Monday, July 21, 2014

CFBA presents Firewall by DiAnn Mills

My review follows the CFBA post.
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Firewall
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2014)
by
DiAnn Mills


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.

Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?

With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

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

Pattie's Review:

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. It was a really good story with fun characters. I think it would make a good movie too! The story was plausible, not outlandish or unbelievable. The mystery was a good one and very difficult to unravel. I was surprised by the ending, and that, my friends is rare indeed. I can't really say much more about that or I'll break the reviewer code and give spoilers.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Where is your focus?

I'm on the blog at Wives of Faith today.

This summer has been...different. I have two teenagers, so it's getting harder and harder to find time to do fun things together as a family. My oldest daughter got a part-time job, and both girls are taking summer school as well as summer dance classes. Since I wasn't able to teach a summer course myself this year, and all attempts to find an additional job were met with "Thanks, but no thanks," I began what I'm calling the Great Pre-PCS Purge of 2014. For my non-military friends, this is what you do when a cross-continental move is on the horizon.

My mission is simple: downsize the HHGs (household goods). I have become a regular consignor at the base thrift shop, and I've donated bags of clothing and kitchen items no longer needed. But as the photo above indicates, the big project the past few days has been paperwork. Lots and lots (and lots) of paperwork.

You see, as a teacher and a writer (and let's face it, a bit of a hoarder of information), I've accumulated a lot of paper. . . . You can read the rest at Wives of Faith here.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Five Minute Friday on Saturday: Belong

To link with this weekend's link, visit Crystal: here.

BELONG:

Merriam-Webster defines belong in many ways, but the second part of the second definition says this:

 to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency

This definition drew me in.

There are days I float along, feeling alone, feeling apart, feeling far away. Living in Alaska will do that to a person, when her loved ones are thousands of miles and thousands of dollars away.

But I belong to Jesus. I belong to my husband. I belong to my girls, even though day by day they become more independent of me. I belong to the chapel congregation, I belong to the women's ministry, and I belong to a unique ministry online

Even if I feel apart, left out, or ignored, I really do belong.

Sometimes it is good to remember that. Especially on the days when I feel otherwise.

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

A February Bride: A Review



I read A December Bride and A January Bride, so what comes next? Valentine's Day bride! I've enjoyed Betsy St. Amant's novels and blogs for a few years now, and she just keeps getting better. I really enjoyed February's offering in this series. With shades of Runaway Bride and some comedy, this book was a journey for sure. I especially enjoyed the wisdom shared by one character's mother, toward the end...and no, I won't give it away! :)

Next up for Betsy: All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes (please consider Wives of Faith for your Amazon Smile purchase).
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Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for  review copies of each month from December through June.

A December Bride: First in a Series


Silly me, when I started reading this series of novellas, I thought it began with January. So I read this one second.

I did not enjoy December as well as January, because the entire premise of the mixed-up couple was based in a deliberate lie to save face where face did not really need to be saved (no life threatening situations, no kidnapping or terrorism or anything really scary, unless real estate is scary to you!).

So no offense to the author, but the premise did not ring true with me. Characterization was good, happily-ever-after ending was secure, but not my favorite thus far in the series.

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Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for  review copies of each month from December through June.