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Early October 2010

This Month on FaithfulReader.com

Early October 2010

 

Bring on the Fall!

This week, we moved servers for our websites, which is always an experience that sounds easier than it is. It’s always a bit tougher than copy/move, files/paste. As a result, some things are not working quite right, and there were a few hours that you might not have been able to “find us” during the week. We hope to have all our contest entry forms fixed as quickly as possible. First, we are trying to figure out why they are not performing right! We apologize for the lateness of this newsletter, and we thank you in advance for your patience. In the meantime, we’ve set up a few workarounds for our contests so you can still enter.

Well, the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are a little cooler, the gardens are being cleaned out, and my boys are settled in back at school. It's safe to say that fall is finally here! I welcome the change, especially after too many hot days during the summer. I am prolonging summer by swimming in my pool wearing a wetsuit. It's been a lot of fun having a few extra days of being outside to swim!

We had an informal change-of-season celebration here at our offices with an afternoon scavenger hunt at the Museum of Natural History. It was a nice break from the day-to-day routine and a wonderful way to get everyone together --- away from desks and computers --- and just have some fun. If you live in New York --- or plan to be in town here --- and if you would like to try something like this yourselves, check out Watson's Adventures. We all HIGHLY recommend them.

Speaking of history, we start off this FaithfulReader.com update with an interview with beloved bestselling author Francine Rivers about her latest novel, HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM. This is the sequel to her New York Times bestseller HER MOTHER'S HOPE from earlier this year, and completes her two-book Marta's Legacy series. Francine really gives some insights into how writing these books were different from her previous works, her research methods, and the decision to split her original manuscript into two books. Click here to read the interview. One lucky reader can win a copy of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM by entering here. I loved these books; they were such satisfying, rich reads.

We have three more interviews to share with you. Bestselling author Jason F. Wright (THE WEDNESDAY LETTERS and THE CROSS GARDENER) talks about THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE, Ian Morgan Cron reflects on his classic, CHASING FRANCIS, and Sandy Coughlin shares info about about her book, THE RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER, which is about motherhood and hospitality.

We're also bringing you four contests. Twenty readers will have the chance to win a copy of Charlene Ann Baumbich's DIVINE APPOINTMENTS, the second book in her Snowglobe Connections series. Enter here by Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

Seventy-five readers can win a copy of Hillary Manton Lodge's SIMPLY SARA: Plain and Simple, Book 2, about a teenager living away from her Amish family and community. Enter here by Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

We're also giving away five copies of FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, the first book in Allison Pittman's Sister Wife series about a forbidden love. Enter here by Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET. And we have five copies of WHISPER ON THE WIND: The Great War Series, Book 2 by Maureen Lang, a historical romance between a newspaper editor and an heiress during World War I, to give away. Enter here by Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

In addition to HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM, THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE, FOR TIME AND ETERNITY and WHISPER ON THE WIND, we're adding guides for THE HOUSE ON MALCOLM STREET by Leisha Kelly, A HOPE UNDAUNTED: Winds of Change, Book 1 by Julie Lessman, A MEMORY BETWEEN US: Wings of Glory, Book 2 by Sarah Sundin, FAITHFUL by Kim Cash Tate, and MAKING WAVES: Lake Manawa Summers, Book 1 by Lorna Seilstad.

Two other titles we're featuring this month are LYDIA'S CHARM: An Amish Widow Starts Over in Charm, Ohio, Book 1 by Wanda E. Brunstetter and SECOND CHANCE BRIDES: Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Book 2 by Vickie McDonough. We also have seven new reviews in our Faithful Fiction and Christian Living sections, including THE BRIDGE OF PEACE: Ada's House, Book 2 by Cindy Woodsmall, IMMANUEL'S VEINS by Ted Dekker, and OUTLIVE YOUR LIFE: You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado.

A happy fall to all!

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

 

An Interview with Francine Rivers, Author of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM

Prolific author Francine Rivers is moving American readers yet again with HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM, the heart-wrenching sequel to HER MOTHER’S HOPE that follows Carolyn Arundel as she struggles to heal the wounds that ripped her family apart during the Cold War, only to find herself facing the same difficulties with her own daughter, May Flower Dawn. In this interview, Rivers discusses the generational conflicts that played themselves out in her own household, elaborating on the difficulty of writing a family drama and the challenge of exploring real-life issues in a fictional setting. She also offers insight into the ways in which faith can help heal unresolved trauma and reveals what men can learn from reading a book about mother-daughter relationships.

HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM by Francine Rivers (Historical Fiction)
Growing up isn’t easy for Carolyn Arundel. Tensions form when her grandmother moves in to care for the household, and Carolyn believes she’s to blame. She tries to find herself in college, but reemerges more lost than ever. And when she returns home to raise her own daughter, she discovers how repetitive history can be. Now it’s up to May Flower Dawn to heal old wounds, or a wall might separate the women in her family forever.


-Click here to read the study guide for HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM.
-Click here to read more about HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM.
-Click here to read a review of HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM.
-Click here to read an excerpt from HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM.

-Click here to read Francine Rivers’s bio.
 

Click here to read an interview with Francine Rivers.

 

Special Contest and Feature: DIVINE APPOINTMENTS by Charlene Ann Baumbich

We are celebrating the release of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS --- in which a successful businesswoman confronts her loneliness with the help of a mystical snowglobe --- with a special contest. Twenty readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of Charlene Ann Baumbich’s second Snowglobe Connections novel. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

DIVINE APPOINTMENTS: A Snowglobe Connections Novel, Book 2 by Charlene Ann Baumbich (Fiction)
Forty-seven-year-old Josie Brooks thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.


-Click here to read more about DIVINE APPOINTMENTS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from DIVINE APPOINTMENTS.
-Click here to read Charlene Ann Baumbich’s bio.

 

Click here to read all the contest details.

 
Special Contest and Feature: SIMPLY SARA by Hillary Manton Lodge

We are celebrating the release of SIMPLY SARA --- in which Hillary Manton Lodge continues her fun new look at Amish life from the outside in, this time with young Sara Burkholder’s perspective on English life and romance --- with a special contest. Seventy-five readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of this second installment in the Plain and Simple series. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

SIMPLY SARA: Plain and Simple, Book 2 by Hillary Manton Lodge (Fiction)
Sara, who left her Amish family to live with Jayne, discovers that the English world is a bit more challenging than she expected. As she finds a job, buys English clothes, wears makeup, and learns to drive, she begins a journey to becoming the person she might have been had she not been born into an Amish family. But when romance becomes complicated and school proves difficult, Sara escapes to her Amish sister’s home, wondering if she should return to the life she left.


-Click here to read more about SIMPLY SARA.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SIMPLY SARA.
-Click here to read Hillary Manton Lodge’s bio.

 

Click here to read all the contest details.

 
Special Contest and Feature: FOR TIME AND ETERNITY by Allison Pittman

We are celebrating the release of FOR TIME AND ETERNITY --- the story of a young woman’s forbidden romance with a Mormon despite her parents’ stern warnings --- with a special contest. Five readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the first book in Allison Pittman’s Sister Wife series. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

FOR TIME AND ETERNITY: The Sister Wife Series, Book 1 by Allison Pittman (Romance)
All Camilla Deardon knows of the Mormons camping nearby is the songs she hears floating on the breeze. Then she meets one of them --- a young man named Nathan Fox. Never did she imagine he would be so handsome, so charming, especially after Mama and Papa’s warnings to stay away. Though she knows she should obey her parents, Camilla can’t refuse her heart. But even Nathan’s promises cannot prepare her for what she will face in Utah.


-Click here to read the study guide for FOR TIME AND ETERNITY.
-Click here to read more about FOR TIME AND ETERNITY.
-Click here to read an excerpt from FOR TIME AND ETERNITY.
-Click here to read Allison Pittman’s bio.

 

Click here to read all the contest details.

 
Special Contest and Feature: WHISPER ON THE WIND by Maureen Lang

We are celebrating the release of WHISPER ON THE WIND by Maureen Lang --- an unlikely romance between an heiress and a newspaper editor in war-torn Belgium during World War I --- with a special contest. Five readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of this second volume in The Great War series. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

WHISPER ON THE WIND: The Great War Series, Book 2 by Maureen Lang (Historical Romance)
In Brussels at the height of World War I, a small, underground newspaper is the only thing offering the occupied city hope --- and real news of the war. The paper may be a small whisper amid the shouts of the German army, but Edward Kirkland will do anything to keep it in print. Meanwhile, Isa Lassone, a Belgian-American socialite whose parents whisked her to safety at the start of the war, sneaks back into the country to rescue those dearest to her: Edward and his mother. But Edward refuses to go, and soon Isa is drawn into his secret life printing the newspaper…and into his heart.

-Click here to read the study guide for WHISPER ON THE WIND.
-Click here to read more about WHISPER ON THE WIND.
-Click here to read an excerpt from WHISPER ON THE WIND.
-Click here to read Maureen Lang’s bio.

 

Click here to read all the contest details.

 
An Interview with Jason F. Wright, Author of THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE

 

Bestselling author and political commentator Jason F. Wright is following up the success of THE CROSS GARDENER with THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE, which follows teacher Cole Connor as he tries to impart the lessons that his father learned from a long-ago swimming tragedy to a group of troubled teens. In this interview, Wright discusses his reasons for writing his latest novel, stressing the importance of service and elaborating on how tragedies can change lives for the better. He also addresses the challenge of bringing the book to life, going into detail about the inspiration he drew from his own father and offering personal advice on how to overcome emotional hardships.

THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE by Jason F. Wright (Fiction)
Seventeen seconds can change a life forever. This is what Rex Connor learned on a gorgeous summer afternoon in 1970 when, as a lifeguard, he diverted his gaze for 17 seconds and tragedy occurred. Forty years later, the waves of that day still ripple through the lives of countless people, including his son, Cole.

-Click here to read the study guide for THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE.
-Click here to read more about THE SEVENTEEN SECOND MIRACLE.

-Click here to read Jason F. Wright’s bio.
 

Click here to read an interview with Jason F. Wright.

 
New Discussion Guides for Christian Book Groups

In addition to HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM, WHISPER ON THE WIND, FOR TIME AND ETERNITY and WHISPER ON THE WIND, we are featuring the following discussion guides for Christian book groups this month:

THE HOUSE ON MALCOLM STREET by Leisha Kelly (Historical Fiction)
It is the autumn of 1920, and Leah Breckenridge is desperate to find a way to provide for her young daughter. After losing her husband and infant son, she is angry at God and fearful about the days ahead. Finding refuge in a boardinghouse run by her late husband's aunt, Leah begins the slow process of mending her heart. Is it the people who surround her --- or perhaps this very house --- that reach into her heart with healing? As Leah finds peace tending to an abandoned garden, can she find a way to trust God with her future?


-Click here to read the study guide for THE HOUSE ON MALCOLM STREET.

A HOPE UNDAUNTED: Winds of Change, Book 1 by Julie Lessman (Historical Romance)
The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman --- smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband --- good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice.


-Click here to read the study guide for A HOPE UNDAUNTED.

A MEMORY BETWEEN US: Wings of Glory, Book 2 by Sarah Sundin (Historical Romance)
Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge --- until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth’s heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?


-Click here to read the study guide for A MEMORY BETWEEN US.

FAITHFUL by Kim Cash Tate (Fiction)
In Kim Cash Tate’s new novel, Cydney Sanders, Dana Elliot and Phyllis Owens are best friends, dealing with separate issues that threaten to destroy their faith. As they pray for strength, they learn to rely not only on each other, but also on the One who remains faithful to them, even when all hope seems lost.


-Click here to read the study guide for FAITHFUL.

MAKING WAVES: Lake Manawa Summers, Book 1 by Lorna Seilstad (Historical Romance)
When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will spend the summer of 1895 at Lake Manawa, Iowa, she couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It’s also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews. Full of sharp wit and blossoming romance, MAKING WAVES will whisk you away to a breezy lakeside summer holiday.


-Click here to read the study guide for MAKING WAVES.

 

FaithfulReader.com Talks to Ian Morgan Cron, Author of CHASING FRANCIS

 

Singer, songwriter and nationally recognized speaker Ian Morgan Cron has inspired countless readers with his debut novel, CHASING FRANCIS, which weaves the historical account of Saint Francis of Assisi into the fictional narrative of a New England minister. In this interview with FaithfulReader.com’s Marcia Ford, Cron talks about the spiritual crisis that prompted him to write about an evangelical pastor’s pilgrimage, elaborating on the takeaways that he gained from his own personal journey and what contemporary Christians can learn from St. Francis. He also reflects on the relationship between art and the desire for redemption, discusses the challenge of bringing St. Francis’s story to life, and shares his thoughts on the commercialization of Jesus Christ.

CHASING FRANCIS: A Pilgrim’s Tale by Ian Morgan Cron (Fiction)
In this nuanced and compelling historical narrative, author, musician and speaker Ian Morgan Cron sheds new light on the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi. Masterfully weaving actual accounts of “the Last Christian” into the fictional story of Chase Falson, Cron creates a powerful story about a New England minister’s crisis of faith --- and one with profound implications for the contemporary church. Reviewed by Marcia Ford.

-Click here to read a review of CHASING FRANCIS.

 

Click here to read our interview with Ian Morgan Cron.

 
FaithfulReader.com Talks to Sandy Coughlin, Author of THE RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER

Sandy Coughlin is a blogger and busy mother of three whose recently published book, THE RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER, has helped countless women conquer feelings of inadequacy, unrealistic expectations and, above all, the fear of failure, inspiring them to open their hearts and homes to others. In this interview with FaithfulReader.com’s Marcia Ford, Coughlin reflects on the experiences that motivated her to write a how-to guide to hospitality, elaborating on the relationship between grace and acceptance and the virtues that can be gained by entertaining others. She also speculates on why women are plagued by the desire to be the perfect hostess, shares a few of her “10 Commandments of Hospitality,” and offers tips to avoid being a “joy-buster.”

THE RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality by Sandy Coughlin (Christian Life)
Hospitality can be a blessing to both the host and her guests, but for many women today, it simply doesn’t happen. Feelings of inadequacy, unrealistic expectations, fear of failure, lack of time --- all conspire to steal the joy that comes from sharing fellowship with others. But with the help of Sandy Coughlin, would-be hostesses will discover that true hospitality isn’t about being perfect; it’s about an open door and an open heart. Reviewed by Marcia Ford.

-Click here to read a review of THE RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER.

 

Click here to read our interview with Sandy Coughlin.

 
Now in Stores: LYDIA'S CHARM by Wanda E. Brunstetter

LYDIA’S CHARM: An Amish Widow Starts Over in Charm, Ohio by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Historical Romance)
Visit Amish Country during the fall as Lydia King attempts to make Charm, Ohio, feel like home after losing her husband. But is her heart ready to open back up to love when gifts appear on her porch from a mystery source? Could it be from the widowed father of four energetic boys, or is it from the man who has rejected romance to be his family’s caregiver? When life hands Lydia another challenge, will the gift giver be there to support her?

-Click here to read an excerpt from LYDIA’S CHARM.
-Click here to read Wanda E. Brunstetter’s bio.

 

Click here to read more about LYDIA'S CHARM.

 
Now in Stores: SECOND CHANCE BRIDES by Vickie McDonough

SECOND CHANCE BRIDES: Texas Boardinghouse Brides, Book 2 by Vickie McDonough (Historical Romance)
Fans of THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE will feel for Shannon O’Neil and Leah Bennett who are stranded in Lookout, Texas, without husbands or future plans. Thankfully, the marshal has ordered the rascally Corbett brothers to pay for the women’s lodging at the boardinghouse, but will the brothers’ idea of hosting Saturday socials really bring these women the kind of loves they long for? Will Shannon choose to marry just for security? Will Leah reject love when the challenges mount?

-Click here to read an excerpt from SECOND CHANCE BRIDES.
-Click here to read Vickie McDonough’s bio.

 

Click here to read more about SECOND CHANCE BRIDES.

 
Faithful Fiction Reviews

THE BRIDGE OF PEACE: Ada’s House, Book 2 by Cindy Woodsmall (Fiction)
A young Old Order Amish schoolteacher, Lena Kauffman has been plagued by a noticeable birthmark her entire life. By channeling her zest for living into her love of teaching, Lena has learned to overcome her hardships. But when tensions begin to mount at the schoolhouse, her relationships start to crumble amidst unsettling deceptions and buried secrets. Can Lena and her longtime friend Grey Graber overcome their losses, finding the strength to build a new bridge? Reviewed by Michele Howe.

IMMANUEL’S VEINS by Ted Dekker (Fiction)
Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And embraces what it should flee, forgetting it had a true lover. With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds. Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will begin to flow. Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

DECEIT by Brandilyn Collins (Thriller)
A skip tracer solves the murder of her best friend by tracking down a witness to the crime from six years prior. In choosing to personally involve herself, Joanne Weeks embarks upon a fight for justice that will put her life on the line and bring revelations of duplicity that no one imagined possible. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.


PEARL IN THE SAND by Tessa Afshar (Historical Romance)
Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God. Reviewed by Susan Miura.

 

Click here to read our Faithful Fiction reviews.

 
Christian Living Reviews

OUTLIVE YOUR LIFE: You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado (Christian Living)
These are difficult times. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging nations, and economic uncertainty reigns across the globe. But men and women of faith have the chance to make a difference. What if we did? In this heartfelt guide to Christian living, Minister Max Lucado invites readers to infiltrate the world with God’s love and life, so that Christians everywhere can outlive their lives --- not just in heaven, but here on earth. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

POWER THOUGHTS: 12 Strategies to Win the Battle of the Mind by Joyce Meyer (Christian Living)
Joyce Meyer has a knack for coining phrases --- her fans call them Joyceisms --- and “Where the mind goes, the man follows” is one of her most-loved maxims. In her latest book, Meyer provides additional “power thoughts,” outlining a flexible program to turn thoughts into habits, and habits into success. Nobody has a “can-do” attitude like Joyce Meyer, and now you can have it too. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

DANCING WITH MAX: A Mother and Son Who Broke Free by Emily Colson (Memoir)
DANCING WITH MAX is the inspiring story of Emily Colson --- Chuck Colson’s daughter --- who, with knees trembling and humor intact, persevered to bring out the best in her severely autistic son, Max. This memoir will inspire you to “get up and live,” to break free of the barriers that threaten to constrict your life. And Max will capture, even change, your heart. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
 

Click here to read our Christian Living reviews.

 
FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest: HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM by Francine Rivers

This month, one reader will be awarded a copy of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM by Francine Rivers. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27th at noon ET.

HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM by Francine Rivers (Historical Fiction)
Growing up isn’t easy for Carolyn Arundel. Tensions form when her grandmother moves in to care for the household, and Carolyn believes she’s to blame. She tries to find herself in college, but reemerges more lost than ever. And when she returns home to raise her own daughter, she discovers how repetitive history can be. Now it’s up to May Flower Dawn to heal old wounds, or a wall might separate the women in her family forever.

Click here to enter our monthly contest.
 

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--- Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

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