Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

Another great read by talented author, Sarah Sundin!

Let's begin with the summary:

Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit, but at least his stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him the luxury of a personal life. As he courts Helen Carlisle, a young war widow and mother who conceals her pain under a frenzy of volunteer work, the sparks of their romance set a fire that flings them both into peril. After Ray leaves to fly a combat mission at the peak of the air war over Europe, Helen takes a job in a dangerous munitions yard and confronts an even graver menace in her own home. Will they find the courage to face their challenges? And can their young love survive until blue skies return?

And now, my review:

I’ve enjoyed all of the books in Sarah Sundin’s “Wings of Glory” series. I’m not usually one for WWII novels, but her work wins me over, every single time. She has such an amazing attention to detail as if she were there during the war, serving as a pilot, facing down the fears, the enemy, the horrors. Her extensive research leads to some intensive mid-air battle scenes. I’m not one for enjoying picturing the horrors of war, but Sarah stories and the inclusion of battles aren’t gory. She is tactful, but accurate.

The hardships her hero and her heroine had to face in Blue Skies Tomorrow were in many ways relatable. Their lives coaxed out their heroic sides. Helen had to overcome lies and both characters had to overcome cowardice. It’s amazing what you can find inside yourself when pushed to the limit. I was cheering for Helen as she faced the bullies in her life.

And Ray… Every one of the Novak brothers has come alive on the page. All of them noble and strong. Ray’s inner battle chased him into the real battles of war where he had to prove himself just to stay alive. The story produced some powerful scenes and my only regret was I was reading on an airplane where I could release a few chuckles, but I didn’t have any tissues handy.

And speaking of transcending fiction to suddenly become applicable to everyday life—Helen’s struggle to shove off the lies of the past that told her she was weak and clumsy and incapable suddenly helped me analyze the lies I’m bombarded with. It’s when we stop and examine the lies that we can begin to overcome them with the light of the truth. I have a feeling that application will remain with me long after I’ve shelved this fantastic book. (Just like with the author’s message of shoving off shame from another book in this series.)

This novel will immerse you in WWII history, both on the home front and on the front lines. A phenomenal close on this enjoyable series.

Highly recommended. I’m very much looking forward to Sarah’s next series, “Wings of the Nightingale,” which will launch in September 2012. Can’t wait!

Also, click over to her website (www.SarahSundin.com) for a chance to "tour" a B-17 bomber. She has other fascinating info on her site as well, including a diagram of the plane her characters fly.
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Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie

Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie

Let's begin with the summary for this latest book by Jamie Carie:

When her doting father dies, Lady Kendra Townsend is given a choice: marry the horrid man of her cold, money-grubbing uncle's choosing or leave England to risk a new life in America with unknown relatives. Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and meets American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But the captain has been wounded by a woman before and guards his independent life. A swashbuckling man doesn't need an English heiress to make him slow down, feel again, or be challenged with questions about his faith-or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

From the first book I read by Jamie Carie (Snow Angel) to now, I love her writing voice. Her books are impactful and interesting, and her romance is always engaging and well-written. The scenes were so well-worded I could easily picture them playing out.

One of her themes was trust—a good focus for Christian fiction. Another was having a persistent heart. When her heroine mentioned holding God to His promise, I was immediately reminded of God’s promises for me. I had to stop and breathe a moment, consider what I’m waiting on God to do. Hold Him to His promises in my life. I love when fiction transcends make believe and breathes newness into my life. That’s the value of Christian fiction, the virtue. (Or at least one of the virtues.)

The author also broke the formula, but I loved the twist. Read it to find out what I mean.

I read a lot of fiction, and some books are easy to put down. Not this one. I'm already looking forward to her next novel.

This book will release September 1, 2011.

Mommy Whispers by Jenny Lee Sulpizio

 

Moms, do you remember the days of reading picture books to your kiddos? Treasured times. I've just read one you'll love, especially if you have a daughter.

Let's begin with the summary:


Mommy Whispers is a keepsake children's book that depicts the special relationship between a mother and her daughter through each stage of their lives and ultimately, the power of prayer and faith in God through it all. 

And now, my review:

The author of Mommy Whispers put her heart on the page. As a mother of daughters, my heart melted as I read through the stages of a girl's life and how her mother raises her to let her go. From lap snuggles and prom to graduation and the big wedding day, this author takes you through the milestones a mother shares with her daughter. She ends the story on a very special moment, which I'll save for you to find when you read it.

This book goes beyond the usual tale to gently tug on heartstrings and display the relatable love between mother and daughter. You'll probably cry. I did.

Whether you're a new mom, a grandmother, or a woman of any age, you'll delight in this book. Enjoy!

Husband Material

Husband Material E-book releases 7-22-11

Do you own an e-reader? I love mine! It's sort of addicting, clicking from screen to screen. E-books are the "wave of the future," but many of us are already riding it, whether as readers or writers.
 
Today I wanted to veer away from the usual reviews for just a moment to share some good news with you. As you may know, I'm not only a book reviewer, I'm also a writer. And I've recently received a book contract for an e-book Dollar Download* through White Rose Publishing!

Here's the summary:

Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr.

Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it.

Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?

Hope you'll check it out on Friday! Thanks for reading!

*Note: Dollar Downloads are short inspirational stories for Kindle or e-reading on other devices.

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

This novel was so much fun to read!

Let's begin with the summary:

When it comes to love, sometimes you have to be a little foolish. Unknown to her quaint town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley is the star host of My Foolish Heart, a popular syndicated talk radio show. From her home studio, she gives listeners advice on romance . . . even though she’s never had a date.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to, but since a tragic accident took her mother’s life, panic attacks have trapped her inside her small neighborhood. And though she always reminds listeners that their perfect love could be right next door, it can’t possibly be true for her. Especially when a new neighbor moves in. Sure, he’s handsome, but with his unruly dog and Neanderthal manners, Caleb Knight is the last man she’d ever fall for.

To Issy, love isn’t worth the risk. Until she starts to have feelings for a caller—a man she’s never even met but finds honest, charming, and sensitive. A man she doesn’t realize lives right next door. 

And now, my review:

Every time I read Susan May Warren’s work, I delight in the pages, both devouring and savoring, because this one will end too. But not before some profound lines, some delicious prose has edified my soul.

One of her themes in My Foolish Heart was God’s amazing love, a focus which resonates in me. She also zeroed in on God’s grace. Through her characters' lives, Susan demonstrated God’s ability, His willingness, to forgive.

Loved the set up. Romance advice radio hostess’s new neighbor needs advice on how to woo her?! Great hook! Especially if the romance hostess has never had a date and has a lot to learn about love and risking trusting someone else.

Another treat was that Susan had dual romances playing out for readers, one of them a reunion romance, which I particularly enjoy. And because she goes into all four characters’ points of view, you get to feel along with them, share their regrets, and experience their victories. Loved that.

She delves into telling the truth and relying on God. Sometimes I think Christians don’t depend enough on God. We think there really is a verse in the Bible that says: “God helps those who help themselves.” (Which, of course, there isn’t.) The coach character in this story believed that and kept a secret he probably shouldn’t have despite the interest of full disclosure. And I loved how the revelation of that secret played out in stages.

And how cool to revisit Deep Haven? I’ve long been a fan of this series and had no idea we’d get to go back! Happily Ever After is my one of my all-time favorite books. If you haven’t read it, oh, read it! (Hook: the heroine thought her hero was just a fairy tale…)

And, finally, I loved how the hero of My Foolish Heart reached into the heroine’s darkness and loved her free; his lack of fear helped her. Sure, he had some things to learn too, so he wasn’t perfect, but this symbolism of what God does for us, how because of love, Jesus reaches into our darkness and loves us free, was beautiful.

Looking forward to Susan’s next book!

Highly recommended!

Another New Release for July

Hey everyone, I realized I left this one off the list. Can't have that. Not with this author. Love his books! Check out Shawn Grady's latest, Falls Like Lightning:

When hotshot smoke jumper Silas Kent gets his own fire crew, he thinks he's achieved what he's always wanted. But a lightning-sparked fire in the Desolation Wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas has his team in a plane before they can even train together.

Pilot Elle Westmore has been called up to drop the crew into the heart of the forest infernos. A single mother of a mysteriously ill six-year-old, she can't imagine her life getting any more complicated.

It doesn't take long for things to go very wrong, very quickly. A suspicious engine explosion forces Elle to make an emergency landing. Silas is able to parachute to safety but soon discovers his crew can't be trusted. They're hiding something, and now Silas is on a race to save himself and Elle from the flames--and from a more dangerous threat: his own team. 


I've included links to both the print version (above) or the e-book version (below).

Hoping to read this one for review this summer.

New Christian Fiction Releases: July, 2011

Here are the latest Christian Fiction releases as compiled by ACFW and Fiction Finder. I've added more links. So, below you'll see the books with their descriptions, plus links to buy at Amazon (if you're interested). And at the bottom, links for e-books through Amazon (if available).


Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate -- General Fiction from Penguin Praise.  J. Norman, recently widowed, aging and a retired space program engineer, eventually warms up to part-time caretaker Epie, an at-risk teen, as they search for his long forgotten roots when old, buried memories of a different home, a fire, red-headed children, and a black housekeeper surface.

Dangerous Reunion by Sandra Robbins -- Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. A woman deputy sheriff on a small barrier island off the coast of North Carolina struggles to stop a crazed killer's vendetta while battling her renewed attraction to the man who broke her heart years ago.

Love Finds You in Lancaster County by Annalisa Daughety -- Romance from Summerside Press. When Amish-born Lydia Ann Raber and Southern belle Caroline DeMarco discover a shared history of loss, the unlikely duo decides to open a gift shop in beautiful Lancaster County. There each woman finds friendship, a fresh start, and a second chance at love.




Odd Little Miracles by Fred Warren -- Fantasy from Splashdown Books. Follow the twists and turns of twenty-two bizarre tales, where odd is commonplace, little things make all the difference, and miracles are everywhere, if you know where to look...

Pursued by Lillian Duncan -- Thriller/Suspense from White Rose. Reggie Meyers has spent her life pursing the American Dream, but now she’s the one being pursued— by an unknown killer. Putting her trust in Dylan Monroe, a man she barely knows, will either be the best decision she ever made or the last.

Reinventing Leona by Lynne Gentry -- General Fiction from Tyndale. Residing in a parsonage is not for sissies, but living anywhere else scares the pastor’s widow spitless.







The Nanny’s Homecoming by Linda Goodnight -- Romance from Love Inspired. After her fiancé calls off their wedding, Brooke Clayton has nowhere to go but home.

The Blessed by Ann Gabhart -- General Fiction from Revell. After being pushed into marriage to her preacher husband, Lacey Bishop follows her husband to a Shaker village. A community that believes marriage is a sin. And to make matters worse, she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a man who came to the Shakers after his young bride died. But of course any notion of love between them is only a forbidden dream. How will Lacey ever find true happiness?


Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig -- Thriller/Suspense from Barbour. Former Green Beret Captain Canyon Metcalfe is unnerved when Nightshade is sent to a South American jungle that holds an eerie similarity to a dark tragedy from his past.




E-book readers, here are the links for your favorite format: e-books!