Tuesday, July 21, 2015

CFBA: No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
No Safe Harbor
Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012)
by
Elizabeth Ludwig




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Rocket, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies (co-authored with Janelle Mowery), earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year Award. This book was followed in 2009 by I'll be Home for Christmas, part of the Christmas anthology collection, Christmas Homecoming.

In 2011, her second mystery, Died in the Wool (co-authored with Janelle Mowery) was nominated for a Carol Award. In 2012, the popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series released from Bethany House Publishers. Books one and two, No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home, respectively, earned 4 Stars from the RT Book Reviews. Book three, Tide and Tempest, received top honors with 4 1/2 Stars.

Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas.



ABOUT THE BOOK



The Thrill of Romantic Suspense Meets the Romance of 1800s America.

Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.

Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.

If you would like to read the first chapter of No Safe Harbor, go HERE.


Monday, July 20, 2015

Mailbox Monday: July 20

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Long, busy week but we had a nice weekend with family. I received only one book last week, but that is fine by me. I am not getting a lot of reading done these days.


Just as the creator of the Chronicles of Narnia decided to try his writer’s hand and imagination, I decided to try something too. And so, I have written a story of my own having been prompted by that same idea of creating a God presence in another place. No, it is not Narnia but it is a new world similar yet different from our own. Surely, as I write this, I was inspired by the man who has invited tens of thousands of readers and not a few writers to write, think and look beyond this ‘shadow land’ called earth. I have named it The White Knight, the Lost Kingdom, and the Sea Princess.

It is a story of intrigue and ever present danger in a world populated by creatures and mortals, whose destiny hangs by the threads of an Emperor’s vision, a prince’s lost love, mysterious foes, enchanting forest maidens, unlikely heroes, and a mermaid-heroine. All of this is wrapped up in a champion so invincible, yet mysterious, that he challenges the Dark Sorcerer with supernatural forces of a fascinating nature, using even the humblest of defenders. This profound love story will leave you with a taste for a country and a universe beyond your dreams and even imaginings. A world that is A fairy tale come true, and one “you will never want to end.”

IT MAY BECOME YOUR TRUEST ‘HAPPILY EVER AFTER’ STORY, AND perhaps YOUR OWN FAIRY TALE WILL NEVER END AS WELL.

What did you receive in your mailbox?

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

CFBA: Jack Staples and the Ring of Time by Mark Batterson and Joel Clark

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Jack Staples and the Ring of Time
David C. Cook (September 1, 2014)
by
Mark Batterson and Joel Clark




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church (www.theaterchurch.com) in Washington, DC. One church with seven locations. NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in theaters throughout the DC metro area. NCC also owns and operates the largest coffeehouse on Capitol Hill. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 11 books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase and the two most recent, The Grave Robber and Jack Staples and the Ring of Time. Mark is married to Lora and they live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.



ABOUT THE BOOK



Eleven-year-old Jack's ordinary life is upended when mysterious creatures attack his hometown and he is whisked into a fantastical adventure filled with danger at every turn.

Jack learns that most live in a shadow of the world, their vision blinded by invisible scales that have covered human eyes since the beginning of time. But the Awakened experience the world as it truly is, where war rages between good and evil—and Jack is at the heart of it. The Awakened are searching for The Child of Prophesy who will both save the world and destroy it. When Jack joins in their epic battle he must learn to trust his friends and face his fears if he is to make his life count.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Jack Staples and the Ring of Time, go HERE.



Wordless Wednesday


Monday, July 13, 2015

Mailbox Monday - July 13

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

We survived the beaches of North Carolina despite Jaws trying to attack people. One afternoon, we arrived to discover they had pulled a shark from the waters a mile from us just a few hours prior to our arrival that day. What fun.

As always, vacations are too short. I also worked on vacation a bit. Overall, we had a superb time. I should have some photos to share soon.

I picked up an autographed copy of Voices from the Outer Banks edited by Stephen Kirk at Books to Be Red, an independent bookstore on Ocracoke Island. Kirk had book signings scheduled in Manteo and Duck while we were at the Outer Banks, but I didn't get a chance to meet him. I let the kids dictate our schedule while we are away. He is the editor of John F. Blair, Publisher.

While visiting, I also got a chance to recommend the books of Karen White to someone looking for Southern fiction. She picked up one of her books, which I hope she will enjoy as much as I did.



John F. Blair, Publisher, continues its Real Voices, Real HistoryTM series with Voices from the Outer Banks. This volume presents the actual words of the people who lived the uncommonly rich history of this chain of barrier islands stretching from the Virginia border southward through Cape Lookout.

Readers will enjoy contemporary accounts of the first British settlement in North America and the birth of the first English child on American soil. They ll read 18th-century letters, articles, and poems about the bloody death of Blackbeard, arguably the most famous of all the pirates. They ll read the news account of the first powered airplane flights in human history. And the editorial that created America s first national seashore. And the words of family members who once inhabited the nation s most iconic lighthouse part of a matched set of four.

Topics include the Graveyard of the Atlantic, in a nod to the rough waters that over the centuries have claimed hundreds of vessels, and Torpedo Junction, site of the Great American Turkey Shoot, the latter nickname bestowed by German submariners during World War II.

The volume includes first-person accounts of Civil War battles, a freedmen s colony, hunt clubs that drew the first wealthy tourists, and lifesavers who used horses to pull surfboats to the water and fired lines by cannon to wrecked vessels. Readers will even hear contemporary stories of the Boy Scout troop that rode ponies descended from ancient shipwrecked animals.

I also picked up several Kindle books while browsing Amazon's titles:












That last one I picked up to read with my online book club. You can learn more about it here.

Finally, when I returned home, this book was waiting for me--a gift from an author whose book tour I am hosting.


Trying to be a normal 12 year old is going to be hard but Jania is certainly going to try. Being the Princess and having to compete to become a Warrior Maiden is just the beginning of her problems. Looks like someone tried to kill her but got her guards instead. Now she and a small party must travel to a city that few people escape and return with a special flower to save her guards. Did I mention, it all has to happen within 24 hours or they become trapped forever. Like I said...just a normal 12 year old. 

What did you receive this week?






Saturday, July 11, 2015

Take the Ultimate Language Geek Personality Quiz!

On July 13 we'll be celebrating Geekiness Day and on July 15, Dork Day. Are you a Language Geek? Take the quiz to find out. This quiz is brought to you by the folks at Grammarly.






Anatomy of a Grammar Nerd Infographic

Friday, July 10, 2015

Bargain E-Book: Cooking With Love by Cynthia Hickey


Tabitha is in search of adventure
(Previously sold through Harlequin as Cooking Up Love)

Tabitha McClelland knows accepting a job as a Harvey House waitress can be risky. Traveling alone to the rough-and-tumble West just isn't done by young ladies of good breeding. But far more dangerous is her powerful attraction to Adam Foster. Family means everything to the widowed chef, but the self-sufficient Tabitha cherishes her freedom above all else.

Adam is captivated by the fiercely independent Tabitha. Fraternizing with the female employees is strictly forbidden, but the Harvey Girl awakens feelings too compelling to ignore. Can Adam convince Tabby to share his dream of a future in California—together?

File Size: 4159 KB
Print Length: 153 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Winged Publications (April 28, 2015)
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00WV7BE00

Purchase here for only 99 cents!