This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Slow Burn
Zondervan (October 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.



ABOUT THE BOOK


She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.


Watch the video:



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

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CFBA Review ~ eye of the god

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
eye of the god
Abingdon Press (October 1, 2009)
by
Ariel Allison
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the action and suspense throughout the book. The interesting back stories furthered the intrigue and made eye of the god a can't-put-it-down book. Fun read!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Allison is a published author who lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Justin Case, the first of three children’s books will be published by Harvest House in June 2009. Ariel is a weekly contributor to www.ChristianDevotions.us and has written for Today’s Christian Woman. She ponders on life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and on her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com.


From Ariel:
I am the daughter of an acclaimed and eccentric artist, and given my “unconventional” childhood, had ample time to explore the intricacies of story telling. I was raised at the top of the Rocky Mountains with no running water or electricity (think Laura Ingles meets the Hippie Movement), and lived out the books I read while running barefoot through the sagebrush. My mother read to me by the light of a kerosene lantern for well over a decade, long after I could devour an entire novel in the course of a day. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, George MacDonald, and L.M. Montgomery were the first to capture my heart and I have
grown to love many others since.

ABOUT THE BOOK

eye of the god takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond and weaves it together with a present-day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian Institute.

We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative jewel thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the gem, which according to legend was once the eye of a Hindu idol named Rama Sita. When it was stolen in the 17th century, it is said that the idol cursed all those who would possess it. That won’t stop the brilliant and ruthless Weld brothers.

However, they are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond and a deadly secret to keep. Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration.

When the dust settles over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, readers will understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of humankind, nor can it change the course of God’s story.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of eye of the god, go HERE

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Friendship

This week, I was reminded how much I value the friendship from my online friends.

I know there are nay-sayers who scoff at the idea that you can truly be friends with someone you've never met before. I think I actually used to fall into that category myself. But I am proud to say I consider my online friends some of the best friends I've ever had.

And I've actually met some of them in person too, so I know they're really real.

The week started with a phone call from Toni. When the first words out of someone's mouth are "seriously?" instead of hello, you know they are a real friend.

When I logged back in to twitter today for the first time in a few days, I was blown away to see all the thoughts, prayers and well-wishes filling up my tweet stream. I was so overwhelmed, I had to close twitter, because I didn't have the time I wanted to personally thank everyone.

But I say it now...thank you to all my friends who wished us well this week. You are as special to me as that third cup of coffee I drink in a quiet moment in the middle of the afternoon. And since you are my friends, you'll know how much that really means to me!

Then, when the phone rang this morning and I saw it was Amy, I had to smile. I'd missed 2 days of our email correspondence and she just wanted to check up on me and make sure I was okay.

Is there anything finer than friendship like that?

I truly feel blessed to have this tiny, close-knit community of friends that is spread all across the country.

Stop by Amy's Finer Things for more Finer Things Friday.

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Packing Snacks

As I'm slowly crossing off things on our countdown to Disney to-do list (5 days and counting...), I'm beginning to pack our suitcases. I like to spread out the packing over a few days whenever possible. I find that it really helps to remember all those little things that usually get forgotten. Also, it's much easier to toss a newly-cleaned article of clothing right into the suitcase than to put it away just to pull it out again in a few days.

While writing my packing list today, I was reminded of a favorite tip my whole family uses whenever we go to Disney World. We pack our own snacks and a few other food items. This is a great way to have a quick breakfast before leaving the room or energy food while at the parks without the extra expense.

The added bonus is that this leaves extra space in our suitcases for souvenirs on the return trip home. Even if I cram something into every possible space in the suitcases, I know we'll have extra room for any goodies that we buy.

This tip definitely applies for any traveling too - not just Disney World. But obviously, I have Disney on the brain right now!

Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.

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