March 2012

Spring is here, and unlike last year when it was gray and dark, we actually saw early signs of spring in New York this month! With the exception of a few gray days, we’ve been graced with 70-degree sunshine and light breezes all week. I’m hoping we will avoid another surprise like Hurricane Irene or the October blizzard we had last year!

Along with springtime, of course, comes Easter, and this year we’ve compiled a brand-new roundup of Easter titles. As you prepare for the holiday, these books will give you time to reflect on the true meaning of the season.

In other news, we have a special contest to tell you about this month. Frank Peretti’s ILLUSION is the story of a magic performer who loses his wife and magic partner of 40 years in a car crash --- or so he thinks. Soon, fate brings them together, but with a roguish twist: Dane Collins is 60 when he meets his former wife for the second time: a tender 18-year-old girl who reappears after death remembering nothing of her life with him. I started reading this one, and in no time I was on page 100! Enter to win one of 50 copies by Friday, April 13th at noon ET.

We are also featuring PRIZE OF MY HEART by Lisa Norato. The novel, which takes place in the early 1800s, tells the story of ex-privateersman Brogan Talvis’s search for his lost son. When he finds out the child has been adopted by a New England shipbuilder, he must face some difficult decisions. Don’t miss this interview with Lisa about her inspiration for the book and her research and writing processes. Plus, be sure to enter our monthly contest to win one of 50 copies by Friday, April 13th at noon ET.

If you’re craving something that will really engage your mind, be sure to pick up Jill Eileen Smith’s SARAI: Wives of the Patriarchs, Book 1. When Abram requests the hand of his beautiful half sister Sarai, she asks one thing --- that he promise never to take another wife. In return, Sarai promises to give Abram a son and heir. But as the years stretch on, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain, lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. We have a study guide for this book in case you’d like to share it with your book club, or just reflect on the questions yourself!

We also have a study guide for LOVE’S SACRED SONG by Mesu Andrews. Young King Solomon stands in the shadow of his famous father. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah remembers the first time she laid eyes on Solomon in Jerusalem when she was just seven years old. Since then, she has known that it was her destiny to become his bride.

Meanwhile, we have four new excerpts up this month. HEART ECHOES by Sally John is about LA mother Teal Morgan-Adams’s struggle with a difficult family issue. In the aftermath of a massive Los Angeles earthquake, Teal’s daughter, Maiya, is determined to learn the identity of her biological father, despite the loving devotion of her stepdad. But that’s a secret Teal hoped would remain buried forever.

In Tim Owens’s THE SEARCH COMMITTEE, a mismatched team of seven hit the road in an Econoline church van on a mission to find a new pastor. They don't agree on much, but they stick to the call, trying to slip undetected into worship services across the Southeast --- all in hopes of stealing a preacher for their congregation.

BECKON by Tom Pawlik follows three people who are each drawn to the small town of Beckon, Wyoming. One by one they discover the town’s ghastly secret. The only question is...will any of them make it out alive?

And PROMISE ME THIS by Cathy Gohlke tells the story of Michael Dunnagan, who was never supposed to sail on the Titanic, nor would he have survived if not for the courage of Owen Allen. Determined to carry out his promise to care for Owen’s relatives in America and his younger sister, Annie, in England, Michael works hard to strengthen the family’s New Jersey garden and landscaping business.

Finally, we have eight new reviews for you this month, including FINDING OUR WAY HOME by Charlene Ann Baumbich, A MOM AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART DEVOTIONAL by Elizabeth George, and AWAKEN YOUR SENSES: Exercises for Exploring the Wonder of God by J. Brent Bill and Beth A. Booram.

Here's to a happy, restful and reflective Easter celebration for you and all your loved ones!

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
 

As we approach Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we enter a season of rediscovery and rebirth. We at FaithfulReader.com have selected titles from a wide array of genres and authors to help you reexamine your faith and relationship with God and others. May these books help you enrich your faith, deepen your prayer life, and guide you through this time of solemn reflection and joyous renewal. We hope that you and your family have a blessed Easter season.

We are celebrating the release of ILLUSION --- the story of a magician who is transported back in time and forced to rebuild her life --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of Frank Peretti's latest novel. The deadline for entries is Friday, April 13th at noon ET.

ILLUSION by Frank Peretti (Fiction)
After a magic performer loses his wife of over 40 years in a fatal car crash, fate brings them together, but with a roguish twist: Dane Collins is 60 when he meets his former wife for the second time: a tender 18-year-old girl who reappears after death remembering nothing of her life with him.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read Frank Peretti's bio.

Lisa Norato’s PRIZE OF MY HEART is set in a small Massachusetts town in the early 1800s. Ex-privateersman Captain Brogan Talvis has been in search of his lost son for years --- but when he finally finds him, the situation is far more complex than he expected. In this interview, Norato shares her inspiration for writing the book. She also describes her research process and discusses key moments and themes in the novel.

PRIZE OF MY HEART by Lisa Norato (Historical Romance)
Acclaimed author Lisa Norato offers a rich and suspenseful romance set on the high seas during New England’s Federal Period in 1815. Torn between the woman he loves and the son he just discovered, which prize will Captain Brogan Talvis have to sacrifice and what deception must he overcome?

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Lisa Norato's bio.
-Click here to visit Lisa Norato's official website.
-Click here to connect with Lisa Norato on Facebook.

LOVE'S SACRED SONG by Mesu Andrews (Historical Romance)
Young king Solomon stands in the shadow of his famous father. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah remembers the first time she laid eyes on Solomon in Jerusalem when she was just seven years old. Since then, she has known that it was her destiny to become his bride.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Mesu Andrews’s bio.
-Click here to visit Mesu Andrews’s official website.