Wednesday, April 29, 2009

CFBA presents Nothing but Trouble

No review yet, because I haven't received my copy of the book.



This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Nothing But Trouble


Tyndale House Publishers (May 1, 2009)


by


Susan May Warren



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. Her favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota is where she met her husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living.

The north woods easily became the foundation for her first series, The Deep Haven series, based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. Her first full-length book, Happily Ever After, became a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

As an award winning author, Susan returned home in 2004, to her native Minnesota after serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. She now writes full time from Minnesota's north woods and the beautiful town that she always dreamed of living in.

You can sample a chapter of each and every one of Susan's novels, on her website, HERE.



ABOUT THE BOOK

PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

1) After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that's become her life, she needs a fresh start.

2) The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister's wedding is Boone-her former flame and the reason she left town.

3) Her best friend's husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn't know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she'll uncover much more than she bargained for-a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she's been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder—who also happens to be PJ's former flame—is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right

If you would like to read the first chapter of Nothing But Trouble, go HERE

Monday, April 20, 2009

Every Good and Perfect Gift book review

Every Good and Perfect Gift is novelist Sharon Souza's first novel.

Publisher's Summary:

After thirty close years, Gabby and DeeDee's lifelong friendship holds no surprises. Except for one: Thirty-eight-year-old DeeDee and her husband have decided to conceive their first child. And despite their concerns and a struggle with infertility, DeeDee finally gives birth to a healthy baby. But while the friends believe they have faced their greatest challenge, an unexpected tragedy will alter their lives and relationship forever.

In the classic tradition of movies such as Beaches and Steel Magnolias, Every Good and Perfect Gift shares a heartwarming story of friendship that overcomes all odds. Filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between, Gabby and DeeDee's journey will strike a chord with female readers of all ages.

Review:

I first received this book last year, and I tried two different times to begin reading it. At the time, I was going through a very difficult ordeal with a friend of mine and this book hit too close to home for me. So, I set it aside.

Recently I found this book in my box of review books and decided to give it a try. Again, I found myself too close to the subject matter of mental illness and friendship issues.

To the author's credit, she totally captures the friendship angle between Gabby and Dee Dee. And her writing seems to be very good. I mean, if she can evoke that kind of feeling in me and I can't even get past the first few chapters, well, that says something, I believe.

I just can't relive that difficulty again. Not when another friend needs me to be strong for her next ordeal.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

I'm still around

I have not dropped off the face of the earth, although one might think so if this was the only way one kept up with me. One of the things I wanted to do was set up a writing schedule, which would include blogging more than book reviews. That hasn't been crossed off the the list yet, but it is on the list.

I started last year with keeping lists of things to do in my comp book. Well, right now the comp book is full of things that need my attention and it's serving as more of a folder than anything else! So the immediate "to do" list has moved to a spiral notebook on the dining room table. The past four days I've done rather well with it!

Spring has definitely arrived in North Dakota. We do still have one patch of snow--ice, really--in the yard, measuring about 1 ft. by 6 in. by 1 in. thick. It'll be gone tomorrow.

I took a PDP (Professional Dynametrics) personality inventory and had it explained to me by a coach today. So I'm feeling very self-aware, and am trying to figure out now how to work WITH my true highly extroverted self instead of AGAINST my self. Coincidentally, I also scored the list of how to deal with my hubby's type as well. Fun!

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Blog Tour: Experiencing the Spirit

Welcome to the blog tour for Henry and Mel Blackaby's new book EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT. You can click here to purchase the book.


Publisher's Summary:

Serve God as never before!

The first Christians “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) shaking the gates of hell even in the face of severe persecution. The result: People all around “were filled with wonder and amazement” (Acts 3:10).What can give Christians today the same impact?

God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments. You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.

Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life.

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Once again, I have fallen behind in my book reviewing. This book, though, has a strong beginning. The Blackabys jump right in to their discussion of the Holy Spirit! But it's good. I trust them and their teaching, and look forward to this study.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Clutter-FREE Christianity Blog Tour

Welcome to the Water Brook Press Blog Tour for Robert Jeffress's latest book, Clutter-Free Christianity. You can click here for more information or to purchase the book.

Publisher's Summary:

When did the Christian life become so complicated?

Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve.

It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you.

Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer.

Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity.

Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.

About the Author:

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, one of the most historic churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of sixteen books, he is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, live broadcasts of Dr. Jeffress’ weekly messages reach millions of listeners and viewers each week, while his daily sermon series airs on 1,100 television stations and cable systems nationwide. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two adult daughters.

Pattie's Review:

I have not yet finished this book, but so far it's good. Fully supported by Scripture, Jeffress teaches how to cut through the "clutter" of what we believe and get down to the essentials. It's peppered with pop culture references that are helpful in illustrating the author's main points.