Thursday, 24 February 2011

Coming in late 2011 from Bethany House

Bethany House continues to be one of the premier publishers of historical fiction as you can see from the many historical novels below.

Don't miss the contemporary stories from Alice Wisler, Patti Lacy and Tracie Peterson hiding among all those historicals!

Author Jody Hedlund was chatting recently on her blog about the early release of covers. Do you enjoy the anticipation of seeing a new cover and synopsis months in advance or would you prefer for it only to be revealed shortly prior to a book's release? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Enjoy these ones....months in advance....so I guess you know my answer :)

To Have and To
Hold by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized.

Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?


September, 2011




The Mercy by Beverly Lewis


Rose Kauffman pines for prodigal Nick Franco, the Bishop's foster son who left the Amish under a cloud of suspicion after his foster brother's death. His rebellion led to the "silencing" of their beloved Bishop. But is Nick really the rebel he appears to be?

Rose's lingering feelings for her wayward friend refuse to fade, but she is frustrated that Nick won't return and make things right with the People.
Nick avowed his love for Rose--but will he ever be willing to sacrifice modern life for her.

Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, is living in her parents' Dawdi Haus. Her estranged "English" husband, injured and helpless after a car accident, has reluctantly come to live with her and their young daughter during his recovery. Can their marriage recover, as well? Is there any possible middle ground between a woman reclaiming her old-fashioned Amish lifestyle and a thoroughly modern man?


September, 2011






Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry.

While she wa
its for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans. But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything.

Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

September, 2011




A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separates her from her tribe.

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athabascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal... until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.

September, 2011





The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

September, 2011







Wonderland Creek
by Lynn Austin


Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to a library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. When Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and mystery--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

October, 2011




A Wedding Invitation by Alice J Wisler

After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien, who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding.

When the search for Lien's mother reveals
surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.

October, 2011




The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzmann (Repackaged)

Known professionally as the "success guru," Morgan Spencer is the t
urn-around genius who revitalizes failing corporations. His gift for identifying problems and finding solutions extends to the personal lives of his friends and acquaintances. But the one life he can't seem to set straight is his own. Behind his charming rebel facade is a need that drives him toward success--and emptiness.

Then Jill Runyan reenters his lif
e with news that will either set him free or bring him to his knees.

October, 2011









Reclaiming Lil
y by Patti Lacy

A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Wang meet in a Dallas hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, a rebellious, hurting teenager whom Gloria adopted from China and is the sister Kai hopes to reclaim.

Kai is a doctor who had to give up her baby sister during the cultural revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.

When their best hope rests back in China, a desperate journey brings Gloria and Kai to the brink of despair. But God has plans for both women to reclaim Lily and fulfill destiny in a way that exceeds their wildest imaginations.

October, 2011




Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

In 1904 Texas Ranger Luke Palmer arrives in Brenham, Texas, with one goal--to capture the gang of outlaws led by Frank Comer. Undercover as a telephone repairman, he uses his days on the range to search, not realizing there's another pair of eyes watching him.

Georgie Gail, switchboard operator and birder, heads out on a birding expedition, but instead of sighting a painted bunting, her opera glasses capture her telephone man, armed and far away from telephone lines. Palmer is forced to take this alluring troublemaker into his confidence and unwittingly puts her in harm's way. The closer he comes to the gang, the further she works her way into his heart--and into trouble. Soon it's more than just love that's on the line.

October, 2011




House of Secre
ts by Tracie Peterson

When her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters, Geena and Piper, quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past. Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago... of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. They vowed, as children, to be silent--but one sister believes the truth must now be revealed. Yet can they trust their memories?

Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee's affection, Mark becomes the strong fortress for her in this time o
f confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to heal the past and ultimately to embrace love?

October, 2011




Valley of Dreams
by Lauraine Snelling


Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little,
so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go. Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised on a giant hand.

With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.


November, 2011




A Lasting Impression
by Tamera Alexander

To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greate
st weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man.

Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach.
All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.


Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s, A Lasting Impression showcases the deep, poignant, unforgettable characters that set Tamera's stories apart and provides an inspiring love story that will capture readers' hearts and leave them eager for more.


November, 2011


Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Robin Caroll shares about In the Shadow of Evil

Robin Caroll's romantic suspense, In the Shadow of Evil, releases next month from B&H Publishing.

Look forward to giveaways, a character spotlight and review here at Relz Reviewz.
For now though, I'll let Robin do all the talking :)


Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon with Aussie Giveaway

Synopsis:~

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward Liz haven't warmed in the five years since she lost her husband--and Jake's best friend--to possible suicide. How can Jake be expected to care for the coldhearted workaholic who drove his friend to despair?

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, his feelings slowly start to change. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.

My take:~

Irene Hannon's decision to write romantic suspense has paid off in spades. Having penned numerous contemporary romances for Steeple Hill's Love Inspired line, Irene turned her hand to romantic suspense to great acclaim with her Heroes of Quantico trilogy. The same excellent character development and intriguing suspense marks the first book in her Guardians of Justice series, Fatal Judgment, as Jake Taylor reluctantly takes on the protection of a women he dislikes, Liz Michaels. The animosity between Jake and Liz is realistic and the tentative transformation of their feelings for one another is refreshingly genuine. The suspense kicks along nicely and Irene will garner new fans with this series. For me, the epilogue was overly sentimental but will have many readers sighing with happiness! I'm looking forward to Jake's sister Alison's story, Deadly Pursuit, releasing this September.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

With thanks to Revell for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Against All Odds , An Eye for An Eye and In Harm's Way

Character spotlights on Jake & Liz, Coop & Monica, Mark & Emily and Nick & Rachel

Interview with Irene

Visit Irene's website

Buy Irene's books at Amazon or Koorong



Sunday, 20 February 2011

Kim & Kayla Woodhouse discuss No Safe Haven

Kim and Kayla Woodhouse's suspense novel, No Safe Haven, releases next month ~ be sure to grab yourself a copy.

Enjoy hearing Kim and Kayla chat about their mother/daughter writing experience.




Saturday, 19 February 2011

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

Synopsis:~

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets. Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, why he, a British aristocrat, is on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love. But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love's discovery.

My take:~

Lady in the Mist is the first in Laurie Alice Eakes' Midwives series and is a traditional Christian historical romance with two men vying for the lovely Tabitha, danger afoot and a non believer coming to faith in time to claim the woman he loves. The backdrop of English-American tensions as young American men are pressed into service on English naval ships and the constraints on Tabitha practising midwifery as she is single, adds substance and interest to the story. I did find the romance a little hasty and wondered at Dominick's ability to get away with wandering around without his master's permission, given his status as a redemptioner which I found distracting. Overall however, this is an interesting read and will be enjoyed by many an historical romance lover.

Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

With thanks to Revell for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Laurie's website

Buy Laurie's books at Amazon or Koorong

Friday, 18 February 2011

Character Spotlight ~ Lisa Tawn Bergren's Marcello, Gabi, Luca & Lia

Marcello, Gabi, Luca & Lia

I've long been a fan of Lisa Tawn Bergren's novels, in fact, I'm pretty sure I have read them all! I adored her series of The Gifted so am thrilled she is returning to Italy, this time in the fourteenth century with her River of Time series for young adults, beginning with Waterfall.

Enjoy this insight into Lisa's main characters:~


Brief physical description

MARCELLO: I was picturing a Taylor Lautner kind of strength and rugged handsomeness, but with an Italian bent; buff; 6'

GABRIELLA (GABI): long, dark, wavy hair, big brown eyes; classic Italian girl beauty; 5'9"

LUCA: Lighter hair, tall, buff; 6'

LIA: Blond, big blue eyes, California-type beauty; 5'6"

Actor/famous person

MARCELLO: Actor Luca Argentero is closest, but when we chose models for the covers, my idea of them became closer to who we have shown. My only regret from our cover shoot--we couldn't find a model with hair like Argentero's and had to go with a wig! (I tried to get my publisher to send me on a scouting mission to Italy but they didn't go for it.) Here's a pic of what I had in my head, but longer and tied at the nape of his neck...

GABI: Monica Bellu
ci, but younger--I think our model for the cover is pretty great!

LUCA: Raffaello Balzo. Here's another picture of Raffaello

LIA: I was thinking of a younger Brittany Daniel, model. She's supposed to look a lot like her mother, who is 100% Danish. But again, our cover model really became Lia in my head, once we found her.

Strengths
and weaknesses

MARCE
LLO: Loyal, passionate and dictatorial (he is a young lord in the making, after all)

GABI: Stro
ng, passionate, wants to do things her way

LUCA: Good supporter, great sense of humor, risk-taker that leads him in to occasional hot water

LIA: Loving, doesn't want to be left behind

Quirk (if any)

GABI: Hypochondriac tendencies

LIA: Tends to get distracted at times

I guess my guys don't have any quirks!

Your inspiration for the character

MARCELLO: Quintessential romantic hero, a true knight in shining armor


GABI: Quintessential romantic heroine, with a bit of my daughter Olivia thro
wn in

LUCA: Quintessential romantic hero and funny sidekick (I always love those guys in movies!)

LIA: Quintessential romantic heroine, with a bit of my daughter Emma thrown in

Background to the story

Teens Gabi and Lia are back in Italy for the duration of their summer vacation. This would be a cool thing for most kids, but they spend every summer there, and it's usually far from any other people their own age...or any activities that are remotely interesting. But when they put their hands on two hand prints inside an ancient Etruscan tomb their mother has discovered, they catapult through time to medieval Italy, and find themselves in the middle of a battle and soon, in love....

I was inspired to write the series because Olivia, my eldest, was a reluctant reader, and it wasn't until I introduced her to TWILIGHT that she discovered how a story could pull you in and keep you up all night reading.When I went to the first movie with her, and saw all those girls, so engaged in the characters and story, I knew I wanted to write for them too.

Thanks for sharing, Lisa - looking forward to getting my hands on this story :)

Relz Reviewz Extras

View the trailer

Visit Lisa's author website and her travel website

Buy Lisa's books at Amazon or Koorong

Thursday, 17 February 2011

The Brotherhood by Jerry B Jenkins

A confident and determined new member of the Chicago PD, Boone seems to have a magic touch, from instinctive arrests which draw the eye of the top brass, to his beautiful wife and toddler son who bring so much joy to his life. Then unimaginable tragedy shatters his world, leaving him without hope, without faith and hanging on to a boatload of bitterness and pain. Returning to the beat is the only thing that keeps Boone alive but he comes to learns, from the unlikeliest of men, that God can change the hardest of hearts.

There is much to like in Jerry B Jenkins' first Precinct 11 novel, The Brotherhood. From complex characters and emotive plot lines
to police procedures and the inner working of gangs, Jerry has penned an intriguing story. I particularly enjoyed Jack Keller, Boone's old school partner and mentor, a cynical cop without faith, who stands by Boone without faltering and Pastor Francisco Sosa, a man of God who lives his calling with integrity and compassion. However, I struggled with the pacing of the story which becomes weighted down by lengthy dialogue in many parts as Jerry utilises it to impart his spiritual message. The slow pacing surprised me, probably due to the high expectations I had for a writer of Jerry's calibre and experience and due to the fact that I anticipated a lot more action from a police procedural. That being said, Jerry's talent really shines when it comes to generating a connection between his characters and the reader. I was invested heavily in how this story played out for Boone, Jack and gang leader, Pascual Candelario and I will certainly be back for more from Precinct 11. I have also selected this for my book club later this year and I'm sure it will be a fascinating discussion.

With thanks to Tyndale for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Jerry's
website and blog

Buy Jerry's books at
Amazon or Koorong

Find out more at Tyndale House


Wednesday, 16 February 2011

News & Notes

Some things worth sharing!

Enjo
y!

Lisa Wingate~Beth Webb Hart~Marybeth Whalen~Rachel Hauck~Jenny B Jones

The lovely Southern Belle View writers have introduced Whirlaway Island Fiction, a little serial that each writer adds a chapter to from time to time.


Here's what Lisa Wingate has to say abou
t it, "Every so often here at BelleView, we'll be taking these little vacations to our own private Island, and we'd like to invite you along for our Whirlaway Weeks. This is just the kind of thing that happens when you get a bunch of storytellers all together in on one porch -- a story, begets a story, begets a story."

Be sure to check out the adventu
res of Nina, Libby, Dan, Max and more!


~~~~~~~~~~~~




My friend and fellow INSPY Advisory Board member, Amy of My Friend Amy is running a series of interviews with Christian publishing houses on their purpose and mission for the fiction they publish. Y
ou will find these interviews fascinating.

Click here to read interviews with B&H Publishing, Bethany House and Tyndale House, with mor
e to come.


~~~~~~~~~~~~




One of my all time favourite authors, Dale Cramer, has a new home created by the amazing Kelli Standish and her team at PulsePoint Design.


Be sure to visit the site and get your hands on Dale's books ~ I can recommend each one. In addition, Dale writes a fabulous blog with wit, insight, depth and occasional silliness and it is well worth subscribing to.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lastly, I'm making an exception to my "fiction only" rule to share with you Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller's new release, Winning Him Without Words.

Lynn and Dineen's website
(also created by Kelli and her team) and blog are fantastic resources for women in spiritually mismatched marriages as they share wisdom, humour and pain on this topic.

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Character Interview ~ Danielle Roark from Ronie Kendig's Wolfsbane

Introducing Danielle Roark, a demolitions expert who has suffered immeasurably at the hands of a Venezuelan general, and who catches the eye of Nightshade's medic and former Green Beret, Canyon "Midas" Metcalfe.

Catch Dani & Canyon's story, the third book in
Ronie Kendig's Discarded Heroes series, Wolfsbane, releasing this July.


Dani

You are a demolitions expert. No doubt that raises eyebrows when you are asked what you do. How did you get into that field?

I’ve always had a thing for science, so it sort of fell into my lap. Of course, my father wasn’t pleased to find out his daughter was blowing things up when his entire career has been about preventing things from blowing up. But it works for me.

So everyone knows Canyon looks good but what truly attracts you to him?

I’m not sure I can really describe it, just something about him reached out to me. Maybe it’s his resolute nature, that he’s not always spouting off at the mouth or trying to be slick with his words—although, he’s really good at that, too. He’s a people reader—he can tells what’s eating at them, get in their face, and tell them like it is. After a dad with a career in politics, you can imagine Canyon was a refreshing change for me. He doesn’t kiss-up. Either he likes you or he doesn’t.

You have suffered great trauma in your life ~ how do you move on with your life?

Moving on isn’t easy, it takes a miracle—one tiny step, one breath. If I sat here and thought about everything that happened…I’d be right back to where I was, wishing I hadn’t fought to survive, makes me want to quit. But as Canyon would tell you, what’s there to quit to?

Canyon’s family is something special, don’t you think?

They’re a bit…much, but they’re also amazing. Their cohesion is amazing, the way they support each other. I never thought a family like that really existed.

Have you had much to do with Syd and Piper ~ is there solidarity among “sisters”?!

I think we’re still figuring each other out, ya know? Sydney is a born leader, but I’m not sure she realizes that yet. Piper is quiet, and I’m just waiting to see what happens.

You know what Canyon does ~ what do you fear the most?

Being alone. I’m not talking his weeks or months-long absences. I’m talking the knock at the door that says he’s never coming back. It’s kind of scary, thinking about that, really. The other thing that eats at me, is knowing that he might worry about me, that he might not have his head in the game, and that could get him killed. Which means I killed him. That’s messed up, ya know?

Thanks Dani!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Meet Sydney & Piper

Reviews of Digitalis & Nightshade

View the book trailer

Visit the Discarded Heroes website

Visit Ronie's website and blog

Buy Ronie's books at Amazon or Koorong

Monday, 14 February 2011

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

Synopsis:~

Katie McKenna has never loved any man but one: billionaire Luc DeForges. He was her first love. But there are a billion reasons why she's engaged instead to Dexter Hastings, a solid and stable man who wants the same things she does: marriage and a family but all of the things that she wants without the deep-seeded pain and fear of being abandoned that Luc brings.

Dexter and she have worked an arrangement that's akin to faith without action, love without deeds -- a dead faith. Going home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding, Katie must search her heart to find out if any of her reasons for being with Dexter are stronger than love. Only when Katie steps fully into faith and jumps off the cliff of life into the arms of Luc does she understand the fullness of God's grace.

My take:~

I have long been a fan of Kristin Billerbeck's novels and have been ever so keen to read her long awaited romance, A Billion Reasons Why. Katie's efforts to expunge humiliation and embarrassment from her life by settling for a staid and controlled man have drained much of her vibrant personality away until Luc DeForges once again stirs up emotions she finds difficult to control, which leads to plenty of fun and awkwardness for everyone. Determined mothers, feisty friends, steamy New Orleans and swing dancing add substance and soul to sparks that fly between Katie and Luc. Replete with Kristin's sharp wit, multi faceted characters and significant revelations about the true nature of love, this story is a terrific read that will entertain and delight.

With thanks to Thomas Nelson for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Perfectly Dateless

Visit Kristin's website and blog

Buy Kristin's books at Amazon or Koorong

Valentine's Day ~ Jamie Carie style!

Valentine's Day is not a big deal in Australia so I'm letting Jamie Carie do all the work!! Enjoy Jamie's Valentine's message and if you love historical romance be sure to check out her books from B&H Fiction.


Sunday, 13 February 2011

The Telling by Beverly Lewis ~ Tracy's Take

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Accompanied by her new English friend, Grace Byler has left Bird-in-Hand to search for her mother in Ohio. But what if Lettie refuses to be found? Meanwhile, Lettie continues her private quest to find the missing piece of her life. Though she is increasingly torn between the family she left behind and the yearning for her long-lost
child. Will mother and daughter find the answers they seek?

What I thought:


The Telling’ is the satisfying final book in the Seasons of Grace trilogy. All of the pieces of the puzzle fall into place as Beverly Lewis masterfully ties off each thread that has been so masterfully woven. This final book completes the picture that began so poignantly.


My reading of ‘The Telling’ has been a long time coming. It has been a joy to rejoin Grace as she struggles to understand her mother’s strange behaviour and disappearance. Whilst in previous books I struggled to understand Lettie’'s be
haviour and that which could possibly draw her away from her family, it is this book that finally brings all the details out into the open.

I found myself in the very midst of the Byler family'’s conflict. Whilst agonising over how Lettie’s family feel over her sudden disappearance, I finally began to understand what it is that drives her journey. I again found reason aplenty to admire Grace'’s courage and determination as she sets out on an unusual journey to search for her mother.

As Lettie finally returns to Bird-in-Hand and the reasons for her leaving
are revealed my heart broke. Beverly provides a moving and heartbreaking illustration of the damage sin and deceit can wreak in our lives and how it affects those we love most. As Lettie seeks to free herself from her sins and find forgiveness for herself, her family must also dig deeply to offer their forgiveness as well. Whilst perhaps a little too easily given to be realistic, the offering of forgiveness is touching and heart warming.

The final scenes of this book bring all the twists and turns to a beautiful conclusion that will leave readers feeling entirely satisfied with the outcome. B
everly has left the Byler’s' story with the reader able to imagine beautiful things for the coming years.

With thanks to Bethany for Tracy's review copy

Guest reviewer: My friend Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence

Relz Reviewz Extras

Tracy's reviews of The Secret and The Thorn

Visit Beverly's website

Buy Beverly's books at Amazon or Koorong

Saturday, 12 February 2011

Coming from Austin Boyd and Zondervan

I'm very intrigued by the first in Austin Boyd's Pandora Files novel releasing in July from Zondervan.

How about you?


Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd

Nobody’s Child sweeps you into a world where unprecedented choices never intended by heaven lead to unintended consequences never before seen on earth.


Meet… Laura Ann McGehee—Determined to honor her father’s dying request, the young West Virginia woman will do whatever it takes to save the family farm, including using the one remaining financial resource she has—her body.


Sophia McQuistion—Thanks to the unusual sacrifice of a woman she has never met, she carries the child she could never conceive.


Ian Stewart—In Laura Ann’s time of need, he’s more than just a close friend. He is a source of grace, a man who loves Laura Ann through her many trials.


When unusual circumstances place Sophia’s baby in Laura Ann’s care, Laura Ann is now the virgin mother of her own biological son. The media call him “Nobody’s Child.” But somebody wants him badly enough to steal the baby.
Weaving together bioethics and faith, Nobody’s Child dramatizes a future that is already upon us with consequences we can no longer avoid.

July, 2011


Relz Reviewz Extras

Read more about The Pandora Files

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Words by Ginny Yttrup with giveaways

Synopsis:~

"I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I'd like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I'd open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can't take them."

Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.

Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself. Brought together by Divine design, Kaylee and Sierra will discover together the healing mercy of the Word-Jesus Christ.


My take:~


Brilliant, brave and beautiful are the words that come to my mind when I ponder Ginny Yttrup's debut novel, Words, a story that is captivating and generates tears of sadness and joy. Drawing from her own experience of abuse, Ginny invites readers, with skill and sensitivity, into young Kaylee's traumatised world revealing her fears and her determined spirit. Sierra is a complex character whose battle with loss and devastating guilt will resonate with anyone who looks back on their life choices with regret. Words is a compelling reminder that while tragedy and sin are confronting and soul shattering, there is hope and healing to be found in the forgiveness and grace Jesus offers. I cannot speak highly enough of this new found talent and I look forward to reading many more of her books to come.

With thanks to B&H and Wynn~Wynn Media for my review copy


Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Ginny's website and blogs

Follow Ginny's journey with her next novel here

Buy Ginny's books at Amazon or Koorong


Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

Synopsis:~

Host of a regionally syndicated cooking show, Joy Ballard has a little secret: she can’t cook. But when her show is picked up by a major network and given a prime time slot, her world heats up faster than a lowcountry boil.

Enter Luke Redmond: handsome, creative, and jobless after having to declare bankruptcy of his Manhatten restaurant. When her producers ask him to co-host the show, Joy sees Luke as her way out. But Luke sees much more than just a co-host in Joy.

Their relationship begins to simmer on and off set. Until Joy’s secret is revealed and her reputation is ruined on national television by her rival, Wenda Devine.

But could Devine’s cruelty be a divine gift? Losing Luke--and her sister--forces Joy to consider where her worth really comes from. Could God be cooking up an even bigger adventure from the mess? And will Joy hang on long enough to find out?

My take:~

Rachel Hauck always serves up a treat and Dining with Joy is a great addition to her literary menu! Joy finds herself trapped by the legacy of her late father, hosting his cooking show without any of the required skills. Her secret discovered by chef and failed restaurateur, Luke Redmond, the two combine skills to keep the show going until a rival host destroys their recipe for success. With unique characters, sparkling dialogue, complex relationships and a spiritual message to be savoured, Dining with Joy is an engaging romance that is sure to please.

With thanks to Wynn~Wynn Media for my review copy


Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of The Sweet By and By, Love Starts With Elle, Sweet Caroline and Diva NashVegas

Interview with Rachel

Visit Rachel's website

Buy Rachel's books at Amazon or Koorong

The winners are....


Jenny B Jones' Save the Date ~ Leah D

Camy Tang's Formula for Danger ~ Julia R, Mark B, Beth N, Anita Y and Leola

Congratulations to you all and look for an email from me soon :)

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