Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair Burney

Psychologist and sometimes sleuth, Amanda Bell Brown is back in her third mystery following on from Murder, Mayhem & A Fine Man and Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz.

When the toddler son of preacher Ezekiel Thunder is discovered dead, Bell believes there is more to the tale than the finding of accidental drowning. Suspicious of Ezekiel's flamboyant and suave ways and the flirtatious behaviour of his supposedly grieving young wife, Bell launches her own investigation into the little boy's last moments.

Seeking the assistance of her estranged husband, Jazz and the man who signaled the end of her marriage, Rocky, Bell discovers that life is precious, making peace with God is sometimes a painful journey filled with unexpected surprises and hidden blessings.

Deadly Charm exhibits the unique characteristics of a Claudia Mair Burney book ~ bold, audacious characters, deep spiritual threads and heart wrenching honesty. If sweetness and light is your preferred reading experience, this book isn't for you but if you want a solid story that doesn't shy away from the realities of dysfunctional relationships, alcohol abuse and selfish choices, then look no further. Leavening the seriousness of the tale is Bell's sassy voice, her unconventional friends and family and the joy of a life changing surprise. Reading the preceding books is highly recommended to fully appreciate Bell and Jazz's tumultuous journey and the challenges and blessings God bestows on them. Claudia's writing continues to be a breath of sharp, fresh air in the world of Christian publishing.

As seen at TitleTrakk.com

Relz Reviewz Extras
Review of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man
Visit Mair's website and blog
Buy Mair's books at Amazon or Koorong

Interested in reviewing?

The lovely Sharon Ball wanted to know how I started reviewing and some tips for anyone wanting to take it on themselves!

Check out our interview here :)

Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge

Jessie Stone has spent thirty-five years fantasizing about marriage proposals, wedding dresses, and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid eleven times, waved dozens of couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.

But shopping in the love-of-her-life department hasn't been quite as productive. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.

So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that God has a better love story than one of the thousands she’s cooked up in her journals? Will she trust Him with her pen when it appears her dreams of being the bride are forever lost?

My take:~

Never the Bride is a brilliantly funny, deeply moving and spiritually powerful novel that will have you pondering its impact long after the last page is read.

The unique premise reveals human nature at its core ~ our deep desire to be loved and our ofttimes misguided efforts to find it. Jessie is such an engaging character, with qualities we recognise in ourselves and the heart felt desires we have lived or are living. Walking with her is a wonderful and witty journey that is as much heart rending as it is joyous but above all, unforgettable, as God's true heart and deep love for us is unveiled. I truly hope this is not the last collaboration between Cheryl and Rene ~ I adored Never the Bride and can't wait for the film!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Cheryl's website and Rene's website

Buy Never the Bride at Amazon or Koorong

Come back Thursday for a character spotlight on Jessie

Aussie/NZ Giveaway

You really don't want to miss this book so I am thrilled to have a copy to give away to my Aussie and New Zealand readers.

To enter, post a comment on or before Sunday 28th June, 2009 and don't forget to leave contact details!

CFBA Blog Tour of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
FaithWords (April 16, 2009)
by
Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:


ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.

MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.

Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls









ABOUT THE BOOK

Ana, Christine, Riley, and Zoe have grown closer than ever over the past few months, but summer is over and it's time to put their friendship to the test.

It's been a little over a year since Christine Lee's mom passed away in a tragic car accident. Now her dad is engaged to Candace--"The Bimbo"--and Christine couldn't be less thrilled. When her attitude starts to take a toll on her schoolwork, the administration forces her to attend counseling sessions. At least she gets to skip gym class!

But with her father's wedding inching closer, Christine is growing even more bitter. To make matters worse, the Miracle Girls are beginning to drift apart. Christine's anger and the pressures of high school threaten to break the girls up when they need each other the most. Will they find a way to join together to help Christine come to terms with her mother's death . . . and her father's remarriage?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, go HERE

Character spotlight ~ Trish Perry's Sonny Miller & Grig Banks

Today the spotlight shines on... Sonny Miller & Grig Banks


Trish Perry is such a fun writer! Her books are always engaging, full of warmth and sunshine. I'm looking forward to picking up Sunset Beach and heading back to the quirky beach house in San Diego. Enjoy meeting Sonny and Grig and be sure to buy the book and learn their story :)

Over to you, Trish:~


Brief physical description:

Sonny Miller:

Sonny has straight, fairly long, blonde hair and warm brown eyes. When she smiles her cheeks form little peach-colored apples on either side of her perky nose. Her lips are full—the lower a little more so than the upper. She’s 5’5” and athletically slim.

When I created Sonny, I had Mandy Moore in mind.

Grig Banks:

Grig has penetrating blue eyes that are dark rimmed and thick lashed. I would describe his nose as roman, and his lips are full, with a wonderful curve to his upper lip. He has a scar on his cheekbone, which Sonny finds especially attractive. His hair is light sandy-brown, short but with bangs that flop onto his forehead. He looks like the guy in this picture, but his jaw is more angular.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Sonny’s curiosity is both a strength and a weakness. Because she lacks awareness of her personal history, she’s fascinated with the factors that contribute to one’s personality. This has led her to passionately embrace her career of choice, psychological counseling. But her curiosity also creates uncomfortable situations for others at times, because she puts people in positions where they’re forced to unveil things they’d rather keep confidential.

Grig has plenty of strengths. He stays true to his moral commitments rather than ignoring them in moments of passion. He seeks to protect his sister, who has enough weaknesses for both of them. And he tries to be considerate of the wishes of others when making plans. His weakness? He isn’t always successful in the above matters of strength.

Quirk (if any):

Sonny’s always a bit quick to apply her psychological training (which is far from complete) to a given situation. She means well, bless her heart.

Grig’s sister is actually the character with the quirks, and some of them are rather troubling.

Your inspiration for the characters:

When I was in the shower mode of planning—that advance planning that takes place in the shower or the laundry room or the middle of traffic—I knew I wanted to wrap a story around a set of identical twins, one of whom is Sonny’s mother. And for some reason I also considered a younger set of twins, fraternal, who had been adopted from Russia. That’s where Grig came in, but then I changed his relationship with his sister such that he became her older, protective brother.

When I thought about the conflict between the identical twins, Sonny’s role arose, and she became the heroine. I liked the idea of making her interested in Psychology and desirous of using her training to get to the bottom of her whacked-out family origins. Since the format of the beach house books requires the plot to take place within a relatively short time span, I needed to give Sonny and Grig a past together, to explain how they could fall so deeply for each other within one week’s time. Once those parameters were in place, the characters took on their personalities rather easily.

Background to the story:

When I wrote Beach Dreams—the book released before Sunset Beach—I wasn’t aware Harvest House would ask me to write another in the series. I worried just a tad about the fact that I had pretty much used up all of the research I had done on the San Diego area, as far as where characters might be likely to go, what situations they might experience, and such. Did that stop me for one second from saying yessiree to a chance to write another beach house book? Not on your life! So I did more research, talked with more people from the area, and did the above shower thinking (and massive amounts of praying, as usual) until the story of Sonny and her mysterious personal history fell into place.

Thank you very much, Trish! It is always a pleasure to have you visit :)

On Thursday, the spotlight shines on Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge's Jessie Stone from Never the Bride ~ you are going to be surprised!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Beach Dreams

Character spotlight on Beach Dreams' Jeremy & Tiffany

Visit Trish's website

Buy Trish's books at Amazon or Koorong

The winners of Deadly Intent are....

Aussie winners ~ Jaana, Danielle, ad, Jen and Beth

US winners ~ Cynthia and gahome2mom

Congratulations everyone :) I will need your snail mail address within 7 days to claim your book.

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn by Liz Johnson & Aussie Giveaway

Myles Parsons is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn's GED course…until his abduction plan succeeds. Terrified, Kenzie doesn't want to believe his explanation. That he's Myles Borden, FBI agent—placed under cover because someone wants her dead.

Now that Myles has got her out of harm's way, his plans start to fall apart. He attempts to take Kenzie to a safe house—but the stubborn woman won't go! He struggles to protect her even as she takes care of him. He tries to keep his distance…and finds himself falling in love.

My take:~

Liz Johnson dives in the deep end with an intriguing prisoner, a frightening kidnapping and a wild mountain lion in her debut novel, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn and scores a 9.0 from this judge!

Kenzie and Myles' attraction sparks from the first meeting, the story is engaging and the suspense proceeds at a brisk pace. While the premise is somewhat improbable, Liz held my attention throughout the entire story, kept me guessing and invested in Kenzie and Myle's relationship. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn is an admirable start to Liz's writing career and I am anticipating enjoying more of her books to come.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Liz's website and blog
Enter Liz's contest to win a signed copy of her book
Buy Liz's book at Amazon or Koorong
Check back soon for a character spotlight on Kenzie & Myles

Aussie Giveaway

I have a signed copy of Liz's book to give away ~ thanks, Liz! To enter post a comment leaving your contact details by Sunday 21st June, telling me your favourite romantic couple - book or movies!

Character Spotlight ~ Tina Ann Forkner's Truman Clark & Lillian Diamon

Today the spotlight shines on Tru Clark & Lillian Diamon


Tina Ann Forkner's sophomore novel, Rose House, is beautifully descriptive and laced with heartache and hope. Tina has provided great insight into her soulful artist and fragile chef in the spotlight below. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks Tina:~

Truman Clark

Brief physical description

Truman is really a mix of rough meets clean-cut. He is an artist, so he dresses pretty laid back even though his shirts are pressed. He is tall, tanned, shaves his head, and is well built because when he is not painting he is helping his friends in the local area doing odd work around the vineyards. He doesn’t need the work, but enjoys it. As a result his hands are calloused from the work and stained with paint from his art.

Actor/famous person

Jason Statham

Strengths and weaknesses

One of Truman Clark’s strengths is that he is perceptive about other people. He can see sides of people they may not even know they are showing. When he first sees Lillian, he already knows she is grieving for a great loss that has broken her and he can’t stop thinking about and feeling her pain.

Truman’s other strength is that he is patient. When he really cares about someone, he will wait for them emotionally, even if he can’t always stick around physically.

Quirk (if any)

No hero is perfect. Truman is a dependable and loyal person, but when he feels misunderstood by someone, he is known to avoid that person by skipping town. He has this in common with his friend, Lillian.

Your inspiration for the character.

Honestly, some of Truman Clark is inspired by my own husband. They have the same look to a degree and the same heart. Other qualities I shaped around what I thought my characters would be attracted to and how he fit into the story.

Background to the story

Truman is known as the Painter of Roses and is La Rosaleda’s small town claim to fame. His favorite scene to paint is the Rose House. He almost always paints just the Rose House and prefers not to have people or animals apparent in his paintings.

Lillian Diamon

Brief physical description

Lillian Diamon has the girl next door look with a little bit of California. With her wavy blonde hair and natural golden highlights, she is prettier than most women without really trying, even though she wouldn’t believe it if you told her. She is slender and medium height and has an elegant, but relaxed look about her.

Actor/famous person

Kate Hudson

Strengths and weaknesses

Lillian is an amazingly talented chef and in her younger years loved to host dinner parties where she developed a reputation for being an amazing hostess. In recent years she works part-time as a chef and while she is not trying very hard to meet her potential in her job, she secretly dreams of having her own restaurant someday.

Lillian also has a very soft heart filled with love for those she opens her heart too, but this is also her weakness. Lillian has been hurt so much by loss and by those she gave her heart to that she has a hard time letting go. She cannot seem to lay her cheating

husband’s memory to rest after his death and the question of her sister’s betrayal and abandonment clouds her every move, preventing her from opening her heart to new relationships.

Lillian also is known to avoid people when things aren’t going so well, sometimes even skipping town.

Quirk (if any)

Lillian hangs a photo of the Rose House on the break room bulletin board where she works. All the other employees hang pictures of their families. Lillian doesn’t have any family because she lost them in a horrific accident, but the photo of the Rose House represents something to her that she can’t explain to others.

Your inspiration for the character.

Lillian just came alive as I wrote. I guess she has some parts of me and some parts of my sister. We both grew up in Oklahoma and left home when we were young. I lived in California for five years after that, but Lillian has lived in Sacramento much longer. Real life is pretty boring and Lillian has more problems than we ever had. She also has a much darker outlook on life. She literally became her own fictional entity as I wrote the story.

Background to the story

Amid a tangle of rose blooms and thorns, widow Lillian Diamon's private moment of grief is captured in a spectacular painting on display in a Sonoma Valley, California art gallery. Her quest to find the artist unravels a greater mystery changing everything about her loss-and her future. Filled with romance and intrigue, Rose House is a story of one woman's journey for hope, faith and truth.

Thanks Tina for your detailed insight into Tru and Lillian ~ I really appreciate the effort you have gone to :)


On Monday, I will be spotlighting Trish Perry's Sonny & Grig from her newest release, Sunset Beach.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Rose House

Visit Tina's website and blog

Buy Tina's books at Amazon or Koorong

CFBA Blog Tour of The Deliverer by Linda Rios Brook

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Deliverer
Realms (May 5, 2009)
by
Linda Rios Brook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda Rios Brook, President of the RiosBrook Foundation, believes the answers to issues of social justice and righteousness lie in the proper alignment between the church, the marketplace and media and entertainment. She is a sought out speaker and teacher on matters relevant to cultural restoration. Linda worked as a media executive for over 20 years in the field of broadcasting serving as President and General Manager of television stations in Texas, Florida, and Minnesota and was President and part owner of KLGT-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.

Linda has served on several national boards and community organizations and is listed in Who's Who of American Women. She is an ordained minister and has a Doctorate of Practical Ministry from the Wagner Leadership Institute.

Linda is also the author of Lucifer's Flood.

Linda is also a teaching Pastor at Covenant Centre International in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Linda is married to Larry Brook, who is the Executive Director of the RiosBrook Foundation.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ancient language expert Samantha Yale returns to translate a new batch of scrolls written by the fallen angel from Lucifer's Flood.

Samantha Yale has taken on a daunting translation project. A set of scrolls, delivered by a man she knows nothing about, tells a fascinating and frightening tale of what went on behind the scenes of biblical history. What is even more incredible is who is telling the tale--a fallen angel who immediately regretted his decision to side with Lucifer.

With The Deliverer, Linda Rios Brook brings new depth of imagery into the spirit world. It is a story about rebellion and consequences. It is about demonic strategy to disrupt and destroy the people of God. But ultimately, it is a story about the unrelenting love, grace, mercy, and determination of a sovereign God in pursuit of His children.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Deliverer, go HERE

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik ~ Tracy's Take

What is it about?

Mitch Kent has spent some years living with Howard, on his farm in Indiana. Many visitors over the years have come and gone but the two of them have fallen into a kind of a predictable routine together. The mysterious creatures in the woods tend to leave them to their own devices, until one day on a fuel run Mitch meets Nathan.

Connor Hayden’s return from the brink of death fuels his attempt to tell his friends and colleagues about his experiences and his newfound faith in God, in the hope of saving him from all that happened to him in the Interworld. He knows he has a task for which he was brought back. Now he just needs the courage to pursue the crumbs of information laid before him.

Devon Marshall may have been revived after being shot, but he has returned with a constant companion. Will he submit to the Pale Man’s will, or will he have the courage to follow his own convictions?

What I thought:

Tom Pawlik again hooked me in with this spine-tingling sequel to his award winning novel ‘Vanish’. ‘Valley of the Shadow’ is the adrenalin-filled conclusion to Mitch’s journey through the Interworld.

Tom’s skill with the genre of suspense as his vehicle to present some very deep spiritual truths, is exceptional. This gritty novel provides remarkable insight into emotions that fill our lives. Mitch’s story shows how hate and rage can take shape in our lives and how Jesus longs to free us when we are willing to surrender to Him. I was also very clearly reminded of how Satan desires for us to languish in the filth of our lives.

I found the amalgamation between this world and the spirit world captivating and intriguing. Tom accomplishes the balance of interplay between the two realms in a manner that feels completely believable and leaves you imagining things you never previously considered.

Guest reviewer:~ my friend Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence

Relz Reviewz Extras

Read Tracy's review of Vanish

Visit Tom's website

Read the early chapters of Valley of the Shadow at Tom's blog

Buy Tom's books at Amazon or Koorong

Deadly Intent by Camy Tang & multiple giveaway

The Grant family's exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! When Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, everything falls apart. The salon's reputation is at stake…and so is Naomi's freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim's ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn…and whom can she trust?

My take:~

Deadly Intent is Camy Tang's first foray into romantic suspense and she has made a solid start. I always enjoy Camy's characters ~ no shy wallflowers for her ~ and Naomi Grant is no exception. Murders abound and Naomi does not hesitate to search out the offender herself. Attraction and suspicion wage war within her regarding Devon Knightley and their dialogue is suitably feisty. While the story didn't flow as smoothly as I hoped, Deadly Intent has all the ingredients you look for in this genre.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Read my reviews of Sushi for One?, Only Uni and Single Sashimi

Friendship Friday with Camy

Read my interview with Camy

Visit Camy's website and blog (be sure to check out her weekly giveaways)

Buy Camy's books at Amazon and Koorong

US & Aussie Giveaway

Thanks to Camy's generosity, I have five signed copies of Deadly Intent to giveaway to Aussie readers and two signed copies for US readers :) A perfect way to spend a very cold evening with a blanket and a hot chocolate!

To enter, post a comment by Sunday 14th June and be sure to leave your contact details if I don't already have them with an AUS or USA at the bottom of your post si I know which draw to place you in.

Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle

Disillusioned and bitter from his first experience in Kabul, Afghanistan as a Sergeant in the US Special Forces, security specialist Steve Wilson finds little has changed in the strife torn nation. As the new security advisor to the Afghani Minister of Interior, Khalid Sayef, Steve sees first hand what is left of the so called freedom he and the US army claimed for the Afghan people eight years earlier.

Amy Mallory has wanted to make a difference in the world since she was small and she knows her new job as an aid worker with NGO New Hope Foundation is the perfect opportunity. Yet from the outset, Amy struggles with the culture, customs and political maneuverings of a world so very different to her own.

Exiled to Pakistan, Jamil has only recently returned to his homeland and finds a job with the beautiful American the children call Ameera. Torn between his love for his country, the pain of his past and the teachings of the prophet Isa Masih, the man Amy calls Jesus, Jamil's life is balanced on a knife's edge.

Veiled Freedom is an honest and confronting story about the people and politics of Afghanistan, expertly written by Jeanette Windle, an author whose research and attention to detail is unsurpassed. Jeanette has a unique ability to engage the heart with well drawn characters, educate the mind with accurate and little known details and feed the spirit with sensitive spiritual revelations. Adventure and action abound in this story and Jeanette captures the dichotomies that are Kabul and her people. The sights and smells of the city come alive under her deft hand and the portrayal of Christians and Muslims and the issues they face daily, are eye opening and impartially related.

Steve, Amy and Jamil are characters that I quickly came to care about, each one providing real insight into the complexities that arise living in a nation with such political, religious and historical struggles. Not once in this lengthy book did my attention waver and I truly hope a sequel allows me to see Steve, Amy and Jamil's journey to its conclusion. With a fascinating mix of political intrigue, danger and adventure, devotion and disillusionment, faith and a whisper of love, Veiled Freedom is a brilliant and challenging novel!


As seen at TitleTrakk.com

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Veiled Freedom and Betrayed

Character spotlight on Steve & Amy

Read the first chapter of Veiled Freedom

Interview with Jeanette

Visit Jeanette's website and blog

Buy Jeanette's books at Amazon or Koorong

The winner of The Apothecary's Daughter is.....

Angela ~ congratulations!

An email is on its way to you :)

Thanks for all who entered - more giveaways to come soon.

Character Spotlight ~ Candace Calvert's Logan Caldwell & Claire Avery

Today the spotlight shines on Logan Caldwell & Claire Avery


Former nurse, Candace Calvert, has placed herself back in the emergency room with her debut Mercy Hospital medical drama series, commencing with Critical Care. This novel has drawn rave reviews and readers can't wait for more. I am sure you will love this peek into her characters, Logan and Claire.

Thanks, Candy:~

Brief physical description

Dr. Logan “McSnarly” Caldwell:

Tall, muscular, broad-shoulders, dark hair, intensely blue eyes—as the heroine observes:

“Logan Caldwell’s eyes were impossibly blue. Intense, almost crystalline, like the still surface of Lake Tahoe after a first snow. Fringed with black lashes, they seemed mismatched with his dark brows, curly hair, olive skin, and wide-bridged nose.”

Claire Avery, RN:

Tall, slender but athletic (a runner), long brown hair, gray eyes—as the hero observes:

“. . . Her eyes, Logan noticed, were the same soft gray of a dove’s wing. Almost lavender gray, with flecks of white, and lined with those long dark lashes. . . He cleared his throat. “I haven’t met many women who can climb rocks and scramble down a cliff without worrying about her clothes or breaking a fingernail. Or who knows how to lock in a Jeep’s hubs for four-wheeling, tie a fisherman’s knot, and handle salmon eggs and red worms.”

Actor/famous person

Difficult question! I think Tyndale House captured my hero perfectly on the book cover. But some folks have suggested that these actors may resemble my main characters:

Logan Caldwell: Actor Clive Owen

Claire Avery: Actress Jennifer Connelly

Strengths and weaknesses

Dr. Logan Caldwell bursts onto the scene as the epitome of strength; both in his powerful physical presence and as a stern taskmaster in the chaos of ER (“Either help me, or get out of my way!”) He’s bright, highly skilled, a natural leader, and completely determined—the doctor you’d want fighting to save your life. Despite his “snarly exterior, he has a tender, caring heart--well hidden beneath those faded blue scrubs.

Logan’s weaknesses stem from his relentless sense of responsibility. He’s controlling, demanding and critical, expects his ER team to be as tough as he is. He will not tolerate “weak links.” Past hurts have made him wary of relationships—especially with God.

Nurse Claire Avery is a consummate planner. She’s organized, focused, ready to get things done—whether in her new duties as an education nurse, or in her attempts to move on with her life after the tragic loss of her brother. She’s idealistic, a Christian, and an advocate—and plucky enough to go toe to toe with Logan Caldwell in defense of his beleaguered ER staff.

Claire’s weaknesses arise from her inability to face the pain of her loss and confront her self doubts. Her brother’s death (in her own trauma room) and her subsequent stress symptoms struck a devastating blow to her confidence. This also keeps her from hoping for her own happy ending. Instead she maps out a career plan step by step, and expects God to give it His stamp of approval.

Quirk (if any)

Logan Caldwell pulls on a black leather jacket and escapes his workday stress via a Harley motorcycle, trading the chaos of ER for the pristine stillness of the Sierra mountains. If pizza and country music are added to the mix, all the better.

Claire Avery talks to God as she jogs the trails in Gold Bug Park, and has a one-eared cat named Smokey.

Your inspiration for the character

The character of Logan Caldwell is a combination of the ER docs I’ve worked with— some attractive, funny, all skilled . . . and most of whom could go “McSnarly,” in a heartbeat.

Claire Avery puts a face on the devastating effects of critical incident stress. She also depicts the courage, heart, and faith it takes to face the pain, to “let go and let God.” Her journey offers hope.

Background to the story

After the tragic death of her brother, nurse Claire Avery vows to never set foot in a trauma room again. But when she’s required to offer staff counseling after a devastating day care explosion, she’s forced back to the ER—and into immediate conflict with the surly Dr. Logan Caldwell, who thinks “touchy-feely” counseling is a waste of time.

Thank you so much for this, Candy! It has been a lot of fun and I am looking forward to doing this again for Erin Quinn and Scott McKenna early next year :)


On Thursday, come back for a spotlight on Tina Forkner's Lillian Diamon and Truman Clark from her lastest release, Rose House.

Relz Reviewz Extras
Review of Critical Care
Interview with Candace
Friendship Friday with Candace
Visit Candace's website and blog
Buy Candace's book at Amazon or Koorong

CFBA Blog Tour of Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ghostwriter
FaithWords (May 28, 2009)
by
Travis Thrasher


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007.

Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has to novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.

Stop by and visit Travis at his Blog where you can sign up to follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

Also check out the radio interview with Travis on Monday June 8th at BlogTalkRadio/FaithWords



ABOUT THE BOOK

For years Dennis Shore has thrilled readers with his spooky bestselling novels. Now a widower, Dennis is finally alone in his house, his daughter attending college out of state. When he's stricken by a paralyzing case of writer's block and a looming deadline, Dennis becomes desperate. Against better judgment, he claims someone else's writing as his own, accepting undeserved accolades for the stolen work. He thinks he's gotten away with it . . . until he's greeted by a young man named Cillian Reed--the true author of the stolen manuscript.

What begins as a minor case of harassment quickly spirals out of control. As Cillian's threats escalate, Dennis finds himself on the brink of losing his career, his sanity, and even his life. The horror he's spent years writing about has arrived on his doorstep, and Dennis has nowhere to run.

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

Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot

Synopsis:~

Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot go back East.

As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his brother's killer. And then there's Sarah.

Something is blooming out in the vast Texas landscape that neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit, and the promise of redemption blows like a gentle breeze through the prairie grasses.

My take:~

Paper Roses has all the ingredients of a traditional historical romance with a little suspense mixed in for good measure. Amanda has created interesting characters in Sarah and Clay, both in search of belonging and meaning to their lives. Adding another level of interest, is the detailing of the cultural feud the French and German immigrants brought with them to their new country. Paper Roses is a delightful start to Amanda's Texas Dreams series and will satisfy the longings of many readers looking for new authors in this genre.

Relz Reviewz Extras
Character spotlight on Sarah & Clay
Visit Amanda's website
Buy Amanda's book at Amazon or Koorong

Kangaroos in my back yard?

Well, not quite the backyard but only 10 minutes from our house is a public park where you nearly always see lots of 'roos about.

I took some photos as I thought you might enjoy seeing them too :)

My hubby kicking a footy (Australian Rules Football) while the kangaroos check him out!

My eldest kicking to her dad :)