Monthly Archives: January 2011

[Revell Blog Tour&Review] Stars Collide (Backstage Pass, bk 1) by Janice Thompson

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About the Book:

Her future’s so bright, she’s gotta wear shades

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don’t just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom–they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat’s grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood’s golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?

From the soundstage to a Beverly Hills mansion to the gleaming Pacific Ocean, Stars Collide takes you on a roller-coaster tour of Hollywood, packing both comedic punch and tender emotion.

About the Author:
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas.

My Review:

This book was fantastic! I absolutely LOVED everything about this book, that Janice Thompson penned. She is an amazingly seasoned author, and she knows how to take characters and blend them perfectly with her plots and turn out a novel that will keep her readers captured-hook line and sinker. She is one of my all time favorite authors, and she can make me laugh, cry and everything in between with her books! 


In Stars Collide, the characters are hilariously perfect for their rolls. Kat Jennings is the heroine and what a heroine she is! She is ultimately dealing with issues of losing her mother at a young age, her father walking out on her and never coming back, and being raised by her grandmother, a past Hollywood legend who is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Grandma Lenora is a sweet character, who keeps the laughs rolling with her comments and thoughts from the 50s, when she was the rising Hollywood star. And, Scott Murphy….oh lala! THAT is one Hollywood actor that is G-E-N-U-I-N-E! He’s everything a man should be: witty, charming, thoughtful and most importantly, a man of faith. He helped Kat on many occasions understand that God is the ULTIMATE script writer and that it is up to Him to set the next scene.


I don’t want to give too much away! I think that if you love laughs, you love romance, you love a tad bit of mystery, then you should check out this first book, Stars Collide, in Thompson’s newest series, Backstage Pass. It’s 5 star worthy, high recommendations and laugh out loud entertainment! I am currently awaiting the release of book 2, which can’t come soon enough for me. Well done, Janice! 


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


You can purchase your copy here. 


*This book was provided for review by the author and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group*

[LitFuse Blog Tour&Review(and giveaway info!)] The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

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**See the bottom of this posting for information on Patti’s giveaway!**

About the Book:
Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali, a Thai prostitute, into America. A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba. A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.

About the Author:
Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman’s Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti’s website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.


My Review:
Wow. This book really hits home with me. Not that I live my life as three different woman. Not that I am full of secrets, either. It’s just that Patti Lacy took an amazing plot line and turned it in to a real-to-life historical novel that immediately captured me. From the characters, to the secrecy to the tender, inspirational story line, Patti Lacy is a woman who knows what her readers want.

This is a book that you need to have a LOT of uninterrupted reading time with, because as the jazz music flows, the history comes to life and Sheila Franklin guards her secrets so carefully, that when her son, the baby she gave up for adoption long ago , comes to her in desperate need, she risks those moments of jazz, those moments of living her life as a pastor’s wife, to do what ever she can to win back her son. Reading Shelia’s story, I felt every emotional struggle that she dealt with, I could sit there and hear all the music and the thoughts that she thought….they were mine. I felt so much for Shelia’s character. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hug many times over, and to pray with her.

There were other issues woven into this beautiful story,like having a son that is bi-racial, prejudice, trust, God’s amazing grace, yet Patti Lacy captures them all in a way that they flow beautifully together and really hit home with the reader. Secrets are brought to life, issues are dealt with and readers become the characters. The pages of this book will be turning long in to the night as, with each page turn, the reader is wanting more and more of this amazing writing from Patti Lacy.

So, please. If you are like me and have NEVER read a Patti Lacy novel, grab a copy of The Rhythm of Secrets now. It’s beyond a 5 star rating, and you will never be the same. The  grace and love and spiritual messages in this story are like none other. Patti Lacy is an author whose books should be on everyone’s book shelves to be read again and again. Her work is filled with passion, grace and forgiveness and every reader will see the depth of the story immediately. I am ready for more Patti Lacy work and will start with An Irish Woman’s Tale, which is here on my book shelf.

See what others are saying about this book here.

You can purchase your copy here.

*This book was provided for review by the publisher for LitFuse Group*

Patti’s Giveaway:

Patti and her publisher, Kregel, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!!

rhythm_of_secrets300x250
Enter the Nook eReader Giveaway and you could win:
* A brand new Nook eReader with Wi-Fi
* $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 16th at Patti’s Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party.
But, wait there’s more! Come to the Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party on February 16th!
Patti will be announcing the winner of The Rhythm of Secrets NOOK giveaway at her Party on FB February 16th! She’ll be hosting a book club discussion of The Rhythm of Secrets and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on February 16th at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)!

[Book Review] Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud

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About the Book:
Two friends from different worlds—one Old Order Amish, one Englischer—share the truths that bring them together.
 
Best-selling novelist Cindy Woodsmall might seem to have little in common with Miriam Flaud, a woman immersed in the culture of Old Order Amish. But with nine children and almost 60 years of marriage between them, Cindy and Miriam both have found the secrets to facing life with strength and grace. Whether enduring financial setbacks, celebrating new babies and times of prosperity, grieving the crushing losses in the deaths of family and friends, or facing disappointments with their respective communities—through it all they find guidance for each day by looking to God.  
 
With poignant recollections, unexpected insights, and humorous tales, the two women welcome you into their unique friendship.  You’ll also gain a rare glimpse into the traditions and ways of the Amish as Miriam recalls special occasions and shares family recipes throughout the book.
 
Plain Wisdom is a heartwarming celebration of God, womanhood, and the search for beauty that unites us all. So grab your cup and your quilt and settle in for a soul-comforting read with Plain Wisdom.

About the Author(s):
CINDY WOODSMALL is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightlineand on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. She is the author of The Bridge of Peace, The Hope of Refuge, and The Sound of Sleigh Bells.
Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband, their three sons, and two amazing daughters-in-law.


Miriam Flaud is an Old Order Amish woman who has lived within one of the most structured societies in the United States. She is the co-author of Plain Wisdom with New York Times best-selling author, Cindy Woodsmall. She’s experienced the abundant joys of that lifestyle as well as troubled times. She and her husband have six children and five grandchildren.


My Review:
I absolutely adored this book! Cindy Woodsmall, along with Miriam Flaud, can truly capture their readers’ hearts even in a non-fiction book. Cindy takes her life experiences as a friend of Miriam’s and blends it fantastically with Miriam’s experiences as an Old Order Amish woman. Together, these two extremely opposite ladies from extremely opposite worlds, create an enlightening read that gives us a glimpse into the life of what it’s like to be Plain. 


It was very interesting to see each topic (chapter) in a Plain point of view and a worldly point of view. While both points of view are very different in happenings,  the thoughts of Cindy (who is “of the world”) and the thoughts of Miriam (Old Order Amish) are still rather the same in their feelings of things. Things that happened in the Amish (like people helping people with out complaint) didn’t always happen in the world BUT there were still some things that happened that showed that people cared. Seeing how these two wonderful ladies became friends through this was absolutely beautiful! 


This is a book that I would highly recommend to everyone. Amish lovers will get a glimpse deeper into the life of the Amish, and those curious about the Amish will get a wonderful insight! Complete with wonderful scripture verses at the start of each chapter (they flow perfectly with the topic!), and yummy sounding recipes ( yep, that’s right-RECIPES! I can’t wait to try them out!) for all the bakers to try, this is definitely worthy of 5 stars! Hats off to two extremely talented women for an incredible new book! 


You can purchase your copy here. 


*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah’s BloggingForBooks*

COTT has unveiled the new WINNER!

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Hot Off The Presses!
A new COTT winner has been revealed!
(Drum roll, please)………..
And the winner is………..
Tina Pinson!  Woo Hoo!  Yeah!  Way to go!
Tina’s excerpt from her book In the Manor of the Ghost, beat out her competitor (DeAnna Julie Dodson’s In Honor Bound) with a 56% to 44% vote.  Such close results tell us ya can’t go wrong with either title, but Tina’s did indeed “take the cake”.  Congratulations are in order to the newest Conqueror at Clash of the Titles.  Hip-hip, hooray!  Hip-hip, hooray! 
Tina competed in the category of Most Gut-Wrenching Scene with a heart-twisting look at a woman watching her husband and baby trapped in a burning building:
Jean Marc stood in the upstairs window holding a bundle. Kaitlin knew, with another slice to her soul, the bundle was Simone. Jean Marc, so quiet, protective, so uneasily riled, yelled. Tormented wails for help rose along with tears of anguish and fear as angry flames licked out behind him.

For the full excerpt, click here 
A few of our reader/voters’ comments:
  • This would be my worst nightmare!
  • Wonderful writing!
  • Both excerpts were really gut wrenching and had me in tears.
So what did she think of her visit to COTT?  In her words:

“Thanks for letting me do battle here. Not quite so bloody as other arenas. I was honored to be a warrior on Clash. I loved the excerpt from my opponent.”

Like those before her, Tina exhibits the graciousness and sportsmanship that has come to define the COTT family.   She fits right in.  And that’s something she hasn’t always known.  Growing up Tina was one of five siblings—the only blonde.  Though her sisters often joked that she must have been adopted (all in fun), there’s no teasing here.
You can read more about Tina in her interview on Clash of the Titles here: 

About her book:
***In the Manor of the Ghost:
It’s the 1870′s. The Civil War has long since been fought and laid to rest, settlers are still joining the wagon trains and heading west to the New Eden. The land is changing. But those who dwell in Clayborne Manor seem trapped in time.
Trapped amid the whispers of failure and sorrow, whispers of longing and defeat. Kaitlin hears them clearly at night. But who haunts Clayborne Manor? The ghost that restlessly walks the halls in the night? Or the ones that plague the minds and spirits of those residing there? Though not inclined to believe the dead can walk the night laden corridors, Kaitlin can see them clearly in the eyes of her husband Devlin, and hear them in the deafening silence of her son, Derrick.
Does she have the courage to search the past and face the ghosts? Does she have the faith to stay and direct all those who dwell In the Manor of the Ghost to the one who sets the captive free?
***
Find out more about Tina and her novel at TinaPinson.com

COTT’s next Clash begins Monday with Romantic Moments.  Head over there to vote and enter the free book drawing.  Get ready to swoon!

Article by Michelle Massaro, COTT Assistant Editor.

[CFBA Tour&Review] The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

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This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Rhythm of Secrets
 
Kregel Publications (December 22, 2010)
 
by
 
Patti Lacy
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patti Lacy, Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman’s Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti’s website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.  

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sheila Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame.

After marrying Edward, Sheila artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Sheila faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved…or imperil Edward’s ambitions.

Inspired by a true story, The Rhythm of Secrets intermingles jazz, classical, and sacred music in a symphony trumpeting God’s grace.

Endorsements:

“A vibrant journey across time in search of the greatest truth of all: grace.”—Tosca Lee, author of Havah: The Story of Eve and Demon: A Memoir

“No longer a ‘well-kept secret,’ Patti Lacy is a master storyteller who speaks to the soul with a powerful and unique rhythm, weaving a tale so emotionally rich that story and reader become one.”—Julie Lessman, author of The Daughters of Boston series and A Hope Undaunted

“Patti Lacy pens another beautifully written story in The Rhythm of Secrets. I couldn’t put it down!”—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Black Cloister

“The Rhythm of Secrets is a stirring story of faith and endurance that will keep readers turning the page until every last secret is revealed.”—Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us and Rose House

If you would like to read an excerpt of Rhythm of Secrets, go HERE.

My Review:

Wow. This book really hits home with me. Not that I live my life as three different woman. Not that I am full of secrets, either. It’s just that Patti Lacy took an amazing plot line and turned it in to a real-to-life historical novel that immediately captured me. From the characters, to the secrecy to the tender, inspirational story line, Patti Lacy is a woman who knows what her readers want.
This is a book that you need to have a LOT of uninterrupted reading time with, because as the jazz music flows, the history comes to life and Sheila Franklin guards her secrets so carefully, that when her son, the baby she gave up for adoption long ago , comes to her in desperate need, she risks those moments of jazz, those moments of living her life as a pastor’s wife, to do what ever she can to win back her son. Reading Shelia’s story, I felt every emotional struggle that she dealt with, I could sit there and hear all the music and the thoughts that she thought….they were mine. I felt so much for Shelia’s character. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hug many times over, and to pray with her.
There were other issues woven into this beautiful story,like having a son that is bi-racial, prejudice, trust, God’s amazing grace, yet Patti Lacy captures them all in a way that they flow beautifully together and really hit home with the reader. Secrets are brought to life, issues are dealt with and readers become the characters. The pages of this book will be turning long in to the night as, with each page turn, the reader is wanting more and more of this amazing writing from Patti Lacy.
So, please. If you are like me and have NEVER read a Patti Lacy novel, grab a copy of The Rhythm of Secrets now. It’s beyond a 5 star rating, and you will never be the same. The  grace and love and spiritual messages in this story are like none other. Patti Lacy is an author whose books should be on everyone’s book shelves to be read again and again. Her work is filled with passion, grace and forgiveness and every reader will see the depth of the story immediately. I am ready for more Patti Lacy work and will start with An Irish Woman’s Tale, which is here on my book shelf.