 |
|
This Month on FaithfulReader.com |
July 2012 |
|
|
|
Beat the Summer Heat with a Cool Book! |
|
Welcome to July, which thus far this year has meant humidity and sticky heat here in New York. We just had a spectacular thunderstorm, but I am not sure if that cleared the air. We know that many of you have had a tough time with raging fires and floods --- and prayers have been with you.
No matter what the weather, summer for me is always about devouring as many books as possible, often while floating in the pool. We hope that the suggestions in this newsletter give you some terrific choices to select from to do your own summer reading.
We lead off this month’s update with contests. We’re giving 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of THE AMISH BRIDE, the third book in The Women of Lancaster series by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. Ella Bayer’s religion is keeping her from the man she loves, when another gentleman comes into the picture whom Ella can love without restrictions. Who will she choose to marry? By the way, reader enjoyment of Amish titles shows no sign of slowing down!
Another 75 readers will win a copy of LIVING IN HARMONY, the first book in Mary Ellis’ The New Beginnings series. After losing her parents, Amy King moves to the small town of Harmony to get over her grief. At first her husband is very supportive of the move, but when Amy connects with a shunned aunt, his opinion changes.
In our latest monthly contest, 10 readers each will be awarded a copy of ABDUCTED, the second installment of Janice Cantore's Pacific Coast Justice Series, and BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.
We’re pleased to present an interview with Davis Bunn, whose new stand-alone thriller, RARE EARTH, is now in stores. Along with talking about his latest book, Bunn discusses his time working with the Kenyan faith community and what draws him to Christian fiction. Click here for the interview, which gives readers wonderful insight into Bunn and his books.
Two new study guides are now available on the site. In THE GIFTED by Ann H. Gabhart, Jessamine Brady has a hard time conforming to the strict rules of the Shaker Village. When Tristan Cooper shows up to entice her into the forbidden realm outside of the Shaker Village, her life is turned upside down. Click here for the guide.
And in THE RIDE OF HER LIFE, book three in Lorna Seilstad’s Lake Manawa Summers series, we return to Lake Manawa to see Lilly Hart and her six-year-old moving out of her meddling in-law’s house and much to their dismay becoming a cook at the resort. When an argument ensues, a man intervenes on Lilly’s behalf who takes her on the ride of her life. Click here for the guide.
Our featured titles this month include three stand-alones: ALMOST AMISH by Kathryn Cushman, SKIP ROCK SHALLOWS by Jan Watson, and FLAME OF RESISTANCE by Tracy Groot. Three more titles mark the beginning of series: TRAUMA PLAN, the first book in Candace Calvert’s Grace Medical series; WEDDED TO WAR, which kicks off Jocelyn Green's Heroines Behind the Lines series; and the aforementioned BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang.
We've updated our reviews section with eight new ones. Among them are FIVE MILES SOUTH OF PECULIAR by Angela Hunt, FULLY ALIVE: Lighten Up and Live -- A Journey that Will Change Your Life by Ken Davis, and A SEASON OF LOVE: Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, Book 5 by Amy Clipston.
Finally, we have a complete list of the 2012 Christy Award winners, which you can see here. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees; some wonderful books and authors are on this list!
We hope you enjoy all these great selections and stay cool!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
|
|
|
|
|
Special Contest and Feature: LIVING IN HARMONY by Mary Ellis |
|
We are celebrating the August 1st release of LIVING IN HARMONY with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this opening installment in Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.
LIVING IN HARMONY: The New Beginnings Series, Book 1 by Mary Ellis (Romance)
After the deaths of her parents, Amy King relocates to the community of Harmony, Maine, to get a fresh start and healing for her heart. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, is very supportive…until Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned and wants to connect with her. What will John do then?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Mary Ellis’ bio.
|
|
Click here to read all the contest details. |
|
|
An Interview with Davis Bunn, Author of RARE EARTH |
 |
Undercover agent Marc Royce is back on assignment in RARE EARTH, Davis Bunn's latest suspense novel. As war breaks out in Kenya over valuable land, how far will Royce go to bring peace? In this interview, Bunn talks about his attraction to spiritual fiction, the role of the missionary church in today's world, and the difficult balance achieved in creating good faith-based fiction.
RARE EARTH by Davis Bunn (Thriller/Adventure)
Dispatched to audit a relief organization, Marc Royce is thrust into the squalor and chaos of Kenyan refugee camps. But his true mission focuses on the area's reserves of once-obscure minerals now indispensable to high-tech industries. These strategic elements --- called rare earths --- have inflamed tensions on the world's stage and stoked tribal rivalries. As Royce prepares to report back to Washington, he seizes on a bold and risky venture for restoring justice to this troubled land.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Davis Bunn’s bio.
-Click here to visit Davis Bunn’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read the interview. |
|
|
Study Guide Now Available: THE GIFTED by Ann H. Gabhart |
|
THE GIFTED by Ann H. Gabhart (Historical Romance)
By 1849, Jessamine Brady has been in the Shaker Village for half her life, but in spite of how she loves her sisters there, she struggles to conform to the strict rules. Instead she entertains dreams of the world outside. When Tristan Cooper seems to step out of those dreams to entice her into the forbidden realm beyond the Shaker Village, her life turns upside down.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Ann H. Gabhart’s bio.
-Click here to visit Ann H. Gabhart’s official website.
|
|
Click here for the study guide. |
|
|
Study Guide Now Available: THE RIDE OF HER LIFE by Lorna Seilstad |
|
THE RIDE OF HER LIFE: Lake Manawa Summers, Book 3 by Lorna Seilstad (Historical Romance)
Widowed for three years, Lilly Hart has decided to leave the home of her intrusive in-laws to stand on her own. However, her in-laws find her new life as a cook at Lake Manawa utterly unsuitable for their grandson. When an argument ensues, a handsome stranger --- who designs roller coasters, of all things --- intercedes on her behalf. Little does Lilly know that she is about to begin the ride of her life.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Lorna Seilstad’s bio.
-Click here to visit Lorna Seilstad’s official website.
|
|
Click here for the study guide. |
|
|
The 2012 Christy Award Winners |
The 2012 Christy Awards were presented at a banquet on July 16th at Orlando’s Rosen Centre Hotel during the International Christian Retail Show, which was emceed by New York Times bestselling and Christy Award-winning author Liz Curtis Higgs.
The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview; bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership; and provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.
|
|
Click here to see the winners. |
|
|
An Excerpt from ALMOST AMISH by Kathryn Cushman |
|
ALMOST AMISH by Kathryn Cushman (Fiction)
Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan must succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, while Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are. With each new challenge, their reality TV season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read Kathryn Cushman’s bio.
-Click here to visit Kathryn Cushman’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read the excerpt. |
|
|
Now in Stores: TRAUMA PLAN by Candace Calvert |
|
TRAUMA PLAN: Grace Medical, Book 1 by Candace Calvert (Romance)
Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to her former duties as an ER nurse. To prove herself, she volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic. Dr. Jack Travis will fight the community’s efforts to shut the clinic's doors, even if he must use Riley’s influential family name to make it happen. As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion --- and stirs his lonely heart.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Candace Calvert’s bio.
-Click here to visit Candace Calvert’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read more about the book. |
|
|
Now in Stores: SKIP ROCK SHALLOWS by Jan Watson |
|
SKIP ROCK SHALLOWS by Jan Watson (Historical Romance)
Lilly Gray Corbett has just graduated from medical school and decided to accept an internship in the coal camp of Skip Rock, Kentucky. As Lilly becomes torn between joining her beau, Paul, in Boston and her love for the people of Skip Rock, she crosses paths with a handsome miner. Her attraction for him grows, even as she wrestles with her feelings and wonders what he’s hiding.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Jan Watson’s bio.
-Click here to visit Jan Watson’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read more about the book. |
|
|
Now in Stores: BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN by Maureen Lang |
|
BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang (Historical Romance)
Ian Maguire is determined to stop Meg Davenport from following in her father’s footsteps. He was, after all, a thief. But considering Ian learned everything he knows from Meg’s father, he may not be able to convince her otherwise, not even when they both end up over their heads in the biggest heist of Ian’s unlawful career. In trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all?
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Maureen Lang’s bio.
-Click here to visit Maureen Lang’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read more about the book. |
|
|
Now in Stores: WEDDED TO WAR by Jocelyn Green |
WEDDED TO WAR: Heroines Behind the Lines - Civil War, Book I by Jocelyn Green (Historical Romance)
Tending to the army’s sick and wounded meant leading a life her mother does not understand and giving up a handsome suitor. Yet Charlotte chooses a life of service over privilege. She soon discovers that she’s combating more than just the rebellion. Not least, two men are in love with her and their affections threaten to wage war on her desire to serve God.
WEDDED TO WAR is a work of fiction, but the story is inspired by the true life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. Woolsey’s letters and journals offer a thorough look of what pioneering nurses endured.
|
|
Click here to read more about the book and the series. |
|
|
Now in Stores: FLAME OF RESISTANCE by Tracy Groot |
|
FLAME OF RESISTANCE by Tracy Groot (Historical Fiction)
Years of Nazi occupation have stolen much from Brigitte Durand, but that changes the day American fighter pilot Tom Jaeger is shot down over occupied France. Picked up by the Resistance, Tom becomes the linchpin in their plan to infiltrate a Germans-only brothel and get critical intel out through Brigitte, a prostitute rumored to be sympathetic to the Allied cause.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Tracy Groot’s bio.
-Click here to visit Tracy Groot’s official website.
|
|
Click here to read more about the book. |
|
|
|
|
This Month’s Reviews |
FIVE MILES SOUTH OF PECULIAR by Angela Hunt (Romance)
Can sisters Darlene, Carlene and Magnolia Caldwell discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
FULLY ALIVE: Lighten Up and Live -- A Journey that Will Change Your Life by Ken Davis (Christian Life)
FULLY ALIVE uncovers forgotten signs of life in a culture seemingly filled with the opposite. Through action steps that led to his physical, mental, social and spiritual health, Ken Davis recounts his journey back to the land of the living and the signs of life he found along the way. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
A SEASON OF LOVE: Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, Book 5 by Amy Clipston (Romance)
In A SEASON OF LOVE, the fifth and final novel of Amy Clipston’s bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series, three young friends enter the most important season of their lives. But relationships have changed, and only time will tell if Lindsay, Katie and Lizzie Anne have made the right choices. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
WAITING FOR SUNRISE: A Cedar Key Novel by Eva Marie Everson (Romance)
Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past behind. At her concerned husband's gentle insistence, they take a vacation to Cedar Key, an idyllic island on Florida's Gulf Coast. When a familiar --- and most unexpected --- face greets her at a seaside restaurant, Patsy knows she can no longer run from the past. But what will opening old wounds mean? And what will the future hold? Reviewed by Lynda Schab.
COME, SIT, STAY: Finding Rest for Your Soul by Ellen Vaughn (Christian Living)
In COME, SIT, STAY, bestselling author Ellen Vaughn encourages those who are emotionally drained, burdened, or spiritually hungry to come and rediscover authentic rest in Christ's presence. Embedded within Jesus' call to "Come to Me" is a progression of verbs that actually lead to the result of rest: wonderful, real rest for your soul. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
THE WEDDING DRESS by Rachel Hauck (Romance)
Charlotte Malone is getting married, and she can dress any bride to perfection --- except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her. Reviewed by Lynda Schab.
ENOUGH: Finding More by Living with Less by Will Davis Jr. (Christian Living)
In this provocative book, Will Davis Jr. challenges us to discover the peace that comes through contentment with what we have and compassion for those in need. Through surprising statistics, scriptural insight, and powerful real-life stories, Davis shows us the rewards of living with less in order to be more and do more with our lives. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
WILDFLOWERS FROM WINTER by Katie Ganshert (Romance)
Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. But when an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown, a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Although she is determined not to stay long, the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan. Reviewed by Lynda Schab. |
|
|
|
|
FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest: ABDUCTED by Janice Cantore and BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN by Maureen Lang |
 |
In our latest monthly contest, 10 readers each will be awarded a copy of ABDUCTED, the second installment of Janice Cantore's Pacific Coast Justice Series, and BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.
ABDUCTED: Pacific Coast Justice Series, Book 2 by Janice Cantore (Mystery/Romance)
Slow to recover from an injury, Carly Edwards' ex-husband, Nick, begins pulling away just as they were starting to get close again. Meanwhile, when Joe’s wife lands in the hospital with a mysterious illness, their baby is kidnapped. As Carly chases down every lead in a desperate search to find the baby, her newfound faith is pushed to its limits. |
BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang (Historical Romance)
Ian Maguire is determined to stop Meg Davenport from following in her father’s footsteps. He was, after all, a thief. But considering Ian learned everything he knows from Meg’s father, he may not be able to convince her otherwise, not even when they both end up over their heads in the biggest heist of Ian’s unlawful career. In trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all?
|
|
Click here to read all the contest details. |
|
As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.
Those of you who wish to send mail to FaithfulReader.com, please visit this page.
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: Bookreporter.com, 20SomethingReads.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com and AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.
--- Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107
|
|
|
