Review: SECRETS by Robin Jones Gunn

Jessica Morgan is a woman with secrets. She moves to the small community of Glenbrooke in the hopes of starting fresh. But before she can put her plan into motion, a car accident throws everything off course. When the handsome, compassionate paramedic who comes to her aid becomes attracted to her, it's just one more complication to deal with. How long can Jessica keep up her ruse, and will her deceit cost her a chance at real love?

In Secrets, the first book of the Glenbrooke series, Robin Jones Gunn creates a charming Oregon community that most people would love to spend time in. She's populated it with interesting characters, the most interesting being Kyle Buchanan. The noble paramedic is the perfect story-book hero, the kind that makes you almost long to be a damsel in distress just so he can save you.

But Jessica Morgan presents Kyle with a problem... she resists being rescued. While she's a sympathetic character, it's a bit hard to believe her motivation or her methods. The secret she harbors doesn't seem to support the necessity of changing her identity. And while moving to a new town with no ID whatsoever and managing to get a job, a driver's license, and a bank account may have been feasible in 1995 (when the book was originally published) but I doubt it would be as easy today. Still, Gunn has a very easy-to-read style, making this the perfect book for when you want to kick back and relax.

For more information on this and other Spring Value Releases, visit the WaterBrook/Mulnomah website

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes

CFBA Presents THE BIG 5-OH! by Sandra D. Bricker

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Big 5-Oh!(Abingdon Press - February 2010)bySandra D. Bricker



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For more than a decade, Author Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While writing in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant

and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

One of Sandie's passions revolves around the rights of animals. She's been involved in fundraising for Lost Angels Animal Rescue for several years now; in fact, a portion of the proceeds of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida will go to help the non-profit group with their expenses. And Lost Angels paid her back in a big way: They brought a free-spirited Collie named Sophie into her life after the loss of her 15-year companion Caleb.

It was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer.

In Sandie's words: "I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career. I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost, so it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line."


ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.

But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.

Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!


JEN'S THOUGHTS

Sandra D. Bricker has made a name for herself as a comedic writer with heart. Her latest offering, The Big 5-Oh! from Abingdon Press, is a great example of why.

Olivia Wallace is a survivor. She's survived Ohio winters, cervical cancer, and a string of cursed birthdays. Now, as the big five-oh draws near, she could use a little sunshine in her life. When her best friend presents her with the opportunity to spend a few weeks house-sitting in sunny Florida, it seems her luck might be turning around, especially after she makes the acquaintance of Jared Hunt, a very hunky and very single doctor. But even the sunniest of days can have some clouds. Unique neighbors, a wandering alligator, a flatulent dog and a hurricane may make this Liv's most interesting birthday ever.

Bricker has a knack for finding the humor in any situation. With snappy dialogue and realistic characters, she draws us into the story of a woman who's lived through more challenges than most of us will ever experience. Liv is on a journey of personal and spiritual discovery, and Bricker makes us excited go along with her. If you want a satisfying read with lots of laughs along with way, pick up The Big 5-Oh!


If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Big 5-Oh!, go HERE

Watch the trailer:

Why Wasn't THIS a Super Bowl Commercial?

This is probably the funniest commercial I've seen in a long time. Whoever came up with it should get a bonus. Not only do I stop to watch whenever it's on, but I can tell you exactly what product they're selling... Old Spice body wash!

Enjoy...

Why I Stopped Watching "24"

I've always enjoyed 24. Even when it got uber-extreme. In Jack Bauer we had a tortured hero, a man who put country first even when it meant doing things that were abhorrent to him (like threatening to kill a man's family in order to get information). After the loss of his wife at the end of season one, Jack became a man who gave up his personal life. Jack detached himself from a normal life as we know it, and that's why I could watch him endure twenty-four hours of pain, intensity, torture, sleeplessness and probably some nasty-smelling clothes.

So maybe you can figure out what put me off the current season of 24. That's right... Happy Jack.

The first episode opened with Jack and his granddaughter. And Jack is happy. Jack plans to move back to California to be with his family. Jack loves the new life he's ready to embark on.

Then that dude had to go and knock on Jack's door, dragging him back to CTU and the spy game. And I just cannot watch it. I could handle watching stoic, push-through-the-pain-Jack be abused in the name of keeping America free. But now, he's grandpa-Jack, the man who only wants to live a quiet, happy life where he takes his granddaughter to the zoo and buys her ice cream.

I hope, by the time this long, eighth day is over, Jack will be happy once again. I just can't go on the journey with him this time.

Fat Fun for Fat Tuesday

A classic Weird Al video... Enjoy some Fat fun for Fat Tuesday.

What I Did Last Tuesday - A Lovely Tea at Our Savior Lutheran

I had the great honor of speaking at a Valentine's Tea last Tuesday. What made it really special wasn't just the 160-or-so fabulous, God-loving ladies.

Here are some of them... don't they look happy?

It wasn't just the beautifully decorated tables, each uniquely done by a table hostess.

Here's Annette Wilson, awaiting her guests

It wasn't just the amazing deserts we were served.

Check out those tarts!

No, what made this really special is that Our Savior Lutheran is my old home church. This is where I was a church secretary, sang in the choir, served in the drama ministry, and was a founding committee member of LoveFest (an awesome annual event that examines sexuality from God's point of view). I have great memories of countless potlucks, rummage sales, youth events, Christmas programs, and Easter Sunrise services. Going to Our Savior is a little like going to a family reunion... only better.

A big THANK YOU to the LWML board for inviting me to speak and taking such good care of me. I had a fabulous time. All you ladies are in my prayers. May God continue to bless you as you minister for Him!

CFBA Presents WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS by Christa Allan

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducingWalking on Broken Glass
(Abingdon Press - February 2010)
by
Christa Allan


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.


ABOUT THE BOOK



Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.

When her best friend Molly gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.

Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new srength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.

But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE


JEN'S THOUGHTS

Leah Thornton drinks to numb herself against a life that's too painful to feel. She doesn't acknowledge how serious her problem is until her best friend has the guts to confront her with it. Leah's husband, Carl, is living in an alternate reality of his own. He thinks she's overreacting when she says she's checking herself into rehab. But Leah's determined to follow through, and Carl reluctantly goes along with it.

If this sound like a heavy, mirthless book, it's not. Yes, it's a serious subject. And as Leah travels closer to sobriety and further from her alcohol induced fog, her emotions become raw and exposed. You're going to feel her pain. But you're also going to enjoy her sassy sense of humor, even as she's struggling with the creation of her new, addiction-free life. You may even laugh out loud.

Walking on Broken Glass is a stunning debut novel you won't want to miss. Author Christa Allan takes an honest look at life in rehab and the aftermath. Kudos to her for showing us not only the challenges of Leah, but of the family surrounding her. There is no easy ending in this story. In fact, it ends with a new question that's left unanswered. This is the only part of the book that bothered me, because I'm the type that likes experience how the story ends. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized it was probably the most realistic ending. Because life rarely ties up all the questions in a neat little bow. Here's hoping a sequel is in the works so we can journey a bit further with Leah and Carl.