Love on the Line by Deeann Gist

Welcome to the blog tour for Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist! See below for a great contest opportunity from the tour coordinators and author. 

Let's begin with the back cover copy:

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

And now my review:

It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Deeanne’s books. From the enjoyment of reading this historical romance, I can tell you it’s been too long. What a fun read! The story moved along quickly with just the right blend of romance and adventure between this telephone operator and Texas Ranger.

Luke Palmer is on a mission to track down a train robber, but he has to go undercover as a sort of telephone repairman (troubleman) to accomplish it. And where is the telephone operator’s office? In the heroine’s home, of course. But Gist keeps things clean. Georgie could never be with a ranger and Luke (Lucious) could never settle down. But Georgie can’t get enough of “luscious Lucious,” and he’s becoming enamored too.

I loved how protective the ranger was, even when, in the line of duty, he had to put the heroine at risk (clever!). And how interesting to run into a train robber with a conscience. The author’s attention to detail made the story read as if it were a retelling of an actual relationship. After reading about all the wires and inconvenience of calling then, not to mention lack of privacy, you’ll be grateful for your cell phone!

Great read!

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Deeanne is thrilled to introduce Georgie and Luke to the word in her latest novel, Love on the Line. To celebrate Deeanne's publisher, Bethany House, is hosting the Love on the Line iPad2 giveaway an Author Chat on Facebook! Enter today and follow the link below to RSVP for Deeanne's rip-roarin' Facebook Party!

One fortunate winner will receive: 

• A Brand New iPad2 
• An Autographed Hardback Copy of Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at Deeanne's Author Chat Facebook Party. Deeanne will be wrapping up the Love on the Line celebration by chatting with friends new and old! So grab your copy of Love on the Line (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might could win one!) and join Deeanne on the evening of November 8th for a rip roaring book chat, a little trivia and lots of giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter

How delightful to receive the ARC (advanced reader copy) for this book during a recent writers’ conference. Smitten is a novella compilation with four novellas written by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. It releases December 20, 2011.

Let’s begin with the back cover copy:

Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway—and each finds her own true love along the way.

With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners—Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese—decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!

As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.

Discover a novel written by four of Christian fiction's most popular romance novelists- friends in real life who've drawn an amazing story of four friends! Includes a Reading Group Guide as well as "Conversation over Coffee with the Authors."

And now, my review:

In the authors’ note for this book, we learn about how the project came together. One of the things the authors mention is that they each wrote a character who was a lot like themselves. So, in reading the novellas, you get a glimpse of both their relationship with each other as well as their own personalities. I loved that aspect of this book. The authors are a group of dear friends. What a thrill to see the photographs from the same writers’ conference (a year earlier) when they signed the contract for this book, and then to see the close-to-final product last month.

These four best friends (the characters, not the authors *smile*) are gearing up to save their small town from financial ruin following the lumber mill’s closing. Along the way, they each fall in love. The stories overlap, so you’ll probably want to read them in order. I began with the first story (read most of it, though I didn’t finish it), tried the second and third stories and couldn’t get into them, then skipped ahead to the fourth story which I really enjoyed! (You could blame this on my love for Denise Hunter's books. *wink*) I laughed aloud, related with the heroine, loved the hero, and delighted in the twists of this reunion romance. The fourth novella made the book for me.

I think fans of each of the authors will enjoy this book as well, for the same reasons. And the other authors may gain new fans as people pick up the book due to a certain name on the cover. I’ve always liked reading novella compilations because each story is “bite-sized” if you will. Same’s true for this Thomas Nelson offering. If I’d had more time, I may have finished all of the novellas. As it was, I had several books awaiting me so I felt rushed. Most readers will probably be able to relax and lose themselves in the lovely setting.

I’ve heard mention there may be a Smitten 2 (with a different title, probably) coming next year. I’ll be watching for it.

Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson

Welcome to the blog tour for Janice Thompson's latest romantic comedy, Hello, Hollywood!

Let's begin with the back cover copy:

Athena Pappas is the head writer on one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition--and attraction--between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem scripting the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as the characters discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

And now, my review:

I missed Book One in this series, but this story stood alone.

I loved the great insider feel of the sitcom writing scene (sorry) in Hollywood. Readers get a backstage pass onto the lot, into the room with the writers as they come up with hilarious scripts.

The story moved a little slow for me, but it was enjoyable. And for those looking for a lighthearted read, it’s the perfect choice. No burdens here. That in itself is a ministry, am I right?

And you’ll find hope here too. I liked how Janice demonstrated the truth that God writes the scripts of our lives.

And most fun of all—the Greek family. And the Greek food. Somebody, please pass the souvlaki!

Loved Stephen, our story’s hero. He’s a believable, loving father who is willing to take a chance on love with our heroine, Athena. Throw in the nostalgia of the Dick Van Dyke show and I Love Lucy, and you’ve got a whole lot of fun.

This is an enjoyable romantic comedy. I’ll be watching for the next book in the Backstage Pass series.

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Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Chair by James L. Rubart

The Chair, James L. Rubart's latest novel, releases in print today!

Let’s begin with the summary:

If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them?

When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why?

Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.

And now, my review:

James Rubart is developing a reputation for seamlessly including supernatural elements in his true-to-life novels. His methods result in supernatural stories that are not forced, where everyday people encounter the unusual in believable and unpredictable ways.

As expected from this author’s work, outdoor sports play an important role. The hero, Corin, takes his sports addiction to another level, though, with extreme sports, the riskier, the better. He’s battling demons of the past when he faced drowning, and now he’s bent on beating death again and again. Gets him in trouble more than once. 

The hero’s relationships are mostly all rocky, especially with his brother. Corin’s unsure he can trust anyone. Even his girlfriend Tori isn’t sure about this chair he found and how his beliefs are changing. The author’s depiction of Tori’s unyielding hostility toward Christianity seemed believable, creating lots of tension.

The story will keep you guessing through the twists and turns. Looking forward to more great fiction from this author. If you like supernatural elements which glorify God mixed with real-to-life scenarios, you’ll like this novel.

Blog Tour: Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott

Hey everyone, welcome to the blog tour for Fairer than Morning, a new release from a new author, Rosslyn Elliott. 

Let's begin with the summary:

Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker's apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

And now, my review:

This debut novel is full of epic drama, character growth, and real people. Indeed, one of the characters is based on a real person. Indentured servant Will Hanby, the hero, and the one on whom the story was based, suffered terribly at the hands of his owner, Master Jacob Good. Only in real life would Jacob Good be the name of a villain. 

Honestly, I had to skip the most sadistic scene. But lest readers think there is only violence, there are many redeemable qualities in this excellently told love story. First, you'll sympathize with Will, then you'll respect him. 

The romance between the heroine and Will developed subtly, though this book was characterized as a romance. Still there were enough romantic elements to keep romance lovers reading. You'll want to see how things turn out for these great characters.

I love finding a fresh voice in Christian fiction. This is an historical, an author, to read. You won't regret it. One of the strongest novels of the year, in my opinion. Very well done.

Highly recommended.

Check out the contest in the right sidebar. You could win a Kindle and a custom-made reproductions dress!

More contest info below:

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic.

Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well-written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here.

Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!). Plus you could test your historical fiction trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

New Christian Fiction Releases September, 2011

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website. The Amazon links for print books (if available) are included below. Enjoy!

A Biltmore Christmas by Diane Ashley and Rhonda Gibson -- A Historical Romance from Barbour; Explore the luxuries of America’s largest home through the eyes of the fictional Bradford sisters.


A Bride’s Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch -- A Romance from Barbour. Hoping to leave the shadows of her shady yesteryears behind, Adeline Reid is focusing on her photography career. But when her ex-boyfriend’s compatriot in crime shows up in Dodge City her entire past is threatened by exposure.


A Harvest of Hearts by Laura V. Hilton -- Shanna Stoltzfus thought nothing could make her return home to her Amish family. She was wrong. But can anything make her give up her dreams and stay?













A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman -- A Historical Romance from Revell. Her heart is tied to a youthful vow . . . but can true love set it free?


A Log Cabin Christmas Collection by Margaret Brownley, Wanda Brunstetter, Jane Kirkpatrick, Kelly Eileen Hake, Liz Johnson, Liz Tolsma, Michelle Ule, Debra Ullrick, and Erica Vetsch-- General Fiction Historical from Revell. In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that last.


A Marriage for Meghan by Mary Ellis  -- Romance from Harvest House; An engaging story of one girl’s quest for independence and true love as social prejudice tests a community’s faith in a simpler world.














A Quaker Christmas by Laura Lee Bliss, Rachael Phillips Ramona Cecil, and Claire Sanders -- Romance from Barbour. Christmas is a simple matter among the Quakers of the historic Ohio River Valley, but can it be a a special time to welcome love into four households?


A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- Historical Romance from Bethany House. Will Clay Selby be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart to spend his life with a quiet, independent Indian woman who is not a part of the tribe?

Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough -- General Fiction from Abingdon. If only he'd answered that last call from the World Trade Center....













Belonging (Where the Heart Lives Series) by Robin Lee Hatcher  -- Historical Romance from Zondervan; Can two bitter pasts make one sweet future?.


Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis-- Historical General Fiction from Moody Publishers; A girl has become a woman while in captivity, and a stagecoach driver longs to take her to the home she barely remembers.


Christmas at Barncastle Inn by Lynette Sowell, Susan Page Davis, Darlene Franklin, and Janelle Mowery -- Romance from Barbour; Each Christmas the Barncastle family transforms its sprawling Victorian bed and breakfast into a fantasy world through time. Will its guests also discover that forgiveness is timeless?














Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon-- Thriller/Suspense from Revell; A woman who protects children. An ex-Navy SEAL turned police detective. A stalker with deadly intent.


Deep Cover by Sandra Orchard-- Romance from Love Inspired; Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives--and hearts--on the line.



Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes-- General Fiction from Tyndale; Undercover Cops: Behind every broken vow lies a broken heart. A richly engaging story of betrayal and redemption, Dry as Rain illuminates with striking emotional intensity the surprising truth of what it means to forgive.












Falling to Pieces; A Quilt Shop Murder by Vanetta Chapman-- A Cozy Mystery from Zondervan; Not your usual Amish buggy ride!


Finding Angel by Kat Heckenbach-- Speculative Fiction from Splashdown Books; Angel doesn’t remember her magical heritage…but it remembers her.

From This Day Forward; American Tapestries by Margaret Daley-- Historical Romance from Summerside Press; Following the War of 1812, an Englishwoman, stranded in South Carolina, pregnant and recently widowed, struggles to make a life for herself. Can a disenchanted American physician heal her wounded heart?



Hailee by Penny Zeller-- Historical Romance from Whitaker House; Can this unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?





Hidden in the Everglades by Margaret Daley-- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired; Michael Hunt needs Kyra Morgan's help to keep his sister safe. It will take everything they have to escape the Everglades alive.




Love Finds You on Christmas Morning by Debby Mayne and Trish Perry -- Romance from Summerside Press; Two women receive marriage proposals in the same house— 85 years apart. Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories.


Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming by Miralee Ferrell-- Romance from Summerside Press; While war rages in Europe, Rebekah Hendricks dreams of life far beyond the family farm in Oklahoma. And when a telegram arrives in October of 1918, she believes God has provided her way of escape.

Naomi’s Gift-An Amish Christmas Story by Amy Clipston-- Romance from Zondervan; Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County.














Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie-- Historical Fiction from B and H Publishing; Forced to flee the only home she's ever known, Lady Kendra Townsend risks everything for a chance at finding true love in the wilds of a new America.


Remembering Christmas: A Novel by Dan Walsh-- General Fiction from Revell; Can one Christmas change a person's life forever?


Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay-- Historical Romance from Whitefire Publishing; Neglected by family, Abby travels to India after WWI with her small son, only to be abandoned by her husband, a cruel stranger, and to fall in love with a man who can never return her love without offending God.



Surrender the Dawn by Mary Lu Tyndall-- Historical Romance from Barbour; You’ll be swept away in this seafaring romance between a plucky damsel-in-distress and a nefarious rake who’s selling out his country amid the War of 1812.


The Aristocrat’s Lady by Mary Moore -- Historical from Love Inspired; She was resigned to a life without love-until she met him...


The Christmas Belles of Georgia by Debra Ullrick, Jeanie Smith Cash, Rose Allen McCauley, and Jeri Odell -- Romance from Barbour; They were sisters once—identical quadruplets—given up for adoption at birth. Now each receives a letter advising her to claim her inheritance and the family she never knew. . .at Christmas.















The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund-- Historical Romance from Bethany House; Priscilla White knew God wanted her to be a missionary, not a wife. But the only way she can serve is to be married. Married in name only, her new journey will test her spirit. . . and the new longings of her heart.


The Healing; Kentucky Brothers Series by Wanda Brunstetter-- Romance from Barbour; Can Esther Beiler win Samuel Fisher’s heart, or has she already lost it to an English woman? How will God untangle star-crossed lovers when jealousies and misconceptions threaten to tear them apart?


The Wounded Heart; An Amish Quilt Novel by Adina Senft-- General Fiction from Faith Words (Hachette); When she's diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a young Amish mother must choose between obedience or following her heart.














To Have and To Hold; Bridal Veil Island Series by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller -- Historical Romance from Bethany House; Amid a time of growth and change for Bridal Veil, can Marshall and Audrey find a foundation on which to build a love to last forever?


Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer-- General Fiction from Bethany House; While war rages in Europe, Rebekah Hendricks dreams of life far beyond the family farm in Oklahoma. And when a telegram arrives in October of 1918, she believes God has provided her way of escape.

Playing Hurt by Brian Goins

Today, I'm doing something a little out of the ordinary here at Net's Book Notes. My husband and I are part of the Playing Hurt blog tour. And my husband wrote today's review. Read on!

Let's begin with the summary of this book:

A marriage book that husbands will actually want to read!

Everyone admires people who play hurt, from the superstar athlete to the journeyman player who finishes the game even when hurt, sick, or falling apart. Everyone looks up to these athletes and wants to mimic their “never give up” attitude. Except when it comes to marriage. Most husbands are willing to take a bullet for their wives in a life-and-death situation; but when his bride fires the bullet--hurls an insult, disrespects him in public, ignores his foreplay in private--he’d rather throw in the towel than play through the pain.

Playing Hurt is a biblical playbook for marriage that speaks in the language most men understand—the language of sports. Using a sports analogy to explain the motivation, means, and methods of playing hurt, author Brian Goins shows men how to overcome the temptation to stay on the bench. Playing Hurt is more about inspiration than instruction. It’s about finding the motivation to stay in the game, despite the pain. It’s about becoming like the One who knew more about nails and thorns than any superstar athlete. Using Ephesians 5 as a biblical basis, this book will call husbands to be the heroes they long to be--men who play hurt in order to win at marriage.

And now, Paul's review:

Playing Hurt: A Guy's Strategy for a Winning Marriage is a book for husbands written for the man who doesn’t like to read books on husbands. It is down-to-earth, real and completely understandable for the average guy yet is full of valuable tools and unusual wisdom from a seasoned veteran who knows what he’s talking about. The sports metaphor of continuing to play ball and “staying in the game” even when it’s hard is a great way to look at the difficult, sometimes confusing, but always crucial role that we husbands play in our marriages.

As a men’s pastor at my church, I would strongly recommend the book to any of the guys I work with. While I have read my share of marriage books, I believe this one offers something truly unique, relevant and even life changing for those who are willing to take a chance and embark on this journey.

The genius of the book is that it will not only remind men of the high calling of being a good, biblical husband, but it will motivate them to go after it in a fresh way rather than beat them down with legalism or obligation. You will find encouragement here rather than guilt. This is achieved by tapping into the good things and potential waiting in a man’s heart to be released. Brian Goins is able to make the goal of being a good husband seem really big, glorious and uncommon—a grand prize worth reaching for with everything you’ve got rather than just doing the minimum to get by. All of the greatest teaching on marriage will do a man no good unless he can put it into action and stay with it. When a husband can effectively motivate himself to follow wise and effective guidance, nothing will be able to stop him from building a great marriage. We need more books like this for the guys. Playing Hurt can help you save your marriage, but whether that marriage is broken or strong, every husband can benefit from it. ~ Paul Irby

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About the author: 

Brian Goins is the author or editor of numerous study guides, workbooks, and Bible studies that he has developed for Insight for Living (Chuck Swindoll) and Walk Through the Bible. When he’s not traveling across the country as a Family Life Weekend to Remember speaker, he and his family reside in North Carolina.