CFBA presents DAISY CHAIN by Mary E. DeMuth

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingDaisy ChainZondervan (March 1, 2009)byMary E. DeMuth


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs (nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

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

THOUGHTS FROM JEN

Mary DeMuth is a talented writer with a beautiful, lyrical style, even when she's writing about dark, ugly things. Jed Pepper not only has to deal with the disappearance of his best friend, Daisy, but he has to contend with a father who uses God's Word as an excuse to beat submission and obedience into every member of the family, and a mother who is too broken to stop him.

While Daisy Chain is skillfully written, it's often a hard book to read. I have no patience with men like Hap Pepper, and I don't understand women like Ouisie Pepper. This is particularly true when children are involved. There were times when I turned the page thinking, when is someone going to stand up to this man? Of course, it's a testament to DeMuth's talent as a writer that I had such strong feelings about the characters.

There were several threads left undone at the end of the book, which disappointed me. Because this is the first of a trilogy, I expect - and hope - they will be resolved by the final installment. You can be sure I'll be reading the next two books to find out! Overall, this is a powerful look into the life of one young southern man and how he finds redemption in a loving God.

CFBA presents GINGHAM MOUNTAIN by Mary Connealy

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Gingham Mountain
(Barbour Books - February 1, 2009)
by
Mary Connealy


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary's writing journey is similar to a lot of others. Boil it down to persistence, oh, go ahead and call it stubbornness. She just kept typing away. She thinks the reason she did it was because she was more or less a dunce around people—prone to sit silently when she really ought to speak up (or far worse, speak up when she ought to sit silently).

So, Mary had all these things she wanted to say, in her head: the perfect zinger to the rude cashier, which you think of an hour after you’ve left the store; the perfect bit of wisdom when someone needs help, which doesn’t occur to you until they solve their problems themselves; the perfect guilt trip for the kids, which you don’t say because you’re not an idiot. She keep all this wit to herself, much to the relief of all who know her, and then wrote all her great ideas into books. It’s therapeutic if nothing else, and more affordable than a psychiatrist.

So then a very nice, oh so nice publishing company like Barbour Heartsong comes along and says, “Hey, we’ll pay you money for this 45,000 word therapy session.” That’s as sweet as it gets.

Mary's journey to publication is the same as everyone’s except for a few geniuses out there who make it hard for all of us. And even they probably have an Ode to Roast Beef or two in their past.

There are two other books in this Lassoed In Texas Series: Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon


ABOUT THE BOOK


All aboard for a delightful, suspense-filled romance, where a Texan is torn between his attraction to a meddlesome schoolmarm and the charms of a designing dressmaker. When Hannah Cartwright meets Grant, she's determined to keep him from committing her orphans to hard labor on his ranch. How far will she go to ensure their welfare?

Grant Cooper is determined to provide a home for the two kids brought in by the orphan train as he runs head-on into the new school marm, who believes he's made slave labor out of eight orphaned children. He crowds too many orphans into his rickety house, just like Hannah Cartwright's cruel father. Grant's family of orphans have been mistreated too many times by judgmental school teachers. Now the new schoolmarm is the same except she's so pretty and she isn't really bad to his children, it's Grant she can't stand.

But he is inexplicably drawn to Hannah. Can he keep his ragtag family together while steering clear of love and marriage? Will he win her love or be caught in the clutches of a scheming seamstress?

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

THOUGHTS FROM JEN

This is the fourth book I've read by Mary Connealy and she never disappoints me. Mary creates strong, unique characters and spices up her stories with great handfuls of humor and lots of heart.

Gingham Mountain has it all: A rugged man with a heart of gold, a well-meaning woman who keeps getting things wrong, rapid-fire banter between two people too stubborn to admit they're attracted to each other, and a pair of conniving schemers bent on ruining everything. How Hannah, Grant, and a passel of orphans overcome against all odds is an exciting, entertaining read.

This is the third book of the Lassoed In Texas Series. While you can read it on its own, I would highly recommend reading the entire series in order. There are some fun things you might miss otherwise. For example, Hannah and her sister Lilly are introduced in great depth in Calico Canyon. Reading it first will give a lot more depth to Hannah's story.

This book gets two enthusiastic thumbs up. If you like your historical romances sassy, sweet, and suspenseful, take a trip to Gingham Mountain.

Interview with Author Anita Higman & Book Giveaway!

A Dreamy Interview
with
Anita Higman

How did you dream up Love Finds You in Humble, Texas?

Well, the creative process is a mystery to me. Characters like Wiley and Kat and Cyrus start showing up in my head and talking. Sometimes I’m not sure where they come from. As far as plot for Love Finds You in Humble Texas, I started with a premise, like two very different sisters—one an image coach and the other in desperate need of an image coach. But I thought, “What if both sisters fall in love with the same man?” I wrote an opening scene, and then my fingers began to fly. Even though I generally know where the novel is going, many times the story reveals itself to me as I go along. So, the process of creating a novel is part mystery, but I still have to put in my time. Lots and lots of time.


What’s the biggest dream-come-true in your life so far?

Well, having a family has been the finest dream-come-true. But beyond that, my latest novel, Love Finds You in Humble Texas has brought me a lot of joy. Even though this is my 24th book, I’ve been more pleased with this work than with anything else I’ve written. The reviews have been very positive, and so I’m grateful and happy. Yes, you could definitely call this a dream-come-true.


What are you striving for…the dream of your heart that is yet to be fulfilled?

I would love to have one of my books made into a movie. In the process, I’d like for these stories to entertain as well as inspire people to see that God cares for then deeply and that His gift of grace is a present just waiting to be opened. That is my finest dream.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author, Anita Higman, has twenty-four books published (several co-authored) for adults and children, and has two novels coming out in the next two years. She has been honored in the past as a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston. Some of Ms. Higman’s publishers are Bethany House, Barbour Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Lillenas Drama, Howard Publishing, and Summerside Press.

A few of Anita’s books are Another Stab at Life, Another Hour to Kill, The Celestial Helix, Pokeweed and Mrs. Gasp, and Big Book of Holidays and Holy Days. She also has contributions in ten nonfiction compilations.

One of Ms. Higman’s co-authored books entitled, A Tribute to Early Texas, has a foreword by Elmer Kelton and has won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. She was also named a Favorite New Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards and her co-authored novel, Castles in the Air, was a Favorite Contemporary Romance in the 16th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards.

In addition, Anita has won two awards for her contribution to literacy and has raised thousands of dollars for literacy with her book, I Can Be Anything, while serving on the board of directors of Literacy Advance of Houston.

Anita Higman has also written for radio, television, ezine, and advertising. She has a B.A. degree combining speech communication, psychology, and art from SNU, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Anita lives with her husband near Houston, Texas.


ABOUT THE BOOK - Love Finds You in Humble, Texas

Trudie Abernathy is a little inelegant, and she’s never had much luck in love. To makes matters worse, her thirtieth birthday is fast approaching and her sister, Lane, has decided to “treat” her to a makeover and a blind date. Trudie is about to protest, but then she meets the kind and devastatingly handsome Mason Wimberley. In spite of Trudie’s humble manner, Mason finds her attractive, funny, and smart. But there’s one obstacle in the way of the budding romance: Lane suddenly decides that she’s in love with Mason! Trudie has never been one to compete with her glamorous sister, even when it means giving up the things she wants. Will she be able to stay true to her humble self and find her heart’s desire in the process?

Check out the Book Trailer: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4269149/11475177

Visit Anita's blog at www.anitahigman.com


THOUGHTS FROM JEN

Years of guilt have convinced Trudie Abernathy that she is not worthy of anything special. But then Mason Wimberley walks into her life and treats her like the most special woman on earth. She starts to think that maybe, just maybe, she does deserve to be happy. But then Trudie has to make a choice: Put her sister's feelings first, or grab her own chance at love.

Anita Higman has written a wonderfully sweet book about the many sides of love. With warmth and humor, her characters tackle the complications of life, relying on faith to get them through.

The publisher, Summerside Press has created something unique with its relatively new "Love Finds You" line. By setting these stories in real towns across the United States, the location almost becomes another character. I truly enjoyed my visit to Humble, Texas, and think you will, too!


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on February 19th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

CFBA presents WORD GETS AROUND by Lisa Wingate

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingWord Gets Around(Bethany House - February 1, 2009)byLisa Wingate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Wingate lives in central Texas where she is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out ten printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its tenth printing.

The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, The Language of Sycamores, Drenched In Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa’s Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Café, which was awarded a gold medal by RT BOOKCLUB magazine and was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “A charmingly nostalgic treat.” The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.

Lisa is now working on a new set of small-town Texas novels for Bethany House Publishers. The series debuted with Talk of The Town and continued with Word Gets Around. A new series is also underway for Penguin Group NAL, beginning with A Month of Summer (July 2008), and continuing with The Summer Kitchen in July, 2009. Lisa’s works have been featured by the National Reader’s Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, The Literary Guild, American Profiles, and have been chosen for the LORIES best Published Fiction Award.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Romance Is In the Air, Word Gets Around

Lauren Eldridge thought she'd wiped the dust of Daily, Texas, off her boots forever. Screenwriter Nate Heath thought he was out of second chances. Life's never that predictable, though. Cajoled by her father, Lauren is back in town helping train a skittish race horse set to star in a Hollywood film. But the handsome screenwriter gives her more trouble than the horse. And Nate is realizing there's a spark of magic in the project--and in the eyes of the girl who is so good with horses. Daily, Texas, has a way of offering hope, healing, and a little romance just when folks need it most.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Word Gets Around, go HERE

What people are saying:

"Lisa Wingate writes engaging stories that strike the heart. God has gifted her with a marvelous talent and I, for one, am most grateful."
—Debbie Macomber, New York Times #1 bestselling author

THOUGHTS FROM JEN

A movie star, a screen writer, a horse trainer, a washed up race horse, a small town... what's not to like? In Word Gets Around, Lisa Wingate goes back to that old Hollywood premise, Hey kids, let's put on a show! But this isn't just any show. Nate Heath has to put aside his doubts and make something out of a stinker of a script that's been passed over for years. Lauren Eldridge has to face a painful past in order to come back to her home town and train the horse that's supposed to be the star of the show. Justin Shay is facing a career that's almost over and sees The Horseman as his ticket to respectability as an actor. And to top it all off, half the town's been put up as collateral on the hopes that the film will get a green light. The stakes are pretty high.

I found this to be a really fun, engaging book. There are some truly deep, moving moments, but it's mostly a great visit to a place you've never been. (At least I've never been there... I'm sure folks who've lived in a small town are going to recognize one or more of the colorful characters.)

I particularly enjoyed Wingate's writing style. She chose to write the book in first person, and alternates between Lauren and Nate. So the first chapter is Lauren's point of view, the second is Nate's, the third Lauren, and so on. Her writing is so spot on that even if she didn't start each chapter with the POV character's name, you'd still know whose head you were in.

This is the second book in the Daily, Texas series. If you didn't read Talk of the Town (I didn't) you'll still enjoy this book. But you might want to pick them both up and read them in order. Why not stay in Daily a little longer?