Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky

Synopsis:~

Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church—they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness.

Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome—and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned.

As Emmit (and Taylor) work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?

My take:~

Marlo Schalesky has a lovely way with words which can be experienced in her latest love story with a twist, Shades of Morning. Wary and jaded on the outside, Marnie's heart for others can be seen in the selfless things she does for others but her generosity is tested when she is forced to care for her late sister's son. Challenged by Emmit's Downs Syndrome and the fact it brings Taylor Cole back into her life after fifteen years of silence, Marnie's journey is awkward and moving with an ending I thought I saw coming but clearly didn't! A tender story of broken faith, wounded souls and the freedom of unconditional love, Shades of Morning challenges us to choose wisely...to love and to forgive.

With thanks to Kelly Blewett of KBK Public Relations for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlights on Jimmy Henley & Kinna Henley (If Tomorrow Never Comes) and Paul Tilden (Beyond the Night)

Review of Beyond the Night

Visit Marlo's website and blog

Buy Marlo's books at Amazon or Koorong

Coming in 2011 from Waterbrook Press

Waterbrook Press are back in 2011 with some intriguing titles across all manner of genres.

Enjoy this sneak peek and click on the links for more :)




Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze

Lisa struggles to save her mother from an abusive monster. Mark fights to save Lisa from certain death. Together they must stop an international conspiracy and find love and true faith.

February, 2011

The Chasm by Randy Alcorn

The most profound episode in Randy Alcorn’s fiction portrays a man caught in another world—where he discovers a truth we all must someday face. This allegorical tale shows that sometimes getting far enough away from your life allows you to see it for the first time.

February, 2011

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

As the story opens, Marjory Kerr and her daughter-in-law, Elisabeth, have lost everything they once held dear--husbands, sons, houses, titles and possessions. But they have not lost hope. The emotional and spiritual journey that began with Here Burns My Candle comes to a triumphant end in Mine Is the Night, a dramatic and decidedly Scottish retelling of the book of Ruth, transported to the eighteenth century.

March, 2011

The Ale Boy’s Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet

Four kingdoms were built on a legend—a legend that was a lie. It will take miracles to save the ale boy from death, King Cal-raven from despair, and his people from a bloodthirsty forest. But miracles happen wherever Auralia’s colors are found.

March, 2011

The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

In 1896, in order to save the family farm, Clara Estby reluctantly accompanies her mother on a cross-country journey that redefines a mother's tragedy and a daughter's desire. Over two decades, friends and faith help Clara move through a family betrayal and into a future of her own design. But will the tentacles of the past keep her from finding the real joy in forgiveness?

April, 2011

Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman

The Roaring Twenties come vividly to life in this charming tale of a lost and confused flapper, a disillusioned soldier, and a road trip that just might heal them both.

April, 2011

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

Ray Quinn is a tough, quick-witted former detective turned PI whose latest case teaches that sometimes the first casualty of being a hired gun is the truth.

April, 2011

A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

Synopsis:~

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice.

Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

My take:~

Since the end of the Daughters of Boston series, Julie Lessman's devoted readers have been eagerly awaiting the release of A Hope Undaunted, heralding the Winds of Change trilogy and the ongoing saga of the O'Connor family. Katie and Cluny's journey was bound to be fiery, intense and heartfelt as Julie always writes from the heart with authenticity and courage. The uniqueness of Julie's prose reveals itself in palpable emotion and an almost unmatched ability to create vivacious characters that step from the pages and into the reader's heart and mind. Family drama, human tragedy and tempestuous love provide an evocative and compelling read that is impossible to put down. A Hope Undaunted is a brilliant read and sets high expectations for A Heart Revealed, the story of Katie's older brother Sean, the only O'Connor man determined to remain a bachelor!

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

With thanks to the author for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlight on Cluny & Katie

Reviews of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed & A Passion Denied

Character spotlight on Lizzie & Brady

Interview with Julie

Visit Julie's website

Buy Julie's books at Amazon or Koorong

It's a Giveaway Extravaganza! Kindle Giveaway, Facebook Party and Book Bomb - OH MY!

Visit the Roaring 20’s with Julie Lessman in the Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway! Julie’s latest series has just ‘shimmied’ it’s way onto the scene with book 1 in The Winds of Change series, A Hope Undaunted!

Find out more about the book, Julie here.

Enter The Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive a KINDLE preloaded with Julie Lessman's latest title. The Prize Pack (valued at over $150.00) includes:

* A brand new KINDLE, with Wi-Fi

* A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form and be sure to tell your friends about the contest.

Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on October 7th.

Not only is Julie hosting the fabulous KINDLE giveaway, but also a FACEBOOK PARTY and a BOOK BOMB!!!

Are you ready for PRIZES GALORE??? Then come to the Facebook Party!

How does a gift certificate and a signed book given away EVERY 10 minutes during an hour-long Facebook party sound? (Yeah, we think it sounds pretty great too!) On October 7th at 5pm PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST, & 8:00 EST) Julie is inviting you to attend the A Hope Undaunted Facebook Party! She'll announce the winner of the KINDLE and in addition to the prizes every 10 minutes, she'll also be giving away great prize baskets filled with even more Romance and Technology (Netflix, Starbucks, Amazon.com, Champagne body Lotion, Pearls, & more!)!

BUT WAIT … there’s more (and no, this is not an infomercial … it’s WAY better!). If you participate in the Book Bomb on October 7th you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com. All you need to do to participate is buy a copy of A Hope Undaunted on October 7th and send your receipt (just transaction number from store, store name & date) to amy@litfusegroup.com! Each book purchased equals one entry, buy 10 books get 10 entries!

All this fun begins with Revell’s blog tour SEPTEMBER 19-25, when 122 blogger/reviewers will post reviews about A Hope Undaunted, followed by the Book Bomb and Facebook Party!

So mark your calendars with these important dates:

September 19-25: A Hope Undaunted will be making an appearance on blogs across the country (and beyond!) in Revell's blog tour!

September 20th: The Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway launches (contest runs 9/20 - 10/6)

October 7th: Book Bomb Day (where everyone is encouraged to buy the book online at the same time!) and Facebook Party - meet and chat with Julie, win some great prizes & find out who won the KINDLE!

Want to help us spread the word about all this fun and be entered to win a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate?

Share Julie's Giveaway Extravaganza on Facebook, Twitter or your blog and we'll enter your name into our random drawing to win 50 smackers to Amazon.com!

Once you've tweeted, posted on Facebok or added the button to your blog/website - simple email Amy and let her know you helped spread the word. Easy.

Here is a sample post for both Twitter/Facebook:

Tweet This: @JulieLessman is giving away a KINDLE and tons more during her giveaway extravaganza! Details here: http://ow.ly/2Czbn Pls RT

Share on Facebook: Julie Lessman is celebrating her new release, A Hope Undaunted by giving away a KINDLE, having a Book Bomb and a Facebook Party! Prizes Galore - don't miss the fun! http://ow.ly/2Czbn

Or add this button to your blog or website! Simply copy and paste the code in the box into the HTML screen of your blog or website. Then email Amy and let her know you did!

<a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143920688983543&index=1"><img alt="A Hope Undaunted Facebook Party" width="125" src="http://www.litfusegroup.com/images/stories/party_bomb_facebook_button.3.gif" height="125" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143920688983543&index=1">A Hope Undaunted Facebook Party</a>

Character Spotlight ~ Leanna Ellis' Cousin It

Cousin It

Leanna Ellis brings a first to Relz Reviewz ~ a character spotlight of the animal kind! You will love this look at a mischievous Labradoodle based on Leanna's canine friend.

Enjoy meeting Cousin It:~

Brief physical description

Cousin It is the dog that comes to visit ‘temporarily’ at Kaye’s house. She is a big furry blob with black hair and looks like a black bear but is actually a dog. She is rambunctious and full of energy.

Actor/famous dog

Cousin It actually resembles my labradoodle, which we named Hilo (pronounced Hee-lo, after one of our favorite towns on the big island of Hawaii). We thought she was laid back when we named her. Boy, were we wrong! So she developed the name The Hilo Monster. If we don’t groom her, her hair grows out and she becomes this big shaggy mop.

Strengths and weaknesses

Cousin It’s weakness is anything that looks edible, no matter what. Her strength is that once you get past that puppy energy, she has a kind heart and just wants to love and be loved. She’s a great big furry pillow that is perfect for hugging.

Quirk (if any)

Eating. Everything.

Your inspiration for the character

I began writing FACELIFT right after my father died. It was a very difficult time for me and I really struggled getting words on the page. But deadlines don’t wait for grief. Still, I’ve been writing long enough to know that I couldn’t force the words so I tried to give myself time. Some days though all I could write would be ‘chapter five.’ Literally. Two words. But I had this crazy labradoodle puppy that was the most difficult puppy I’d ever attempted to train. Have you seen the movie Marley and Me? Well, there’s Hilo! She ate about 10 pairs of glasses (to date), twelve spicy chicken wings, a whole bunch of grapes (lethal to a dog), a pound of butter, papers, bills, you name it and she attempted to eat it. Every morning would be the same…she’d grab something off a counter or table and take off running. And we’d chase after her. My mother, who is very much a dog person, did not like her. I think Hilo came closest to losing her life when she ate half of the deboned turkey from Thanksgiving. That was also the Thanksgiving that she jumped off the pier at my parents’ farm, right into the lake and attempted to swim. And she is actually a good swimmer. She took off across the lake. Unfortunately, that lake usually has a patrolling alligator. Yes, we have alligators in Texas! She got about half way across the lake before she pooped out and my husband had to get a rowboat out and rescue her. I never actually regretted getting Hilo although it would have been so easy to do so. When we first got her, my dad was in the final stages of his fight against cancer. There wasn’t a lot for him to smile about as he was in a lot of pain for so many months. But he laughed at Hilo. And I will always be grateful to her for bringing a smile to my dad during that difficult time. But of course, she was incredibly difficult. So, I learned that I had to walk Hilo each morning just to burn off some of that energy. In the process of doing that, on those days when I just wanted to wallow in bed with the grief of losing my dad, I had to get out. And I learned that when you are grieving or fighting depression, walking, sunshine, and movement helps. And I also discovered the power of laughter. Writing scenes about Hilo…er, Cousin It came easily. And so she became an important part of the book.

Background to the story

A ‘can do’ kind of woman runs her own business, raises her teenage daughter, and takes care of her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. But Kaye learns a facelift is more than skin deep. Joy is more than tacking on a happy face. It's relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life.

The craziness in Kaye’s life, and that includes this crazy puppy that comes to stay, along with her crazy ex-mother-in-law, causes many trials in the life of Kaye. But she learned many of the same lessons I was learning in the aftermath of my father’s death, in how to cope with grief and how to continuously look to God for His will and His peace.

Loved meeting Cousin It aka Hilo, Leanna. Thanks for sharing :)

On Thursday the spotlight shines on Anita Higman's Holly Goodnight, Owen Quigley & Van Keaton from her novella Once Upon a Christmas Eve in Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe

Relz Reviewz Extras

View the trailer

Character spotlight on Bryn Seymour

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat, Lookin' Back, Texas and Once in a Blue Moon

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Book Trailer for BJ Hoff's Land of a Thousand Dreams

Kelli Standish and her fabulous team at PulsePoint Design have created another compelling book trailer, this time for BJ Hoff's Land of a Thousand Dreams, rereleasing from Harvest House in April, 2011.

Enjoy......

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

Synopsis:~

When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will summer at Lake Manawa in 1895, she couldn't be more thrilled. It is the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews. But this summer of fun turns to turmoil as her father's gambling problems threaten to ruin the family forever.

Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart--even if it means abandoning the family she loves?

My take:~

Lorna Seilstad's debut novel will have fans of Mary Connealy and Deeanne Gist sitting up and taking notice! Making Waves is a delightful novel, replete with wit, adventure and an attractive sailing instructor ahead of his time. Marguerite's newly found passion for sailing in an era where women were forbidden from such past-times is refreshing and Trip's willingness, despite his initial reluctance, to teach her makes for both a fun and interesting read. Roger's utter incompatibility with Marguerite is so obvious that her failure to end the relationship from the get go is a bit unrealistic, particularly given Marguerite's forthright and stubborn personality. That being said, Roger and the havoc he causes is essential to the storyline. With a good look at the consequences of untruthful behaviour, Making Waves is an excellent beginning to Lorna's writing journey and I look forward to meeting more unique characters like Marguerite and Trip in A Great Catch, releasing in 2011.

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

With thanks to Revell for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Lorna's website and collaborative blog

Buy Lorna's books at Amazon or Koorong

Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter

Structure, discipline and order are Meridith Ward’s sanity following a childhood marked with disorder and pain. Her carefully ordered world is disrupted with one phone call – the father who deserted her is dead and his young children her responsibility. Heading to Nantucket, Meridith determines to stay only until the children’s wandering Uncle returns when he can take over the parenting.

Taking on three children who resent her interference and a dilapidated Bed & Breakfast, Summer House, Meridith employs local handyman Jake to prepare the B&B for sale, resolving to tell her young charges of her plans to sell at a later date. As Meridith struggles with parenting and the impatience of her fiancé wanting her to return home sans children, she is drawn to the kindness and understanding of her appealing handyman.

With her heart divided and her world in disarray, Meridith must choose whether to give in to fear or step courageously into a future she cannot foresee or control.

Denise Hunter’s love stories are replete with genuine characters, emotional connections and deep threads of faith. Driftwood Lane marks the end of her Nantucket series following on from Surrender Bay, The Convenient Groom and Seaside Letters, each providing a beautiful love story that reveals an aspect of God’s character. Meridith and Jake reflect authenticity with their good qualities tempered by weaknesses which makes them all the more appealing and raises the story above standard romantic fare. Readers hearts will flutter as vivid attraction and meaningful friendship combine to create a dilemma for Meridith which she struggles to resolve. Driftwood Lane confirms Denise Hunter as the premiere writer of contemporary romance in faith fiction today and I recommend it with great enthusiasm!

With thanks to TitleTrakk.com for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Seaside Letters, Surrender Bay, The Convenient Groom and Sweetwater Gap

Character spotlight on Jake

Character spotlight on Sabrina & Tucker (Seaside Letters)

Interview with Denise

Visit Denise's website and blog

Buy Denise's books at Amazon or Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ Julie Cannon's Maggie, Will and Tyronious with US giveaway

Maggie, Will & Mr Byrd

For those of you who love Christmas stories, Julie Cannon's is one of the first for the season. I love the premise of it with Maggie going to "war" and Will bound to stay home. Enjoy this insight in Julie's characters:~

Brief physical description

Margaret Culpepper (aka Maggie) is a pretty, 18-year-old skinny white girl, with long reddish-brown hair, pale skin and freckles. She’s tiny, but powerful. Think Cate Blanchett in the movie Elizabeth – The Golden Age.

William Dove (aka Will) is Maggie’s best friend and the boy-next-door. He’s a classically handsome teenage male with an All-American smile and honey-chestnut colored hair. A childhood battle with polio has left Will with a pronounced limp and one hand that doesn’t always obey him. Think of John Schneider, the actor who played Bo Duke in the Duke’s of Hazzard TV show, except with hair that’s not blond.

Mr. Tyronious Byrd is an old Southern black gentleman (the teenagers consider him ‘ancient’) who struggles with rheumatoid arthritis. He has twinkly, compassionate eyes and he just exudes wisdom. Think of Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Maggie’s strength is her determination. You can’t tell the girl she can’t do something because she’s not going to back down once her mind is made up. Her weakness is attached to this same stubborn attitude: she’s mad at God for her mother’s untimely death and she’s not going to let go of her bitterness toward Him.

Will’s strength is his faith, his strong sense of loyalty, and his undying devotion to Maggie. He’s a fighter, and though crippled by his childhood battle with polio, he’s waging war from the homefront. His weakness is that he often succumbs to self-pity because he feels like less of a man and he longs to “go fight those Nazis” but his disabilities have rendered him 4-F, or medically unfit for service in the U.S. military.

Quirks

Maggie’s quirk is that she just sticks her head in the sand and ignores stuff that makes her uncomfortable; letters from home, church services, God, etc...

Will’s quirk is that he wants to please everyone and he always says ‘yes’ to Mr. Byrd’s offer of coffee - even though he hates coffee!

Mr. Byrd has so many quirks he makes me smile to think about him. He won’t do a bit of work on Sundays and he carries his Bible in the bib pocket of his overalls and he doesn’t miss a chance to witness to anybody.

Inspiration for the Characters

My daughter, Iris, is part of my inspiration for Maggie. She’s a 98 lb, size 0, 21-year-old girl, and I don’t think Goliath would stand a chance against her! (My husband and I certainly don’t.) Maggie’s anger at God was inspired by my own questions with things I’ve struggled with (a head injury from a bike accident which means I can’t drive). While my struggle is very different from Maggie’s, I still question “WHY?” sometimes and realize that if a person never gets to that stage of surrendering to God, of seeing the silver-lining so to speak and knowing God uses all things for good for them that love Him, then they’re not ever going to have soul-peace. Maggie’s crippling fear of commitment, of letting her heart out there again, I see in LOTS of women I know - who’ve either lost someone to death or to divorce.

Background to the story

World War Two is raging and a strong sense of patriotism infiltrates everything in the small Georgia town of Watkinsville. Recycling for the war effort is encouraged, gasoline is rationed, along with meat and sugar, and relationships are torn apart as the men go off to serve. I didn’t want a predictable story, so I decided to let Maggie make an impulsive decision to join the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service). She leaves for Boot Camp in New York, and because of his childhood battle with polio, Will stays home in Georgia to manage the family Christmas tree farm, and to listen as Mr. Byrd leads him along a spiritual journey which unfolds as he tells the young man a harrowing story from his own life.

Maggie’s spiritual journey was probably the hardest thing to write because of her stubbornness and her anger at God. She refuses to open Will’s letters and she refuses to attend church on the base where she serves as a mechanic. The casualty rate for the war makes her even more furious. Finally, she led me to a scene where I witnessed a very emotional testimony, and which I’m not exaggerating when I say I bawled the whole way through it. Talk about an exhausting, but satisfying job! : )

Thanks for inviting me here, Rel! It was fun to go back and visit with my characters.

A pleasure to have you, Julie :) Thanks for sharing.

On Monday the spotlight shines on Leanna Ellis' Cousin It from her latest release, Facelift. This is one fun spotlight you don't want to miss ~ it's a first for Relz Reviewz and you'll see why!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Julie's website

Buy Julie's books at Amazon or Koorong

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar with US giveaway

Synopsis:~

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. At the age of fifteen Rahab is forced into prostitution by her beloved father. In her years as a courtesan, she learns to mistrust men and hate herself. Into the emotional turmoil of her world walks Salmone, a respected leader of Judah. Through the tribulations of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth in God and find healing from fear and rejection.

My take:~

Writing a book is daunting enough, choosing to write about a Biblical character ups the stakes even more. Debut novelist Tessa Afshar is more than up to the challenge in her beautifully rendered story of Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute named in the lineage of Jesus. Tessa acknowledges there is little known about Rahab and Salome, highlighting the Biblical references and encouraging readers to examine them, acknowledging her story is extrapolation. Her vivid storytelling brings the fall of Jericho into sharp focus, the fear of the Canaanites palpable as God's unusual plan unfolds as the Israelites march around the impenetrable walls. Rahab and Salome's love story is evocative and compelling while Rahab's journey from an idolatrous harlot to a believer in the one true God, is heartrending and inspiring. The spiritual threads are woven effortlessly throughout, from the consequences of Rahab's past and Salome's pride to the healing power of God's forgiveness and the hard reality of His justice. Pearl in the Sand is reminiscent of Tosca Lee's Havah and Francine River's Redeeming Love and I don't make such comparisons lightly. I trust this is just the beginning of many more books from such a talented author.

With thanks to Wynn~Wynn Media for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Tessa's website and blog

Buy Tessa's book from Amazon or Koorong

CFBA Blog Tour of Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker with US only T-Shirt Giveaway

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Immanuel's Veins Thomas Nelson (September 7, 2010)

by Ted Dekker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.

Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner.

Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.

After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study philosophy and religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.

In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.

He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel, Heaven’s Wager, was published.

Now, Dekker’s novels had sold over 3.4 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Immanuel's Veins, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer:





As part of this post, bloggers have been asked to answer the question, what is sacrificial love?

My thoughts: A theme throughout all the Ted Dekker books I have read is that of sacrificial love and none moreso than his latest, Immanuel's Veins. Sacrificial love is simplistic and yet the consequences surrounding it are often complex and emotive. Without question, God the Father and his son Jesus are the ultimate example of sacrificial love but where else do we see their example in action? The art of sacrifice is not popular in western culture where we are inundated with messages of self protection, the importance of the individual and "because I'm worth it"! and yet, there are glimpses of sacrifice in the everyday.

Recently, someone close to me had a severe stroke at the age of 49. He is paralysed down his right side and communication is a major issue. Strangely, he can count and his wife sits patiently by his side trying to determine what he is trying to say when he is only verbalising numbers - she is getting better at it! That's sacrificial love in action.

My sister in law is having our three girls for a sleepover for a couple of days over the school holidays while I am at work and my husband studies for exams. She will have six lovely but loud and enthusiastic children aged 2 - 12 in her small home. We appreciate her sacrifice!

Look for those who love sacrificially around you and do likewise :)

As a unique way to promote Ted's book, Thomas Nelson are giving away a "Spread the Love" T-Shirt to one of my readers!

To be entered into the draw, you must meet the following conditions:

1. Post a comment about how you see sacrificial love in action around you
2. Have a US postal address