A NOTE FROM CINDY ~ For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have two books to share with you this week.

Single Sashimi
By Camy Tang

Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after … what, five years? Six?
 
Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: “I want you to work for me.”

Not this time… If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald’s—she’ d choose french fries. She’d never work for him again. It would take an act of God.

Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister’s startup, the offer to become Chief Operating Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable. 

Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again … except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake’s wealthy family with a coveted introduction to the most respected investor in the game industry. It’s also a short job—only a few months—so Venus won’t have to stand Drake’s presence for very long.

But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma’s determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation …

HEALING PROMISES
Defenders of Hope, book two
by AMY WALLACE
Multnomah Fiction April, 2008

Faith Under Fire

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the beast of cancer. As he continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted? 

“Once again, Amy weaves a suspenseful tale of intrigue that will leave you begging for more. Healing Promises is heart-wrenching and powerful. The chase to stop a killer kept me turning the pages, and Clint and Sara’s story broke my heart and kept me cheering for them right to the last page. Whether you want an emotional story straight from the heart or a suspense full of twists and turns, Healing Promises delivers it all.”
— Wanda Dyson, author of Intimidation and Why I Jumped

“In Healing Promises Amy Wallace does what so few writers are willing to do: She looks down the gun barrel of reality, and she does it without flinching. This novel was so real, it nearly breathes on its own. I highly recommend it.”
—Brandt Dodson, author of the Colton Parker Mystery series and White Soul 

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week.

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~ for all book lovers, on this blog I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have two books to share this week.

The Black Cloister
by Melanie Dobson

Trapped inside an abusive cult, one woman is dying to break free.

After her mother commits suicide, Elise Friedman travels to Germany to search for answers and discovers her mother’s dark secret inside the walls of a medieval abbey. When the man who destroyed her mother threatens to destroy her as well, Elise fights for a way out of the darkness before she is consumed.

“From the moment I opened up to the first page of The Black Cloister, I was hooked. This intense, well-crafted story about a modern day cult will have you wondering long into the night.” –Linda Hall, Shadows in the Mirror

For Pete’s Sake
#2 in the Piper Cove Chronicles
by Linda Windsor
Avon Inspire   ISBN 978-0-06-117138- 3    $12.95

Ellen isn’t sure true love exists…until she landscapes the estate of the widower next door. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface. He’s engaged to a beautiful woman and he’ll soon have a stepmom for his troubled son, Pete. Yet from the moment Ellen rescues him on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down. With his business under investigation for espionage and his son pushing for the tomboy-next- door as his new mom, Adrian’s façade of happiness shatters. As Ellen’s three best friends step in to help her navigate the uncharted waters of love, she must ask herself if she’s ready to risk her heart and trust that God has brought this family into her life for a reason. [Available at local and online bookstores.] 

BEST BOOK AWARD, Long and Short Reviews: “Linda Windsor will have you laughing, hurting and loving along the way…packed with chemistry, emotion, action, suspense, laughter, fun, faith and love. It is truly one of a kind. There was not a boring moment among the pages and I found myself completely drawn into the lives of these characters and the town of Piper Cove.”

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~ For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have one book to share.

“This new historical novel by a bestselling author entertains with lovable characters, humorous scenes and the wisdom of faith that Whitson and her characters share in her books.”
4 stars from Romantic Times

Irmagard Friedrich dreams of becoming “Liberty Belle” in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. When her doting father orchestrates an audition, she begins to realize that dream. But the Wild West is more mud and manure than applause and acclaim, and Belle’s willfulness could ruin everything. . .including her budding romance with Shep Sterling, the King of the Cowboys.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and
readers discuss new titles together. If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It’s easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person’s particular taste.

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~ For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know.  Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet.  I have two books to share.

Shadow of Colossus  ~A Seven Wonders Novel~

by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing, August 2008)

In a world enslaved by money and power, one woman dares to be free. Will an explosive secret keep her in chains? The place is the island of Rhodes; the time, 227 BC. In the ten years that Tessa of Delos has been in bondage as a hetaeira, a high-priced Greek courtesan to a wealthy politician, she has learned to abandon all desire for freedom and love. But when her owner meets a violent death, Tessa is given the chance to be free—if she can hide the truth of his death and maintain a masquerade until escape is possible. Now Tessa must battle for her own freedom and for those she is beginning to love, as forces collide that will shatter the island’s peace and bring even its mighty Colossus to its knees.  

“Shadow of Colossus is a beautifully told tale, richly detailed, and set beneath one of the great wonders of the world. If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling in the ancient world, you’ll want to be there as a fallen woman rises and the great Colossus falls!”
—Ginger Garrett, author of In the Shadow of Lions

Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck

The last of five lowcountry sisters to find love, Elle Garvey is willing to give up her home and career for the man she loves. But when life doesn’t turn out like she planned, Elle discovers God has a plan for her much better than her own.

Romantic Times, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick.

“Hauck is quickly making a name for herself as an insightful, thoughtful author.” - Melissa Parcel

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together. If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It’s easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person’s particular taste.

What readers and reviewers are saying ~

If you like Frank Peretti (The Oath, Monster), you’ll love this Christian novel by Mike Dellosso. This powerful, edge-of-your-seat suspense tale has everything you’d expect from a good Peretti: scary scenes, a supernatural battle between the forces of good and evil, flawed Christian characters who struggle with their faith, spiritual warfare, a town with a dark secret, a touch of romance, a freakish monster on the prowl for his next victim, nail-biting suspense, and lots of well-crafted action.

This novel has everything going for it . . .

–Adam D. Blumer

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

Mike Dellosso has penned a supernatural thriller that is as much spellbinding as it is a study in human frailties and the need for God.
–The Suspense Zone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 . . . The Hunted is a fascinating thrill ride that had me hooked from page one . . .

–Jake Chism

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Skillful prose and great storytelling make Mike Dellosso a writer to watch. I can’t wait for his next book!
—Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished

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

. . . best read with all the lights on and an extra flashlight handy–just in case!
—Amy Wallace, author of Ransomed Dreams

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. . . vivid writing and spine-tingling imagination.
—Austin Boyd, author of the Mars Hill Classified trilogy

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

I highly recommend this superb debut novel.
—C.J. Darlington, Co-founder & Book Editor, TitleTrakk.com

The Hunted by Mike Dellosso

A town’s deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith…

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills. With rumors spreading of a rogue lion roaming the woods, he embarks on a mission to learn the truth. As he peels away the layers of Dark Hills, he discovers a secret that has been shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces behind it?

To read chapter one: http://mikedellosso.com/Dellosso-Hunted_ch1.pdf 

After reading the chapter, you’ll need to hit the back button or you’ll exit the site.

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~ For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have two books to share.

Grits and Glory
By Ron and Janet Benrey
 
When Hurricane Gilda visited Glory, North Carolina, her winds tore the steeple off Glory Community Church. Everyone thought the town had narrowly escaped a major disaster until the body of the town’s favorite resturant owner was found under the rubble. Was Gilda to blame … or did someone else take advantage of Gilda to commit the perfect murder?
 
Try Darkness
by James Scott Bell
A Buchanan suspense novel from Center Street
 
Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica’s, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancee and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the under-represented, from his “office” at local coffee bar The Ultimate Sip. A mysterious woman with a six year old daughter comes to him for help. She’s being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest represented by his old law firm and former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won’t back down. He’s going to fight for the woman’s rights.
 
But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.
 
Critical Acclaim for the Buchanan series:
 
Bell is very good at keeping secrets. Fans of thrillers with lawyers as their central characters—Lescroart and Margolin, especially—will welcome this new addition to their must-read lists. –– Booklist
 
For more information: www.jamesscottbell. com

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week.

Hello. My name is Tiffany Stockton, but I publish under Amber Miller, a combination of my middle and last names. 

My “big sister” Cindy, invited me here on her blog today as part of my 3-week blog tour to talk about something–in her words—”warm and historical and…” I wasn’t quite sure what that meant, so I took a look at this blog and immediately felt I had nothing to offer. So much richness and historical detail can be found. A lot of the ‘plain’ living is depicted, and I know only a small bit about the Amish. What can I share with the readers here?

 Then, it hit me. My first series of 3 books is set in Colonial America in the area known as present-day Delaware. That’s not far at all from the Amish world and communities where Cindy’s books are set. And in fact, there are Amish communities scattered all throughout Delaware. The influences from the Colonial era and the Amish lifestyle can still be felt today. There is a certain simplicity for the farmers and residents living in the rural areas.

For my books, there are a lot of the everyday tasks the colonists had to complete described throughout each individual story. From making their own quilts and churning their own butter to sewing their own clothes and baking pies from scratch (original ingredients). Researching the specifics of these was a lot of fun. I would sometimes get lost in the pages of the newspapers or documents or books I studied and forget I was supposed to be taking notes! In this world of modern technology and fast-paced living, there is something to be said for that uninfluenced way of life. At times, I wish I could chuck it all and live like that, but then I realize how much I’d miss my electronics.

Raelene wouldn’t miss it, though. She’s the heroine in my first book, and she endures quite a bit of hardship, after being raised as the only daughter of a man serving His Majesty in the Royal Army. When she is left with nothing but her family’s farm and forced to make something of it in a few months’ time, she quickly learns what it’s like to be a true farmer. Her neighbor–whose suit she had scorned the year before–becomes her overseer when no one will discuss business with a young unmarried woman. With reluctance, she realizes there is no other option, and she accepts. But it’s not without bitterness and anger at God for leaving her alone and taking away everything and everyone she loved, forcing her into these circumstances.

What’s worse is the fact that her new overseer is a strong believer and Raelene wants nothing to do with faith. Gustaf, however, made a promise to Raelene’s father to look after her. Although he wants nothing more than to pack his things and head west toward the Appalachian mountains, his promise keeps him bound to Raelene and the land. Raelene also promised her father she’d make their farm successful. So, she and Gustaf manage to strike a bargain that suits them both.

Then, the revelation of her father’s will forces Raelene to also find a husband before she turns eighteen. Gustaf tells her it shouldn’t be a problem, so she thrusts this responsibility on him. And so begins the ebb and flow of the primary relationship, fraught with frustration, anger, impatience and yes, even humor. You should see the types of men who come parading in front of Raelene, hoping to win her favor. It’s worse that a 3-ring circus!

Promises, Promises is a book that I hope will keep you engaged to the end. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and love early America in the days when it was pure and just getting started, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book.

Book 2, Quills & Promises, is also out. It picks up with the next generation and takes the colonies into the French & Indian War. Both are available for order on my web site. Book 3, Deceptive Promises, will be out in December.

That’s all from me. I hope you haven’t been too bored at the drastic shift from the norm here on the Plain Talk blog. Make sure you leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of either book 1 or book 2. And be sure to come see me over at A Fiction-Filled Life (www.ambermiller.com). I love ‘meeting’ new friends…especially readers.

And a special thank you to my “big sis” for hosting me here today. She “adopted” me a few years ago at one of the ACFW conferences, and we’ve had a great time ever since. I owe you one, girl. You’ll have to collect your repayment in Minneapolis in September…if you’ll be there.

I’m so glad to say I’m BACK!! Okay, so very few of you knew I was gone and others of you are saying she’s always “gone” in one sense or another

I’ve been in Orlando for the last nine days, mostly on business, so I missed getting to post Susan’s “RITA finalist” interview as scheduled. I had arranged for this interview to automatically post last Monday, but as happens sometimes, it didn’t work.

I did, however, have a marvelous time getting to know Susan May Warren in person while in Orlando. We’ve met for a few minutes each year for the last six years, but this trip we had some real time together. She’s a sweet, wonderful, hoot of a gal–extroverted, type-A who can organize like crazy and never meets a stranger.

I first “met” her online when she was living in Russia as a missionary. She and her husband, and their children now live state-side.

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Taming Rafe

1.  Describe your RITA phone call.
 
The truth is, well, I had FORGOTTEN about the RITA.  I’ve never finalled.  Never even remotely thought I would final.  So, there I am, reading my email, sipping coffee, sitting in my pajamas, and in comes a call.  I see it’s RWA and think, uh oh, I forgot to pay my membership or something.  Because WHY would they be calling me?  
 
You could have pushed me over with a puff as the voice on the phone told me that Taming Rafe finalled in the RITA.  In fact, I think I uttered an incredulous, “HUH?  What?”  Thankfully she repeated her news, slowly and clearly. 
 
And then dancing started.
 
2.  Tell us about the RITA book and why you think it stood out it the crowd.
 
Taming Rafe is about a bull-rider who finds himself at the bottom of his game, even his life.  He’s lost everything and has made some pretty bad decisions.  Into this mess walks Kat Breckenridge, a philanthropist who is trying to fill her deceased mother’s big, fashionable shoes.  She’s got some mystery to her past that draws her to cowboys, but most of all, Rafe had decimated her latest charity event, and owes her big.  As they sort out blame, and eventually come together with a game plan, they discover each one offers the other healing in ways they could never imagine.  It’s a mulit-layered story, with a subplot romance, and a story within a story that illuminates the emotional plot of all the characters (and has it’s own plot).  It was my most ambitious story to date, a challenge to write, and I loved it.  I’m so thrilled that the RITA judges liked it!
 
3.   How many books have you written? 
 
Twenty-two, including novellas.
 
4.   Do you have a favorite? 
 
Oh boy – I love my first story, Happily Ever After – I wrote it from such a pure place, it’s still the story of my heart.  And then there’s Everything’s Coming up Josey, my chick lit story – finally got to tell the truth about being a missionary.  And then Rafe…well, who doesn’t like a cute Bull Rider? 
 
5.   Describe your writing process.
 
I’m a detailed plotter, plotting out the story, the subplots and even the epiphany.  My character is pretty fleshed out when I start the first page.  However, after that it gets really messy.  I slap down the first draft without grammar or spell checking, just a download from my brain every day for a month or six weeks.  At the end of the day, I simply save and crawl out of my mess of research books lying open around my writing chair.  The next day, I crawl back in.  I don’t cook.  I don’t clean.  I do shower.  But my entire brain is on Book.  My family calls it (kindly) being under my “Thought Blanket.”  THEN, after the book is roughed out, I go back, chapter by chapter, adding in all the elements I’ve forgotten, as well as texture, and richer description.  And then I go through again, smoothing it out and polishing it.  THEN I print it, and read it, adding in final proofing or edits.  By the time I turn it in, I’ve read it four times, at least. 
 
6.  When did you decide to become a writer and why Christian fiction?
 
I LOVE to write. I would rather write than eat (my children occasionally bring me food).  And, I was a missionary for years, and I truly believe that the best stories engage the spiritual element in us.  I love to stir up issues of the soul, and let the reader ponder them with the character, hopefully long after they put the book down.  My hope is that my readers, regardless of their spiritual background, would see God at work in their lives, loving them, giving them grace, just as He works in the character’s life on the page. 
 
7.  Tell us about your next or upcoming projects.
 
I just finished a book called, “Here Comes Trouble.” It’s a novel about a girl who returns home after ten years to discover the mess she left behind.  But she’s a different person now.  Can a girl change her stripes in her own hometown?  Or will she always be labeled Trouble?  Funny, and romantic, with elements of mystery and suspense, it’s the first in the PJ Sugar series.
 
8. Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?
 
Yes – Read books in your genre, take notes, analyze, write, then continue the cycle….forever.  *g*

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have two books to share with you this week.

Daring Chloe

By Laura Jensen Walker

(Zondervan, June 2008)

 Chloe has led a safe, quiet life. Adventure? No thank you! But when her fiancé dumps her the night before their wedding, her book club friends convince her to take the vacation of a lifetime and timid Chloe blossoms into daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to face her biggest adventure of all.

Endorsements:

 What could be better than adventures with your reading group based on the books you read? Walker’s novel explores the outcome with Chloe, a woman afraid of many things. …Touching and inspirational, and even those who have no interest in France will be entranced by the exquisite descriptions when the book club travels there.”

—Romantic Times (4 Star Review)

” . . . Laura has created the most lively and life-like ensemble of women I’ve ever read. . . Her best novel to date…I’m voting it “Best Chick-Lit of 2008!”

—Deena Peterson, A Peek At My Bookshelf Reviews

WIND RIVER

By Tom Morrisey

Desperate to forget what happened to him in Iraq, Tyler Perkins flees to the emptiness of Wyoming. He’s here to escape and also to fulfill a long-ago promise by accompanying his 86-year-old friend Soren Andeman on a fly-fishing trip—once more for old time’s sake.

 But their trek to an idyllic trout lake soon becomes something more deeply harrowing—a journey that uncovers long-held lies, deadly crimes, and the buried secrets of the past. Ty barely has time to contemplate the question of what constitutes justice when nature unleashes her own revenge. Trapped in a race back to safety, he must face his own guilt-ridden past or risk being consumed.

 To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

 If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It’s easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person’s particular taste.

A NOTE FROM CINDY ~For all book lovers, on this blog spot I post information of a recently released book written by a Christian author, usually written by authors I know. Unless stated otherwise, I haven’t read the book yet. I have two books to share with you this week.

FALSE PICTURE  by Veronica Heley
Severn House June 08.

 The Abbot agency doesn’t do murder, but finds itself involved in it, just the same.

 Velma is charm itself, especially when she’s being inexact with the truth. She sets Bea on the track of a missing picture, not realising someone else is also after it. Can Bea rescue the picture and the two innocent girls who’ve been persuaded to carry smuggled art treasures to Bruges, without falling foul of someone who already has several murders to his credit?

THE EDGE OF RECALL

By Kristen Heitzmann

Tessa Young is a landscape architecte who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths. For years she has immersed herself in the healing aspects of these elaborate structures, searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, a colleague who once betrayed her, offers an opportunity to reconstruct a remarkable Colonial-era labyrinth, she can’t resist this project of a lifetime. But one evening, as dusks falls, an assailant ambushes Tess and Smith and the real nightmare begins.

 To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It’s easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person’s particular taste.