badly. I didn't realize it was like this for girls back then also. I love how the book unfolds and admit I was often wondering what would happen next. Great read.

Review of A Daughter's Legacy by Virginia Smith

To receive her inheritance and make peace with her late mother, Kelli Jackson must abide by the woman's will. Even though it means working as a zookeeper for six months—with animals that terrify her. How can she possibly explain her fears—and her past—to her handsome boss, Jason Andover? The glimpses of kindness—and painful secrets—she sees in his eyes slowly have her sharing everything. But then she makes a startling discovery—one that may tear them apart forever. Unless she can return the gift of love he's given her.

My Review:
Virginia has written Love Inspired Suspense books before which I have loved but this is her first for the Love Inspired range. It is a very good first book and one I didn't want to put down.
Kelli has to work at the zoo for 6 months to receive her inheritance. The zoo is the last place she wants to be but the money would help with her Grandma who is starting to need more help and would help move her into assisted living. Jason is the one she will work for and ultimately decide her fate.
I love the way Virgina describes the animals and their characteristics, as she describes how one of the animals is just like a big version of a small domesticated one. (don't want to give anything away here). But reading this reminded me of going to the local zoo and seeing a medium sized cat and the way it rubbed against the cage was just like my cat at home. I wanted to take it home as it was so adorable but I remember saying I would love to take you home but you would eat my cat. Also with Kelli's Grandma there were things that I could relate to having an elderly mother (who is old enough to be my grandma) and some of the things that happen in that relationship.
I just loved the whole concept and I really hope to see more of these books by Virginia. Not only a great read also educational.

Love finds you in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson review

Times are hard in 1893. In the midst of an economic depression, Jacob Hirsch loses his job with the banking industry. Desperate for work, the widower rides the rails west from Chicago with his four-year-old daughter, Cassie. When illness strands the pair in Homestead, Iowa, the communal Amana Society settled there rallies around the newcomers. Liesel, a young Amana woman, nurses Cassie back to health while the Homestead elders offer Jacob work. But when the elders recognize Jacob’s interest in the engaged Liesel, they ask him to leave the colony. Will Jacob choose to stay in the only place that’s felt like home—if it means he must give up the woman he’s come to love? 

My Review:

Thanks to Summerside for this review copy.
I really loved this book. I hadn't heard of the Amana Religious community before but would love a place like that. They care for each other and share everything. This book takes place during one of the wall street crashes and at a time when living in the city is dangerous. Jacob is looking after his daughter and they end up in the Amana community when Cassie is very sick. Liesel helps nurse Cassie and its interesting seeing how the 2 interact. I loved this book and learning about the community. Great book one of my favourites so far.