Character Spotlight ~ Tamara Tilley's Michal Madigan & Tyler Mason

Today the spotlight shines on..................................... Michal Madigan and Tyler Mason

Tamara Tilley has three excellent romantic suspense novels to her name and her characters from her most recent novel, Criminal Obsession, are fleshed out below. You can now buy all three of Tamara's books for the great price of $30 from her website.

Enjoy:~

Michal "Mike" Madigan

Brief physical description

Blonde, blue-eyed looks like A. J. Cook from Criminal Minds. A forensic pathologist.

Strengths

Determined, passionate about her job, feisty

Weaknesses

Because of a tragic accident when she was a teen and poor judgment on her part, she closes herself off from others. She doesn’t make time for the opposite sex. She feels as if she’s married to her job and she’s all right with that.

Quirk

I don’t think she has any? Other than, maybe to say she loves dogs, but I don’t think that’s a quirk?

Your inspiration for the character

The story for Mike, just sort of came to me. I wanted reader’s first impression of her to be one of strength. She works in a somewhat male dominated environment so she feels as if she has to prove herself to those around her. But, her hard exterior really is a façade to hide the hurt and pain she has endured since she was a teenager. I wanted to portray a strong woman, who needed a special man to tear down the walls she erected around her.

Tyler Mason

Brief physical description

Police Detective, looks like Michael T. Weiss from the TV show, Pretender. He has strong masculine features, but is really soft-hearted inside.

Strengths

Very much like Mike. He’s strong, dedicated to his job, and knows what’s valuable in life.

Weaknesses

His biggest weakness is Mike. Though his head tells him she’s not worth the trouble, his heart tells him there is more to her story than meets the eye.

Quirk (if any)

Again, not very quirky.

Your inspiration for the character

The character that Michael T. Weiss played in the Pretender. He’s a great guy, wants to right the wrongs in the world, but behind his incredible good looks, and the confidence he exudes, he has a vulnerable heart.

In closing

Most of the characters in my books, are determined (obstinate if I am really being honest). They don’t like opening themselves up to situations where they can be hurt, but when they do, they reveal a more complex person. I love multi-layered characters. I love strength/vulnerability in my characters.

Thanks Tamara ~ I especially loved your choice of actors for Mike and Tyler :)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Criminal Obsession, Abandoned Identity and Full Disclosure

Visit Tamara's website

Buy Tamara's books

Teaser for Eric Wilson's Haunt of Jackals

Love Eric's work ~ here's what's coming up next!

Read my review of Field of Blood here.

Help render the verdict in Randy Singer's next novel, The Justice Game

I am a huge fan of Randy Singer's legal thrillers and have read and loved each one. He is now taking a new approach to the ending of his next novel and you can be a part of it!

Here's how it will work:~

Beginning this week, readers will have an opportunity to determine the verdict in Randy’s upcoming legal thriller, The Justice Game (Tyndale House, July 2009), which features a court case centered on the gun debate. The verdict voted on by the readers will be written into the story and kept under wraps until the book’s release. This is the first time in recent memory that an author has taken reader involvement and feedback to this level.

“I wanted to do something different and get my readers really involved in the story,” said Singer. “This gives them an opportunity to hear both sides of the national gun debate and gets them thinking. Plus, it adds an element of fun to the book.”

Taking a new approach to the popular book trailer, Singer has produced a short, online video that mimics a cable news report. Featuring real-life talk show host Lorri Allen as the lead news anchor, the video shares the latest updates on the trial at the center of the book interspersed with segments of the closing arguments direct from the courtroom. At the end of the video, viewers are directed to a special section on Singer’s Web site to render their verdict.

Randy, who is a practicing veteran trial attorney as well as a teaching pastor in Virginia Beach, VA, has written seven critically-acclaimed legal thrillers. Publishers Weekly has said he, “is as enjoyable as John Grisham,” and his work has received several noteworthy reviews. His latest book, By Reason of Insanity (Tyndale), debuted in hardcover last summer and releases this month in softcover.

You can check out the video below then go to RandySinger.net and enter your verdict. Mine is in....how about yours?

Blood Lines by Mel Odom

What begins as a routine investigation into a car jacking against a Marine and his wife, develops into a world of pain for NCIS Agent Shel McHenry and his team, as the perpetrator turns out to be the son of drug smuggler and killer, Victor Gant. Victor will not take the hit on his boy lying down and has Shel firmly in his sights, keeping the NCIS team of Wil, Remy and Estrella on their toes.

As Shel recovers from the fallout of the investigation, his thoughts turn to his distant father, Tyrel McHenry, a man he barely knows despite growing up in his home. Tormented by long ago demons, brought on by his experiences in the Vietnam war, Tyrel's dark past rises up to haunt him as it reaches out to threaten the very life of his son.

Blood Lines is another hard hitting story from Mel Odom that delivers action aplenty, fascinating characters and an emotional punch that leaves you exhausted and fulfilled! Wil Coburn's team is back and in fine form as they chase down notorious criminal, Victor Gant and investigate the death of a soldier forty years earlier. With his sharp eye for detail, Mel pumps his military thriller with the complex characters of his past NCIS stories, fleshing out Shel's past and delving into the sometimes difficult relationship between fathers and sons. The story reveals Shel as a boy desperately seeking his father's approval and love and Tyrel, a man so emotionally burnt by war and the burden of guilt he carries, is unable to offer anything, shattering their relationship before it could begin. Their interaction as adults is painful to read but exceptionally drawn and adds emotional depth and honesty to this story. Blood Lines' pacing is fast and furious, as one expects from Mel's novels and is a highly satisfying conclusion to this series. My only regret is not getting to read Remy's story...maybe one day, Mel?!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Paid in Blood and Blood Evidence

Visit Mel's website and blog

Buy Mel's books at Amazon or Koorong

And, if we are really fortunate I'll have an interview with Mel soon!

The winners are...

Daniel's Den ~ Nise'

Never Say Diet & Fitness Trainer ~ Naomi

Email me your snail mail within 7 days to claim your prize!

Fabulous contests at Jamie Carie's blog!

Amazing author and great lady, Jamie Carie has two great contests to celebrate the release of her latest action packed historical romance novel, Wind Dancer.

Here's what she is offering:

During the last two weeks of January I will be running two wonderful contests to win free, signed copies of Wind Dancer AND other great prizes.

Week One will have a DVD package and the winner of Week Two will receive a $150.00 gift certificate for a red dress from edressme.com! Tell your friends and check back January 19th for your first chance to win!! I won't ask you to jump through too many hoops :-) but this won't be a draw the name out of a hat kind of contest. Week One I will ask you to read anything online about Wind Dancer (or read the book!:) and suggest the actor and actress best to play Samuel and Isabelle. You can find information and a sample chapter on my website http://www.jamiecarie.com/.

Week Two I will give you a brief description of how Isabelle & Samuel met, then ask you to suggest where/how their first meeting might occur if it happened today. You can make it funny, serious, or somewhere in-between. So be thinking about their first encounter! The judges will be author and marketing guru Jim Rubart, the "gotta tell somebody" publicist extraordinaire Twila Beck and the lovely B&H publicist and marketing maven, Julie Gwinn! (I'm not sure which one will be like Simon Cowell, but they are all very nice, I promise!) I can't wait to hear your ideas!!

The first contest is running now! To enter, click here and have fun!

CFBA Blog Tour of Stand In Groom by Kaye Dacus

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Stand-In Groom
Barbour Publishing, Inc (January 2009)

by
Kaye Dacus


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there.

She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. But her greatest joy comes from mentoring new writers through her website and seeing them experience those “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear.




ABOUT THE BOOK

When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her "dream" quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman?

George came to Louisiana to plan his employer's wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he's so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stand-In Groom, go HERE

What they're saying about it:

“Dacus pulls off a delightful story that places readers in the heart of the South with the debut of the Brides of Bonneterre series. Readers will enjoy this look at how lives are transformed through devastating events and how forgiveness is the key to a promising future. Nothing is as it seems in this heartwarming story.”
–Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“Absolutely delightful! I enjoyed Stand-In Groom from cover to cover! Ms. Dacus’s clever story and wonderful prose will draw you away to a place deep in the heart of Louisiana, surrounding you with the scents, sounds, and sights of the deep south. A story filled with romance and intrigue, betrayal and forgiveness, I found myself laughing, crying and rejoicing right along with the characters.”
–M.L. Tyndall, author of The Falcon and the Sparrow and the award-winning Legacy of the King’s Pirates series

“Stand-In Groom is as sweet, beautiful, and chaotic as a perfectly planned wedding. Anne is a bright and wounded heroine you’re going to care about for a long time. George is a hero to capture your heart. Kaye Dacus will take you along for a fun, poignent ride in Stand-In Groom.”
–Mary Connealy, author of the Lassoed in Texas series and Of Mice...and Murder

Rel - another one calling to me from my TBR pile! I will get to it shortly and review it :)

Character Spotlight ~ Jennifer Erin Valent's Jessilyn Lassiter

Today the spotlight shines on...........................................Jessilyn Lassiter

Jennifer Erin Valent's debut novel won the Christian Writers' Guild Operation First Novel Contest in 2007 and has just been released by Tyndale. I am looking forward to reading it and posting a review.

Find out more about Jennifer's main character in this Southern tale below:~

Physical Description

Jessilyn is tall for her age and has sandy hair, freckles and dramatic green eyes that prompt the boys to call her Jessie The Cat. She doesn't think she's particularly pretty or interesting to look at, but she hopes she's fetching enough to attract the attention of her first love, Luke Talley. The minute I saw Becca Gardner in An Unfinished Life I thought, "That's Jessie!" Her appearance as well as her personality in the film completely brought Jessilyn to life for me.

Strengths and weaknesses

Jessilyn's strengths are definitely her loyalty and boldness. Sometimes they get her into trouble, but I love her fiery spirit and willingness to stand up to any battle. Her weaknesses are stubbornness and a quick temper, but I have a feeling she'll grow out of that... almost.

Quirk

She doesn't make friends easily, hates wearing dresses and loves to watch thunderstorms.


Inspiration

I think I unwittingly drew from Anne Shirley of Anne Of Green Gables as an inspiration for Jessilyn. I've seen the Anne Of Green Gables films so many times, those characters are embedded in my imagination. Anne and Jessilyn are both scrappy, imaginative girls who love books and are fiercely loyal to a very dear friend.


Background

It's the summer of 1932 and Jessilyn Lassiter is just turning thirteen and developing her first crush. But tragedy strikes when her best friend, Gemma Teague, loses her parents in a house fire. Jessilyn's family takes her in even though Gemma is black and Jessilyn's family is white, which doesn't go over too well in their small Southern Virginia town. Suddenly, Jessilyn's life is turned upside down by the far-reaching violence of the Ku Klux Klan and by the crushing fear that she may have killed a man in self-defense.

Jennifer - thanks so much for sharing about Jessilyn and I trust Fireflies in December is just the start of your writing career :)

Do comment and encourage Jennifer in her writing journey.


Check back again for another extra spotlight this week, shining on Tamara Tilley's Tyler Mason and Michal "Mike" Madigan.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Jennifer's website and blog

Check out Jennifer's collaborative blog on writing, Novel Matters

Buy Jennifer's book at Amazon or Koorong

Reviews coming soon.....

I did quite a bit of reading on my break so here are a few of the reviews you can look forward to reading soon at Relz Reviewz:~

Blood Lines by Mel Odom

Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter

Cry in the Night by Colleen Coble

City of the Dead by T L Higley

When Love Blooms by Robin Lee Hatcher

The Blessed by Lisa Tawn Bergren

and more, so stay tuned!

Character Spotlight and Aussie Giveaway ~ Sherri Sand's Sierra Montgomery

Due to internet access problems on our holiday, I was unable to post two planned spotlights last week, for which I apologise. The good news is that you will have two extra spotlights to read this week on top of my regular Monday and Thursday spotlight posts ~ enjoy!

Today the spotlight shines on.........................Sierra Montgomery and Ross Morgan


Sherri Sand is a lovely person and a great writer! Her debut novel is fabulous so I was thrilled Sherri wanted to share more about her characters in this spotlight. We would love your comments!

Brief physical description

Sierra has dark shoulder length hair and dark eyes while Ross has more of a rugged look.

Actor/famous person who might resemble her/him

Matthew McConaughy makes a great Ross.

Sierra reminds me of Faith Hill in classiness, but her coloring is more Shania Twain.

Strengths and weaknesses

Sierra is warm-hearted and loyal, but has been hurt by an ex-husband and a dominating parent, so tends to be guarded even though she's drawn to Ross.

Ross's dyslexia kept him from succeeding in school and from gaining his dad's approval, so he tends to let his desire to succeed in business overshadow relationships.

Quirk (if any)

Sierra is terrified of horses due to a childhood accident. So when Chance, the horse she inherits, keeps getting loose on Ross’s property and into his landscaping plants, she ends up in quirky situations (like the time she was trapped in a hydrangea bush) trying to round up a horse she’s convinced is out to trample her.

Your inspiration for the character.

I wrote Leave it to Chance during a tough season in my life. Sierra and the struggles she faces, especially with her son, came to life as I navigated my own challenges. There are quite a few parallels between her life and mine. As the story unfolded, Ross evolved into a complex man who grew and developed as he faced his own trials.

Book Synopsis.

Single mom of three, Sierra Montgomery is desperate to find a new job to keep from having to move back home and be smothered to death by her mother’s good intentions and overbearing love. Then Sierra inherits Chance, a quirky old gelding that brings Ross Morgan, a handsome landscaper who happens to have an empty barn and fenced pasture, into her life.

But Sierra has a secret. She’s terrified of horses and wary of attractive men. Yet seeing the way her angry son idolizes Ross and adores that old horse forces Sierra to confront her fears and decide if she’s going to remain distrustful and self-reliant, or seek help from God and those who love her.

Thanks Sherri ~ I loved this book and can't wait to read your next story! I hope you are writing away ;-)

Tomorrow the spotlight will shine on debut author Jennifer Erin Lavent's Jessilyn Lassiter ~ please stop by and encourage Jennifer :)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Leave It To Chance

Interview with Sherri

Visit Sherri's website and blog

Buy Sherri's book at Amazon and Koorong

Giveaway

To enter post a comment before midnight on Sunday 25th January, 2009. Please note you must have an Aussie mailing address to be eligible to enter :)

Deena interviews me!

One of my dear friends I have met through blogging is Deena from A Peek at My Bookshelf - she is pretty amazing and yet wanted to interview me!

So, if you aren't already tired of reading my first ever interview with the lovely Cee Cee from Book Splurge and my recent interview with Nora at Finding Hope Through Fiction, you can check out my chocolate preferences, my favourite place in the world, my legal career and more with my chat with Deena, here!

I would love you to drop by and say hi - be sure to check out Deena's reviews and giveaways, as well!

And check back here soon for my interview with Deena about her life, loves and reviewing.

Sneak Peek at Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle

Jeanette Windle is a favourite author of mine so I am thrilled I only have to wait a few more months before her next release. Her books combine suspense, political intrigue, action and romance and I'm sure Veiled Freedom will be no different!

Check it out:~

Land of the Free . . . Home of the Brave

Kabul, 2001—American forces have freed Afghanistan from the Taliban. Kites have returned to the skies. Women have removed their burqas. There is dancing in the streets.

Eight years later, Afghanistan is a far cry from those first images of a country freed from Taliban rule. When Special Forces veteran Steve Wilson returns to Kabul as security chief to the minister of interior, he is disillusioned with the corruption and violence that has overtaken the country he fought to free.

Relief worker Amy Mallory arrives in Afghanistan ready to change the world. She soon discovers that as a Western woman, the challenges are monumental.

Afghan native Jamil returns to his homeland seeking work, but a painful past continues to haunt him.

All three are searching for truth and freedom when a suicide bombing brings them together on Kabul's dusty streets. But what is the true source of freedom—and its cost?

Releasing May, 2009 from Tyndale

Relz Reviewz Extras

Read the first chapter of Veiled Freedom here

Jeanette has recently hit the blogosphere with her blog, From the Eye of the Storm. It is well worth checking out.

CFBA Blog Tour of Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sweetwater Gap
Thomas Nelson (December 16, 2008)
by
Denise Hunter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!



ABOUT THE BOOK

A story of new beginnings from best-selling Romance for Good™ author Denise Hunter.
When Josephine's family insists she come home to help with the harvest, the timing works. But her return isn't simple benevolence-she plans to persuade the family to sell the failing orchard.

The new manager's presence is making it difficult. Grady MacKenzie takes an immediate disliking to Josephine and becomes outright cantankerous when she tries talking her family into selling. As she and Grady work side by side in the orchard, she begins to appreciate his devotion and quiet faith. She senses a vulnerability in him that makes her want to delve deeper, but there's no point letting her heart have its way-he's tied to the orchard, and she could never stay there.

A brush with death tears down Josephine's defenses and for the first time in her life, she feels freedom-freedom from the heavy burden of guilt, freedom to live her life the way it was intended, with a heart full of love.

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

Rel: Another winner from Denise - I loved this book but I am reviewing it for TitleTrakk.com so will post it back here once it has featured at TitleTrakk. You don't want to miss this book!

CFBA Blog Tour of Kiss by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
KISS
Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
by
Ted Dekker
and
Erin Healy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.

*******************
Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Gilbert Morris, Frank Peretti, Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.

She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding storiesbefore their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."

Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a Colorado-based consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of two children

ABOUT THE BOOK

Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna.
I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can't be true-can it?

I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I'm unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I'm starting to remember things I've never known. Things not about me. I think I'm going crazy.

And even worse, I think they want to kill me.

But who? And for what? Is dying for the truth really better than living with a lie?

Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.

Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.

In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

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

Watch the Video Trailer




What people are saying about KISS:

“The human brain could actually be the real final frontier—we know so little about it and yet it drives the world as we know it. So when authors like Erin and Ted bravely explore these mysterious regions, going into complex places like memory and soul and relationships, I become hooked. The creativity of this suspenseful story is sure to hook other readers as well. Very memorable!”
~Melody Carlson, author of Finding Alice and The Other Side of Darkness

“Dekker and Healy prove a winning team in this intriguing, imaginative thriller.”
~James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Try Darkness

“Kiss by Erin Healy and Ted Dekker is a superb thriller that hooked me from the first sentence. The original plot kept me guessing, and I may never look at a kiss the same way again. I’ll be watching for the next book!”
~Colleen Coble, author of Cry in the Night

“The writing team of Erin Healy and Ted Dekker has taken me through a page-turner with Kiss. It’s one of those books that you think about when you’re not reading it. I highly recommend it, especially if you don’t mind staying up late because you can’t put the book down!”
~Rene Gutteridge, author of Skid and My Life As a Doormat

Rel:- This book had not arrived in time for my break so I am yet to read it but be assured I'll be posting my thoughts once it arrives!

Never Say Diet & The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Coach by Chantel Hobbs with Aussie Giveaway

After years of failed diet attempts, Chantel Hobbs discovered the missing ingredient to permanent weight loss: to change your life, you first have to change the way you think.

She developed a balanced plan for exercise and nutrition and lost two hundred pounds. Now, through writing, speaking, and her work as a personal trainer, she inspires others to achieve far more than they thought possible.

In Never Say Diet, now available in trade paperback, Chantel provides everything readers need to lose weight for good, including:

• Simple, step-by-step workout routines that fit into a normal weekday schedule
• A realistic approach to nutrition that helps people break their bondage to food
• Strategies for staying motivated when life takes unexpected turns
• Keys to dealing with discouragement by relying on God’s strength
• The secret to moving beyond past failures and getting over old excuses

Chantel helps readers make the five commitments that are necessary for changing their lives. Her high-energy, no-nonsense approach inspires readers to achieve results that last in body, mind, and spirit.

Personal Trainer:

Her newest book, The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Coach, now allows readers to have Chantel show up each week to inspire, encourage, and energize them on the journey to a healthy life that centers on body, mind, and spirit.

This fitness guide helps readers set new weight-loss goals and create an exercise schedule that works in the midst of life’s constant demands. Readers will be inspired with Scripture, and they will welcome Chantel’s healthy eating plan with simple, energy-and-nutrition-packed recipes. Weekly checklists and personal evaluations direct readers in reaching their goals. Plus, Chantel’s personal and entertaining stories provide the motivation needed to get through even the most frustrating days.

With Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Coach readers will establish new fitness habits that burn off excess weight, increase strength, and establish a new, healthy way of living.

Rel:~ Given that I am camping with family, I have decided to read and use Chantel's books on my return! I'll let you know how I am doing....maybe! LOL!

I have a copy of both books to give away to my Aussie readers so someone can join me! To enter, post a comment before midnight on Sunday 18th January, 2009 leaving contact details and be sure to have an Aussie mailing address.

Character Spotlight ~ ML Tyndall's Dajon Waite and Faith Westcott

Today the spotlight shines on...............................Faith Westcott and Dajon Waite

MaryLu hits the high seas again in The Red Siren, this time with a female pirate! Faith and Dajon are wonderful characters so I'm glad to share with your MaryLu's take on her latest creations!

Faith Westcott

Brief Description

Faith is tall for a woman and of medium build. She likes to wear her fiery red hair unfettered in long curls down her back. (that is until her father reprimands her for the impropriety). Her dark auburn eyes are full of life and determination. She has a cluster of freckles atop her nose that are the only mark on her otherwise creamy skin. She carries herself with a confidenceand superiority that deter most suitors. That is, until Captain
Dajon Waite crosses her path.

I love this picture. It reminds me so much of what Faith would look like. Wild, red hair, tempered by a hint on innocence in her pose, yet those eyes: filled with sorrow, yet such strength and determination!

Strengths:

Bravery, Boldness, Loyalty, Dedication,

Weaknesses:

Stubborn, rebellious, anti-man and anti-god

Quirks:

Faith constantly throws her hands to her hips in an act of superiority. The freckles on top of her nose darken when she is angry or frightened.

Inspiration:

Faith has every quality which a female pirate needs in order to be successful: Audacity, fortitude, and the ability to command an unruly crew. I loved writing her character because she possesses the wit, courage, and boldness that I only dream of possessing! She’s the kind of woman other women look up to as a role-model (except the pirating part): Fiercely loyal to family, dependable, smart, a woman who takes charge and does what needs to be done, instead of sitting back and waiting for a man to rescue her. She has lofty goals and a purpose for everything she does. But instead of using her strengths for good, she uses them to become a pirate.

Wounded by a series of tragedies that have struck her family, she turns her back on God and on the rules of society and seeks other ways to complete the mission of caring for her sisters handed down to her by her mother on her deathbed.

Dajon Waite

Brief Description:

With dark brown hair, a rugged face and blue eyes the color of the sky, Dajon presents a handsome figure donned in his British Navy uniform. A large man for his day, his deep

commanding voice and authoritative manner invoke obedience among his crew. Yet beneath his commanding and strict exterior, Dajon possesses the chivalrous heart of a true romantic and a love for God that outweighs everything else. Whenever I think of Dajon, a picture of the British actor, Richard Armitage, comes to mind. Dark and strong, but with a hint of playfulness on his face.

Strengths:

Chivalrous, Possesses Integrity, Honorable, Loyal, Brave

Weaknesses:

Inflexible, Rigid, Stubborn, Inhibited, Guilt-ridden

Quirks:

Though Dajon prides himself on his crisp, clean appearance as a navy officer, he cannot keep one rebellious strand of his hair from incessantly escaping his queue. Beads of sweat appear on his forehead when he is angry or annoyed.

Inspiration:

Dajon is the perfect example of someone trying to make up for a wicked past by following a set of rules. Instead of accepting God’s forgiveness and grace, Dajon believes he must pay penance for past sins by doing as many good works as he can. Hence, he joins the British Navy to protect and care for his fellow Englishmen. In addition, he believes that in order to avoid future mistakes, one must adhere to every rule thrust upon them by both God and man. This combines to make Dajon a very disciplined, pious, and unyielding man who is neither happy, nor at peace with the life he has chosen. I often battle myself with the idea of free grace and forgiveness. It seems too easy, doesn’t it? I feel like I should somehow earn God’s forgiveness. Otherwise it doesn’t seem real. So, I really enjoyed writing Dajon’s story, especially when he falls in love with wild, rebellious Faith.

Background for the story:

Faith Westcott abandoned her shallow faith when a series of tragedies struck her family. To save herself and her sisters from forced marriages, this fiery, born-to-the-manor redhead is a lady by day and a pirate by night. God-fearing Dajon Waite, who scours the Carolina coast, expunging it of pirates, is a more-than-capable captain in the British Royal Navy. But when he is asked to take on the guardianship of Faith and her sisters, he’s headed for deep water. Having vowed to avoid women, and to follow all rules of the navy, what will he do when he finds himself falling for Faith, especially when he catches her at pirating?

Great stuff, MaryLu - thank you! Can't wait to read about the rest of the Westcott sisters! Do comment and let us know what you think of this spotlight.

Please note I have run into problems with internet access due to circumstances beyond my control so I will be unable to post my planned spotlights next week. I will rectify that in the week starting 18th January, 2009.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of The Red Siren

Visit MaryLu's website and blog

Buy The Red Siren at Amazon or Koorong

CFBA Blog Tour of The Perfect Match by Susan May Warren

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Perfect Match
(Tyndale House January 1, 2009)
by
Susan May Warren

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. Her favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota is where she met her husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living.

The north woods easily became the foundation for her first series, The Deep Haven series, based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. Her first full-length book, Happily Ever After, became a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

As an award winning author, Susan returned home in 2004, to her native Minnesota after serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. She now writes full time from Minnesota's north woods and the beautiful town that she always dreamed of living in.

You can sample a chapter of each and every one of Susan's novels, on her website, HERE.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Ellie Karlson is new to Deep Haven. As the town’s interim fire chief, she is determined to lead the local macho fire crew in spite of their misconceptions about her. But when someone begins setting deadly fires, Ellie faces the biggest challenge of her life. Especially when sparks fly with one of the volunteers on her crew: Pastor Dan Matthews. As Ellie battles to do her job and win the respect of her crew, she finds that there is one fire she can’t fight—the one Dan has set in her heart.
(This book is the repackaged edition published in 2004)

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Perfect Match, go HERE.

Awards:

2004 American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year

A Romantic Times Magazine TOP PICK – 4½ stars

Review:

Romantic Times Magazine:
Vibrant characters and vivid language zoom this action-packed romance to the top of the charts. This is a one-sitting read –once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down.

Rel here - loved this book when it first released. Don't miss it!